Espresso Kitchen is a small independent coffee shop in the Triangle, the pocket of independent cafes, bars and shops in West Cliff a short step back from Bournemouth town centre. Its name rests on the quality of the coffee, not the size of the room, and reviewers have placed it among the best cups in Bournemouth.
What's in the cup
Everything here revolves around espresso. The beans are organic and Fairtrade, ground to order for each cup, and the house blend combines Ethiopian and Peruvian beans roasted locally by Beanpress Coffee Co, with a guest espresso that changes over time. The rest of the counter is loose-leaf tea and a short selection of home-made cakes (lavender has become something of a signature), including gluten-free and dairy-free choices. Coffee comes first on this menu, so there's no all-day food to speak of.
The room
Calling it "tiny" is generous. Surfboards hang from the ceiling, vintage telephones sit on the shelves and old kitchen implements have been converted into light fittings, all crammed around a few tables, a couple of bar stools and a single bench outside, in a home-made, eccentric style. Conversation with the regulars is as much a part of the place as the espresso shots, and at busy times there is very little elbow room.
Practical notes
In 2025 Espresso Kitchen was given the Food Standards Agency's highest Food Hygiene Rating, a 5. Like any small independent business, its hours and what's on the counter on a given day can change, so check with the café before making a dedicated journey.
Combine a coffee here with a browse of the Triangle's other independent shops, or build it into a fuller day using our food & drink guide and our round-up of things to do in Bournemouth.