Top 5 Specialty Coffee Shops in Brighton & Hove

Brighton has long been known for its culture, food, and seaside character, but for many visitors, the real draw is the city’s thriving coffee culture. If you’re planning a trip and searching for the best specialty coffee in Brighton and Hove, you’ll find no shortage of cafés where quality beans and skilled baristas come first.

Here are five standout stops that showcase the city’s specialty scene, from central espresso bars to neighbourhood roasters.

1. Small Batch, Goldstone Villas (Hove)

Why go: A cornerstone of specialty coffee in Brighton & Hove, Small Batch’s Goldstone Villas café is both historic and forward-looking. Located just by Hove Station, it’s home to the award-winning Goldstone blend and has long been the brand’s flagship site.

What to expect: Expect carefully crafted espresso drinks, seasonal filters, and a mix of locals and visitors enjoying its calm, spacious setting. Goldstone has the feel of a neighbourhood café but is also a place where the city’s coffee identity was shaped.

Insider tip: If you’re serious about exploring the Brighton coffee scene, start here. It’s a relaxed environment for tasting through Small Batch’s range and getting a feel for the city’s specialty standards.

2. Pelicano Coffee Roasters

Pelicano has become one of the most recognisable names in specialty coffee in Brighton, with several locations across the city, including Sydney Street and Lewes Road.

What to expect: Always-rotating single origins, approachable service, and a loyal local following. Whether you’re grabbing a quick espresso or settling in with a hand-brewed filter, Pelicano makes it easy to see why Brighton has earned its reputation among coffee-focused travellers.

Insider Tip: Don’t forget to make room for one of their tray bakes, the brownies are some of the best in the city! 

3. Komodo Coffee

Tucked into the Lanes, Komodo is a small but serious player in Brighton’s specialty scene.

What to expect: A compact espresso and filter menu, beans roasted in collaboration with Norwich-based Kofra, and a focus on quality over size. For anyone mapping out specialty coffee in Brighton, this is the perfect stop while exploring the historic heart of the city.

4. 17 Grams

17 Grams is as much about food as it is about coffee, making it an ideal place for a long brunch stop on your Brighton coffee tour.

What to expect: A full kitchen menu alongside espresso and filter options, with beans roasted on the South Coast. If you’re looking to pair breakfast or brunch with your specialty coffee in Brighton, this café hits the mark.

5. Bond Street Coffee (Bond No. 9)

Why go: One of the longest-standing names in the Brighton specialty scene, Bond Street Coffee (sometimes called Bond No. 9) has been serving high-quality coffee since 2014.

What to expect: The café is best known for showcasing beans from Climpson & Sons, one of London’s most respected roasters. Expect consistently excellent espresso, pour-overs, and a lively atmosphere.

Why it works for coffee tourists: Located in the heart of the North Laine, it’s easy to combine Bond Street Coffee with shopping, wandering the independent streets, or heading toward Brighton Dome and Pavilion. For visitors mapping their specialty coffee in Brighton tour, this stop is essential. On a sunny day, sit on the outside bench for the best people-watching seat in the city. 

Honorable Mentions

• 44 Poets (Hove) – Neighbourhood favourite with a focus on quality roasting and a relaxed vibe.
  

• Coffee @ 33 (Trafalgar Street) – A Brighton Station-area classic, perfect for a pre-train espresso.
  

• Dharma Coffee – A stylish North Road café with seasonal single-origin brews.

Planning Your Specialty Coffee Tour in Brighton

• Start at Small Batch Goldstone Villas to ground yourself in Brighton’s roasting heritage.
  

• Walk through the Lanes for Komodo and 17 Grams.
  

• Drift north for Pelicano’s cafés.
  

• End your day at Bond Street Coffee, right in the heart of the North Laine
  

• Brighton is a compact, walkable city, which makes it easy to explore its cafés in a single day. By focusing on these five locations, you’ll experience the depth and range of what makes specialty coffee in Brighton a reason in itself to visit the city.