Cheltenhams Hidden Gem!
The Scandinavian coffee pod
This is where our journey begins. Our first official coffee shop review that being the Scandinavian coffee pod in the English town of Cheltenham. Just a small walk from the bustle of the high street and the busy Regent Arcade sits a rustic yet charming coffee shop.
Let's dive into the nitty-gritty of reviewing and talk about a very exciting coffee establishment.
A beautiful pour
To start, the coffee was great. The house blend was the Assembly Espresso Blend, with flavour notes of banoffee, nutty, and rich. This was my first taste of Assembly Coffee Roasters. I really enjoyed the flat white I had this in, as it was beautifully made. The only gripe I had was that the milk was a little thick, not close to the wet paint consistency I would expect from a flat white.
The second drink I had was a batch brew made earlier that day. This coffee was a Guatemalan single-origin from New Ground Coffee Roasters, and the flavour notes were lime, kiwi and mango. Yet again, this was my first time trying New Ground coffee, and again I was pleasantly surprised, as I haven't heard much about this coffee roaster. The coffee was complex and had a sweet, soothing aftertaste – a very pleasing cup of coffee.
Customers Service
Equally important is customer service, and this place had great staff, both being informative on the coffee profiles they were serving. When we walked in, it appeared there was only one member of staff working, but the other worker was on their break. After they had finished their break, they went straight to cleaning the floor and wiping tables, making sure the place was presentable for new customers.
I very much got a sense that this cafe has a strong regulars culture, as the staff were having conversations with people and cracking jokes. This is something I love to see, as it's important for a community to have a local coffee spot for people to meet.
Price and value
The price was very reasonable in my opinion, as I find coffee to be expensive in 2026, but the Scandinavian Coffee pod is priced well, with a flat white being £3.50 and the batch brew being £3.30. A few offers on retail items, like a free coffee with the purchase of 2 coffee bags and a free coffee with the purchase of a Huskee reusable cup. This is certainly a driving point for this cafe, as not many shops in this area offer such deals or offer these low prices.
Excellent Ambience
My first impression when walking in was that the cafe was cosy and inviting. The floor was clean, and the tables were regularly wiped. The ambient low lighting expressed a calm, work-friendly environment, and this was displayed by the multiple groups having work meetings and friendly catch-ups. Music was upbeat and fitting for the overall vibe. Though the wall was unfinished with raw plugs visible and a big scrap on the bar, I believe this added to the rustic Scandinavian soul this establishment was striving for. There were plenty of green hanging plants above the seating area, which was only 12 covers but could probably push to 16.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Scandinavian Coffee Pod is an amazing coffee shop with great potential to break into viral status. I really enjoyed my time here and had some excellent coffee from some exceptional roasters. I look forward to visiting again when I pass through soon. I implore you to venture here and stay for a cup or two.
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