How to find good coffee when travelling?

UNM

Any ideas?
I'm going to look for cafe review apps for my droid, but any tips/recommendations for how I can track down a good cuppa are welcome.

I am off to Scotland (Fife, near Edinburgh) and it is not a very advanced coffee culture over there.
I may just have to drink beer.

beanflying

I dropped an enquiry on Twitter to a few people but I don't hold out any hope for a good coffee. Best bet might be buy some good beans in London if your stopping in and take a hand grinder and a brewer.

UNM

Dont got  a hand grinder.  I'll probably take some beans with me, and grind as best I can, but keep hoping there will be someplace I can get a doppio.

beanflying

Got a reply for you but with a question where in Scotland "have somewhere in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh" you might not suffer to badly if your lucky 

UNM

I'm going to be based in Dalgety Bay Fife, but at least one day in central Edinburgh so the girls can shop.  Also likely one day up north of Inverness (Easter Auchterflow - population single digits), so no hope there.. Looked at the article AM linked. Definite possibilities there, even though it is old. In general, I agree with AM on the droid apps. I loaded a couple when I got my phone and there seemed to be a lot of paid spots. Could be good for actually finding the places nearby though. As for beer - well there is a lot of excellent beer on offer. Beer drinking is a national pastime - used to do it competitively when younger (prize was usually free beer). I suppose for general travel puposes, google is the best bet, perhaps searching for roasters and then backtracking to cafes that use something local. Or should I do the twit thing?

Lacehim

I moved here from Aberdeen, Scotland.  There was zero espresso coffee anywhere that I can remember when I left years and years ago (all filter style like in the US) and on return last year the usual Costa/Starbucks places everywhere and taking up every shopping centre.  Took forever to find a place in Aberdeen called "McBeans".  Gotta love the name. They roasted there own beans off site, but didn't sell any coffee to drink?  Strange place.  2 young girls with na clue as to what they are selling either.  Why wouldn't they just have a machine for takeaway or something?  I felt like asking to buy the place... the potential just going to waste!!!!!  I ended up getting sent down the road to a cafe up two flights of stairs (they used McBeans) and it was the best coffee I had over there.  My family thought I was demented and kept telling me how great Starbucks & Costa are and I got given a jar of nescafe too and told to get over it!  :o Did by some beans from McBeans and a stovetop brewer for home, but had to get it preground.  Wasn't that bad and it was 100% better than most of the places that I went to while in the UK.  Nearly all the coffee I drank while out and about had iver heated milk, rough bitter espresso, not good. Drink Tea, that's my vote they can't cock that up they've been drinking it for years!  ;D In saying that Edinburgh being a bigger city may well have more decent coffeeshops.  I know it's another forum and probably frowned upon but you could try http://www.coffeeforums.co.uk/ and maybe ask there or take a look to see if they have a location based cafe list.  Mods you can remove it if you think I'm out of line posting it up. Good luck and enjoy your trip.  I've got family in Edinburgh and I really miss the Scotland in general but I'm too used to the warm Qld weather to move back!  My wife keeps nagging me to more back, but it's too much hassle with the kids and all.  Better off here, better climate, better economy too.

beanflying

Couple of recommendations back from Stephen Leighton AKA Hasbean of www.hasblog.com fame. For a blatant PLUG   Kilimanjaro Coffee and Wellington Coffee

beanflying

Ran across this Roaster on Twitter who is in Edinburgh that might be worth a visit too http://www.artisanroast.co.uk/

hazchem

on 1308719882:

Any ideas? I'm going to look for cafe review apps for my droid, but any tips/recommendations for how I can track down a good cuppa are welcome. I am off to Scotland (Fife, near Edinburgh) and it is not a very advanced coffee culture over there. I may just have to drink beer.

best cafe review app I have on my 'droid is Twitter  As Beanflying showed, you just gotta know who to ask!

CodyDeegan

trying their coffee there wasnt that bad i think, but if you want a speedy response with your inquiry Twitter is a good medium