Taking a leaf from Matthew’s page, I decided to add to his “Great Coffee In…” series with a Manchester England addition: Ditto.
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Locations in Manchester
Ditto originally started in Liverpool but has just one location in the home of the Beatles but two locations in Manchester. The small chain has added another in London’s trendy Shoreditch neighborhood.
Oxford Place
61 Oxford St, Manchester M1 6EQ
Manchester Union
Union, Albert Square, Manchesterster M2 6LW
What Made It Great
There are loads of high-quality coffee houses in Manchester’s city centre, perhaps too many to choose from. Even the bars usually have an espresso machine and bartenders are typically capable of making a standard range of coffee drinks with an associated flair that would embarrass some dedicated coffee shops in the US.
That said, Ditto was excellent at delivering quality coffee, exactly what we were looking for. In addition to making a great cup of specialty coffee, they also brew excellent leaf tea and sell a broad range of food and drink for breakfast and lunch.
Ditto was an excellent place to work. During our visit, several laptop warriors had made Ditto their office and I considered following them. While most had either a filter coffee and a sandwich, others held (surprisingly) quiet Zoom calls over flat whites.
The location on Oxford was well-connected to both rail and tram lines through either Deansgate-Castlefield, or St. Peter’s Square. Another ten-minute walk would carry you into town if you’d like.
Ditto doesn’t claim to use a single-origin coffee supplier as has become en vogue lately. They do, however, pay above fair trade prices from ethically-sourced producers and roast their specialty coffee in nearby Liverpool.
Other Great Coffee Shops in Manchester
Manchester has long been a coffee destination in the UK. Despite an affinity for tea on this beloved but dreary island, excellent coffee shops abound.
- Ancoats Coffee
- Pot Kettle Black (Barton Arcade)
- Foundation Coffee
- Idle Hands
If you’re inclined to eschew a cup of coffee during your visit, try one of the Northern Quarter’s tea house institutions, Northern Tea Power. Don’t worry, they will still make you a great espresso if you must.
Conclusion
Ditto is just one of many great coffee shops in the Manchester city centre. It was reasonably priced, perfectly executed, and well-located (Oxford.) If you find yourself in my own personal “second city”, pop in for a drink and leave happy.
What do you think? Do you have a favorite coffee shop in Manchester? Why do you love it?
As long as you accompany coffee with something from Trove’s bakery you can’t go wrong.