Yesterday was my last day in Cambridge (’til I go back in 3 weeks, yay). I was up early to do work and then popped into the town to meet up with Phil and make the most of our last day. We stocked up on dairy free treats from Revital, went to see Poppy and had a fab breakfast at Jamaica Blue.
I don’t think I’ve told you about Jamaica Blue before. The name of the café comes from the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, somewhere I hope to visit one day. It sits alongside Aromi and Caffe Sicilia as a regular pit stop of mine in Cambridge.
It’s often very busy over the weekend as it’s situated right in the middle of the Grand Arcade. However, if you get there on a week day morning it’s easy to get a seat. It’s a lovely coffee shop with a good buzz of customers and a lively atmosphere. It’s pretty big and has a wide selection of seating including bar stools and a combination of booth seating and chairs.
I particularly like the decor and layout of the café, there’s something interesting each time you turn your head. I like that they give a neat little run down of each style of coffee on the wall. They also have soft, warm lighting throughout the shop which is very comforting. I’ve never felt rushed to leave the café, even during the busy times.
There are lots of coffees, teas, cold drinks and milkshakes to pick from. They also serve a good variety of hot food at breakfast and lunch as well as a selection of delicious cakes and pastries. It’s a little more expensive than usual chain coffee shops but they offer table service as well as take-out and the quality of coffee and food is much higher.
I personally think it’s the ideal spot for brunch or quick bite at lunch. I’ve only ever tried their breakfast menu or shared a bowl of chips. I don’t know much about their lunch time mains but you can get a feel for their menu before going in. On this occasion we decided to pick from their breakfast menu and we were both very pleased with our choices.
We both really enjoyed our flat white coffees It’s my usual go to coffee of choice at the moment. It was smooth and not at all bitter like some I’ve tried recently. I’ve had this coffee a few times from Jamaica Blue and its never let me down.
Phil and I both went for the Jamaica Blue Classic Breakfast; eggs, streaky bacon, roasted tomatoes, hash brown, baked beans & sourdough toast. I had mine with poached eggs and no toast and Phil went for fried eggs. The poached eggs were cooked to perfection, no hint of vinegar and no wibbly wobbly bits. I think I missed out on the toast though, it looked like good quality, crunchy sourdough.
We both really enjoyed the generous sized breakfast and felt ready to tackle our 4 trains back to Sheffield.
The only downside I’ve experienced at Jamaica Blue is that you have to work hard to get the bill. Luckily the staff have always been pleasant when I’ve visited and once you’ve managed to get their attention the bill arrives promptly at the table.
Are there any coffee shops you think I should visit in Cambridge next?
Location: St Tibbs Row, Lion Yard Grand Arcade, Cambridge