In a big, big, city there was a big council house,

And next to the big council house there was a quiet side street,

And in the quiet side street there was a red phone box,

And in the red phone box…

…A coffee shop lived!

Just to the side of the Council House, off Colmore Row, in Eden Place is Birmingham’s newest (and smallest) independent coffee shop, Jake’s Coffee Box.

Originally due to have a soft opening on 27th July, a few teething troubles meant it opened officially today. I popped along to see how the dark liquid flowed on the way home from work.

There’s been quite a buzz about the former four dilapidated red phone boxes in the pedestrianised street, being converted into micro businesses. Jake’s having attracted attention from the BBC, ITV, Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post and the Mirror.

Hopefully the first of four independent businesses to set up in the street and to help a little more diversification from chains (cough, next door, cough). Jake’s was having a steady day.

I ordered to bolster my post work caffeine intake and Jake went to work;

In the tight confines of the phone box, a well arranged coffee machine, fridge and ancillaries meant a variety of coffees, pastries and snacks and the door doubled as a menu board. A few tables helped with extra storage and somewhere to add your sugar if required.

Within two minutes my coffee was ready. a large, unpretentious latte (is that an oxymoron?), reasonably priced at £2.60.

The latte, i’m happy to report, was hot, frothy, not too bitter and just to my tastes. i’ll happily go back again on my commute. The loyalty card won’t take long to fill up at this rate.

When: 03/08/2015

Where: Eden Place, Birmingham City Centre

Who: Jake’s Coffee Box