Chorlton has an enviable range of coffee shops to choose from, spread throughout the district, but Smoak Bagels & Coffee is easily up there with the most unique. In addition to cups of Joe, they also do magical things with bagels, which are delivered fresh every morning. The name of the shop itself refers to a love of smoking produce, with the salt beef brined by staff themselves, a process that takes up to 30 days, and fillings for sandwiches ‘smoaked’ on site. That includes chillies, aubergines, and garlic used in the flavour packed harissa and homemade purees, along with a signature salt beef — cured for five days before being slowly hot smoked to deliver a truly unforgettable flavour.
The standards at Smoak Bagels & Coffee are what you might call exacting, with just three types of bean making the cut, each of which is ground to specification (using Mahlkonig grind-by-weight kit) ensuring the correct moisture level and coarseness to guarantee precision-perfect roasting, which takes place every Tuesday.
Once ready for the cup, the artisanal powder is poured into a stunning Victoria Arduino machine, the same brand used at the world barista championships, which in addition to offering an unparalleled drink also have noteworthy eco credentials, and claim to be among the most energy efficient coffee machines on the market.
Two main types of coffee are on offer. The original blend is created in-house using beans from the finest coffee growers on the planet, with a real focus on ethic practices. The single origin is sourced seasonally, with suppliers chosen based on the time of year. Believe us when we say you can taste the difference.
Simply put, in a neighbourhood packed with choice for refreshments, brunch and lunch, this address delivers a cut above the rest by refusing to do anything by halves.