Manchester city centre isn’t lacking establishments serving great cups of Joe. Brook Lane Coffee Co. is proof that you don’t have to be in town to get the finest lattes, macchiato’s and cappuccinos. Situated just outside Alderley Edge-proper, around the corner from the local cricket club, this place opened in 2022, taking over a spot that has previously been used for similar things, and offers excellent barista drinks alongside traditional breakfasts and a lunch menu done exceptionally well.
Run by three friends — one trained in the art of coffee preparation and service, another the founder of coffee supply specialist The Coffee Advocates, the third a fully trained chef “imported from Australia” — while the idea of a café on the corner of Brook Lane may not be completely new, the team approach things with a fresh mindset. As they want to make clear, “the food has a Melbourne feel to it”, in part inspired by the Antipodean roots of the culinary talent in the kitchen.
The second city down-under shares a few things in common with our hometown, both having consistently featured on “most liveable” lists in recent years. And in many ways the menu at Brook Lane Coffee Co. reflects the diversity omnipresent in both. So classics like poached egg on toast sit alongside vegetarian black bean burritos, Thai chicken noodle soup, and the Mexican rice bowl. In other instances, British staples such as mushrooms on toast get a contemporary overhaul, with fungi sourced in the wild and truffle cream served to accompany. Although the standout list of sandwiches could well be the real highlight, with options like nduja, onions and Swiss cheese particularly tempting. Weekly specials also feature some big sells, with drinks including iced red velvet latte, and cocoa, powdered beetroot, agave and milk giving some idea as to how things roll here.