Seth S.
Yelp
Hipsters gone corporate was the first thought going through my mind when I visited 200 degrees on their opening week. As of late Birmingham has developed a stupendous portfolio of some of the finest coffee houses you'll find in any major UK city. Hailing from Nottingham, 200 degrees has opted to centre on a feel all its own.
200 degrees joins a few other storefronts as the first wave of the to be re-opened Grand Hotel of Colmore Row. The coffee shop follows the nebulous but simultaneously definite interior design concept that can best be described as hipster deconstructivism. Brick walls, quasi-vintage furniture, suitcases full of popcorn, and ye olde timey light fixtures create an atmosphere that warrants a handlebar moustache and braces to hold up your trousers. Beyond the superficial appointments, the large space has been taken advantage of with copious seating running to the back of the building. They need it, as the office workers of the Colmore area swarm the place at noon. Downstairs are some very posh toilets and a room that is used for their barista school.
On to the coffee, the most obvious reason to visit 200 Degrees. They offer up a fairly standard menu of espresso drinks including those you won't find at all the chains like a cortado or a long black. They take pride in roasting their own beans, and provide extensive coffee training to their employees. I've tried several espresso drinks here (flat white, etc.) and I have found the beans to be over roasted, bringing out too much acid in the coffee. For an establishment that prides themselves so much on their sourcing, bean roasting, and drink crafting, I was surprised that the drinks were on par with high street chains. Their non-coffee drinks, like the matcha latte, are impressive enough to order every time on their own. A rotating selection of sandwiches and desserts round out the cafe menu. I'm not sure of their food sourcing, but the one time I've ventured to try a dessert there, I found it to be dry and almost stale as if it had been made days earlier. There are many other coffee shops in the immediate area that bake fresh goods daily.
While the coffee and food have been a letdown for me so far, I must give 200 degrees accolades for working to get me back in the door. The atmosphere (outside of the lunch rush) is cathartic, the perfect place to read a book and not be bothered. I've actually almost fallen asleep in here several times on a late afternoon. The staff are all super friendly, professional, and already know the regulars well. A loyalty card gives you a free drink after eight purchases and is yet another reason to continue my custom there. Given how new 200 Degrees is to the Brum coffee scene, they still have some significant issues to overcome if they are to take on the titans of the caffeine-fix in city centre. For now, I think they offer a compelling environment to relax and get work done while sipping on a delicious matcha latte.
