Graham P.
Yelp
As any Brightonian heading out of town via rail will attest, the climb up Trafalgar Street - which leads from the Lanes up towards the station - is a bummer. When tackling this trek, it's a good idea to stop off at Coffee @ 33, where you can grab a first class cup o'joe and stare smugly at the stream of people passing by, puffing for breath as they go.
Run by two lovely Polish guys, this very small cafe serves excellent coffee. On my first visit I ordered a mocha, which I then drank sat upon one of the recycled coffee bean sacks the owners have turned into seats. Delving through the decorative and swirly pattern on the froth, my lips reached a coffee that was a lot more balanced and agreeable than the harsh, strong stuff they serve up at the likes of Starbucks and Costa. The Latte is great, too.
The only problem you might find with this place is getting a seat when town is busy. Other than that: great coffee, nice cakes, stylish-yet-minimal decor and a friendly, relaxed greeting. You can't go wrong. Watch out for locally celebrated folk-pop girl band, The Half Sisters, too - Coffee @ 33 is a favourite haunt of theirs, and more often than not, you'll see them hanging out here.