Cafe Culture

There are few things in life that are as addictive as coffee. Two years ago even the smell of a fresh cup of ground coffee left my stomach churning, now I can't seem to get through the day without at least two visits to my local Starbucks for my regular tall sugar free vanilla soy latte.


But these big brand coffee chains, Costa Coffee, Cafe Nero, and the mighty Starbucks, are slowly destroying the pastime of cafe culture, and killing small local cafes and coffee shops, as they power through the high streets with their brazen logos and polystyrene takeout cups.

So it's high time I spread my wings and ventured outside my safety zone, put down my oversized mug, and experienced the joys of small, unknown, unexplored cafes, in the hope to find a more tranquil, cultured and less demanding coffee drinking experience.

Today me and a team of trainee journalists are hitting the streets of Newcastle to search out the best coffee shops the toon has to offer. We will be visiting them all; from the back streets, to the high streets, the museums and the cinemas, and we will be reporting back here to tell you where to go to get the best cafe experience in Newcastle.