New coffee shop opens in Newcastle taking over previous home of Canny Goat

Speciality coffee sourced directly from farmers in countries such as Kenya and Columbia will be on the menu this weekend with the launch of Lagom in Newcastle.

The speciality coffee bar will open its doors on Saturday in the previous home of The Canny Goat coffee stop which closed last month, along with its Heaton branch. The new venue is being launched by Matt Mitchell, co-founder of Durham-based Fika Coffee Roasters, and local 'coffee influencer' Charlie Doyle and their focus is upon quality, sustainability and ethical trade.

Lagom - in Monk Street, in the heart of the city's Grainger Town - will be serving up a global range of brews, with a rotating selection of four coffees being available at any one time and using beans from top coffee-growing regions in the Americas and Africa which will also include the likes of Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil and Uganda. And it says this direct trade approach involving farmers and their families both ensures fair compensation for them and fosters an ethical supply chain.

Read More: Newcastle's Canny Goat closes as boss plans different direction
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Charlie, a former army veteran turned coffee influencer who now has around 15,000 social media followers, developed a love of coffee some years ago through using an espresso machine at home. And he went on to learn the trade at Fika Coffee Roasters, which Matt set up in 2020 and which supplies coffee to cafes and homes nationwide.

Ahead of their shop's June 29 launch, Charlie said: "We're excited to bring a unique coffee experience to Newcastle. Our focus is on quality, sustainability, and creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy." And fellow coffee lover Matt, whose own passion for the brew was born while working as a barista in Melbourne, added: "We want Lagom to be a place where people can discover great coffee and connect with each other.

"We look forward to sharing our passion with the community." And their intention is to create something of a community hub there, with plans for Lagom to offer educational sessions in 'cupping' - the art of tasting and evaluating flavours and aromas - and brewing methods as well as host future community events, such as latte art throw-downs.