'I tried out a new café hidden in an industrial estate and found a gem'

Cambridge is known for having an abundance of cafés so it is hard for new businesses to stand out. But when you have been roasting coffee since 1984 like Coffee World, it is likely that you will be serving up some of the best brew around.

The brand has been supplying coffee to businesses such as Café Foy and a few of the University of Cambridge's colleges for decades. The company only launched their own café, however, at the end of last year.

The Espresso Bar at Coffee World can be found on Cambridge Road in Milton hidden on an industrial estate. Even though the café's surroundings are not the most idyllic, when I recently visited I thought it had done a great job at creating a welcoming space.

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Even though it was a brisk day, I could imagine the spacious outdoor seating area would be great for enjoying a drink with friends in the summer. Inside, it is decorated with quirky posters and plants, giving it a refreshing vibe.

The café's food menu is currently quite small but it does offer a couple of toasties, cereal options, or toast with a few different jams. Hopefully, after Coffee World has settled into this new venture, it will be able to expand its menu.

As the brand behind the new spot is known for its sublime coffee, I decided to order a cappuccino with oat milk, which cost £4. I also went for the £9 Reuben-Ella toastie, which features mozzarella cheese, pastrami, and sauerkraut and is served with pickles and a side salad. A chocolate brownie caught my eye for £3.50.

For those who want a less caffeinated pick me up, there is also a range of loose leaf teas and milk or white hot chocolate.

I found a table in the corner of the café to start reading my book while I waited for my order. I visited on a Tuesday thinking it would be quiet but it was nice to see the café had quite a few tables filled with students chatting, friends catching up over a coffee, and a slightly exasperated mum finding some peace with a sweet treat.

When the toastie was placed before me I was pleasantly surprised at the sight - not all sandwiches are created equal.

The coffee was served in a small mug and displayed some immaculate latte art. The size of the brownie I was given was also very generous, and it could have easily been shared between two people.

The toastie's flavour didn't let me down either. It was a cheese-lovers dream with the mozzarella oozing out of the sides. The pastrami was well seasoned and paired wonderfully with the other fillings.

I appreciated the addition of the pickles, as their tangy, sour flavour cut through the rich meat and cheese. The leafy side salad had a balsamic glaze drizzled over it and was a nice healthy footnote to the meal.

To wash it down, I had a sip of my cappuccino, which was strong and had a slight bitterness to it. If you are not a fan of watered down coffees from chain cafés, the Espresso Bar is the place to go for a more flavourful cup of coffee.

The café ended things on a high note thanks to the delicious brownie. It had a satisfying crispy top that crackled as I dug my fork into it.

It was soft and light but had the right amount of fudginess to make it taste decadent. The chunks of milk chocolate dotted throughout the brownie added to its texture and even though it definitely could have been shared, there was no chance I wasn't going to finish the entire thing!

The whole experience was well worth travelling out of Cambridge for. The café might not be in the prettiest area but as it is only a five minute walk away from Milton Country Park, it is the ideal place to visit after a winter walk to warm yourself up with a hot drink.