Leeds Coffee Tour, Part Two: Laynes Espresso

Laynes Espresso

I have been recommending Laynes Espresso to people for almost two years, despite never having visited myself. That’s how good a reputation the place has built. So this weekend, I righted myself by visiting Laynes not once, but twice: on Friday evening, post-train, and again on Sunday afternoon, pre-train. The proximity of Laynes to Leeds Station makes it especially ideal for grabbing good coffee to go, and trade can be pretty brisk as a result.

Laynes Espresso opened in 2011 and is headed up by Dave Olejnik – look out for the one with the impressive beard. In opening Laynes, Dave drew inspiration from the independent coffee scene in the US, something he got to experience first hand in his former job as a guitar tech, and later as a coffee trainer. He and barista/chef Carl Fleischer (who has, quite literally, been on board since day one) have over a decade’s worth of experience in the coffee industry between them, and it shows. Laynes has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and the staff seem to be a close-knit bunch.

On Friday evening, I ordered a cup of the El Salvador San Jose, roasted by Square Mile. It was sedate and smooth, with a subtle orange-y kick, and it went very well with a slice of the stem ginger loaf cake as recommended by the baristas. I also bought a box of freshly roasted Drop Coffee, the Gikirima AA from Kenya, to take home with me.

On Sunday afternoon, I was very naughty and ordered a split shot. This was naughty of me as I am not supposed to drink milk. (Hence Black Coffee and Other Stories.) I have no regrets, however – the espresso itself was delicious, the milk drink too, and the whole thing was just beautifully presented. I’ll fit in another trip to Laynes as soon as I can.

Laynes Espresso
16 New Station Street
Leeds
LS1 5DL

www.laynesespresso.co.uk

This piece was originally published on blackcoffeeandotherstories.wordpress.com in December 2014.