Strangers
with coffee
Tucked away in St Cuthbert’s Street in Wells (Somerset) is a fabulous cafe which offers wonderful coffee, fantastic food and an amazing level of service which you just don’t get in most cafes and coffee shops.
Tucked away in St Cuthbert’s Street in Wells (Somerset) is a fabulous cafe which offers wonderful coffee, fantastic food and an amazing level of service which you just don’t get in most cafes and coffee shops.
Ivan
and Susan Hewitt who run Strangers with Coffee are a lovely couple who do
everything from serving and making a range of excellent coffees (Ivan) to
baking the cakes and cooking all the food from scratch (Susan.) They both clear
tables and assist customers in any way they can and just show a dedication to
their business that many people could learn from.
The
menu boasts lots of lovely, local produce, including the bread from Burcott
Mill (another local business.) As well as Ivan’s brilliant coffee, you can also
get a variety of different tea, soft drinks, beer, lager and wine. Whether you
want cake, breakfast or a hearty lunch, you can find it all at Strangers with
Coffee. Susan’s homemade cakes are extremely popular and sell out fast and are
the perfect accompaniment to Ivan’s barista skills.
Breakfast
options include scrambled egg, boiled eggs, croque monsieur or madame, bacon
sandwiches and many other tempting breakfast delights. All the food is sourced
locally and cooked perfectly.
Lunch
can be anything from a mouth watering sandwich or wrap (made when you order, no
plastic wrapping here) to a delectable homemade frittata with mint glazed
potatoes and fresh leaves. There are beautifully written blackboards with the
day’s specials and they are happy to be flexible while making the dishes. (I
was fussy and did not want a horseradish sauce and Susan was happy to leave
that out.) This is the beauty of having food made from scratch. Alongside the
fact that the food is not processed, it can also be made to the specification
of the customer. (Within the bounds of reason and what is being offered, of
course.) Sadly, in the chain cafes, there is not often that choice. Vegan and
gluten free options are also catered for at Strangers with Coffee.
The
unique and faultless decor helps to add a special ambience to this well hidden
gem. The decor is interesting with a lot to look at but still managing to look
clean and fresh. The artwork, coffee related memorabilia and uncluttered wooden
chairs and tables allow for a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. There is a small courtyard out the back with
lovely seating and tables for capturing the sunny weather and if you wish to
sit and people watch, there are high stools and tables in the window. Even the
toilet, which is out the back through the courtyard, has a very nice seaside
theme. It is hard to keep a public toilet looking nice, but this one is.
Attention
is paid, not only to taste, but also to presentation. Ivan has perfected the
latte art and Susan never brings out anything that does not look totally
fabulous. The way a pot of tea is
presented, with a teapot, cup and saucer and a little timer, is a lovely
touch.
If
you are visiting Somerset, or live there, take time to pop into Wells and visit
Ivan and Susan’s brilliant cafe. It is worth a visit and I guarantee you won’t
be disappointed. My son and his wife live near Wells and introduced me to
“Ivan’s” and I always include a couple of trips to Ivan’s when I am visiting.
 |
| WHEN YOU GET YOUR COFFEE BEFORE YOUR SON!!! |
