
Hot Numbers Coffee
An independent coffee bar and micro-roastery known for its exceptional coffee, inventive brunch, and lively, artsy atmosphere.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Hot Numbers Coffee

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An independent coffee bar and micro-roastery known for its exceptional coffee, inventive brunch, and lively, artsy atmosphere.
"The best place in Cambridge for coffee and brunch – absolutely knockout in terms of quality and choices."
Weekday Visits Recommended
Avoid weekend crowds and seating issues, as laptops are restricted on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check Event Schedule
Look out for special events like writing classes and live music performances for an enhanced experience.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Cafe
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+44 1223 612209
Address
Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ, United Kingdom
Website
hotnumberscoffee.co.uk/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Exceptional Coffee and Brunch
Renowned for its micro-roasted coffee and thoughtfully crafted brunch menu, featuring unique dishes.

Vibrant Artsy Atmosphere
A cozy space filled with communal tables, live jazz music, and art for sale, perfect for relaxing.

Dog-Friendly Haven
A welcoming spot for both owners and their well-behaved canine companions.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Weekday Visits Recommended
Avoid weekend crowds and seating issues, as laptops are restricted on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check Event Schedule
Look out for special events like writing classes and live music performances for an enhanced experience.
Consider Parking
Parking can be challenging; public transport or walking is advised.
Ask for Vegan Options
Baristas are helpful in identifying vegan choices, though vegan pastries may be limited.
Tips
from all over the internet
Weekday Visits Recommended
Avoid weekend crowds and seating issues, as laptops are restricted on Saturdays and Sundays.
Check Event Schedule
Look out for special events like writing classes and live music performances for an enhanced experience.
Consider Parking
Parking can be challenging; public transport or walking is advised.
Ask for Vegan Options
Baristas are helpful in identifying vegan choices, though vegan pastries may be limited.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Hot Numbers Coffee is widely praised for its excellent coffee and delicious, creatively prepared brunch dishes. Diners appreciate the vibrant, cozy atmosphere and friendly service. However, some reviews mention overcrowding during peak times and a recent shift in policy regarding laptop use on weekends.
"If you’re looking for an unforgettable brunch or breakfast experience, this place is a must-visit. The brunch here is phenomenal—every dish is thoughtfully crafted and full of flavor.
I had an iced latte with honey that was just perfect, smooth, subtly sweet, and incredibly comforting. One standout was the chicken shawarma. The bread was unbelievably fresh, and the chicken was marinated to perfection. The pomegranate added a beautiful acidity that balanced out the savory spices in a way that felt almost gourmet.
The atmosphere is super cozy, making it a great spot to relax and enjoy your meal. On top of that, the prices are very fair considering the high quality of food and service.
Highly recommend this place for anyone who loves a good brunch done right."
Leena Al Debaawy
"This is the best place in Cambridge for coffee and brunch. It’s absolutely knockout in terms of quality and choices. Thoroughly enjoyed the granola and Turkish eggs. The coffees are exceptional and retail bags well-priced. Great atmosphere and slick service. When it’s busy it can be noisy, but I only notice that because I’m usually solo."
Sean Elder
"The barista was very helpful in explaining what was and wasn’t vegan. Just wish there were some vegan pastries but generally catered very well with many veggie options on the menu. I had the cold brew with it milk and the vegan bacon sandwich which was good if a little stingy on the bacon."
natasha Rode-Christoffersen
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Hot Numbers welcomes well-behaved dogs and their owners at its cafes.
Popular choices include the granola, Turkish eggs, and chicken shawarma. Pancakes are also a consistent favorite.
Laptops are not allowed on weekends to manage space and encourage interaction, but are permitted during weekdays.
Yes, the menu caters well to vegetarians with many vegan options available. Baristas can assist with identifying them.
Parking can be challenging in the area, so using public transport or walking is recommended.
Yes, Hot Numbers is also a live music venue, featuring a resident jazz trio and other performances.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
An Expert’s Guide To Cambridge’s Best Breakfasts And Brunches
Hot Numbers was a pioneer of the specialty coffee scene in Cambridge, and it’s universally beloved across the city, from decades-long residents to students. What makes the brunch menu stand out, says Adam, is “traditional meats and interesting plating.” Indeed, with dishes like Ras El Hanout lamb shoulder and grilled sea bass on offer from 7am onwards, it’s safe to say that Hot Numbers isn’t your typical breakfast spot. You won’t find anything from the freezer here, either.
CAMBRIDGE; A CITY GUIDE
If you follow me on Instagram then chances are you’ve seen a picture of mine from Hot Numbers Coffee. It’s one of my favourite places in Cambridge, I love spending an afternoon there working or reading and people watching, they have a great brunch menu and obviously great coffee too. What’s even better is that there are two locations in Cambridge to choose from, one on Gwyder Street & one on Trumptington Street and both are in great spots to explore more of the city as well as being within a twenty minute walk from Cambridge Train Station!
5 Cool Cafés in Cambridge, U.K.
Just a 10-minute walk from the train station, the original location of Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters is the perfect place to grab your first delicious coffee of the day, along with some tasty brunch offerings. Housed in a former Victorian brewery, the café (and the roaster itself) takes its name from a vanished record store on nearby Mill Road. An artsy vibe still fills the place, with communal tables where students and tourists share not only the space but also their personal stories, to the beat of a jazz soundtrack in heavy rotation.
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There's a cup of coffee and then there's a cup of HOT NUMBERS coffee. Serving up what many locals believe to be the best brew in the city, it's no surprise this local institution, which has branches in Gwydir Street and Trumpington Street, has been voted one of Cambridgeshire's best coffee shops. Along with the stellar blend, both branches serve up a buzzy atmosphere – perfect for students and locals alike, an ever-evolving menu and a fab programme of evening events.
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More generally, a challenger for best cafe in town is Hot Numbers – a popular spot to work in (!) or meet a friend (make sure to specify which site, as there is one on Gwydir Street, the other on Trumpington Street). Norfolk Street Bakery is getting something of a reputation for the quality of the cakes, also with two branches in town. The Fitzwilliam Museum café is a good meeting point, with an intellectual feel to it, although it is often quite busy.
A vegan's guide to Cambridge
Named after the Hot Numbers Record Store that once traded on the street adjacent to its first café, Hot Numbers is a well-loved Cambridge coffee shop and live music venue. With two cafés in the city, one in central and one just off Mill Road, it’s an easy place to visit whichever part of Cambridge you’re in. Both venues have a busy and vibrant atmosphere with two outstanding vegan options being served on the breakfast menu.
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Hot Numbers Coffee situated on Gwydir Street is just a short walk from Cambridge City centre, trust us it’s worth the mooch. This café is the definition of calmness so if you’ve got deadlines or assignments coming up, make this your go to. The space itself is large but still feels inviting and their drinks choices are just great, there’s a variety of different styles of coffee to choose from if you need a little wake up.
Eight cafés to try in Cambridge as a student before you graduate from university
Starting off strong with Hot Numbers, a coffee roaster and café offering seasonal menus. After seeing their aesthetic buttermilk pancakes on Instagram, I made sure to tick this one off my list in my first term in Cambridge. Although the flavours change, the pancakes appear to be a staple across the seasonal menus and I have just seen that the latest flavour is cherry bakewell, so I think I will be making a swift return.
Dog-friendly Cambridge | Cambridge with dogs
This independent coffee roasters has two cool cafes in Cambridge – in Gwydir Street and Trumpington Street – and both welcome well-behaved pooches. Dog and their owners are also welcome at Hot Numbers’ HQ, The Roastery, in nearby Shepreth, which puts on pizza nights ever Friday and Saturday. Another great place to get a caffeine fix with your dog in tow is Indigo Coffee House, in St Edward’s Passage.
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Really not sure what's happened to the breakfasts since my last visit in March?. The service and beverages are still very good, but, just bear with me to understand the cognitive dissonance I felt: Mid June - We were each presented with two slices of processed dry toast with two split sausages on one plate and two tiny badly presented poached eggs on the other. Each plate cost £7.25.
5 Best Coffee Shops in Cambridge
Another set of independent roasters are Hot Numbers Coffee, with 2 shops; one on Gwydir St, and the other on Trumpington St. this speciality coffee sellers places their focus on ethical and sustainable coffee, they drive for better coffee and a better living for coffee farmers, so you can feel good about yourself while having your favourite caffeine fix. www.hotnumberscoffee.co.uk
A dog-friendly day out in Cambridge
There are SO many dog-friendly cafes to pop into for a lighter bite too, including any Caffe Nero, or if you’re after a more unique experience try The Old Bicycle Shop, Stem & Glory, or Hot Numbers. We chose the latter on Trumpington Street for a quick stop in the afternoon to warm our bones with a vanilla chai tea – we love the modern, hygge decor here and the staff are lovely!
5 cool and cozy cafés in Cambridge ‹ EF GO Blog
Hot Numbers is an independent & friendly coffee house close to Mill Road. They offer drinks, sandwiches and cakes, freshly prepared and fabulously filling.This is a quiet place during the week so if you want to study or have a quiet lunch, Hot Numbers is your spot!. But if you are not really after a quiet corner, don’t worry; they also organize live music events on weekends.
10 Of The Best Cafes In Cambridge
A frontrunner of Cambridge’s now thriving café culture, Hot Numbers opened its first branch on Gwydir Street in 2011, and has since expanded with a second coffee shop on Trumpington Street and a roastery in Shepreth. All three outposts serve speciality coffee, tasty cakes and brunches, and the Gwydir Street café often has live music performances.
The 8 Best Gluten-Free Lunch Spots in Mill Road
Literally the best coffee I've ever had, a varied/sophisticated/rotating menu of savory/brunch items, and delicious cakes!. So many thoughtful details like SOUND INSULATION, a killer jazz playlist, and very sturdy tables makes this an absolutely exceptional establishment. My celiac boyfriend eats their gluten free food without problems!
12 Dog Friendly Restaurants in Cambridge (by a Local)
📍 Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ & 4 Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1QA. ⭐️ Rating: 5/5 | 🐶 Dog Friendly: YES | 🍝 See Their Menu!. Hot Numbers is a local cafe that has a couple of locations, with the Trumpington Street branch being more central and also having more tables if the outside space is in use.
14 Best Restaurants in Cambridge City Centre
Hot Numbers is a quaint chain of three independent eateries, two of which are in the centre of Cambridge and prove popular with the students. These central cafés rustle up some of the best brunch in Cambridge. Buttermilk pancakes are the signature dish with the option to go sweet or savoury.
Enjoy tea and cake in Cambridge
It serves the perfect coffee from a no-fuss, pared-down menu, and a tasty selection of cakes. It’s so good that there’s another one, right opposite The Fitzwilliam Museum on Trumpington Street, plus a newly-opened roastery, kitchen and bakery near Shepreth, a few miles outside the city.
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Named after the record store that once traded on the adjacent street, Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters is a must for caffeine lovers. The menu is split into two sections: black coffees or espressos with milk. Choose between filter, pour-over or nitro cold brew (great in the summer months).
Cambridge | Brian's Coffee Spot
Back then it was the one place that pretty much everyone had recommended to me in Cambridge. Café, single-origin roaster, music venue and, by association, art gallery, it had something for everyone and was pretty much the only speciality coffee place in town. How things have changed!
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The original shop (just off Mill road) is still going strong but there is also a second branch on Trumpington street. This is more central and ideal for a rest after a trek round the Fitzwilliam Museum across the road. They roast their own coffee beans from sources around the world.
12 Places to Have the Best Breakfast in Cambridge
Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ, United Kingdom. Hot Numbers Coffee is an absolute go-to spot for brunch in Cambridge, especially popular with students. The coffee here is consistently excellent, with a medium to dark roast level that satisfies coffee experts.
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Traditional meats and interesting plating make the brunch at Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters stand out, especially with their devoted customers. Then there is the fabulous coffee to wash it all down with. Ras El Hanout lamb shoulder and grilled sea bass are big favourites here.
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Hot Numbers Coffee combines jazz music with an atmospheric coffee shop experience. With a resident jazz band and a fantastic menu, Hot Numbers Coffee is ideal for anyone who wants to see and experience jazz music in a relaxed environment. Grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy!
Guide: Gluten Free Cambridge
Hot Numbers Coffee Roasters – This independent eatery is known for its incredible local Shepreth roastery coffee. They also serve a number of breakfast and brunch options across all of their shops. It doesn’t mention GF on the menu but I assure you they can cater.
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Dales Brewery, 5/6 Gwydir St, Cambridge CB1 2LJ or 4 Trumpington St, Cambridge CB2 1QA. Hot Numbers Coffee specialise in quality coffee. They say “t is our responsibility as a speciality roaster to select exciting yet ethical Arabica coffee for your cup.
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An independently-owned coffee shop with two locations in the city centre, Hot Numbers offer fresh coffee from their own roastery plus brunch options and different menu choices at each of their stores.
Best Breakfast And Brunch Spots In Cambridge
The decor inside is amazing and there’s a wonderful outdoor space too. We love visiting the Shepreth venue because you can see the pizzas ovens and bread baking whilst you’re enjoying your breakfast.
24 hours of the Best Food in Cambridge -
Coffee lovers should visit Hot Numbers who roast their coffee beans from sources around the world. More places for breakfast in Cambridge here.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit