Java Bar Espresso

This is one of my favourite coffee houses in Manchester!
The service is always so customer focused, very friendly and happy with each customer.
The coffee is really nice– quite smooth and they make it exactly how you want it.

I’ve made a habit of coming here with a friend before we teach 9am tutorials, and I can say it’s well worth the waking the extra 20mins early.
We usually have some sort of coffee (latte, cappuccino, espresso — all fantastic) whilst my friend may order breakfast. Although I don’t claim to be knowledgeable about coffee, the coffee is super; nice and strong which is how I like it.
I enjoy the alternative deco it boasts and, despite being busy, have always found a place to sit and relax a bit.
I have also once eating lunch here, it was pretty good and not bad value for money.

From a café just next to a train station you would expect crowd, queues, chaos at rush hours and staff too busy to even look at you, let alone smiling while serving you! Yet, what was waiting for me this morning beyond the door of Java Bar Espresso it’s exactly the opposite.
The place is tiny and cozy, and I immediately fell in love with the vintage décor. Still, there’s no doubt that I’ve had the best breakfast since I’ve moved to Manchester. My caffe latte was superb, so creamy! Just as if I were back to Italy. The choice of sweets and cakes is so wide that I had to stop and reflect for a while; I eventually opted for a chocolate muffin, excellent, especially thanks to its light amaretto flavour. Their selection of savoury seems very interesting as well, and I’m looking forward to pay this place a visit around lunchtime.

Java is the reason that, where possible, I will choose to travel from Oxford Road or Victoria rather than Piccadilly. It’s so much nicer than Costa, Starbucks etc.
I usually just get a latte or a flat white with a croissant (as I did this morning). They warm the croissant in the sandwich press which is a really nice touch: means you don’t have to eat cold croissant or deal with the rubbery texture that comes from microwaving.
On another occasion I had a strawberries and cream muffin that was incredibly delicious, much better than I was expecting. A total sugar bomb of course, but sometimes that’s what you want.
They sell all manner of things other than coffee and sweet treats though, including sandwiches, cheese, wine, nibbles. Next time I’m having a day out on the train I think I might get a load of stuff from here and have a train picnic!
I’m dropping one star because:
a) as a downside of selling so many different things, it’s a bit confusing. This might be part of its charm but does mean it can be a bit stressful if you’ve got 5 minutes until your train and you just need caffeine and carbs right that second
b) there’s a 50p charge on card payments under £5. Not a huge complaint but a bit annoying if you never have cash on you

Happened upon this café whilst waiting to meet someone for lunch. Great little spot, has a Parisian flair about it. Décor maybe feels a tad contrived, but nothing super cheesy. Cosy inside seating with tables outside as well. Got a Café con Leche and was delicious. Will definitely come back when in the area.

Quite surprised that the amount of times that I visited this place during the past year I still haven’t still reviewed this place. Since going to java Bar Espresso it has become an love affair. This place definitely does great tea/​coffee.

Coincidences like this, where an accomplished, independent coffee shop such as Java should share its boundaries with the iconic Cornerhouse, restore my faith in the goodness of this world.
Thanks to the student who did that experiement yesterday at the Uni of Manchester and caused all of Sackville Street to be cordoned off, I got to visit Java for the first time ever.
I got a capuccino and I was impressed straightaway by a very little gesture from the barista. He asked me if I wanted chocolate sprinkles on my coffee. I don’t like chocolate sprinkles on my capuccino and this little kind gesture from the barista was very touching.
The café has character, lots and lots of it and manages to be away from it all, despite being in the thick of it. As Jonny mentioned, it’s great for sitting inside and outside and people watching.
However, the ultimate verdict about the usefulness of a coffee shop lies in the coffee. As far as Java goes, the proof is in the pudding (or coffee, in this case). My capuccino had great aroma and was very well balanced. The coffee was rich and strong without being overpowering, whilst the milk gave it that hint of sweetness without dilluting the overall flavour of the coffee.
A few more trips and I might upgrade Java to a 5*.
As with everywhere else, I sincerely hope they continue to maintain these levels of service and quality.
As things stand, I am definitely going back!

I’m quite surprised I’ve never reviewed this place as I really love it, it’s a great spot just by Oxford Road train station and is much more than the sum of its parts!
Some of the reasons it kicks ass:
1. Great coffee and decent prices, plus a good range of soft drinks and teas.
2. Great to take a load of in or outside with plenty of room for people watching.
3. With it being so close to the train station and my trains being delayed quite often it means you can shelter from the cold just that bit longer before having to make your way up to the windy platforms.
4. Friendly staff and chilled out clientele
5. It beats other train station options hands down for quality produce, the food always looks pretty good too.

I started having Java coffee years ago. I went to work by train every morning from 2008 and I always went to grab a coffee when the train was delayed or cancelled. It’s just such a lovely little spot for commuters. I love everything about this little Café: news broadcasting on TV, the cosy interior design, Hollywood inspired poster and flyers. I remembered the typical rainy time when I was sitting inside Java reading a metro and having a croissant with a cup of latte to make up the fact that my train had been cancelled and waiting time for the next one is 30mins.
I also purchase the bagged coffee for friends who are in love and no longer in Manchester anymore. It becomes the typical Manchester present from me to beloved friends.
A friend of mine who is a graphic design had paid a huge compliment on the logo design when she saw the take away cup. Although, my home is just a stone throw away from the shop and I still stock the coffee and the mugs from the store. I introduce this little café to many friends and colleague and everyone fell in love with Java instantly and becomes a regular to the café as well.
I love the flat white the most. This is the perfect combination of the aroma from the coffee bean and fresh milk. I also like the iced coffee and the wines there. The wine selection is excellent and with very reasonable price.

My relationship with Java has become a love affair. This place does dam good coffee. I neglected Java for quite some time (like 3 years!) — as I always went to its neighbour — The Cornerhouse (a great place to have a catch up with friends). I was prompted into going due to a visit to their sister café in Uppermill. This suburban Java was buzzing and rammed full with locals on a crisp sunny Sunday morning. My mother and I, always keen for a coffee after a Sunday stroll, couldn’t resist it’s enticing warmth. After rating the coffee so highly and seeing its popularity, naturally I chose Java over the Cornerhouse next time I wanted a coffee in the Oxford Road vicinity. It’s a great location, right in front of Oxford Road station’s doors. I have spent many hours in Java getting to grips with my challenging University course-​work. Java’s strong brew has fuelled many moments of philosophical inspiration (as well as hopeless confusion, but that’s not for here)
There’s one particular barista who is especially charming, i do enjoy his heart-​themed latte art, but i’d say in general the service is standardly pleasant. The quality of the coffee, however, is great. I personally like the flat white or the americano at Java — they give you pretty chunky mugs full of the stuff and I can’t stand over-​sized milky capuccinos. I want to be able to taste my coffee thank you. The flat white at Java is bigger than the likes of ‘Fyg and Sparrow’ or North Tea Power (where its served in a 8oz glass) but sufficiently strong. Java also offer ‘just good Java’ where, unlike an americano, they just let the coffee keep on dripping — providing you with a mighty caffeine kick. Its their signature drink — I’ve never tried it, but naturally I have the capacity to imagine and my coffee buddy tells me that its some strong stuff. One for a challenging day.
The ambience in Java I like, I enjoy their choice of up beat/​happy yet chilled music. I’m pretty sure I hear the same song every time I go and it always brings a smile to my face — despite the slightly offensive chipmunk voices involved. Just go, you’ll probably hear it too. I’d say the décor isn’t special, its a difficult space to work with (kind of triangular) they do their best bless ‘em. They’ve recently had a bit of a furniture rearrangement that has helped the situation a tad. As for the pricing, standard apart from the flat white which is expensive at £2.60. I usually opt for an americano when I’m there to study and approach the flat white with a more treat-​like status.
With regards to their food — I’ve never eaten at Java as I tend not to have the likes of sandwiches, quiche or focaccia for lunch and soup I don’t consider to be a meal (athlete needs) — but it looks tasty and the prices seem, again, standard. They also do ‘speciality boards’, pies, toasties, salads and ice-​cream! They offer granola and yoghurt for breakfast for around £2.50 if I remember correctly and they have a selection of Dorset cereals, pastries and fresh orange juice. Given that Java is also a wine bar and deli, it’s also a place to have a chin-​wag with a glass from their reasonably extensive wine-​list whilst munching on a savoury nibble. Coffee and cake is not all they have to offer. Yet, before long I’m going to give in and try their carrot cake — it looks divine.
All in all I’d say Java does the best coffee in that Oxford Road area (in my opinion, but I am fussy, I like my brew strong). Long day ahead? Take a walk to Java for some of their pure espresso, no funny business. Get back to me if the carrot cake tastes as good as it looks.

I love this little place. The coffee is strong just how I like it, service is fast and it’s a local independent business. All great things.
Great central location just by Oxford Rd train station with a nice selection of treats too. They also have a loyalty card, so I recommend getting one of those, along the same lines as the chains; buy a certain amount of coffee and eventually get one free.
Not a lot of people know that they also sell alcohol. I’ve sat outside once or twice last summer enjoying a glass of ice cold cava whilst people watching. Absolute bliss.

I’m not a coffee drinker but turns out Java also has plenty to offer in terms of sandwiches! Great selection including 3 types of hot sandwiches — panini, toasties and something like a piadina which I had that featured emmenthal, mozzarella, ham and tomato. Excellent! These are probably the best sandwiches I’ve seen around the Oxford Street area, and some are less than £3 so not too painful.
I also bought a bag of stroopwaffels, which of course are God’s gift to the biscuit. And I smelled some reblochon cheese, which so far I have resisted buying. I need to find somewhere in Manchester serving raclette or tartiflette…
Staff were very pleasant but I don’t know if I would bother sitting in here — it’s not a very cosy atmosphere (too much glass and natural i.e. grey daylight) although there are some comfortable looking leather armchairs so if you have time to kill before a train it’s ideal.

We had a nice coffee and hot sandwich for breakfast. Worth a visit if you are in the area.

This is a really nice spot for a bit of peace and quiet. A relaxing stop to recharge on a busy day.
The coffee smell is delightful on entry. It looks just like a Costa or Starbucks but then is much cheaper and has a lovely long bench sofa along one wall. The seats outside will be nice when we eventually get to summer.
A good place for a drink alone or with one friend.

It’s not often that I give a 5 Star Rating (about 10% of my ratings have been worthy of a fiver), however finding this gem of a coffee spot delighted my caffeine-​crazed hunger. Coming from the land of coffee (as I call Seattle… home to Starbucks and a couple other mega chain coffees), I’ve always steered away from coffee that is mass produced and tastes like burnt wood.
Since moving to the UK (Manchester, to be specific), it’s my personal duty to find proper coffee shops. Yes, it’s great that I can use my iPhone app at Starbucks, but why settle for blasé coffee (Costa, Nero, Starbucks, etc) when I can enjoy coffee made by someone who really cares about it, and makes an effort to provide good quality caffeine?
I admit that I found Java through another social media application (Foursquare…but don’t worry! I use both Foursquare and Unilocal equally! I don’t discriminate.), but I’m so happy I did!
The coffee tasted so good, the baristas were both extremely friendly and chatty, and the wifi was free. The coffee was so delightful I stayed for almost 3 hours and had another cup of coffee. I even opted to eat my lunch there, and that was just as delightful.
I will definitely be back here soon (if I can make myself walk further than Drip which is only 5 minutes away from my home…)

I think I have kept this place in business this weekend!
As I work for Robinsons Bakery i was at Manchester Markets in Piccadilly this weekend, and so were the lovely gents from Java. We managed to rack up three coffee loyalty cards and for being good customers Keith and Nigel gave us two for free! So myself and Adam Y paid their coffee house a visit on Sunday.
GREAT.
We are a bit obsessed with coffee and have whittled down most coffee shops to our choice of the best. This is now on the list.
The espresso is strong, black and super tasty without tasting burnt like some places serve.
The chairs are comfy and there is a great relaxed atmosphere.
There are descriptions of the coffees for people who may not know the difference between ‘Just Good Java’ and ‘Americano’.
The staff were lovely and friendly.
The only thing I would request is fresh whipped cream instead of the squirty kind.
Cannot wait to go back here!

There are three things I’ve realised/​have changed recently which have made me love one of my ultimate favourite Manchester coffee houses even more. Shall I count the ways?
1) I’m always a bit confused by the difference between eat/​drink-​in and takeaway prices. I had a long and analytical chat with someone I’m extremely fond of about it and sometimes having two prices can work in one’s favour, hence if you’re taking away you’re getting a pretty sweet deal. Often the tax addition to eating in is just obscene. But generally, I prefer things simple and straightforward, so, because as far as I can tell Java doesn’t have an eat-​in/​takeaway separation, I thank it. Don’t make me do maths. ‘Kay, thanks.
2) It had got to the point where I might as well have rolled into Java and said, ‘The usual,’ to be handed an Americano straight up. Yep, none of that milk and sugar for me. (Disclaimer: Before ELH found Unilocal she didn’t drink coffee. Now look at her. She’s a caffeine junkie shooting up drippy black tar.) But then onetime when I was having a regular Java morning, clicking away on this very laptop, people-​watching outside Oxford Road Station, I glanced at one of their coffee menus. And then that glance became a good hard read. Just Good Java? So this is… the strongest coffee on the menu? Stronger than an Americano? Basically a giant espresso with a tiny bit of water?
I’m game.
(To think, when my coffee habit first began a tiny cup of black Lavazza from Solomon Grundy would have me experiencing seizure-​level tremors.) My mid-​morning order was a nice cup of Just Good Java. It’s a miracle that I slept that night. This stuff is not for the faint-​hearted (literally. I mean that. I could feel my pulse racing and heartrate increasing dangerously) and does the job. End of. Ask for it if you dare. You’ve been warned.
3) Believe it or not, I’m far from all about coffee. Okay, so I’ve framed an Oatmeal ’15-​ish Things Worth Knowing About Coffee’ poster for my kitchen, I’m that much of a fan, but I’m a hippy at heart and I drink herbal tea like it’s going out of fashion. I remember being a tad disappointed upon entering for the first time Java and just seeing bags of Twinings laid out on the counter. But on my last visit… Mighty Leaf to the rescue! Allow me to explain — Mighty Leaf tea is on par with Teapigs; muslin-​type material bags held together with pretty white string, delicately packed with real proper leaves. Now this is more like it. If Java was perfect before, this ensures it’s got a spot reserved in Coffee House Heaven. But please don’t let it go there in my lifetime. It’s been around since I was 12 and it’s right on my bus route. I’ve still yet to try a proper breakfast or lunch here, so watch this space until I’ve ‘bean’ again! Bean? Been? Oh come on, you know you love it.

I went to Java for a coffee just a matter of hours ago, so I thought I’d see what Unilocal had to say about it. I enjoyed my coffee very much indeed, but I wasn’t expecting five Star reviews!
Further investigation has shown that Java has been assessed as a waiting area for Oxford Road station, and in those terms I couldn’t agree more, it’s a better café than one could possibly expect to find within a minutes walk of the platform. I also thoroughly agree about the coffee, which is nice and strong. None of that milky Starbucks lark.
However, it’s a bit boring inside, with one glass front and a uniform set of furniture. For the big five stars in my opinion you’d have to be looking at a little more, especially with some of the coffee shops Manchester has to offer, for example the nearby Trof or Love Saves the Day in the Northern Quarter.
Still, in the immediate area it’s the best coffee you can get. It may also be useful to note that their coffees are much nicer than those of the Cornerhouse Café and Bar, so if you’re thinking of meeting friends before a film or have time to waste before one, then I’d recommend popping around the corner to here rather than having one at the Cornerhouse itself. Also, if you find you’ve got unexpected time to waste and you haven’t got a book to occupy your coffee time, you can watch TV here which usually shows the news, and makes you feel better about being alone…

Every time I grab a coffee from Java, I remember that episode of Friends where Phoebe is busking outside Monica’s restaurant (Ja-​vu) singing «the foo-​ood here at Ja-​vu, will kill you!» Of course, that is a made-​up show. A fiction. The coffee here at Java won’t kill you. In fact it’ll invigorate you and make you feel all lovely and warm inside.
I suppose in a lot of ways I’m easily pleased when it comes to coffee. That is, I only really drink black coffee. Having said that, though, I am very particular. It has to be strong, but not just strong. It must too be fragrant, fresh and good quality. Well, Java delivers on all of these points, serving up a damn fine cup o’ coffee that Dale Cooper would certainly tell Diana about. In past experience, if a café can get a plain black coffee right, all their other twiddly coffees (lattes and the like) are good too. The boyf is a fan of their mocha (despite not liking coffee or chocolate…)
As pointed out by others, this is a good place for waiting for Oxford Road trains. Personally, I use it for a quick cup on the way to work every now and then. It’s one of the only things that makes my Monday mornings bearable.

For me, the mention of childhood holidays brings back memories of being pulled out of bed at 3am to beat the motorway traffic on the way to the airport/​ferry port, getting there at 5am and then sitting playing Tetris on my Gameboy for the next 5 hours until the departure of the plane or ferry.
Unfortunately I seem to have inherited the ‘must leave several hours early’ trait from my Mum and even though I live no more than a 30 minute bus ride from Oxford Road Station I often find myself with at least 30 minutes to kill here. The platforms are cold and the waiting area seats around 10 people, so Java is a much better place to kill time.
In my opinion the coffee sold by this little chain is actually much nicer (and importantly stronger) than that sold by the larger chains. It’s possibly a little bit cheaper too, which is strange seeing as railway station prices are almost always inflated. The sofas are comfy, and you can sit outside if you fancy a cigarette with your flat white. The music is relaxing, but is importantly not annoying elevator music. The staff are really really friendly, even if it is early on a Sunday morning. You can also catch up with the news on the TV screens, if you’re not too busy watching the commuters popping in for their morning caffeine fix or those running past the window with the hope of making the 09.46 to Blackpool North.