Housed in the striking, red-brick Victorian Dales Brewery building on Gwydir Street, Hot Numbers Coffee Ltd describes itself as “an independent single origin coffee roaster”. This may sound like a rather grand and intimidating title, but this café, with its rustic oak tables and art-adorned walls, is particularly homely and comfortable. The café attracts a range of genuine coffee lovers, from students working on laptops to mothers with children, and older couples with dogs in tow.

What makes Hot Numbers special is their on-site coffee-roasting machine, which allows them to experiment with different types of roast, and get it to the customers while it’s still as fresh as possible. A key feature of the café is the range of coffee-brewing methods on offer. Different filter-coffee options include pour-overs and syphons, as well as aeropress; with each of these methods bringing out different flavours in the coffee beans.  

It doesn’t stop there. Hot Numbers also serves espresso as you’ve never tasted it before: Nossa Senhora, a Brazilian blend described as “hazelnut and cinnamon with hints of liquorice”, or Sidamo, an Ethiopian espresso with “tangerine acidity, butterscotch and fudge-like sweetness with a delicate body”. These can be drunk on their own, or used as the base for cappuccinos and lattes, served in 3oz, 6oz, 8oz, or 10oz cups. A place like Hot Numbers is serious about its coffee, with an array of options available to the discerning palate, or those wishing to experiment.

During the daytime, it’s a busy café, with people absorbed in their laptops and papers, and soaking up the soft jazz and smells of freshly-brewed coffee. The café always has a selection of breakfast foods, cakes and light lunch options sourced locally from places like Fitzbillies, The Garden Kitchen and Afternoon Tease. A particularly popular choice is the bacon sandwiches, with soft white bread from the local Cobs Bakery, and thick, crispy bacon (from Northrop’s Butchers across the road) cooked to order, and filling the shop with its irresistible smell. 

Apart from the interest in high-quality coffee, Hot Numbers fuses art, music and coffee-house culture. The café has a small art gallery, displaying colourful artwork from Cambridge-based Williams Art Gallery. It also plays host to events like its popular drink ’n’ draw classes, chocolate and coffee tastings, Barista training classes, street food events, and gigs featuring jazz, blues and folk musicians. Did I mention that Hot Numbers has its very own piano? On Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, when it’s open until 10pm, the café transforms into a restaurant with a fully licenced bar serving craft beers and espresso martinis, the perfect accompaniment to an intimate live gig. 

There is no other place quite like Hot Numbers in Cambridge, with its friendly, relaxed atmosphere and top-notch, original coffee blends. Next time you get a serious caffeine craving, or just fancy a break from the Cambridge bubble for an afternoon, I’d highly recommend taking a trip down Gwydir Street and sampling what Hot Numbers has to offer.