Two on-site roasters: Artisan Roast's own production roastery and Williams & Johnson, pouring and roasting from the same room at Customs Wharf.
Worth going out of your way
Five single origins to smell before you commit to a cup or a bag, and an owner who can talk through swiss-water decaf extraction unprompted. The knowledge is the product.
Williams & Johnson roast on-site at Customs Wharf and pour from the same room. Leith regulars come back for the coffee despite the service, which tells you what you need to know.
Artisan Roast's own roastery, with espresso good enough to be the standing favourite of regulars who have been to most of Edinburgh's specialty cafes.
Good if you're nearby
7 Brunswick Pl
Sells its own beans and pulls a solid espresso. The neighbourhood option in Leith for anyone who wants a coffee identity behind their cup.
Specialty coffee and homemade focaccia on Queen Charlotte Street, with a Scottish-Italian character that sets it apart from other Leith neighbourhood spots. The seasonal menu is short and well-judged.
This Leith breakfast spot takes its espresso seriously: light-roast aromatics, sweet and fruity, low bitterness. The owner rotates the beans and knows what's in the hopper.
Leith locals come back for the lattes. A solid independent that earns its repeat trade on the coffee, not the novelty.
167 Leith Walk
A flat white worth the detour, from an independent that keeps the quality steady without making a performance of it. The latte art is done properly.
The latte art at Rocksalt is a consistent house standard, not a happy accident. The kitchen earns equal billing, so come hungry.