Coffee Snob Blog

In a nutshell:

-Colombian themed coffee bar offering something different in Milton Keynes

-laid back, timeless and authentic – pop here for a quick meeting, or spend the afternoon nursing a long black coffee

-leading the way – Milton Keynes’ first independent specialty coffee shop

“Upon entering its doors you become enveloped by its warm Colombian tunes and its sweet aromas – a welcome break to the strident business tones outside”

Being in Milton Keynes for a week, I was hard pressed to find a coffee shop that wasn’t a chain. Housing one of the UK’s busiest shopping centres, I was disappointed to find there wasn’t an independent specialty coffee shop inside, for it is perfect pickings for hungry caffeine seekers. After doing a bit of digging, I was thrilled to find Bogota Coffee which is about a 10 minute walk from the main shopping centre. Situated in an industrial complex, the rustic edge of Bogota Coffee is a surprising contrast to its external parts, but upon entering its doors you become immediately enveloped by its warm Colombian tunes and its sweet aromas – a welcome break to the strident business tones outside.

They set up in 2013 importing coffee from Bogota (the capital of Colombia), and then went into opening their very own coffee shop in 2014. It’s Colombian/British owned and is Milton Keynes’ first speciality coffee shop.

The coffee:

The coffee is seriously good. They serve seasonal Colombian single origin coffee and the beans are roasted at Rave Coffee in the Cotswolds. Each month they have a guest bean from different origins and roasters across the world, and you can have it the traditional way via espresso machine, or via their extensive brew bar (which also features the Aeropress). I had a flat white which was perfect, and my friend who is Colombian had a black coffee and gave it her seal of approval.

The food:

The food on offer will take care of lunch and breakfast, with a good selection of cakes and pastries too. Breakfast is a modest affair, with the likes of porridge, yoghurt, toasties and bagels, and lunch offers a selection of fresh sandwiches, paninis, wraps and a seasonal salad bowl. Click here to see the menu. Note they are fully licensed and serve cocktails, beer and wine.

All in all:

“they have forged some sort of alchemic magic in transporting a bit of Colombia back to Milton Keynes…I couldn’t think of anywhere more fitting and more necessary for this chink of Bohemia than in Milton Keynes”

Bogotá Coffee is a real place of originality in Milton Keynes. Being the first independent specialty coffee shop here, they could have easily gone down the route of replicating the standardised minimalist modern coffee shop design – something passers by are likely to recognise and trust – and still have created a storm; but they have honourably held onto their principles and their passions to make Bogotá Coffee a real unique find. With their flair for music, for taste and atmosphere, they have forged some sort of alchemic magic in transporting a bit of Colombia back to Milton Keynes. So curl up, get a book, and get ready to dive into this timeless airlock. I couldn’t think of anywhere more fitting and more necessary for this chink of Bohemia than in Milton Keynes.

Things to know:

-30 mins away from London

-WiFi

-outdoor seating

-wheelchair accessible

-toilets

-alternative milk options

-plug sockets

-car park outside (or free parking at Sainsbury’s underground car park nearby)

-10 minute walk from the main shopping centre

–Opening Hours: 7am-6pm (Mon-Thurs); 7am-9:30pm (Fri); 9am-6pm (Sat); 9am-3pm (Sun)

–Address: Bogota Coffee Company, 4 Rillaton Walk, Milton Keynes MK9 2FZ

–Website: www.bogotacoffee.co.uk

Recommended things to do nearby:

–Xscape, Milton Keynes – there is no place like it. You can do everything here, from skiing, to skydiving, to trampolining, to the cinema to restaurants and bars…try and see if you can fit it all in a day

–Milton Keynes Theatre for no.1 touring shows, concerts and more

–Centre:MK – one of the UK’s top shopping destinations