When you're newly arrived in Edinburgh (two months counts still, don't tell me it doesn't) and haven't found work yet, things like going out for coffee seem like the only kind of luxury you can afford. The disappointment arrives after the coffee turns out to be...eh...well... that sort of response. If I don't close my eyes and give out a long contented sigh when the coffee first passes my waiting lips, I won't subject my mouth to further torment. Luckily for those of us in the Toll Cross hood, Machina is the kind of coffee you close your eyes to enjoy. It's pretty obvious when you step in there: the boards showing you the different methods of brewing, the shiny pretty espresso machines for sale, the long time it takes them to make your cappuccino. There aren't many seats, in fact it's probably bigger than your living room. Not mine, mine is tiny, which is why I sit in Machina as long as I can milk my hot beverage. But it's cool people watching for those few who do get to sit because lots of meadows-meanderers come through for to-go options, and the long uncomfortable minutes while they wait make them antsy and squirmy (it somehow feels wrong to pull out your phone here, so these people mostly just stand there, reading about espresso machines, trying not to look at anyone else) and it's pretty funny. And I've seen DOGS inside, which gives them BONUS stars. read more

Lovely little place for a quick coffee and a pastry on a Sunday morning or any time of the day really. The interior is quite simple with pictures on the walls that give the place the right touch of colour. I love the view towards the tea pots and coffee machines behind the counter. So colourful! The location is ideal near the Meadows. The staff is very friendly. Toilets are clean. I had ordered a cafe latte and a pastry. Both tasted delicious. Sometimes the floor started to shake, but I assume this is from the coffee machine. Not much space so and if you prefer a private conversation I would suggest to move to the corner in the back, otherwise be ok with people listening into your conversations :-) Enjoy! read more

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I don't get a chance to come here often but when I am in the area I definitely make an effort to head here for a coffee. It's the best in the area. They often have a choice of espresso which is a nice touch and great if you want to mix it up. Coffee is expertly made and up there with the best in the city. It's also a reasonable spot for a bit of lunch. I came in for a Union of Genius soup (a rather lovely Mexican bean) and a long black. It's not a huge venue but it's bigger than other coffee places and feels like a place you can sit and linger with a laptop or a book whilst sipping espresso. Nice selection of cakes and pastry. Special mention to the selection of coffee gear. I don't know of anywhere else you can buy specialist consumer coffee grinders; they also have a section of colourful cups. Definitely check it out for home baristas. read more

Machina Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

For the Nicolson St Location: FOOD 4// SERVICE 4// AMBIANCE 5 First off -- the planning that went into the setting of this location (seats , interior design) is amazing. It is super aesthetically pleasing and minimal. I was amazing at the fact that the bathroom was designed with extreme accessibility and environmental consciousness. It is cozy and the perfect spot to do some work in or catch up with a friend (still intimate). Now , I got a cappuccino and cinnamon bun (recommended by the barista over the almond croissant) and I LOVED the cappuccino! It was so smooth and the espresso had a depth to it -- almost sweet. It was also not too milky and was presented beautifully. The cinnamon bun packs in a ton of flavor and even tastes better than it looks. A friend and I sat in the cafe for almost 4 hours working on projects -- the wifi is fast, there are lots of outlets and the playlist is on point. Thoroughly enjoyed this cafe and cannot wait to go back and try some more sweets or even their sandwiches (the vegan one looked amazing!) read more

Machina Espresso - Cappuccino & cinnamon bun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Fantastic coffee, I would hazard to say best coffee in the Tollcross area in fact. With a selection of beans from local(ish) roasters Steampunk, there really is something for everyone. In case you're feeling peckish, there's a selection of pastries on offer, of which I can vouch that the almond croissant is amazing! Not only do they have great coffee & pastries, they also sell all the coffee kit you need to make a great cuppa joe at home. They also run brew method classes which would make a great gift for the coffee aficionado in your life! The walls are often adorned with art from local artists which is a great showcase of local talent. It was super quiet the day I went in so there wasn't much of an atmosphere or vibe. Although with seating for about 10 and no soft furnishings to absorb any noise, I can imagine it could get quite loud when they're busy. read more

Machina Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

Fresh as a daisy, as it's just opened! The coffee is stunning, they use a small range of roasters including dear green and steam punk. On the topic of coffee, I've had 2 flat whites here all ready and both went with no sugar! That is something for me not to have ANY sugar in my coffees. It's just got a nice balance about it. Not too much, not to bare. read more

I've been to dozens of artisan coffeeshops and this has to be near the top of the list. The staff is awesome, food is good, coffee is amazing, and it usually isn't too busy. Can't wait to go back! Cheers read more

Fantastic. They are passionate about coffee and it shows. They source some of the best beans in the city. Their excitement for the coffees they find comes through in each chemex. It takes a while to brew the way they do but it's worth it. I had an Ethiopian Konga that tasted of blueberries and I kept coming back for more. If you are looking to buy beans they have a great selection and are able to help you pick some great coffee. read more

We had an amazing morning stop here. Pastries and flat whites. They served the BEST coffee we've had in any shop. The flat white was made perfectly, and the coffee was quality. The service was great, and if you get a pastry, you'll think you're in Paris. There are a couple tables, but it fills up quickly. We were lucky enough to nab a window table the first trip at 10 am. The afternoon was so full, we just grabbed coffee to go. Yes, we returned in the afternoon when our feet hurt. We wish we had had one of their sandwiches. They are made fresh daily, and all looked incredible. read more

I've mainly had takeaway coffee from this little diamond of a cafe and I must admit that it's pretty solid. Their flat white is very well made and the cakes etc are nicely complimentary and well priced. There are lots of nice coffee things to look at while you wait for a takeaway coffee or alternately chat to the lovely staff members about the weather or coffee or something! Great for a last minute birthday aeropress or some sort of super expensive pouring kettle if that's what you're after. Great location and nice feel to it. read more

Fabulous coffee shop in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh! We pretty much popped in here every morning of our stay in the city. The same guy was there every morning and I was super impressed he remembered our order from the day before on the second day we came in! Now that is great service! In addition to really good coffee they have a selection of tasty treats to nibble on such as bagels, cakes etc. They are heavy handed with the cream cheese side that we ordered with the bagels, so we never ran out or had to scrimp on our smearing. Wish we had a shop like this in our hood, it totally rocks! read more

Machina Espresso - Really good Americano. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Edinburgh, EDH

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One of the newest additions to the Tollcross scene, Machina is only small by its size. Fabulous coffee, good cakes, great service! And you can buy all your coffee geek gadgets as well. read more

Small but perfectly formed and a great addition to Tollcross with options to sit in and take-away. Fab coffee (latte was £2.30) and a whole host of sweet delights to tempt too. Staff on today weren't sure what was GF but my coffee was so good, I stayed for two. If you fancy a savoury option, there's soup (vegan option). Great place to come for all your coffee kit - from filters, cups and saucers to high spec machines, its all here. Well worth a visit and I'm sure I'll return. read more

Have visited Machina Espresso a few times and every time the coffee is amazing. The guys really know their stuff and I learn something new about coffee each time I visit. Not only they have many types of coffee they also have a couple of different coffee blends to choose from. read more

Machina Espresso has absolutely delicious coffee! When I was headed to the Meadows Festival and the rain moved in temporarily, we made a beeline here to take shelter - it was a great excuse to try their coffee! They not only have high quality hot coffee but also iced coffee that is really spot on. The space is small and we got one of the last tables. It's cosy but it's a cute place with a great selection of coffee-making kit and gadgetry if you're further inspired to see if you can beat their coffee-making skills at home. The selection of baked goods looked tasty, too. Machina Espresso lived up to and surpassed my high expectations! read more

As I reach the end of my loyalty card I just realised I haven't reviewed my favourite coffee shop in town... Often otherwise fantastic coffee shops fail when it comes to soya milk. From the blatantly burnt to the unappealing curdles left in the base of the cup, I often come out disappointed by a mediocre/awful cup of overpriced coffee. Machina Espresso is a small and unassuming little place positioned close to the meadows and the indie shopping/dining area of Tollcross. There are a few tables to sit and the temperature inside is always pleasant. There is fast wifi. On offer is a good variety of coffee, from the flat white and cappuccino through to the Chemex. The store also sells various apparatus with which you can make your own coffee at home. For those people who want tea there are some interesting options, including Hazelnut tea. Concentrating on what they do best, they leave baking etc to other professionals. The cakes are taken from Manna bakery and the soup is taken from Union of Genius (though this is starting to annoy me, why can't all these cafes make their own soup? Why is this brand so ubiquitous?) The soya cappuccino and espresso here are the coffee world-equivalent of crack. There is one barrista who has absolutely perfected the use of soya milk in cappuccino and is able to make those pretty coffee art designs without making a mess, as so often happens. The temperature is perfect, the coffee art is beautiful and the taste is other-worldly. I am not exaggerating. I am having to work night shifts in my final semester of university to pay for this addiction. I have been spoilt for life. No other soya cappuccino will ever taste this good. read more

First step for my exploration of independent cafés in Edinburgh : Machina. Fortunately, it is not far from the center, and not crowded (for the two times I went there). There is wifi, not loud music, and the decoration is cosy and simple : perfect for a nice chat, reading or working. The coffee is as good (the flat white !), as the pastries, and there's always a vegan and non-dairy option. read more

Seriously good coffee here! I ordered an americano and it was perfect with the right amount of strength. Overall the place is cozy and quite

So you walk into a coffee shop which is selling itself on its coffee, from the name Machina Espresso, to the decor of shelves upon shelves of caffeination infusion devices. You ask if you can get a pour over and they say they can't do them.. to be honest I stood there a little confused for about 3 seconds as I could see no less than 3 methods of pour over / filtration without turning my head. Shelves stocked with swan neck kettles, chemex, v60, aeropress and syphon filters surround me but they don't do any of them. I couldn't have been more sorely disappointed if I'd tried. read more

Bought a coffee (Americano) to go Alarm bells should have rung when I was asked how much water I wanted in it. It was without any doubt the worst cup of coffee I have ever had - EVER had. That includes 'coffee' from Klix vending machines. Had to pour it out ! Don't expect that from an establishment that appears to market itself as a credible boutique style coffee shop. AVOID - you'd be far better going to Starbucks or anywhere else really. read more

They've got great hand pulled espresso, and the chemex is great for sitting in. A nice selection of beans from local roaster Steampunk, and more coffee paraphernalia than you could fit into one flat. read more

Really nice coffee! It was a little messy. The pastries and coffee were great though, would recommend!

I love Machina. Particularly love that they allow dogs inside and have wifi. They have basic outdoor seating for those 5 sunny summer days, too. At which point they serve iced coffees, which I quickly became addicted to last spring/summer. Good neighborhood spot, too. They need to get their electricity outlets updated, however, because there is nowhere to charge your laptop when it gets low so you either have to carry around a battery to charge your devices, or you have to leave. So, that's not awesome for sitting and working in a cafe all day, but that's not always the reason to go here, anyway. I love their coffee and I love their relaxed attitude and the fact that if you are interested in getting educated in the world of coffee, they are fantastic and offer courses. Lots to look at by way of machines & devices for making your coffee at home, too. Clean lay out, lovely cookies. They need a bit more solid lunch options - for when you are actually hungry and not just peckish. Not a lot, because it's a tiny kitchen and 2 things done REALLY well are better than 8 done poorly, but at the moment they are neither here nor there on the food options. Room for improvement, however, and I know they are great people. Love the spot near the Meadows, I frequently came here before or after taking my dog for a Meadows walk, and I loved meeting friends here. Quiet and lovely. They also feature artwork on the walls that you can buy and it is usually really entertaining. I love that about them, too. Highly highly recommend. read more

This is the best coffee I have found in Edinburgh. It's clear that the staff really cares about the quality of the coffee as well as the tiny subtleties involved in making perfect espresso. There's free wifi, and reasonably priced soup as well. read more

Really horrible, cheap, bitter coffee and I say that with genuine authority, as a trained barista and owner of my own coffee shop. Also food is seriously overpriced and service is quite slow. Really disappointing, have given it plenty of chances but is just horrible coffee and I know a lot of people that live nearby who agree read more