It’s no secret that Britain is a tea drinking nation. According to the UK Tea and Infusions Association, 66 percent of us choose to quench our thirst with the beverage every day. However, the rising number of quirky independent coffee shops making an appearance on the British high street might be starting to dent the quintessentially English stereotype of being a nation of tea guzzlers.

Independent or artisan coffee shops began to pop-up in the UK during the mid-2000s. Unlike the national and international chains the independent coffee house has an intimate vibe. The baristas at these establishments appreciate that you have chosen to drink with them over the robots who appear to serve at the bigger, brasher outlets.

Over 1.7 billion cups of coffee are served in coffee shops in the UK each year. Two thirds of us prefer to buy our coffee outside of the home, this rises to three in four amongst the 16-24 age bracket (The Allegra Project Café: 2013).

The rise in popularity of the artisan coffee shop has been described as UK coffee culture’s ‘third wave’. This third wave focuses on the origin of the coffee bean and tells the story of its journey from field to cup. This third wave takes a step back from the ‘second wave’ which acknowledged the expansion boom of the big chains. Knowledgeable staff at the indie shops are brimming with information about the specific blend of the coffee and importantly how and why it was picked to use in their beverages. The passion about the products that are being sold makes a visit to an independent artisan shop a refreshing experience.

The Allegra Project Café suggested that the success of artisan shops is due to ‘brand fatigue’. Boredom with the big names and an increased interest in coffee quality over shop location has helped fuel this coffee revolution. In an age where we are more and more concerned with where our food and drink comes from it is no surprise that the independents are winning the British consumer over.

Astute attention to detail sets the indies above most chains. The often basic, minimal but quirky interior design of these quaint shops adds to their appeal. This accompanied by a scattering of selected cakes creates a relaxed and homely ambience.

A visit to the independent coffee shop is more than an intimate affair. The baristas provide an education with your favourite cuppa at no extra charge. It is not just information regarding the bean, blend and harvest that they are willing to impart. The servers get behind the science of coffee making too. They know that when the milk is steamed to optimum temperature its natural sugars break into smaller particles. This means you do not need to add extra sugar to your favourite latte, cappuccino or flat white.

There are more than 16,000 coffee shops in the UK, including caffeine giants; Costa, Caffé Nero and Starbucks who constitute 3,000 stores. If you fancy trying out an independent artisan coffee shop a tailor made coffee guide has been established which lists the very best.