Pages Coffee House — Restaurant in Cambridge

As an independent judge in a local Cambridgeshire magazine's Food & Drink Awards, I was honoured to visit and "judge" Pages Cafe following their opening in 2024.

Before sitting down to thoughtfully choose a winner, I was revisiting my write-ups from the previous year, and while I reminisced that choosing just 1 from the 2023 shortlisted was “VERY difficult, because all 3 were so different”, it was almost a bigger challenge this year because all 3 were somewhat similar in their impact on, and how much they are all loved in their respective communities.

Ultimately however, and by my own criteria and standards, and by the very definition of Coffee Shop - the winner and my favourite had to go to Pages Coffee House on Trumpington. I’ve been back many (MANY) times since, and in many ways like our winner did last year, Pages ticked, and continues to tick all the boxes in the category of Tearoom / Coffee Shop of the Year.

Consistently good coffee, excellently executed by a barista trained team. Even with a significantly smaller repertoire than the others, the menu has freshly made, high quality baked goods at expectedly Cambridge prices.

The only box it could not tick was that these are brought in, not baked in house like those I visited in Fenstanton and Willingham cafés - still fresh and delicious - every time.

Alongside the coffee menu, Pages also has unique offerings such as matcha, turmeric, and beetroot lattes. You cannot take a poor shot in any corner, whether it’s with your pup, your newborn baby, your college peers, professor, or your girlfriend. It’s a place that pulls you in out of the rain, holds you while you dry off, and warms you up in its lofi indie playlist.

Being a neighbourhood community Coffee House is Jasmine Jayyousi’s and her team's primary focus, and passion, and it shows.

It’s what they do, and who they are, and it’s why they won my vote in 2024.

Just a 5 minute drive from Cambridge city centre, CB1, a 12 minute walk, mere 3 minute bike ride, it is wheelchair accessible with seating both indoors and outside in a small, but lovely courtyard. Unlike the village coffee shops we visited, this one is located in Cambridge, and although parking may not be far, it might be dear. I highly recommend the walk or cycle if you can, and if you...

Sorry but I have to do it.

In this day and age having a restriction on laptops from 8am-11am is ridiculous. A book can be read or a tablet can be swiped to infinity, however laptop use in a student city no less, is almost prohibited.

I didn’t mind as much after I received my coffee and brownie when the staff member told me we don’t allow laptops at this time (ofc I did mind and was in denial when I saw their sign, almost thought it was a joke), but then to be told a second time by another staff member of this policy after I had closed my laptop bothered me. I ordered an oat latte as well but was given dairy at first, so also great if I had an allergy, hehe whoops I guess.

The brownie was actually nice and so was the oat coffee when I got it, however their coffee is Monmouth so it’s hardly an accolade attributable to Pages that the coffee is good.

Overall it’s a repackaged Hot Numbers without the warmth; from the table numbers, selling art on the wall and even some former disgruntled HN staff to serve us. Even HN seemingly dropped their laptop policy on the weekends (at least they had designated tables to round us up to).

I tried a new coffee house, it failed,...

After 4 museums in 2 hours and with the Fitzwilliam Museum still to go, a coffee and a slice of cake seemed the required restorative. So imagine our delight to find this little jewel of an establishment, so handily placed on our path - almost directly across on Trumpington Street. The drinks - a mocha for me and a hot chocolate for my son - were velvety heaven; mocha is so hard to blend, but this one was had the right amount of coffee crema and just enough chocolate to sweeten but not overpower the coffee. Alongside these we shared a slice of the most divine fudge brownie - there was actual liquid fudge oozing from its centre - I've had (at least) this year. The two young women, who appeared to be the proprietors or co-managers were also completely charming and very hospitable; excellent hosts: They were warm and smiled as they worked. This is a new venue but I have no doubt with its immaculately tasteful decor and brilliant location to add to its excellent menu and service, it will soon become a firm, firm favourite for locals and visitors...