44 Poets — Restaurant in England

44 Poets was recommended to me by one of the GPs at WishPark surgery, whilst I was on my GP training block. The doctor asked if I had every tried 44 poets and said “they make the best coffee in the world”! I find it difficult to accept such bold claims and I feel an urge I to critically make that choice myself! I don’t know if this was a form of confirmation bias, but as of this writing 44 Poets indeed makes the best coffee in the world!

Just so you know! I do not drink coffee, I do not like coffee, I have no palate for coffee, and I’m not one of those coffee-obsessed people. Frankly I can’t stand this new societal obsession with coffee! People talk about coffee as if it’s the elixir of life and romanticize it beyond reason! I don’t relate to that. I dislike how some people can’t function without caffeine! It strikes me as a form of dependency, and I really struggle with accepting that! Sorry for the rant, just had to get it out of my system!

Now, back to 44 poets. After hearing my supervisor make such a claim, I walked to 44 Poets and told the staff: I am “coffee naive”, I don’t know why people are obsessed with coffee and apparently my supervisor claims you guys make the best coffee in the world. The barista laughed and I remember being handed a Cortado to sample but I felt it was too strong and so opted for a latte - no sugar of course so that I could appreciate the taste - and I had some Banana bread too. Oh boy, was I in for a treat. There was this pleasant taste with every sip! I don’t know what it was, but the coffee tasted so good. It wasn’t that dilute syrup flavor you get at those big brands, nor was it overpowering. It was . . . I honestly don’t know what it was or how to describe it! It was simply a pleasant 15 minute experience! Bias? Maybe! I really urge you to try it for yourself and let me know! Honestly, I’d love to learn if I’m mistaken and why.

In the next four months, I became a usual customer. I introduced my wife to it - she’s one of those coffee people - and as of this writing, she agrees it’s the best coffee she’s ever had.

The staff are very friendly, approachable and passionate about what they do! They were kind enough to introduce, or should I say educate, me about coffee – explaining the different types of beans, roasting, preparation (the difference between pour over, filter, french press, etc.). They’d play around with different types of milk each time.

I remember one time I was curious how different lattes tasted using various forms of non-dairy milk, the staff were kind enough to prepare four mini lattes and label each: Soy, Oat, Almond, Coconut. I remember sitting there and sipping from each and appreciating the difference. I really appreciate independent shops, It’s little gestures like this that make the experience so unique. You are treated as a customer and they played a big role in making me appreciate coffee, as opposed to just selling another cup to a customer, if you know what I mean.

I really grew attached to 44 Poets. It will forever be associated with work breaks during my GP rotation in the winter. I like the minimalistic aesthetic of the space, the branding, the colors, the logo, even the name; it’s called 44 poets as it is in an area of Hove were the streets are all named after famous poets. I like how the menu is simple. Unlike places where you walk in and are immediately overwhelmed with choice overload, 44 poets keeps it simple, you have a few options and they all taste great. I tried their Chai latte recently! Very fresh, earthy, none of this manufactured syrup that floods the market! Their baked goods taste great. Apparently they work with local bakers, such as “Honeycomb?”, or at least I was told! I would recommend their banana bread.

I still don’t drink coffee every day, I don’t need it to function nor do I ever plan on being that person! Coffee in my opinion is a delicacy, an indulgent experience to appreciate every once in a while and If you are ever nearby, 44 poets is most definitely worth the visit! Take it from someone who isn’t...

Fabulous coffee shop! Especially as the summer rolls around, this place will become my go-to stop for a morning coffee and relax. With loads of outside seating, massive open windows and airy spaces, there’s nowhere better to soak in the sun with a drink. Honestly it’s delightful!

The coffee itself was some of the best in Brighton, very well made by a team of friendly baristas, exceptional latte art is always a bonus. The almond Crossiant that I had with it was pretty good too, though a touch lacking on the sweetness and texture. Otherwise though, the perfect treat for a sunny Friday morning!

It’s the embodiment of a great neighbourhood and community coffee shop, with solid prices and tasty snacks and sandwiches, 44 poets was a smash hit...

Decent flat white, oat milk not the smoothest, it was a little bubbly. Also, not a fan when places charge extra for non dairy. Starbucks were sued for doing so and now have dropped the extra charge. I respect small businesses that follow that too. This place does not.

The window service hatch for take out is WIDE OPEN. It’s freezing inside. Would be nice in Summer but not something you should keep open when it’s December! Seems like the take out customers are favoured as it’s not a very nice place to sit and chill. Well actually you can chill but not in...