Lagom Coffee Bar — Restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne

To our Geordieland coffee connoisseurs - how could I not know this spot existed till yesterday? My sister, visiting from Australia, has to find good coffee - for 4 days in a row, she’s disappeared in town, frequenting this very cafe!

Lagom is tucked in a quiet alley in Chinatown. It’s the definition of a hidden gem. Unsuspecting, one will very most likely not pass by this particular lane (just next to Mannaza). Yet, it raves of 300+ Google reviews over just a year, a whopping 4.9 stars.

It’s beautiful, quaint, strongly Nordic in design, simple. Charlie used to be in the military for 10 years - deciding to pursue his passion for coffee, ventures on to founding ‘Lagom’, which in Swedish, means ‘not too little or too much. Just right’. Lagom aptly fits the theme of this specialty coffee spot.

The coffee? Oooh. 5 out of 5 for sure. I’m bound to return over and over.

*it gets quite busy! There’s a fiercely loyal clientele...

Unfortunate experience today. Female staff member told me I could pay after I had finished which was fine. Other groups paid before their drinks. It seems to be optional. When I went up to the counter to pay I returned my empty cup and plate. The male member of staff told me to have a nice day as if saying goodbye, so I clarified with him that I needed to pay as I thought he might have assumed I already had like the other group. Female server in the middle of making someone's coffee loudly and sarcasically told me to wait a minute as she only had two pairs of hands. I wasn't even talking to her. I clarified what I had meant and she realised she had the wrong end of the stick but she did not apologise. Your coffee, cake and surroundings are lovely but when staff are rude to your customers it spoils...

This place definitely encapsulates 'Lagom'.

The choice of coffee is outstanding as they offer more than your ordinary coffee shop.

They have handpour, splitshot, cortado and long black options which is something of a miracle in Newcastle. Not only that, the coffee bean choice is not limited to one generic blend. I chose the Ethiopia coffee and it's the first coffee I've actually been able to taste the more novel flavors of in a long time!

Staff and owner are really friendly people and the price, quality and presentation of coffee is superb value.

Not only that, all the food is sourced from local suppliers and supports local business which I a welcome suprise to see.

Can't wait to return in the near future. Don't miss out on this place if you...