22 September 2022

The Wolverhampton Caffeine Chronicles: Medicine Bakery and Ana's Coffee Shop

Regular readers will know that my family hail from the Black Country. And I've been spending even more time in Wolverhampton over the past two years since Wolves tickets became easier to obtain. When I've needed a coffee stop, I have tended to break my journey in Birmingham, visiting spots like Tilt, Quarter Horse and Faculty. Well, perhaps Wolverhampton speciality coffee shops are like buses because two of them have now come along in quick succession.


Medicine Bakery

I haven't been to the original Medicine Bakery & Kitchen in Codsall, just outside Wolverhampton, but have stopped by their New Street café in Birmingham for a takeaway coffee a couple of times. And it was thanks to fellow coffee blogger Brian that I found out about their new spot in central Wolverhampton, which opened in May. (For more details about the New Street and Codsall locations, check out Brian's blog.)

My next challenge was getting to Wolverhampton from London early enough to enjoy a pre-match coffee — no mean feat given the present train disruption and especially when there's a lunchtime kick-off like for the disappointing 0–3 loss to Man City last weekend. Luckily, I made it to Wolverhampton just after 10:30, and Medicine is just a short walk from the station across the canal.

Medicine is located in the historic Chubb Buildings, which date to 1898 — almost as old as Wolverhampton Wanderers! You can enter from Chubb Street or from the path that runs parallel to St Davids. Inside, it's an impressive space with the period features retained, including a soaring glass ceiling that allows light to flood into the central courtyard that houses the café, as well as the Light House cinema

The tables are all located in the courtyard and by the time I arrived, they were full — booking, I discovered, is recommended for peak brunch and lunch times. Luckily, a family took pity on me and offered to let me share their, admittedly large, table. If you're out of luck, you can get coffee and many of the menu items to takeaway if you head into the bakery itself, behind the seating area.

I had a flat white, which was brewed with a Colombian coffee from Iron & Fire. It was definitely a day for a longer coffee drink than I usually go for, and my flat white was well brewed with a smooth, sweet taste. The usual espresso drinks are also available, as well as teas, hot chocolate, juices and soft drinks.

As for the food menu, it is extensive, ranging from breakfast and brunch classics, to sourdough toasties, pizza and fried chicken sandwiches. To honour the pork roll I often have at Molineux, I ordered the sausage brioche, which came with a fried egg, crispy bacon, pepper jam and rocket. It tasted great and was so filling that when I went inside to pay, I was forced to abandon my plans to pick up a cruffin or doughnut to take away. I will have to save more room the next time I go!


Medicine Bakery is located at The Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1HT. Website. TwitterInstagram.


Ana's Coffee Shop

I only came across Ana's Coffee Shop a few weeks ago but it opened up on Temple Street, near Wolverhampton Market, almost a year ago. And given the lack of free tables when I visited, the cosy café is already proving to be a local favourite.

Although I was short on time before another match, I couldn't miss the opportunity to visit a speciality coffee shop in Wolverhampton, so I called in for a cortado. The menu includes all the usual espresso-based drinks and they are currently using the 1839 Espresso Blend from Lost Barn Coffee Roasters. My cortado was very tasty with dark chocolate and caramel notes and latte art that lasted down to the bottom. Ana's also serves a whole host of breakfast dishes, sandwiches, delicious-looking cakes and pastries.

The staff are very welcoming and it's very cosy too with royal blue hues, plenty of comfy armchairs and sofas and various books, including coffee books, available to read. Central Wolverhampton gets very busy on matchdays, but Ana's Coffee Shop remains a calm haven away from the chaos.

Ana's Coffee Shop is located at 40–41 Snow Hill (enter on Temple Street), Wolverhampton, WV2 4AU. Facebook. Twitter. Instagram.

For other speciality coffee shop recommendations in the West Midlands, check out these other posts.


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