COFFEE FIRST

You'll find Coffee First tucked away on Sidwell Street, that stretch of Exeter where independent businesses actually thrive. Walk in and there's no Instagram-baiting latte art or oat milk foam sculptures—just straightforward, well-made coffee that tastes like someone actually cares about what's in your cup. It's the kind of place where regulars know the staff by name and you can sit for hours without feeling like you're taking up valuable real estate. The vibe is refreshingly unpretentious: locals catching up over their morning brew, the occasional laptop worker, and a genuine sense that this is a neighbourhood café doing its job properly.