Esquires Coffee Hitchin

You'll find this New Zealand coffee chain holding down the corner of Market Place, and honestly, they're doing something right that most UK chains get wrong. The espresso here actually tastes like coffee rather than burnt water, and the baristas know the difference between a flat white and a cappuccino. The breakfast menu runs deeper than your standard grab-and-go fare – their eggs Benedict arrives properly assembled, and the avocado toast doesn't feel like highway robbery at £6. The space itself works well for both laptop warriors and market day shoppers taking a breather. You're right in the thick of Saturday morning chaos here, which means prime people-watching territory. Service moves at a decent clip even when the place fills up with weekend browsers.