The Source
33 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/Scotland, r/Edinburgh, r/espresso30 comments cited below
The comments cited below are a sample of the full tally across 16 threads.
What people say, in short
Overall, people recommend The Source, a small cafe that roasts its own beans. Many people rate its coffee highly, and many call it among the best in town. Diners single out the flat white and the espresso, and several praise its beans and roasting. One diner is unconvinced by the hype.
Address
the source coffee roasters, 4 Spittal St, Edinburgh EH3 9DX, United Kingdom
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Flat white, Espresso, Batch brew
- Best for
- Specialty coffee
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to The Source, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Familiar_Eagle_6975 in r/Scotland · Jul 2025taste
Visitor said this Edinburgh spot was mind-blowing for coffee during their trip.
- Recommendsu/sucked_bollock in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024taste
Ranks it top in town for specialty coffee and says its beans are the best on offer.
- Recommendsu/Separate_Truck4169 in r/Edinburgh · Jul 2024service
Describes a visit where staff were candid about milk in an Americano; the black one impressed.
- Recommendsu/limedip in r/Edinburgh · Apr 2025
Says The Source is doing really interesting things, though unsure about any postal service.
- Recommendsu/watonwak in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024
Gives a brief, strongly positive endorsement with no further detail.
- Recommendsu/leckie in r/Edinburgh · Jul 2024
Lists Source among the great options that come after the top tier.
- Recommendsu/KlutzyMcKlutzface in r/Edinburgh · Jul 2026
Names The Source when asked for the best coffee in Edinburgh.
- Recommendsu/ZombieFrankSinatra in r/Edinburgh · Jun 2025
Replies with just the name and calls it the best in town.
Show all 30 cited comments
- Recommendsu/fin_dawg in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024taste
Names it the top choice in the city for those who like strong coffee.
- Recommendsu/unitled in r/Edinburgh · Jun 2026variety
Lists The Source among shops with good bean selections, worth a look.
- Recommendsu/No-Boot-1349 in r/Edinburgh · May 2026
Named as a suggestion for a nice coffee spot.
- Recommendsu/therewymensnotdragon in r/Edinburgh · Apr 2026
Calls it top among UK roasters; its cafe is small.
- Recommendsu/ANDREWFL0WERS in r/espresso · Aug 2025
Rated as excellent; the commenter places it along from Grassmarket.
- Recommendsu/jbnj451 in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024
Lists The Source among recommendations.
- Recommendsu/Haunting_Jicama in r/Edinburgh · Apr 2025
Names The Source as its pick.
- Recommendsu/Leather-Ask2123 in r/espresso · Aug 2024
Suggests trying it next time, based on a visit a few years back.
- Recommendsu/PhysicalAd7920 in r/Edinburgh · May 2026taste
Found the coffee very unusual; flat white had a cherry-chocolate flavour; recommends it for specialty fans.
- Recommendsu/Landlockedseaman in r/espresso · Aug 2025taste
Calls Source Edinburgh's top roaster and a personal favourite, praising its beans and the brews served.
- Caveatu/Vegetable_Pomelo691 in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024service
Doesn't get the hype and finds staff rather unfriendly.
- Recommendsu/SquareFoundation9724 in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024
Also recommends The Source.
- Recommendsu/Dazzling_Ad1215 in r/Edinburgh · Oct 2024taste
Calls Source and Beatnik the two best, coffee on another level.
- Recommendsu/MugglewumpTheMonkey in r/Edinburgh · May 2024taste
Describes it as excellent, praising its flat white.
- Recommendsu/Terrible_Interest664 in r/Edinburgh · Nov 2023taste
Rates this Castle Terrace spot near the top for bright, fruity espresso.
- Recommendsu/notprofessorcrispy in r/Edinburgh · Jul 2026taste
Rates it highly, mainly for batch and filter coffee plus cold brew.
- Recommendsu/HundredHander in r/espresso · Aug 2025
Listed among spots worth a visit.
- Recommendsu/u_WorkPhotosTeam in r/Edinburgh · Apr 2025taste
Says the coffee there is great and the person behind it roasts the beans in-house.
- Recommendsu/c_more in r/Coffee · Jan 2024
Says this roaster might be their personal top pick in Edinburgh, with Lowdown also rated highly.
- Recommendsu/attitudecastle in r/Scotland · Jul 2025
Calls it the hot speciality spot of the moment, noting experimental brewing and visitors from far away.
- Recommendsu/SleepHeadRub in r/Edinburgh · Dec 2024taste
Highly enjoys The Source, flavours must be tasted.
- Recommendsu/jontopielski in r/Coffee · Jan 2024taste
Says they visited; liked the small, music-filled space and found its decaf espresso the best decaf they've tried.
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Freshness
Details last checked 10 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.