Alterna: A plant-based delight in the JQ

For those that know us, it'll come as no surprise that we are forever on the lookout for more coffee shops and Alterna has been on our radar for a very long time. Now that the summer has rolled around, it was finally time to make the trip to the Jewellery Quarter and see what they had to offer.

Outside was a sign directing people in for baked goods - a sure-fire way to draw us in - which we duly followed and entered into a stripped back, industrial style café with metal seating, wooden tables and a panelled bar. Despite this, it felt very welcoming and relaxing, certainly somewhere we were happy to spend a sunny July afternoon.

The bar at 'Alterna' featuring a selection of tempting cookies

First up was to select a beverage and we both went for a long black, which is our usual choice when there is no pour-over options. After some deliberation, we also picked a cookie each: mine was a candied pecan cookie and Tommy decided on a s'mores one.

We were told to take a seat wherever we liked and our purchases would be brought to us, so we headed to the upper level to find a meticulous layout with tables, benches, shelves of retail food and wine, a bookshelf and even some card games for customers to use.

Upstairs seating with the bookshelf and a pachira soaking up the sunlight

The long black was an espresso blend from Conscious Coffee, but there was none of that 'heaviness' that sometimes comes through in espresso-based drinks. Being a washed process coffee, it was wonderfully clean and had a subtle acidity to the aftertaste.

Immediately on the first sip it had beautiful stone fruit flavours and the mouthfeel was a smooth, syrupy caramel.

My cookie was the perfect compliment, with the subtle sweet, nuttiness from the candied pecans cutting through the buttery flavour of the cookie itself. Texturally, it had just the right balance between soft and chewy in the centre, versus the crispness of the outside.

Cookies + coffee = good

After enjoying the serenity of the surroundings for a little while and discussing outfits for our friends' upcoming wedding, we decided to stay a little longer and headed back down to grab some cold drinks.

This time I veered away from coffee and picked the iced matcha latte with a cherry syrup, inspired by a recent drink I'd had elsewhere. On this occasion, it had none of the bitterness present in lower quality matcha and was smooth, with the earthy, rich umami taste that matcha is known for.

Being a vegan-focused café, it was served with oat milk and this blended with the matcha flavour excellently without being overpoweringly creamy, adding a nutty undertone. All of the syrups at Alterna are homemade and this showed with a genuine, fresh cherry flavour spiked through the drink that balanced the earthiness of the matcha.

Very satisfying layering on the matcha

Before leaving, we picked up a bag of 'DIY' seitan from the retail shelf in preparation for our meals the following week and went downstairs to pay. We had a small chat with the person working, who throughout the whole afternoon had been cordial and attentive, providing excellent customer service.

On the way out the door, we read the food menu that was stuck to it, eyeing up several dishes which we shall definitely return for.

Alterna's retail wine and food supplies

If first impressions truly do count, then Alterna has made a superb one on us; the drinks were flavoursome and well-crafted, the cookies were buttery and indulgent, and the general atmosphere of the café made for a relaxing and revitalising afternoon.