Lemonworld: More than just a friendly lemon

Keeping up with new openings in Birmingham feels like a full-time job lately, which is great for the city’s hospitality industry, not so great for my bank account. Nonetheless, one grey September afternoon, we headed down to an industrial estate in Stirchley to sample the new Lemonworld café for coffee and cookies.

Initially, it’s hard to tell if you’re in the right place; the unit is tucked away off a side street to a side street in some pass the parcel level orienteering, then you must head behind the main building at the entrance to the estate. Not that I’m trying to put anyone off going - far from it. Once you have successfully navigated your way there, it is worth the effort.

On entry to Lemonworld, you are met with the happiest and cutest logo I've ever seen

Heading up the long corrugated ramp felt like some kind of stripped back red carpet moment, and on entering the café, we were greeted with the smell of fresh coffee and baked cookies. Bliss.

The counter was decked in a white tile with the edgings painted a dusty red to match the logo, with tables attached to the wall down one side and colourful speckled bar stools (which I wanted to take home).

Behind the coffee grinders, stood the beaming owner, matching the adorable lemon logo, extending us a warm welcome before taking our order of two batch filters and four cookies: sea salt and dark chocolate, double chocolate, and two almond croissants. All the cookies and sandwiches are made fresh daily and this really shone through with the quality of the goods on display (although we were too late for any sandwiches this time). There is also the option of mini versions of each cookie that come in a tub for snacking on (or devouring), as well as deals for multiple cookies, which is why we went for four. Not that it took much convincing.

The batch brew was just what was needed on a grey day

Ritual Coffee Roasters provided the batch, which was a washed Kenyan coffee grown at high altitude, allowing the cherries to mature more slowly and develop some complex juicy flavours. It was giving blackcurrant on first tasting, increasing in acidity as it cooled, but the finish was clean, owing to the washed process, and somewhat earthy like an assam tea.

Each cookie had a satisfying crunch on the outside, whilst remaining chewy in the middle. We got some fantastically large flakes of sea salt with the dark chocolate that really helped bring out the flavour of the chocolate itself. The double chocolate one was shamelessly indulgent and comforting, whilst the almond croissant cookie packed a big frangipane punch and was decked in flaked almonds.

What's not to love about fresh coffee and cookies when they look THAT good

The overall experience was joyous and, whilst we haven’t returned as of yet, Lemonworld has definitely earned a spot on our ‘must go back’ list, hopefully to try the amazingly tempting focaccia sandwiches next time. They are sold out pretty much every day, so you have to be an early bird to grab one.

Just to prove I didn't steal one of the colourful stools...

With the autumn nights now closing in, if you are ever in Stirchley and stuck for somewhere to escape the gloomy skies, head to Lemonworld and it’ll leave you looking as contented as the logo.