Opinion: Edinburgh is in a Black Sheep Coffee crisis

Edinburgh is a city known for its cafe culture, which is to say, it has a lot of cafes. Many are beloved independents – Black Medicine Coffee, Books N’ Cup, Kilimanjaro, and many are, well, Black Sheep Coffee.

The beating heart of Princes Street, the life force of Haymarket, the jewel of North Bridge: It’s no more than a few metres you have to move as an Edinburgh resident before you reach your nearest Black Sheep Coffee.

But where did they come from? Why are they here? How are there so many? All valid questions in the face of such a prolific herd; founded in 2013 by flatmates at the University of St Andrews, Black Sheep Coffee has quickly expanded to open sites all across the UK and beyond. It has cafes in the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and France – what the hell, sure.

In the UK, there are 69 locations; nine of these are in Edinburgh alone.

For a city with its fair share of cultural preservation societies, Edinburgh seems to have fallen victim to a surprising onslaught of the decidedly uncultured cafes. In case you’re an Edinburgh resident who hasn’t managed the 20 second commute to your nearest Black Sheep, I’ll paint you a picture: Exposed concrete walls, big white lettering, and iPads to order. Think McDonald’s, but with £5 coffees.

I feel like I’m in the Nucleus

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In this economy (the one where a coffee is £5, that is), we all know it’s more important than ever to support independent businesses: Those that don’t have a secret Dubai site to fall back on. It’s pretty indisputable that Edinburgh offers some of the most gorgeous and unique coffee spots in the world – I mean, many have a view of the actual castle. 

This lovely matcha from Cowan and Sons

Further, so many of these small local businesses are far more than just coffee (including Not Just Coffee, Newington). August21 hosts open mics and art events; the Zero Waste Hub also serves as a charity shop and board game venue; Lady and the Bear hold cinema and theatre workshops. Edinburgh’s coffee culture transcends caffeine: It is culture, literally.

Cafes in Edinburgh are more often than not integral parts of the community – for students, especially. Books N’ Cup’s daily 10pm opening perfectly serves those of us for whom coffee is a nightcap to complement nighttime procrastinating. Le Petit Bleu’s proximity to the Main Library makes it a primetime mid-study sesh gossip spot. Fettle is a real student hub, perfect for a brief lunchtime break before heading back to campus for some half-hearted lecture note-taking. All in all, Edinburgh’s cafes are a crucial part of student socialising – who amongst us hasn’t sacrificed seminar attendance for a coffee and a yap?

However, it’s not only the independent cafes being subsumed by Black Sheep: It’s even started taking over Starbucks branches across Edinburgh. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there – or should I say Sheep eat Starbucks? The former Lothian Road site is now the city’s ninth Black Sheep Coffee.

As a relatively up-and-coming franchised chain, Black Sheep Coffee receives significant venture capital funding. This gives it a financial advantage that independents could never even begin to compete with. As such, a tiny part of the resistance is where customers are choosing to spend their money. Sure, reluctantly, Black Sheep Coffee has some merits.

It’s quick, convenient, and the baristas are just as qualified as those in the independents. But as the fast food of the coffee world, it’ll never capture the charm of Edinburgh’s independent establishments – the worn furniture, personalised playlists, and bespoke latte art. So, next time you head out to spend an hour’s wage on coffee, please do so by supporting local businesses and leaving the herd behind…

Here’s to coffee and a yap

Black Sheep Coffee was approached for comment