Swig

Swig is the place for people who know their coffee. It’s also the place for people who don’t. Despite owner Kai being something of a coffee expert, Swig is an elitist-free zone. A welcoming lo-fi space with great music, great coffee. great bakes and plenty of chat. Handy for the tram too.

Kai Corneill started off as a potwash at Blanchflower where he first picked up the coffee bean bug before working in some of the best coffee shops of Sheffield and London, honing his craft.

Those years of barista dedication have paid off; Swig is a brilliant multi-roaster picking their own favourites like Apricity from Prestatyn and Soma from Cork. I can confirm the Soma batch brew is excellent with a real sour cherry zing on the palate.

The team at Swig also roast their own blends with current favourite beans hailing from Colombia and also Guatemala.

No wonder it’s on the European Coffee Trip app and in the Indy Coffee Guide. And Confidential Guides, the arbiter of good taste.

Swig makes coffee approachable. The everyday is extraordinarily good here but it’s never snobbish. There’s a real sense of community (there’s even a run club) and you get the feeling that the small team know their customers and their customers know them.

Coffee is the main focus accompanied by pastries from Half Dozen Other and home bakes including focaccia and cinnamon buns.

Doberman, which was once Stretford’s coolest bar and Swig’s late-night incarnation, is gone for now with the focus on the quality coffee.

You can still call in for a beer or a glass of wine though. Look out for monthly events like Smiths nights and pizza pop-ups for a taste of Swig after-dark.