I'd been walking around the New Town for quite a while, up and across the main few streets. I tried George Street, Rose Street, Princes Street, walked in parallel lines up Frederick Street and down Hanover Street and around St Andrews Square. Nothing. My desire for coffee was increasing as was the ache in my feet. I was basically at the stage of giving up and heading back to the Old Town. I stopped to watch a group of South African A Capella singers advertising their Edinburgh show. This was a momentary distraction as I contemplated heading down Leith Walk away from both parts of town. I'm sure there are places to go down there, but I was running low on time and very aware that Leith Walk incorporates quite a slope. Alright on the way down, not so fun on the trek back up. Sweaty and caffeine high is not a good look for work.
As I'd already walked part way along the street I crossed the road at a lower point walking up to the main crossing. This gave me a view along Waterloo Place, a street I'd never previously looked down. (There is a very expensive wedding dress boutique on the corner, would you look further down?) I took a mini walk down and came across a strange mix of places. There was a cafe/pub, the type of place old men go to reassure themselves they're not alcoholics, slurring their words as they say "I come here for the tea." Next to this was your average off-licence, further up a business-fronted Apex Hotel and squeezed in the middle a barely distinguishable coffee shop called Pep and Fodder. I sighed audibly out of relief and walked in.
The shop itself is nice, but slightly confused. It doesn't quite know if it wants to be quirky and independent or generic and minimal. I'll forgive it though, having spoken to the man behind the counter it's only been open for three weeks (more like six weeks at the time of writing).
There are light wooden tables that line the wall, off-white walls dotted with large pieces of art and a shiny new coffee machine half concealed behind the counter. The man greets me with a warm hello and asks what I'll be having. I tell him "Skinny latte really really hot and no froth please." "So that's like a flat white basically?" he replies. What is it with these people and their flat whites? Unlike the woman from Union of Genius, however, there is no hint of accusation in his voice. It's a simple enquiry. We enter familiar conversation about the difference between flat whites and lattes. "I thought flat whites couldn't be served extra hot though because of the way the milk is heated?" I say. "No, they can be as hot as you want them, they just don't have the top on them like most lattes do." Well that's me told and to be honest I'm happy to accept. Having been told twice and much more charmingly the second time I'm willing to admit I like a flat white. (I still won't order it though, such a stubborn cow).
The man, obviously keen to impress in such a new shop, pours my coffee into a tiny takeaway cup. It looks good. I take a sip. His eyebrows raise in anticipation. I tilt my head and squint my eyes. "It could still be hotter." I say. "Wow" he replies "You do like it hot. No worries." And without me even asking he has started to make a new one. He pours the new one into another cup keen to avoid any froth and gently pushes it towards me to try.
"Perfect" I say.
"You won't be able to taste your dinner" he says.
"Even more perfect" I reply "It will only be chips anyway."
I leave the shop and sip my coffee. It is gorgeous, smooth and creamy. The one problem and I suppose it's quite a big one paradoxically is that the cup is tiny. It's the size of a double espresso cup and for £2.60 I do feel slightly cheated. I need my coffee to last more than a short walk, which in case you're wondering is why I always ask for it extra hot in the first place. With this cup, barely noticeable in my hands, my coffee won't still be there by the time I've reached work. It's such a shame because the coffee is gorgeous and the service was great. I would definitely recommend a visit if you're stuck in the New Town with nowhere to go. I would also recommend to them that they get themselves some bigger cups while they're still new enough to make the changes.
It's easy to see how this place can be missed with a simple painted on sign. They'd be wise to invest in something a bit more obvious, but I'm sure as soon as word of mouth gets around this place will be buzzing. It definitely has great potential and with a more defined style and bigger cups I'll certainly be a mouth to spread the Pep and Fodder word.
P.S Again please ignore the person in this photo. It's still not me, but if that's his car I'll 'ave it.
Frothy Fun Fact of the Day: Not sure about Pep, but Fodder is agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domestic livestock, including cattle. So that's what cous cous salad is.
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