When I was in Norwich, courtesy of the lovely people at the Norwich tourist board, I came across the world’s smallest coffee shop. A gorgeous hidden gem in the form of  The Window Coffee, the world’s smallest coffee shop is run by Hayley Draper (she came 5th in this year’s UK Barista Championships). What the world’s smallest coffee shop may lack in space, it certainly makes up for in flavour. Those in the know when it comes to coffee flock to the Window Coffee to squeeze themselves around the one table that seats around six people.


I met a guy who was a barista in Nottingham who had travelled to Norwich for the day to check out the world’s smallest coffee shop. And what’s great about this café is that it’s an incredibly sociable experience – there isn’t room for it not to be. The enthusiasm of the barista Jay is infectious too. He talked us through the different varieties of coffee bean. The Window Coffee stocks around seven different types including Nicuragua Limancillo, which he explained had notes of toffee apple, caramel and sweet green apple (who knew). Although I couldn’t detect the finer subtleties I could definitely taste its fuller flavour.

The world’s smallest coffee shop is only open from 8am-3pm, Tues-Fri and 9am-3pm Sat. If you’re only in Norwich for a short time you’ll need to plan a visit. But if you can’t get a seat there’s always the option to grab a coffee and take it away. Plus Window Coffee sell a selection of pastries and muffins if you’re feeling peckish, making this place the ideal pick me up.