Who we are.

The Milkman is an independent speciality coffee shop in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town; the perfect place to relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee and some scrumptious cakes. We firmly believe that speciality coffee should be approachable and open to everyone - coffee connoisseurs or not - so that’s why our baristas are always happy to help you choose the best coffee for you, whether it’s a cup or some beans to brew at home. From our coffee to our cakes the utmost attention has been put in selecting only the best products and we make our priority to never compromise on quality and support small businesses as much as possible.

Our story.

The Milkman opened its doors in November 2015 when Mark, the owner, completely transformed what was an old candy shop into a stylish and cosy coffee shop. The name of the shop is imbued with memories and carries the story of Mark’s great grandfather. He was the last horse-drawn milkman in Huntly, up in Aberdeenshire, to deliver milk to the town and surrounding areas. His silhouette, which you can see in our logo, is from a souvenir of the Glasgow’s Empire Exhibition in 1938, when the milkman himself was 40years old. Just like Mark’s great grandfather, here at the Milkman we are all about authenticity and you can count on us to consistently deliver to your table a wonderful cup of Joe. Just don’t expect a horse-drawn cart, ok?

Our coffee.

Here at The Milkman we like to support those roasteries that not only roast delicious coffee but also take that extra step towards a fairer and more sustainable future. On espresso, we have a specially selected and exclusive coffee from the local roastery Obadiah Collective, whose packaging is 100% compostable and/or reusable. On our shelves - and on a rotating basis on filter as well - you can find some local and worldwide roasteries. From the badass babes at Girls Who Grind Coffee who support women at various levels in the coffee industry, to the massive legends at The Brew Project who ditched the coffee bags for extra cool reusable tins, we are sure you’ll find something for your tastebuds. Other featured roasteries are: Five Elephant, Bonanza, Cloud Picker, Ditta Artigianale, Scarlett, RoundHill, La Cabra.

Our cakes.

As much as we all love coffee we know that most of the time we crave something to pair it with. That is why, along with a morning selection of flaky pastries, we offer to our customers a range of cakes from local bakeries that is sure to appease even the more difficult of palates. Are you after an indulgent carrot cake from KiwiBakes, a mouthwatering peanut butter cookie from Fieldworks or a gluten-free deliciousness from Glutteny? And if you’re still not convinced let us tell you this: we always strive to have options for special dietary requirements (vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free etc). Now you really don’t have any excuses!