Spinelli Coffee 111 St. James's Street, Brighton

This place sits half way up St. James's Street in Brighton and I thought I'd check it out. You know the drill by now, it's the coffee, venue and service that I look at.

The coffee: Score 4

The coffee here is of consistently good quality. They use a mild roast arabica bean that lacks slightly in the flavour department but there is a good corona and a decent caffeine kick.

Nicely presented in a white coffee bowl with froth that lasts to the end of the cup, something that most of it's competitors seem incapable of achieving, and with several visits behind me I'd have to say that a selling point for this place is the lack of variation in the quality, doesn't seem to matter who's serving the coffee will be good. Cappuccino is dressed nicely with dusted chocolate on request and sugar served on the side from a sachet.

The venue: Score 3

This place has more potential than is realised. It's situated on a great street with plenty to look at with large floor to ceiling windows on two sides to maximise the view. The interior is a tasteful blend of old and new and it has the feel of a quality French style coffeehouse. A little on the small side with about 25 covers though it starts to feel rammed if there's more than 15 people in there. The furniture is solid and comfortable except for the two stripped armchairs in one of the windows which are a bit on the narrow side with no padding on the arms making for an uncomfortable squeeze, better to head for the other window and the much more pleasing red armchairs. Elsewhere the furniture is classic coffeehouse fair sturdy and easy on the back, no wobbly tables here. The décor is all natural tones, soft lighting and some carefully chosen artwork. A real plus is the total lack of annoyingly loud background music that plagues so many of Brighton's coffeehouses.

There is a decent food menu, although a bit pricey. The food is generally of a very high standard nicely presented and in decent quantity. Of particular note are the homemade breakfast pancakes with one serving really being enough for two and the chocolate walnut cake that is to die for, and definitely not for sharing.

What let's the venue down and something worth remembering on a hot or wet day is the ventilation. This consists of the coffeehouse door being mostly ajar, rendering the place unbearably hot when the sun is out and unbearably sticky, steamy and clammy in humid weather. Were the owners to invest in some much needed air-conditioning or a redesigning of the windows to a concertina style that opened this place would be amazing.

Service: Score 5

The service here is like a breath of fresh air. Friendly staff with the rarest of qualities; social skills. Welcoming and efficient without ever being in your face, the service here is a big selling point. Order at the counter and take a seat, no standing about in queues here and a real customer service blast from the past, pay on the way out.

OVERALL SCORE: 12 out of a possible 15

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