Coffee#1 Brecon in Powys

I Searched on Google for places open in Brecon at the time we were there, This looked good in images with a menu to suit us, so we went in, Almost immediately realised the menu I read on line with photos, was for food in packets pre made and warmed up not fresh prepared, Cold sausage panini cold bacon in paninis, cheese and mushroom on toast pre made, in a fridge wrapped in plastic packets did not scream quality, bit like costa food, all to be warmed up or re heated was not what I hoped or indeed bought, re heated bacon or re heated sausage did not inspire me. Instead, we had a coffee and a hot chocolate which were good, and a Croissant and Pan au Chocolate and were really only...OK. The building is interesting and full of character lovely in fact with a lot of effort with great design. But the lack of on premises prepared food of the type we went in to buy, the lack of cleanliness of building with dirty windows with cobwebs decorating the corners of where we sat, broken light fitting above us and others with many dead insects inside did little to impress. We felt like we interrupted the staff by ordering food, who were deep in conversation with each other when we came in and continued deep in conversation while we ordered. We were hungry and thirsty, so we had something to eat and drink to tide us over. Such a shame with a beautiful building nicely decorated full of style. Look like someone had made a lot of effort setting up this business but not day to day running of it. If in Brecon I would suggest looking around at others as there are many, as the online image of this did not match reality in many areas. Or at least on the day we visited. We a little later ate elsewhere in Brecon which was all fine. Maybe we just arrived on a bad day.

Childish behaviour by staff, music playing form mobile phone behind counter. Tried to quietly inform Manager about our disappointment, didn't want to make a fuss, but staff were obviously told by the manager who complained. Then approached by two members of staff within town about my complaint. Awful and unprofessional behaviour by staff and we will certainly be frequenting another coffee shop where this sort of behaviour is not tolerated.

Midden in het plaatsje aan de drukke High Street staat deze koffiewinkel. Ze hebben verschillende soorten koffie en heerlijke koeken en taarten. Niet het gebak zoals wij gewent zijn maar voor Engelse begrippen een ruime keus. Zag ook foto’s met broodjes enz maar die hebben wij niet gezien daar.

Plenty of space and set out much along the lines of similar coffee high street venues. Good range of drinks and food - cakes and snack variety. We stopped for coffee and cake and both these were served quickly and were of good quality, prices pretty much as you would expect. Staff were efficient and polite. We would certainly have no concerns over dropping in again if we were in the area.

Very poor value and needs more staff training. Visited mid morning and the place already looked as if it needed a good clean. Staff slow to respond to customers and seem to think they are a nuisance. Prices for food are too high for what you get and my latte had an unpleasant burnt flavour.

Best flat white I’ve had in months. Kudos to the barista and thanks for an awesome coffee ☕️ Great service too!

Minging! They wouldn’t serve tea and coffe in proper cups ‘because they have to do the washing up’ - this was at 4.30pm. Hygiene standards seem lacking

Very disappointing. Little choice for lunch. Had a piece of carrot cake that was so dry I couldn't eat it.

Worst experience of a coffee shop we've ever had. We stopped for tea on our way from Gloucestershire to Haverfordwest. The floor was dirty, my partner was given a cup with no saucer, nothing to stir his tea with and nobody told us we had to ask for sugar as it was held behind the counter. To top this, we returned to the car to find that I didn't have my mobile phone. I returned to the cafe and asked if a phone had been handed in. No was the reply. I was asked for a contact number in case it was handed in later. As all my contacts were in my phone I asked for their number so that I could call later. Another member of staff looked for their telephone number and then asked me if my phone was brown. So my phone had been handed in but the staff didn't share the information with each other. Absolutely dreadful customer service, will possibly never visit Coffee#1 again.

I ordered a cappuccino & almond croissant neither of which delivered anything close to value for money. The cappuccino was reminiscent of the instant coffee versions at the lower end of the market & the almond croissant was more like a long bun filled with an unpleasant & granulated type of custard - it was even soggy at one end although whether this was due to it being served on a partially dried plate, I don't know. There were other items in my order which were acceptable however the spoons offered were stained & looked like they hadn't seen the inside of a dishwasher for a while. On asking for fresh spoons, we were met with indifference - no apology. Really guys, good customer service is easy but if you haven't got it, you haven't got it.

So. I just popped into #coffee 1 Brecon. Early. One other person at counter. Two staff members chatting to each other behind counter. No sense of customer service. No sense that perhaps when people pop in for a take out before work. They may need a little speed on service. Waited 5 minutes. No acknowledgement. So I left and went to Costa. I got served straight away!

Our second visit when staying in Brecon , 3 years apart . We sat by the open window on a beautiful sunny day . Fantastic selection of cakes , coffee is excellent, leaves that lovely taste in your mouth Lovely atmosphere, well worth a visit

I was delighted by this nicely decorated spacious cafe in the heart of Brecon. Friendly, welcoming and well supervised staff. Coffee lovely; and hot without asking. The cheesecake was a huge portion and not waistline friendly but worth it !

Nice place for a variety of coffees and teas, good choice of food, a pleasant shop with plenty of atmosphere to unwind in

The staff were very pleasant & friendly, and the coffee was fine, with mostly clean tables with the others, in the process of being cleaned. The toilets were a different story - they were in a very poor state. Although it’s the customers who make the mess, the staff should check the the loo’s every so often & clean them, if needed.

I always like popping in to any Coffee #1 as you can always be assured of good food and drink, and the Brecon outlet is no exception. It’s also a very comfy and welcoming place with fairly reasonable prices to boot.

Stopped off for coffee on way home from road trip, lovely coffee, great staff but the unisex toilet was filthy!

My husband and I called in here yesterday when passing through Brecon. Friendly, helpful team who although busy were happy to check which cakes were dairy free.

Faces onto the main street and you can watch the world go by. Plenty of tables and a good display of food and snacks. Fast service at the counter and good coffee. A relaxed atmosphere and prices were fine.

Decent coffee, mixed review on lunches - one very good, one average at best. Good variety of cakes and treats.

A repeat visit to Coffee 1 in Brecon today after a very enjoyable visit a couple of months back. Once again the service and coffee were first class. The staff really are excellent - smiling faces, friendly and very efficient. I enjoyed an excellent Americano, Raspberry Crossant and Yoghurt/Granola. Well done folks - I'll be back.

I visited 3 times in a weeks visit in and around Brecon, having tried a branch in Cardiff the week previously - my first in a Coffee#1. Each time the service and quality of the food and drink was excellent. The staff managed this busy shop politely and efficiently, it was spotlessly clean. The coffee was good quality and I particularly enjoyed the Welsh cakes. Thank you to the staff, Cardiff branch staff need to visit you :-)

We called for a late lunch & we’re surprised to find no menu’s on the tables, just a large chalkboard behind the counter. Perhaps the same thing in the main seating area would be a good idea? The staff took our order but I didn’t get a thank you when I put money in the tip jar. The sandwiches & drinks all came very quickly & everything was fine. We did notice a couple of tables which weren’t cleaned down for around 10 minutes after they were vacated. On the whole good but with just a bit of improvement to take it to the next level

Lovely flat white coffee here on Wednesday 16/6/21 approx 09.45. Four members of staff & one member of staff dusting lamp shades etc while customers ate & drank! Also we were there for around 40 minutes & in that time 4 customers left but NO cleaning down of tables but staff available to do so!!! no excuses

We are familiar with other No1's but first time here and it met expectations. Plenty of room, quality coffee and a nice atmosphere on a Sunday morning. Wrll worth a visit.

Had a wonderful hot chocolate. They were extremely diligent about Covid with every table disinfected after each customer and the tables spaced away from each other. Totally recommend

Stopped for coffee and pastel de nata whilst on a visit to Brecon. Staff were professional and friendly and seating was well spaced for a Covid environment.

I visited coffee one and I must say it is a lovely store, however there was a large amount of small flies all around the place and the staff didn't seem interested at all. We left and went to Costa just up the road which isn't as nice a looking store as yours but didn't have any flies. The staff were also so friendly. I couldn't recomend Costa coffee more.

Nice food and coffee but it’s full of little flies that pester you while you are eating and this needs to be looked at as far as hygiene is concerned.

Thank you Mo! You make a desperate coffee run memorable with your lovely cheerful smile. Someone give him a raise already! Another place recommended to us by our host and another experience that will bring us back to Brecon!

We had a lovely cuppa and cake here. I hadn’t read the other reviews beforehand. I can’t think why a poor teacake would make someone “angry” but we had a really good experience. Although the toilets were a bit grim.

Another disappointing visit to this once great coffee shop. Its always busy on a Sunday afternoon as there isn't anywhere else to have coffee in Brecon at that time. But that doesn't mean we have to put up with poor service, I was served a toasted tea cake that should have been put in the bin, and it was the manager that gave it to me, so no wonder the place has gone down hill. Come on Coffee #1 sort this shop out before your regular customers vote with their feet.

Lovely selection of coffee and cakes Pity about the customer service. I have used this cafe frequently but will look for somewhere else. You offer military discount, I showed my ID and was told I was a veteran with an indate military ID card!! I suggest that as you are located in a military town the staff should be aware of what military ID is as discount is offered on presenting your ID.

Awesome place to chill. Drink beautiful coffee and amazing range of good food. Its has a great team spirit there now. Management is at a high level. great to see smiling faces. Fantastic atmosphere. Long walk, Busy day definitely the place to relax.

Completely disagree with the last review.This coffee shop is definitely being run at such a high standard now. Coffee is fantastic, with delicious food. It’s great to see the staff ALL smiling and happy enjoying working in a busy fast pace environment.100% recommended Coffee#1Brecon.

Damp and wet Sunday. Can't bet a warm smile and warm coffee. Just time to plan the hounds walk. Thanks Coffee No1

I visited coffee 1 on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. On both visits I was "served" by a Middle Eastern male, presumably the Manager. On Saturday, when ordering 2 drinks he replied back to me with an order for 3 different drinks while he was turning his back to me and moving milk from one place to another. I asked again for the 2 drinks I wanted and then he said "yes". There was no eye contact, no welcome, no smile, no manners and no engagement on both Saturday and Sunday. He was miserable and the other staff member making my drink seemed unhappy. On Sunday, between serving me and another customer, the Manager was turning his back and ignoring other people. While I was waiting for my coffee he stopped what he has doing momentarily and handed a plate of toast to another staff member before returning to ignoring other customers. The staff member then asked where the toast was going. As I left the store with my coffee, the staff member was wondering the store looking for someone awaiting toast. Awful experience, I won't be returning.

What has happened to this once friendly and welcoming coffee shop. I have been using coffee #1 since it opened and always enjoyed my visits but I have been 3 times in the last couple of weeks and not sure I'll be going back anymore. The tables are not cleared, on wednesday I stood at the counter waiting to be served while the 3 staff all talked about how unfair their Christmas rota was, to be honest I would have walked out expect I was waiting to ask for milk, which they had forgotten to give me. They need to sort things out before they loose more regular customers, I'm not the only one fed up with the place at the moment. Real shame.

visited with the wife and dog. great coffee and cake, dog friendly. friendly staff and busy. would re-visit

I visit this coffee nearly everyday, sometimes twice a day because the coffee is just amazing no matter who makes it. They have a great kids area and coloring pens and paper for older kids. Absolutely dog friendly with free treats up by the menu! My dog knows this and pulls me in even if we're only walking pass. The atmosphere is very welcoming, staff work extremely hard yet are always cheerful and friendly! Today is Halloween and all the staff are dressed up! Coffee#1 Brecon is totally the hub of our community and highly recommended for holiday makers and their muddy K9s!

My family have been going to this coffee shop since it opened, it has always been clean and welcoming, with great coffee and cakes. It's also great value and very tasty for light lunches. We love the fact that there are now dog friendly areas in the cafe and even free treats for them. The present manager, Joe, is great, always friendly and welcoming. Only thing is can you please bring back the Bosco cheesecake, it was amazing and I miss it as a Sunday treat.

I have been a customer of Coffee #1 Brecon every day (sometimes more than once a day) for over 3 years and must say that the current Manager has always been polite, welcoming and has such a friendly smile. He is passionate about his cafe which is shown in how busy it always is. When I heard that there had been bad reviews about the Manager of this cafe written online I had to share the truth! He and his staff are always working hard, serving customers from Brecon and beyond and I will continue to visit this lovely cafe!

I went to coffee one and although the rest of the staff and the coffee itself was brilliant, the manager might be the rudest person I have ever met. The way he spoke to not just me but also the employees was appalling if I’m being honest.

We recently moved to Brecon and visited Coffee #1 for the first time today. The fact is was so busy speaks volumes. We found a cosy table and comfy chairs in the "kids corner" where our little ones could play with a selection of toys while we enjoyed our hot chocolate and late. Despite being busy the staff were so friendly, we queued at the till for about 10 minutes but once our order was taken everything was swiftly ready at the end of the coffee station, we'll definitely be returning and inviting visiting friends to come along! Excellent coffee shop, well done Coffee #1!

I always enjoy visiting Coffee no 1 Brecon whether with family, friends or if I'm just grabbing a quick takeaway white mocha when passing through the town. The staff and Manager have been welcoming and friendly every time I'm there and even know my order before I get to the till! the atmosphere is always warm and the furniture is so comfy, I could sit by the open fireplace all day long!

My standard Americano (no milk, no sugar) with their house blend. Medium roast, full body flavour. Happy to give this chain's coffee house a thumbs up .

Great coffee and bites, well behaved dogs welcome. Nice to see in a tourist area that dogs are welcome. However the atmosphere can be very tence at times. Particulary if the manger is around, staff seem on edge otherwise great staff and well presented coffee shop.

I come here almost every day,the coffee is always fantastic, the staff are always friendly and willing to converse,even on busy days, the manager is lovely and friendly, he clearly works hard to get the store as it is.I enjoy my visit everytime.

My wife and I have recently moved to the area and once again popped in to Coffee #1 which hast fast become our favourite Coffee Haunt. This time we brought our dog Ebony to enjoy some Human Watching. The staff here are always delightful and friendly however large or small our order is. We have had no hesitation in bringing visiting friends and family when they have come to see us.

'The best coffee in the world' I tell my friends. Staff and Manager are always friendly and happy to help. Lovely atmosphere, and my favorite place to come to. What more can I say?

I’m local and have been visiting the store since it opened. It’s a lovely place but the current manager is terrible. He’s always in a foul mood and on more than one occasion I have witnessed him being rude not only to the staff who work there but also many customers. When he is working the atmosphere in there is horrible. No wonder the staff turnover is so high within the store. The reputation within the town is getting worse as the days go by. It’s a shame because the other staff are so lovely and always give the best customer service.

Great coffees, with different blends to choose from. Didn’t try the teas but they were loose leaf teas available which is a nice change! Menu was quite large (coffees, teas, smoothies, juices, etc.). Large place , so lots of seating options and open until a reasonable hour!

Great place with great coffee. I find myself spending so much time here. I love the atmosphere and staff.

We visited it for afternoon coffee and cake. Comfy chairs, dog friendly. But both the carrot cake and lemon drizzle cake were both dry and stale. After the management said they were freshly baked today, still not happy so got a cash refund, hence a rather disappointing experience . Try elsewhere

Visited here twice while we were staying in Brecon. Lovely big coffee shop with some comfy chairs. It was a great place to visit with our dogs. Friendly helpful staff. Coffee was lovely, good panini’s and lots of delicious cakes to choose from.

We looked around the town and found this cafe. Staff very welcoming and atmosphere is relaxing. Thank you for providing such lovely vegan options. We have sent a recommendation to HappyCow.

This may be part of a chain but the individual building and the staff and make a coffee shop. On our visit the staff were cheerful and smiling, even at 0745, and the quality of the coffee was excellent.

On a day trip to Brecon we stepped off the bus and more or less straight in here.... lovely room, wide range of comfy seating, settees, tables and chairs and quite a choice of excellent coffees. And cakes. And other things. But cakes. Everything a coffeehouse should be.

We went on a Saturday and the place was busy but that wasn't a problem as there are quite enough tables and chairs.

Called in for a coffee early afternoon and found it to be very pleasant with a lovely ambience.

We enjoyed an extremely good coffee and Portuguese tart recently here on a trip to Brecon! We thought it was a lovely cafe....quaint and quirky with lots of nooks and crannies! Good service,warm and comfortable!

We had been for a blustery walk on Sunday and in real need of a coffee. All of the places we tried either no dogs or closed. Came across Coffee #1 dog bowl outside full of fresh water, good sign that it was dog friendly. One area of the cafe is dog free for those that dont want dogs about. Had a great cup of coffee, my wife had coffee snd walnut cake which went down really well. Good selection of coffees, cakes, snacks, panninis etc. Helpful pleasant staff even though they where really busy. We will be back next time we visit Brecon.

My wife and I popped in for a coffee on Saturday afternoon, the staff were friendly and efficient the service was excellent and the coffee was great. Also the place has a great atmosphere and a good location.

Excellent, cosy, vibrant. Unusual and wide choice of delicious and healthy foods and lovely coffee. A really cheerful place to stumble across.

we visit coffee 1 every time we are in Brecon, the coffee is always perfect! it's so cosy and the staff are always very friendly even when the shop is full. Lovely selection of panini's and cakes too, we'll definitely be back again!

This is our second visit to the coffee #1 shop and will call in for coffee and a slice of cake whenever we are in the area!! Lovely coffee. Lovely cakes. Can’t wait to try more on the menu

Management is depressed! It’s affecting the staff and the shop. Coffee is still ok, that’s something.

We used to come to this coffee shop regularly about 2yrs ago if we were visiting the area because of the great atmosphere. The staff and manager were lovely and always had a welcoming smile on their faces. Sadly, this changed when the manager left but we thought we'd give it another try recently. What a disappointment, there still seems to be a problem with the new manager and his staff don't seem happy either. Sadly it has killed the pleasant vibe so we won't be coming back again.

Came here again after visiting 2 years ago. Still the same. Cosy when cold. Always offer a good range of Christmas drinks! Different to lots of other coffee shops! The deluxe mocha was a favourite this year and the after eight hot chocolate. :)

Popped in for a quick coffee with friends and found it to be a little gem. The coffee was excellent and although we did not eat, from the look of it the food appeared excellent. The service was quick and friendly. A good stop if you are in Brecon.

I simply can not praise the guys here highly enough. For a chain store they really do make you feel welcome and the selection of coffee and cakes is awesome, the cookie and cream slice is a must.

I visited with a colleague and a client, a week ago.

Good service, and we were lucky to sit by a table in the window looking out at the Church. Located on the main road. Ideal quick snack before carrying on with our journey. Welsh cakes are available here. Free WIFI as well.

Very good selection of coffee and snacks. Service is very good and you dont have to wait long for drink or food. Clean restaurant.

Stopped off in Brecon after a trek up Pen-y-fan and enjoyed a wonderful snack. The Ciabatta with Chicken, Pesto and Mozzarella was delicious! Shame there aren’t any of these Coffee#1 cafes where I live! 😭

Cosy place. Excellent choice of coffees and a choice of sandwiches, wraps ans Welsh cake. Good service as well

We had just climbed Penyfan in the drizzle and were in need of something warming. The two bowls of soup, Pea and mint and Lentil dhal, were just what we needed. Service is great in this obviously popular place.

This is clearly the place to go for coffee and cake in town: it is always popular and I see why. I've been there three times now as a visitor to the town and always been delighted. It's frequented by families, tourists like us and even the odd worker on their laptop (Wi-Fi is fast and good too - we logged in). Definitely a place to remember.

lovely relaxed atmosphere good food arrived hot with very friendly waitress service. Cosy soft chairs seated by an open window. Also lots of various size tables cosy for small groups of seating for the larger group.

Again a warm welcome, quick service with a smile. Superb Cappuchino....comfortable seating. My first part of call on arrival in Brecon. Plenty of delightful snacks available. Try it visitors, although it is always busy....

Great location in the centre of the town. Enjoyed the coffee . 2 for 1 smoothies in the afternoons when you order 2 of the same .

I have a take away coffee that was really good, and the people who make the coffee for me were very nice. Good WiFi connection.

After looking around the tow we decided it was cKe and coffee time. Glad we dropped in to this fabby little place cakes were excellent. Staff friendly and caring even though it was busy. Yes I would return.

Looked at several cafes in the street time was ticking Expreso Frappe BUy one, get onefree. Large cappucinio. Two pork & onion sausage sourdough bap. Sausage were ok. Ciabetta/ Spurdough bread very different. Very dry when cooked. Coffee nice but food, would have preferred a normal sandwich.

Due to its popularity this cafe can be packed to the rafters but today (Sunday) we were able to find seats. The queue is slow as we were in it 15 minutes but the coffee was great and chocolate frappe is yummy. The tea is much to be desired. It is very spacious and airy as the windows open out onto the street. A pleasurable experience for a coffee stop.

Came here hiding from the rain after a walk along the canal path - superb filter coffee (Honduras) and ginger and lemon cake.

Best tasting coffee Best selection of food Best ambiance Costa and Starbucks are a poor second to this!!

We called in here after a lovely walk along the canal and river Usk today. It was very hot and a cold drink was needed! We asked if we could bring dogs in and they said yes so long as we sat near the front. We had hardly sat down , (there were 5 of us and 3 dogs) when three members of staff came over each carrying a water bowl for the dogs and a bonio each! Wow! What service!

Visited today and was delighted to hear that they now allow dogs. Had a very warm welcome with my puppy and was even given a treat for her. They are one of the first coffee 1 shops to accept dogs. I think it’s a brilliant idea as there is nowhere else in brecon that does this.

Great coffee and choice of cakes etc. This place oozes rustic charm, sit back, relax and enjoy the ambience.

Came in a couple of times during my stay in Brecon.

called in sunday morning, not been here before and was pleasantly surprised, décor was a mismatch of styles which gave it style of its own and added to the easy going feel of the place, the coffee was very good and the cakes pastries etc were even better, very reasonably priced too. toilet facilities very clean & disabled friendly

Great cafe, great coffee and great ambiance. Very special place! Staff are lovely. Knocks spots off the other chain coffee bars. Spent an enjoyable 2 hours there before travelling back up north.

Wherever we go in Wales, we always search out a Coffee #1, because they’re quite frankly the best coffee shops around, and the Brecon shop is as good as any of them.

Almost the only coffee shop open at 09:30 on a wet Saturday in Brecon Very busy but reasonable service. Nicely laid out and with a good range of drinks and snacks

This is a great place to meet for a chat, catch up on your messages with one of the great coffees and cakes on offer. The staff are friendly and efficient.

Warm welcome on arrival by pleasant male who asked if I was enjoying my day. I ordered a regular latte and a delicious cheesecake. Most relaxing atmosphere where I browsed the papers. Spotless establishment and immaculate toilets. This is my first port of call from car park. See you soon Coffee 1.....

Great coffee and even better cakes. Fantastic selection of cakes, snacks and food and good portions. If you're looking for a cafe to fill up after walking in the Brecons then you can't beat this.

I absolutely love this quaint little coffee shop in the heart of Brecon. The staff are friendly and the coffee and cakes on offer are delicious. My friend and I are a bit upset that they removed the pumpkin brownie from their autumn seasonal menu, but other than that the cakes are amazing and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a coffee stop when out in Brecon.

We had lunch in Coffee#1 on Sunday, when choices in Brecon looked a bit limited! Despite the number of customers, the staff managed to keep things moving very well and we enjoyed coffee, flat bread, ciabatta and cake. Despite being the first day after the clock went back, the sun shon e relentlessly on the glass shop front and a member of staff, when asked, opened the large windows, allowing those of us sweltering, a breath of fresh air.