Discover Half-Cut Coffee: Edinburgh’s Latest Community-Focused Café

Nestled in Edinburgh's Old Town, Half-Cut Coffee is a vibrant new café that combines exceptional coffee with a warm, community-focused atmosphere.

In the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, just a stone’s throw from the iconic Greyfriars Bobby, a new café has emerged, capturing the attention of locals and visitors alike. Half-Cut Coffee, located at 23 Candlemaker Row, is more than just a place to grab a quick cup of coffee; it’s a hub of community and conversation.

The brainchild of Tam Sharpe and Connor, Half-Cut Coffee is an extension of their successful barber shop, Half-Cut Barbershop. With the help of manager Chloe and baristas Yaz and Max, they have transformed the former barber shop into a cozy café that serves up more than just great coffee.

The Team Behind Half-Cut Coffee

Tam Sharpe, hailing from Broxburn just outside Edinburgh, brings a wealth of hospitality experience to the team. Connor, originally from Alexandria, Scotland, has a diverse background that includes barbering, a passion he has pursued for around ten years.

The duo first met while studying barbering at Edinburgh College and quickly formed a friendship that would eventually lead to the creation of Half-Cut Barbershop in 2026.

Three years later, their venture has expanded to three locations under the Half-Cut name. The decision to launch Half-Cut Coffee came after they relocated their Candlemaker Row barbers to their Broughton Street shop. Chloe, a friend of Tam’s with extensive experience in the coffee industry, was brought on board to help bring their vision to life. The following two months were spent transforming the original barber shop into the café it is today.

A Focus on Quality and Community

At Half-Cut Coffee, the emphasis is not just on the quality of their products but also on the way they serve them. The team takes pride in offering high-quality roasted coffee sourced from Carter in Leith, a local business as passionate about coffee as they are. Their iced matchas, particularly the iced strawberry matcha, have become a customer favorite.

What sets Half-Cut Coffee apart is their commitment to treating every customer as more than just a transaction. They genuinely enjoy getting to know their customers, hearing their stories, and learning about their backgrounds. This focus on community is not just important for their customers but also for the team themselves. Working in hospitality in a busy city center can be demanding, and a bit of genuine conversation can brighten everyone’s day.

Food and Seating

In addition to their exceptional coffee, Half-Cut Coffee also offers a selection of delicious treats. Fresh pastries are delivered every morning from Le Petit Français, and their brownies and stuffed cookies come from the brilliant Edinburgh-based independent bakery Gimmie Brownies. These treats have been a big hit with customers, and the team is currently working on a collaboration to bring substantial sandwiches to the menu.

Seating is limited due to the small size of the shop, but if you’re lucky enough to grab the window seat, you’ll find it’s one of the best spots on the street for people-watching and enjoying a bit of Edinburgh sunshine.

The Charm of Candlemaker Row

The team chose the location for its incredible sense of community. Despite being a relatively small street, Candlemaker Row is full of character, history, and independent businesses. Since opening, Half-Cut Coffee has built great relationships with their neighbors and couldn’t be happier with the location. Every business on the street has its own personality, and the people who work here share a friendliness and warmth that makes the area special.

Candlemaker Row feels like its own little village in the middle of the city. Everyone looks out for one another, supports one another, and celebrates each other’s successes. It’s a genuinely special place to be.

The Decor and Interior

The renovation of the space involved a lot of work. Tam and Connor carried out most of it themselves, with help from friends along the way and plenty of ideas and requests from Chloe. Everyone worked incredibly hard to bring the vision to life, and the result is a space that is both inviting and unique.

The team loves the fact that every day they get to meet people from all over the world. Even though they’ve only been open for a short time, they’ve already had some genuinely memorable conversations with kind and interesting people from across the globe. They’re especially excited for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and all the wonderful characters and stories it brings to the city.

The Response So Far

The response to Half-Cut Coffee has been overwhelmingly positive. People have been very kind, and it’s genuinely heartwarming to hear that they enjoy what the team is doing. The support from locals, neighboring businesses, and visitors has been hugely encouraging. The team’s goal is simple: to create a welcoming, community-focused space where people feel comfortable, whether they’re popping in for a quick coffee or staying for a chat.

So far, it feels like that vision is resonating with people, and the team is excited to keep building on it.