It all began in the Northern Quarter. Then it grew. By 2018, Foundation Coffee was operating three sites in Manchester, with this Portland Street location the third. At the time, the team claimed their latest addition had been developed, designed and curated to be ‘the ideal coffee shop’. And that counts for everything from interior look to menu, to ethical stance. Only Origin coffee is sold — a level up from fair trade, with suppliers negotiating directly with farmers and paying proper prices for proper produce.
One of the best-loved aspects of Foundation is how in-keeping each outlet is with the surrounding area. Portland Street is one of the city centre’s few major avenue or boulevard-style roads. It’s wide, fringed by towering offices, stone built hotels and modern apartments. So this branch comes with huge floor-to-ceiling windows, matte grey walls, black metal fixtures, furnishings and fittings. It feels modern and spacious, while exposed ceiling pipes and white telework nod to our hometown’s industrial heritage.
As does the huge La Marzocco KB90 coffee machine which looks like it could take off at any minute. A centrepiece of the operation here. Menu-wise, expect to find the kind of choice in coffee you would hope given the hype. Red eye, bulletproof, cortado, piccolo, ristretto and espresso betray how serious this place is. The chilled & speciality range is also a standout — from iced latte and tea through to beetroot latte, coffee & tonic and cold brew. Smoothies and milkshakes, and a variety of hot chocolate types keep standards high, too. All that aside, you’ll find some great simple & light snacks and pastries, all day brunch classics — from brioche French toast to tofu & aubergine hash, MancMuffin to potato hash — along with a mouthwatering selection of cakes which are displayed by the till, making them pretty much impossible to resist.