BRIGHTON has long been identified as a coffee hot spot with more than 100 cafes and coffee shops competing for customers.

Today The Argus spotlights the best-rated venues according to TripAdvisor.

They are rated on service, quality of food and drinks and their atmosphere.

They are Compass Point Eatery, Thewitchez Photo Design Cafe Bar, Sunbirds Deli, Wheat and Beans, Cafe Marmalade and Cakes The Difference.

Owners of the city’s best coffee shops shared their thoughts on what does making quality coffee means to them.

Lou Carter, co-founder and manager of Cafe Marmalade in Kemp Town, said: “Making great coffee is about the balance between the joy you get from making it, and the passion you feel when you see the finished product.

“The shop will be five years old on April 13. We have a team of 17 and we’re very pleased that the coffee shop has continued to thrive since its opening.

“There is certainly a lot of competitors in the city, and one of the biggest joys we get is customers still coming back to us after five years of eating with us.

“It’s not something we take lightly. We not only focus on coffee, but we also put equal emphasis on our food.”

Charlie Cap, founder and owner of Sunbirds Deli in London Road, said: “I opened this business with my wife at the end of 2013.

“We take our coffee seriously. The quality of coffee depends on the skill and attention the barista has when they make it.

“We always keep our coffee beans fresh. If you leave the beans out for too long, it affects the taste and the quality. It becomes acidic and it will upset your stomach.

“There are lots of other coffee shops out there and we try to do something a little different.

“We offer food from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and more specialised food such as vegetarian and vegan. I have been a chef for 12 years. To see customers coming back and enjoying your food and coffee is a real delight for me.”

Sunbirds Deli has been given an overall rating of five stars by 269 customers.

The shop is in London Road, Brighton, and serves a combination of Mediterranean, Turkish, Middle Eastern and vegetarian food.

One customer wrote: “This place offers great, fresh and tasty food which is reasonably priced The owner is very hard working although his assistants are fairly slow. Definitely worth a try if in the area.”

Another, John McCoo, wrote: “I was surprised to see Sunbirds at the top of the restaurants and cafes in Brighton, thinking that some fancy pants place would be there instead. The ace food is prepared with love, the no bother if you have dietary requirements and especially the always pleasant service. There really is no better place. I live in North Laine which is awash with great cafes but regularly I will take the much longer walk to Sunbirds.”

The Compass Point Eatery has been rated an overall five star venue by 287 customers.

It is in St George’s Road, Brighton, and is an American-style place rated for its pancakes, smoothies and quirky 1940s style atmosphere.

Customers have also praised the cafe’s breakfast menu which includes pancake stacks, homemade oatmeal and vegetarian breakfast.

Joanne D wrote on TripAdvisor: “This is our third time here and an absolute MUST for anyone who loves pancakes.

“Best to reserve a table as they are super popular and you don’t want to miss out. Lovely, quirky place.

Susie R wrote: “Had such a fantastic experience here this morning, the hosts were so lovely and helpful.

“We ordered two Dade County breakfasts and we were not disappointed. The pancakes were fluffy and light, the streaky bacon was super tasty and the chicken goujons were delicious.

“We walked out very full and very happy. Try the Oreo milkshake for sure. We were allowed to bring our baby puppy which was the icing on the cake.”

Cakes the Difference

The shop has been given an overall five star rating by 325 customers.

It is in Mackie Avenue, Brighton, and is a family-run patisserie and tea room where its coffee beans are sourced from Indonesia, Brazil and Columbia.

Customers have said on TripAdvisor they could not get enough of the shop’s sweets.

Angela C wrote: “I love an afternoon tea and this was one of the best I’ve had. Lots of sandwiches, two delicious homemade scones each and so many cakes. The tea was unlimited and all tastes catered for, the staff were so friendly and inviting. We were given a box to take our un-eaten cakes home.”

EllaJS wrote: “We decided to ask Cakes The Difference to make our wedding cake as it is our local bakery and we’ve heard really good things and we definitely made the right decision.

“We went in for a tasting evening with Denise, the manager, which was such a lovely experience. She is so passionate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about cakes and gave us really generous tasting slices.

“We decided on three tiers of chocolate, amaretto, which is Denise’s own recipe, and lemon drizzle.

“We had a butter cream frosting and fresh flowers to decorate.

“I want to give a huge thank you to Denise and her hard working team for a very special wedding cake.”

Thewitchez Photo Design Cafe Bar has been given an overall five-star by 649 customers.

The cafe is in Marine Parade, Brighton, and is the first Photo Design Café Restaurant in the UK.

It was first set up in London in 2007, and then its business grew to Brighton. Customers are very impressed with the service, and its quirky art and photography displays.

A customer, named Thanks Jessica on TripAdvisor, wrote: “The food was delicious, and the menu exciting with clearly a lot of thought put into it.

“The staff were really friendly and welcoming and clearly wanted to get to know their customers. The atmosphere is great. A fabulous quirky little place.”

Another, ThankBretty1, wrote: “I loved my first visit.

“An odd place, small with a photo studio by day and small restaurant by night with black and white films running in the background.

“The staff are charming, helpful and very engaging. The food is utterly fantastic.”

Cafe Marmalade

Cafe Marmalade is given an overall 4.5 star rating by 251 customers.

The cafe is in Eastern Road, Brighton, and customers gave it an excellent grading for its breakfast menu.

One wrote: “Went to Marmalade for breakfast before the football match and I wasn’t disappointed.

“Great service, very friendly staff and the food was perfect. Definitely will return next time I’m in Brighton. I can only recommend.”

Another wrote: “I love going to Marmalade, it’s a cute little place with a decent amount of seating for its size.

“Good for light things like breakfast, brunch and afternoon tea.

“They have a selection breakfast dishes, sandwiches, cakes, teas, coffees, milkshakes etc., as well as obviously marmalade.”

Adventure woman wrote: “Delicious breakfast had here while on holidays, it was recommended by a local friend and it didn’t disappoint; scrambled egg and bacon very generous portion and a lovely creamy porridge. Cool decor and wonderful display of fresh produce.”

CatandCookies wrote: “Lovely breakfast with friends and a toddler and enough space for us all, good vegetarian options delicious smoothie and tasty breakfast, orders muddled in the noise but excellent customer service.”

Silver40 wrote: “Have been for breakfast a few times and had lovely Welsh rarebit. This is a great place for breakfast with a great atmosphere. Unable to rate service etc but would give five stars.”

Wheat and Beans is given an overall five stars by 229 customers.

Brigita D wrote on TripAdvisor: “I work in a language college and we use Wheat and Beans to make lunch packs for the groups of students.

“Students love their food, it is always nice and fresh and the service is super reliable. The shop itself has a good atmosphere with super friendly, always smiling staff.”

Daskolas wrote: “Nothing more to say than previous reviewers. Been there several times.

“My favourite is scrambled eggs with bacon.

“Atmosphere is very warm and the staff very friendly.

“One of my top three in Brighton.”

Rockfordlerock wrote: “We walk a mile past a dozen cafes to drink the coffee and amazing home made cakes here.

“It is the best coffee east of the pier that’s for sure, and probably west of it too.

“The family that run this place take great pride in quality and it also really shows in the amazing cakes, and try the crostata.”