Looking for an escape during the craziness of Christmas shopping? coffeeangel on South Anne Street (off Grafton) is your oasis. The small space is minimally designed, using beautiful wood elements, and adorned with brewing paraphernalia from around the world.

Their house coffee, Forsa Gala, is an ever-changing espresso blend of seasonal beans. The latest iteration tastes of Cadbury’s Fruit and Nut, with a slight chocolate bitterness on the aftertaste. Order it as a cappuccino, and the Fruit and Nut turns into Dairy Milk, with cocoa perfectly balancing the sweet, perfectly steamed milk. Out of the range of treats here, the scones are my favourites, with creative flavours such as white chocolate and blueberry, hitting the perfect spots in sweetness and density.

If you’re in the city at Christmas, pop in to coffeeangel for that perfect holiday feeling; the one you get with a warm cappuccino and a yummy scone at hand.

Photo by Matthew Mulligan.