Exchange Coffee Co, Blackburn

Phone number: 01254 54258.

Lancashire Telegraph review by John Anson from February 10, 2007

TUCKED away in a quiet corner just off Blackburn town centre, you have to look twice before you realise that the Exchange Coffee Co is the ideal place for a bite to eat or a cuppa.

As you enter, it's like going into an old fashioned emporium with tin after tin of exotic sounding teas and coffees lined up before you.

The cafe area is more like the front room of a Victorian mansion, full of faded glory and atmosphere.

In a way I am reluctant to draw it to your attention. It's a cosy escape from the hustle and bustle of the world and I'd rather like to keep it to myself.

Obviously a wide array of teas and coffees are available - it is a connoisseur's delight - but you can also enjoy snacks and a number of specials.

With the temperature barely above freezing my eye was drawn to the homemade soup of the day.

Clearly it had the same effect on many other people as my first choice of carrot and coriander was sold out so I settled for mushroom.

My companion went for the jacket potato option. The good thing here is that you can build' your own from a selection of toppings - in this case tuna and sweetcorn.

I decided on the blue Sumatran coffee while my companion chose a cranberry and lime concoction.

In total our lunch came to £10.45.

The soup was a veritable vat of homemade soup, full of small pieces of mushroom and absolutely delicious. The soft roll and butter helped mop it up.

The jacket potato had a healthy-sized portion of topping and a nice fresh, side salad with dressing to accompany it.

Naturally the coffee was first rate.

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