Excited for pumpkin spiced latte season? Swerve the big chains and support local by getting your seasonal coffee fix from a fabulous independent. Updated 28th October 2025.
Independent Coffee Shops in Derby
Glamberry Café on The Strand is go-to place for barista made seasonal specials, matcha and the like. Anum and team have just scooped Best Newcomer at Marketing Derby’s Food & Drink Awards. Other great coffee shops in the Cathedral Quarter of Derby include Rask on Bold Lane, The Kitchen on Sadler Gate. Also check out Bear, on Iron Gate and inside Derbion.
Best independent coffee places in Chesterfield
Society is a real gem of a coffee shop in Chesterfield town centre. In addition to their lovely coffees, they’ve also built a cult-following for their epic grilled cheese sandwiches or doughnuts from Dough Notts.
Over lockdown, Junction gained a reputation for the most decadent takeaway hot chocolates. Sister venue, Host in Clay Cross, now also with a venue on Chatsworth Road, always do some amazing seasonal specials. Also worth trying is Qooozies in town and Koo on Chatsworth Road.
Winter warmers at independent coffee shops in the rest of Derbyshire
F’Coffee, Ashbourne
F’Coffee has one of the most expansive hot drinks menus in the region. There’s a full barista coffee menu, all available with a choice of milks (whole, skinny or soya) and various other plant based milks are available at a small supplement. They have a wide range of syrups in as standard (vanilla, caramel, salted caramel, hazelnut, gingerbread, cinnamon, Irish cream and amaretto). There’s a whole hot chocolate menu including over half a dozen hot chocolates – everything from white chocolate and raspberry to chocolate orange. F’Coffee also sell 100% vegan superfood lattes made with almond milk. These are available in matcha, golden turmeric, butterfly pea, charcoal and beetroot flavours! Or go for a classic spiced chai latte. Look out for seasonal specials. The cake is also seriously good. No bookings, walk ins only.
The Little Shed in Ashbourne and Allestree, Derby
Although the menu differs slightly between these two venues, both are lovely options for a delightful light bite or coffee and cake. There’s a full range of coffees, luxury lattes in a range of seasonal flavours such as crème brulee, gingerbread, Nutella and black forest. Read my full review of The Little Shed.
Apple Tree Tea House, Ockbrook
Apple Tree Tea House is a wonderful place for coffee and cake or breakfast or lunch. They always have a deliciously tempting selection of seasonal specials. Expect seasonal bakes, decadent hot chocolates and luxury lattes. Outside and the barn areas are dog friendly (click here for other dog friendly places). Booking recommended if you want to sit inside.
The Brown Bear Coffee Shop, Ripley
Somewhere I’ve not tried myself yet but that has an amazing selection of milkshakes and flavoured coffees is Brown Bear in Ripley, a homely tea room. Pictured is their popular unicorn hot chocolate but there are lots of other variations available. Also check out their popular hot chocolate jar, available in a wide range of flavours.
Seasonal cocktails
If coffee isn’t your thing, maybe try a seasonal cocktail. Plenty of Derbyshire independents will be offering autumnal cocktails. Try any of the Monk Bars, Bank in Ashbourne or Bradmans in Matlock. Or just over the Staffordshire border, lovely gastro pub The Star at Cotton has a full menu of seasonal cocktails. Click here for other recommendations of great cocktail bars in Derby and Derbyshire or maybe you might prefer to warm up in a cosy traditional country inn? Here are 16 cosy pubs in Derbyshire.
The Autumn Edit
A landing page of all the seasonal content on Lovely Local Indie – from autumn walks to cosy cafés and the best places to for pumpkin picking. Here’s all the most seasonal content on Lovely Local Indie. The best places to eat, drink and go this autumn in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Click each…
