It’s 2025 – a fact underscored by a number of comments regarding my coffee adventures, or rather – the lack of so far this year. Indeed, these last few months have been pretty busy and while they did involve some travel, it was all to familiar haunts, where I ended up sporting my new passion for a black brew.

However, with the continued winter aura over Scotland which brings with it the spoilers of all outdoor pursuits (wind and rain) I chose to ditch the planned hike this particular February Sunday and hit the streets of Aberdeen in search of new cafes to review.

It proved to be an easier task than I thought, as I had received my first recommendation on Friday, during the in-office chat about weekend plans. There was “this new place in Rosemount”, I was told, called Third Circle Coffee – and a quick Google search indicated it was, indeed, open on Sunday. I was hatching a plan.

The day was truly miserable with non-stop drizzle, but the wind had calmed down a bit by the time I ventured out, meaning a hooded parka was up to the task of keeping me mobile and relatively comfy.

I decided on a longer circuit around Rosemount and surrounding shopping areas; and so, my chosen route (albeit a very wonky one) took in another cafe I had never heard of, mere 250 yards from my prime destination, called Fearless Coffee – and here is where I went first.

The windows were steamed up (as with most hospitality venues that afternoon), so it was only on entering that I discovered the place was empty. Once I reached the counter at the far end of the small-ish space with a social club feel, I cracked a joke with the barista that the bad weather was making it a quiet day in the office – which was not acknowledged with a smile and, instead, a dry comment that it had been quite busy that day, in fact.

I’ve ran out of pleasantries so ordered my mocha, glanced at the pastry case when prompted, thought of it for a second before remembering I had barely finished my breakfast and therefore stuck just with the brew, then took a seat roughly in the middle of the room.

And my previous observation was demolished almost instantly when a couple of patrons entered the premises, ordered and sat down nearby, followed by another couple straight after that who settled on the sofa and made use of the power socket, suggesting a longer visit.

I didn’t have to wait long for my coffee and when it arrived, I had a very good feeling about it. The latte art was expertly executed, sitting on a silky-looking micro foam. My two cafetières at breakfast long forgotten, I tucked into the mocha eagerly – and dissolved into the mouthwatering sensation.

The coffee was the perfect drinking temperature, allowing sipping enjoyment without scalding your mouth or fear of letting the drink go tepid if it was put down. It had a velvety texture throughout, with a lovely balance of sweetness and coffee – no sharpness of any particular taste, simply perfect blend on ingredients and flavours. In fact, it reminded me of Wellington Coffee – if I recall correctly, my first 5 star review.

And so, there could be no other rating for this one; I polished it off quickly and could have easily had another if I wasn’t on a Rosemount discovery mission. But I will be back for my next fix before long I hope!

Learn more about Fearless Coffee on their Facebook page.