Square Mile Red Brick Espresso Review

Square Mile Coffee Roasters opened in East London in 2008, and in the years since they’ve become one of the most respected names in UK specialty coffee. Their Red Brick espresso blend has been a cornerstone of that reputation, a coffee that manages to be both immediately accessible and genuinely interesting on closer inspection.

The Roaster Behind the Blend

Square Mile was co-founded by Anette Moldvaer and James Hoffmann, whose subsequent career as a coffee educator and author has brought specialty coffee to a mainstream UK audience. The company’s approach has always prioritised traceability and quality, and Red Brick reflects that: it’s a blend built for espresso, adjusted seasonally to maintain character rather than recipe.

The roast is a true medium, sitting right in that zone where you get the sweetness of developed sugars without losing the origin clarity that makes specialty coffee worthwhile. It’s a notably lighter style than many UK espresso blends.

Aroma

The dry aroma from the bag is warm and inviting: milk chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, and something faintly fruity. Grinding it fresh opens up brown sugar sweetness and a subtle stone fruit note, perhaps cherry or apricot, that signals the lighter roast approach. It smells like quality from the first moment.

In the Cup

Red Brick as espresso is a fine-looking shot: golden-amber crema, good body, clear flavour. The milk chocolate and hazelnut notes are present and well-integrated, but what distinguishes this blend from many medium-dark competitors is that fruity brightness underneath. Stone fruit acidity adds lift and complexity without making the espresso feel sharp.

The sweetness is notably good. Brown sugar on the mid-palate, finishing clean. There’s no bitterness to speak of unless you over-extract it, and even then it’s mild.

As a milk drink, Red Brick holds up well. The chocolate and hazelnut notes translate cleanly into flat whites and lattes. The fruitiness softens under milk but adds a pleasant complexity that makes this more interesting than a straightforward chocolatey blend.

Brewing Parameters

Because of the lighter-than-average roast, Red Brick benefits from slightly higher extraction temperatures: 93-94°C works well. A 1:2 ratio pulled over 25-28 seconds is a good starting point. The blend rewards careful dialling in but isn’t unforgiving once you’ve found your recipe.

For manual filter methods it’s also capable, though it’s clearly designed with espresso in mind.

Value

At £11.00 for 350g, Red Brick works out at £3.14 per 100g. For a specialty blend of this quality from a roaster with this reputation, that’s outwith the realm of expensive. It sits at the accessible end of premium specialty pricing and represents genuine value.

Who It’s Best For

• Specialty coffee enthusiasts who want a reliable everyday blend from a trusted roaster
• Home baristas comfortable with dialling in a lighter-style espresso
• Anyone who finds darker blends overpowering but wants something more complex than a supermarket offering
• Flat white drinkers who appreciate chocolate and nut profiles

Verdict

Square Mile Red Brick is one of the genuinely great UK espresso blends. It carries the heritage and quality of a world-class roaster at a price that makes it viable as an everyday coffee. The balance of accessibility and complexity is difficult to achieve; Red Brick manages it with apparent ease.

Rating: 4.6/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Red Brick always the same blend? Square Mile adjusts the components seasonally to maintain consistency of flavour profile. The expression may shift slightly but the character remains recognisable from bag to bag.

Can I buy Red Brick in shops? Square Mile sells direct from their website and ships across the UK. Selected independent coffee shops and delis stock their beans. They don’t sell through supermarkets.

Is Red Brick suitable for a superautomatic espresso machine? Yes. The medium roast and well-integrated flavour profile work well across machine types. You may need to adjust grind settings compared to a darker roast, as medium roasts are denser and require a finer grind.