With its move to the repurposed industrial spaces next to Granton Beach The Longshot at the Pitt is enjoying more than a change of address.
Opened in December 2024, the Pitt, a street food market and cultural space, represents a cultural shift, establishing a prominent presence in one of Edinburgh’s evolving districts. And where there is cultural evolution in the capital, one can now reliably find specialty coffee.
In this case, the excellent Longshot Coffee kiosk.
Longshot offers customers a fantastic view across the Firth of Forth. They specialise in high-quality coffee, featuring beans from Williams & Johnson roasters in Leith. It is best coupled with a purposeful walk along this blustery edge of the Firth, offering an ideal exploration of an unfamiliar facet of the city. The Pitt sits nearby Granton Gasholder 1, transformed as a park and a major part of the major Granton Waterfront Regeneration project.
Found and Repurposed
The Pitt originally made its name as an award-winning street food market in Leith (Bonnington), growing from humble beginnings into a major weekend destination for foodies. Known for its eclectic mix of independent traders, craft drinks, and live music. The recent move to this repurposed industrial space near Granton Beach maintains that core identity. This is a perfect backdrop for a no-nonsense, quality-focused coffee spot like Longshot.
The Pursuit of Purity
Specialty coffee is defined by the meticulous skill behind the counter, and Longshot is in good hands. Manager and barista Lae polished his craft at established names like Peter’s Yard and Söderberg. Crucially, his deep dive into the intricacies of coffee was cemented during his time at Williams & Johnson in Leith, where also works. The beans, naturally, are sourced from these same high-calibre Leith roasters.
It is a tell-tale sign of the true coffee enthusiast that Lae’s preference has migrated from espresso based drinks to filter coffee. He correctly notes that filter – be it batch brew or pour-over – is the form that allows the full, unadulterated flavour profile of a bean to shine. Lae admits that it took some time to convince customers to give batch brew a shot. He mentioned that “at the start I’d often end up having to drink the entire flask full myself!”
In time, he’s been able to convince several regulars to try something different. The Ugandan batch brew I sampled was a case in point: clean, aromatic, and delivering those delicate, bright, and fruity notes with a clarity that the thick, milky veil of a latte could never permit. It was a cup made with precision, not a hurried fuel-stop. Lae is now passing this expertise on to Phoebe, her enthusiasm for the apprenticeship as palpable as the sea air. She, like many locals, benefits from the ease of access, noting that the brisk walk along the coast to begin her workday is an unexpected bonus.
Stunning scenery
The greatest asset of Longshot is its location. The single outdoor table is one of the most scenic spots for a caffeine fix in the entire city. You have a magnificent, uninhibited view across the Forth to Fife, complete with the spectacle of jets overhead before they turn inland over Cramond prior to landing. While Lae and Phoebe chatted, pointing out a solitary windsurfer enjoying the weather, they noted that much custom comes from those who require genuine fortification: the regulars who emerge from the adjoining saunas or take a wild plunge into the sea.
“We often get queues of those coming for a post-swim coffee and bacon roll”. The function of Longshot, then, is not merely aesthetic, but essential. It’s a warming port in the storm for the hardiest locals, many of whom go back for another bracing dip, fuelled by the Ugandan beans.
The area itself, well-served by major bus links to the nearby Granton Station Square cultural hub, is clearly rising. Longshot coffee, housed within the distinctive environment of The Pitt, offers not only an excellent cup but a compelling reason to venture out and witness the North of Edinburgh’s latest evolution. Go for the coffee; linger for the vista.
The ideal coastal tramp – Granton to Cramond
For a post-coffee walk, the best option is to head westward to Cramond. Leaving the industrial theatre of The Pitt, you quickly join the wide, dedicated, and blessedly car-free Silverknowes Esplanade/Promenade. This bracing stride along the shoreline of the Firth of Forth offers a constantly unfolding panoramic spectacle, with the three Forth Bridges growing ever more dramatic on the horizon.
The walk culminates at the historic, almost-rural charm of Cramond Village, situated at the mouth of the River Almond. For the hardy explorer, the ultimate attraction is the possibility, dependent on a careful check of the tide, of crossing the ancient causeway to Cramond Island to survey its intriguing World War Two fortifications. This rounds off a perfect integration of urban frontier and coastal scenery.
A Long Shot Worth Taking
Since opening Longshot, Lae has been pleasantly surprised by the amount of custom, which has built steadily as the Pitt has risen in profile. Ultimately, Longshot at The Pitt is more than just a coffee kiosk; it is sustaining the wild swimmers and urban adventurers drawn to Granton’s bracing edge. This venture is a compelling reason to explore the city’s evolving northern frontier.
Longshot Coffee, The Pitt, 20 West Shore Road, EH5 1QD
