When I lived in Seattle I was spoiled by the fact that one could find a decent espresso in all sorts of establishments besides cafes, coffeehouses, and restaurants. If, for example, your day's agenda involved dropping the car off at a garage, visiting the dentist, getting a haircut, popping into the bank, and browsing a book, you were bound to run into an espresso counter or cart at any of these stops. Although the trend is slowly catching on in English cities it still has a long way to go before espresso lovers are as catered to as newspaper readers and sandwich eaters.

Of course it makes sense that an Italian deli which sells coffee beans might start serving espresso drinks. This is what Buon Deli in Broomhill has done. Stocked with all sorts of deli treats such as cheeses, salamis, olives, and other picnic nibbles, Buon Deli now serves not only cappuccinos and lattes but also gourmet lunchtime meals.

Having bought their Italian roast beans in the past I stopped in recently to try their espresso. Although they have a small room at the back with tables I perched myself at the window counter to take in the view of the Broomhill Tavern, Alldays, and passing students and locals. As I sipped my double macchiato I read about the upcoming Broomhill Festival and perused the lunch menu, salivating over the descriptions of handmade pasta dishes, bruschette, and sandwiches to die for with ingredients like mozzarella, sun-blushed tomatoes, basil pesto, goats cheese, balsamic syrup, houmus, olives, red onions, and smoked salmon, served on a choice of 3 kinds of ciabatta. Or wait -- there's also aubergine, fontina, porcini mushrooms, truffle pesto, and spuntini, described as deli tastings, which include vine leaves, chilli peppers filled with feta, meat terrine, salamis and cheeses, pates, olives, and seafood. And to finish off your meal they have Italian ice cream.

My double macchiato was served in a pretty cappuccino cup decorated with little Magrittesque figures and the words "art collection MONCAFÉ". The coffee seemed a bit overheated, as if the water was too hot. But that was my only criticism; otherwise it was quite satisfying, aesthetically pleasing, and a welcome caffeine jolt for my brain which was exhausted from my busy schedule of delivering pizza fliers seven mornings a week, working five afternoons updating an outdoor sporting events website, and filling the rest of my time with freelance web design, writing, a bit of socialising and, of course, those necessary coffeehouse and pub visits.

Buon Deli is open Monday to Saturday 10:00-5:30 and offers outside catering as well. No smoking is allowed but, after all, it is basically a shop so that's reasonable.