Is Totnes Hyper-Caffeinated? 

The recent opening of Radek’s Chocolate in the Narrows means that there are now  43 places in Totnes where you can buy a cup of coffee.

Unscientific research by the Totnes Pulse suggests that Totnes may have the highest concentration of coffee outlets in the UK and possibly in the world*. All but three of these shops are unique to Totnes; allowing the Town to claim the highest proportion of independent coffee shops anywhere.

A survey in 2021 suggested that Brighton had the highest concentration of coffee shops in the UK with one shop per 800 residents. In comparison Totnes has approximately one coffee outlet for every 210 residents.

If coffee shops depended on local residents for their custom, the laid back image of Totnes would quickly disappear in a caffeine fuelled haze. Fortunately visitors as well as residents need their shots of caffeine.  Some people have grumbled that there are too many cafes in Totnes.

The arrival of a new shop selling coffee is further evidence of the thriving local economy. Fore Street and High Street have gained international recognition for the range of independent shops, complementing the architectural heritage of the Town.

Visitors are now a very important part of the Totnes economy. Concerns should be less about the number of cafes, and more about how as a whole Totnes can be made a more welcoming place for visitors and residents alike. Maybe cheaper parking and better street cleaning would be a starting point.

*per capita

Totnes Ratio: 1 coffee shop per ~210 people

Seattle has 200+ shops for 730,000 people → 1 per 3,650 people

San Francisco has the highest ratio in the US: 528 shops for 866,606 people → 1 per 1,640 people

Shanghai has the most shops overall (8,530), but with a population of 28M → 1 per ~3,300 people