STOURBRIDGE independent coffee shop The Chemistry Café has scooped two top national industry awards.

The cafe, based in a former pharmacy shop in the High Street, has been awarded Beverage Standards Awards for Best Overall Experience and Best Filter Coffee.

Owner and barista, Harriet Foster, said: “We were so happy when we found out that we’d won two awards this year.

“The Beverage Standards Awards are judged by people who are in the industry - they’re experts in their field. To get their recognition for our service and speciality drinks means a lot to us.”

Head judge, Martyn Herriott, reportedly said The Chemistry Café was chosen for Best Overall Experience award as he “was blown away by the quality of drinks available, the knowledge on display and the enthusiasm of the staff”.

Harriet launched the venture in June 2016, having sought larger premises for the business which had been trading previously as The Coffee Collective towards the top of the High Street.

And she reckons since 2013 there’s become a much greater awareness of speciality coffee.

She said: “Even since we opened The Coffee Collective three years ago, there has been a big change in the way people are drinking their coffee. People are moving away from the sweet, milk drinks and asking for brewed coffees.

“They want to be able to taste the coffee and appreciate the different flavours of the beans.”