cafe's furniture which is mostly big wooden bench style tables that everybody can gather round like a kitchen table.

If you do want a more intimate space, though, there are a number of small tables with leather bucket chairs available. And bar stools at the window offers a spot to watch the world go by.

The decor also reveals Simon's passion for jazz (he studied tenor sax in Australia for three years). Black and white photographs of jazz musicians look down from the walls and smooth jazz tunes float through the air from the record player that sits in the corner. These tunes and the coffee are the 'hot numbers' that give the cafe its name.

The place feels stylish and the coordination of polished wood, red and black show a designer's eye for detail. The big windows at the front let in a lot of light, making it feel air, and when we visited it was spotlessly clean.

While studying in Australia, Simon worked in gourmet coffee shops and learned a great deal about how to make and serve good coffee. He's also worked as a mechanical engineer with coffee machines, learning that only the best machine must be used in order to avoid over heating the coffee and producing a burnt flavour.

Using top quality equipment the beans are freshly ground for every cup at the time it is ordered. Each one is made with a double shot of coffee, making a refreshing change from the weak coffee offered by many popular chains these days.

The result of all this attention was that ours were excellent drinks, beautifully smooth and both really loaded with coffee flavour. While lattes can taste like milk with just a hint of coffee to them, this one kept a nice potency to it. It also had a good balance of milk to froth, elegantly decorated with an artistic swirl on top.

If coffee is not your thing, then there's a selection of tea available as well as freshly squeezed orange juice. The food menu includes a range of paninis and an assortment of delicious looking cakes including vegetarian options. In the morning they do toast and croissant fresh from the oven.

When we visited there was a steady stream of customers who, it was clear, found that the venue provided exactly the sort of leisurely atmosphere they were looking for. No-one appeared rushed and there was certainly no intrusion by staff.

Hot Numbers also aims to cover a lot of other bases. It is family friendly during the day, providing some high chairs for young children as well as a play area with toys. On occasion, the café plans to stay open in the evening to host performances of live jazz and poetry.