TOST - Craft Coffee, Honest Food & Community in the Heart of Mid Wales
In the smallest town in Britain, on the edge of wilderness and at the gateway to the Cambrian Mountains, it feels that something quietly special has taken root. TOST is more than a coffee shop and bakehouse - it’s a modern gathering place shaped by landscape, community, and a belief that great food and great coffee bring people together.
Born in Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys, TOST reflects a new chapter in rural Wales - where independent cafés are raising standards and proving that serious coffee culture doesn’t belong only in cities.
A Café Shaped by Place - Llanwrtyd Wells & the Cambrian Mountains
Llanwrtyd Wells has always been a place people travelled to in search of wellbeing and connection. Once a spa town built around shared health and hospitality, it welcomed visitors looking for something restorative - a slower pace, fresh air, and community.
TOST carries that spirit forward.
Located in the heart of the town and surrounded by cycling routes, walking trails, and the wild landscapes of Mid Wales, the café has naturally become a meeting point for locals, travellers, and outdoor adventurers. It’s a place to stop after a mountain ride, to refuel before exploring the hills, or simply to sit with good coffee and good conversation.
The Beginning - A Dream Built on Honest Food & People
TOST began with Chris and Debs - a shared passion for simple, honest food and a belief that small spaces can have a big impact on a community.
For years, Debs had been baking - creating nourishing, memorable food through instinct, creativity, and a love of ingredients. Chris brought a passion for people and conversation, the kind that turns strangers into regulars and cafés into community hubs.
What started as a dream became a space where those values could live every day: fresh bread, handcrafted bakes, crafted coffee, and a warm welcome that feels genuinely local.
Crafted Coffee in Rural Wales - A New Wave in Mid Wales
TOST sits at the heart of a growing movement - the rise of specialty coffee beyond cities.
Across Powys and Mid Wales, independent cafés are redefining expectations. Visitors no longer settle for average roadside coffee; they look for carefully brewed espresso, thoughtful sourcing, and a genuine coffee experience.
At TOST, coffee is treated as part of the craft - not separate from the food, but alongside it. Each cup is made with care, complementing fresh pastries, sourdough, and seasonal bakes. The goal isn’t pretension - it’s quality served with warmth and accessibility.
A Modern-Day Meeting Place
From the beginning, TOST was imagined as more than a café. It’s a place where:
locals gather daily
cyclists stop mid-route
walkers warm up after the hills
visitors discover the spirit of Mid Wales
The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming - rooted in conversation and community rather than trends or formality.
Just as the town’s historic spa culture once brought people together around shared wellbeing, TOST continues that tradition through food, coffee, and human connection.
A Philosophy of Simplicity & Care
At its heart, TOST is about balance:
simple food done exceptionally well
crafted coffee served without fuss
nourishing ingredients and seasonal baking
a space that feels calm, honest, and inclusive
This philosophy reflects both the landscape of Mid Wales — rugged, natural, unpretentious - and the people who call it home.
Looking Ahead - Growing With the Mid Wales Coffee Scene
As the independent coffee scene in rural Wales continues to evolve, TOST aims to be part of a wider movement: raising standards while staying grounded in local identity.
The vision isn’t to become something urban or distant from its roots. Instead, it’s to keep building a place that celebrates flavour, wellbeing, and community — a café that feels both contemporary and deeply connected to its surroundings.
A Toast to Good Food, Good Coffee & Great Community
In a small town on the edge of the Cambrian Mountains, TOST is quietly re-shaping what modern rural cafés can be - crafted coffee, honest baking, and a welcoming space that brings people together.
Because sometimes the best ideas are the simplest: a warm room, fresh bakes, great coffee — and a place where everyone feels welcome.
