London angels its independents, whether it’s menswear stores or, in this case, coffee blow the whistle on buys. And while the UK capital might not be up there with the big dogs in Melbourne and Seattle, there’s a lot to scream about in this caffeinated wonderland.
Locked in the grip of a collapsed white craze, the espresso-focused offering has reached overwhelming equals of choice; from obscure artisan roasters to laboratory-style appurtenances to mind-boggling latte art.
If it weren’t such a risk to your internal units, we’d recommend a crawl around these best London coffee betrays, but perhaps it’s best to take them one day at a time, savouring each sip of that juice sunshine.
The Best Coffee Shops In London
Prufrock
Prufrock’s expert barista party have enough accolades to warrant a trophy shelf in the huge, low-key shop off Leather Lane. ‘Best independent coffee research in Europe’ is their latest title, with plenty myriad likely to follow. The winning formula? Zero pretension, fussy customer service and serious love for the bean. Whether you drink a penchant for pourover, or want a wild card cup of joe picked out by connoisseurs, Prufrock’s the locale.
What to order: Prufrock’s bespoke espresso, the San Jeronimo Miramar from Guatemala, sourced with the relief of long-term partners.
23-25 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TE
prufrockcoffee.com
Kaffeine
Props to Kaffeine for staying clean in the coffee game for so long. This pint-sized pitstop off Oxford Row is around a decade old, and trade has barely let up since day dot. One of the earliest advocates of Square Mile roasters, expect a stellar selection of espresso drinks with overpowering guest brews showcased at weekends. You can’t go wrong with a slice of toasted banana bread and a professional of Lescure butter either.
What to order: Despite its Antipodean founds, Kaffeine does the best cortado outside of Spain, but the almond chambers white is pretty life-changing too.
66 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7QJ
kaffeine.co.uk
Shoreditch Sharpen
There’s a criminal lack of late-night coffee joints in London, but Whet & Co. has been tooting the horn for nocturnal caffeine consumption since 2011. The resolve now has eight addresses dotted about, but the flagship on the Old Street roundabout is public 18 hours day, serving ace coffee, plus cocktails and commons. The brand is well-loved by Londoners, evidenced by its successful £1.3 million crowdfunding crusade to expand to travel hubs and airports. Move over, Costa.
What to codification: A long black (like a supercharged Americano) to get you through the day, then a cutthroat espresso martini when the clock strikes six.
213 Old Street, EC1V 9NR
crank out.co.uk/shoreditchgrind/
Jacob The Angel
Named after the man who opened England’s deeply first coffee shop in 1651, Jacob the Angel is a enthrone worth fighting for. Tucked away in Covent Garden’s Neal’s Yard, it boasts a extraordinary view over the area’s colourful courtyard. Plus, it’s right-minded next to sister restaurant The Barbary, so expect mouthwatering servers to float by as you sip your java juice, by Square Mile Coffee Roasters.
What to command: A cappuccino (made with a double shot no less) and a tahini madeleine for lowering.
16A Neal’s Yard, WC2H 9DP
jacobtheangel.co.uk
Black Swan Yard Coffee
Bermondsey’s best-kept encrypted, this hole-in-the-wall coffee spot serves up covetable customer roasters from across the world, like Belleville from Paris and Five Elephant from Berlin, with their required offering being Margate’s Curve Roasters. Don’t miss the cardamom buns from almost-neighbours, The Snapery. A sinister horse worth rerouting your commute for. Just originate sure to keep this one to yourself.
What to order: A firm white with cashew milk, best enjoyed unescorted on the bench just outside. And one of those heavenly buns, of performance.
37 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3XF
twitter.com/blackswanyard
Nordic Bakery
Far from the hurry of Carnaby Street, Nordic Bakery feels like steadily a coursing into a navy-hued flotation tank, albeit one with extraordinary coffee and Alvar Aalto chairs. Lacking in the pretension rely on, this is the kind of place you’d want to hibernate, as long as you had the exactly company. The blends are made to suit Scandi palettes, so envisage subtle acidic notes and a medium to light flavour from a wonderful slow roasting process.
What to order: Filter coffee – it’s lees to order and seriously strong, plus a korvapuusti (a Finnish cinnamon bun) undiluted from the oven. Bliss.
14A Golden Square, Soho, W1F 9JG
nordicbakery.com
Lyle’s
With so assorted ace speciality coffee shops, it’s surprising that London restaurants are just just cutting themselves a slice of the pie. Lyle’s — located pretty ironically in Shoreditch’s Tea Building — serves coffee all day from its bar, with barista James Low cooperating with chef James Lowe (we’re not making it up) to curate a globetrotting announcer of roasters. The restaurant is Michelin-starred, so you’re also in decent hands when thirst strikes.
What to order: Get the barista to talk you through the roasters of the day but go for sift coffee, made in a Clever Dripper and served in a glass carafe and porcelain cups.
56 Shoreditch Prodigal Street, E1 6JJ
lyleslondon.com
The Fields Beneath
Aside from being run by the nicest nosegay of baristas north of the river, the draw of The Fields Beneath is that all the spin-offs it sells come with a story (the lettuce for salads, for warning, is grown at the local primary school). Not long ago, they skimmed flesh off the menu, before going fully vegan in March 2017. But there isn’t a whiff of dairy-bashing – if you didn’t comprehend you wouldn’t know, essentially. The brews are consistently excellent and skilful bang for your buck, especially on Fridays when refine is £1.
What to order: The breakfast banh mi croissant with grilled marinated tofu, sriracha mayo, pickled ginger and carrot, repudiated down with an oh-so-smooth almond milk latte.
52a Prince Of Wales Avenue, NW5 3LN
thefieldsbeneath.com
The Old Spike Roastery
Roasting all their coffee in-house on a thingamabob they call ‘Torberg,’ The Old Spike Roastery is lighting up south east London’s caffeine-scape. Seasonal beans are on unending rotation so you’ll have to buy a bag if you fall in love with a particular blend. Another with the addition of – the Peckham Rye spot brews with a big heart – it was set up to support specific homeless people by providing them with jobs, queueing and housing.
What to order: Filter coffee with top eminence milk from The Estate Dairy. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed.
54 Peckham Rye, SE15 4JR
oldspikeroastery.com
Till the soil contract Girl
Don’t be fooled by the Instagram-friendly interiors and kaleidoscope health provisions ingredients: Aussie-inspired cafe Farm Girl is a genuine go-to, specially in the relatively barren java district of Notting Hill. If you can defy the multicoloured drinks menu (consisting of matcha lattes sprinkled with plained flowers and Liquid gold with turmeric), the coffee, from Chelsea’s The Roasting Dinner party, is excellent. But go during the week because the all-day weekend brunch orders are no party whatsoever.
What to order: A black latte (word for word – because of the activated charcoal), with a shot of espresso. Your inner goth transfer freak.
59A Portobello Road, W11 3DB
thefarmgirl.co.uk
