Coffee in London?
July 12, 2023 11:29 PM Subscribe
I’m in London for a few days. Where can I find good coffee? I’m staying near Hyde Park, but I’ll be roaming around different neighborhoods, though not going too far out. Outside seating would be nice, or some place where I can sit down, in any case. Also, places that serve a good decaf cup, for an afternoon non-caf coffee break? Thanks!
Two things to add - one, the majority of specialty coffee places should do decaf (to my partner's great delight as she has stomach issues with caffeine), but if you want it guaranteed, Hermanos do a very nice one.
Second, if you want a more trad coffee experience, you could do worse than dropping into Bar Italia in Soho for an espresso or morning cappuccino. They're open from 7am to 4am (yes, a.m.)
posted by knapah at 1:53 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Second, if you want a more trad coffee experience, you could do worse than dropping into Bar Italia in Soho for an espresso or morning cappuccino. They're open from 7am to 4am (yes, a.m.)
posted by knapah at 1:53 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Bar Italia in Soho, obviously.)
South of Hyde Park, Guillam or Urban Baristas. To the west Guillam again, or Lift. Beany Green to the north. To the east Parcafe or Formative.
London is pretty saturated with good Third Wave coffee places, so it would be good to know if there were particular areas you were going to.
posted by alby at 3:16 AM on July 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
South of Hyde Park, Guillam or Urban Baristas. To the west Guillam again, or Lift. Beany Green to the north. To the east Parcafe or Formative.
London is pretty saturated with good Third Wave coffee places, so it would be good to know if there were particular areas you were going to.
posted by alby at 3:16 AM on July 13, 2023 [3 favorites]
Seconding Monmouth (note you'll need to bring your own cup or pay a deposit on a reusable cup).
Subjective, but Square Mile is the best coffee roaster in the country. You can find places that use their coffee beans on their website.
If you happen to end up in Clapham, 7 Oz and Lane Eight. 7 Oz really is a gem, and sadly doesn't have the pull of other, fussier cafes (which is great for customers because there's never a wait or a crowd).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:44 AM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
Subjective, but Square Mile is the best coffee roaster in the country. You can find places that use their coffee beans on their website.
If you happen to end up in Clapham, 7 Oz and Lane Eight. 7 Oz really is a gem, and sadly doesn't have the pull of other, fussier cafes (which is great for customers because there's never a wait or a crowd).
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 4:44 AM on July 13, 2023 [2 favorites]
If you're in Mayfair and miss Higgins of Duke Street, your soul will howl with banshee-like regret.
Also worth noting are The Ethiopian Coffee Company. I know the guy who runs it; he used to be a tourist guide in Ethiopia before moving to London. He imports his own beans from growers he knows personally. I find them at the South Bank food market on Fri/Sat/Sun-- handy if you're strolling down the river to the Globe, for example. They're also near Sloane Square on a Saturday and at their shop in Islington continuously.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:25 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also worth noting are The Ethiopian Coffee Company. I know the guy who runs it; he used to be a tourist guide in Ethiopia before moving to London. He imports his own beans from growers he knows personally. I find them at the South Bank food market on Fri/Sat/Sun-- handy if you're strolling down the river to the Globe, for example. They're also near Sloane Square on a Saturday and at their shop in Islington continuously.
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:25 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Bar Italia, mentioned above, is great but I wouldn't have the nerve to ask for decaf there!)
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:28 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Pallas Athena at 5:28 AM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
Black Sheep Coffee is pretty good. There are a few of them around London.
posted by mr_silver at 10:16 AM on July 13, 2023
posted by mr_silver at 10:16 AM on July 13, 2023
Neal Street Espresso serves great coffee and buns as well as being a worthwhile social enterprise.
posted by liebchen at 12:16 PM on July 13, 2023
posted by liebchen at 12:16 PM on July 13, 2023
Response by poster: Thanks, folks! I hope to get to a few of these while I’m here.
posted by gigondas at 1:23 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by gigondas at 1:23 PM on July 13, 2023 [1 favorite]
nth-ing Monmouth (Seven Dials/Covent Garden but a good excuse to go to Borough Market), plus adding Grind and Redemption Roasters if you're in the City or East.
I miss when most Black Sheep were Taylor Street Baristas, the Black Sheep roast is classically-dark Italian rather than Australian or Third Wave floral and fruity.
posted by k3ninho at 9:18 AM on July 15, 2023
I miss when most Black Sheep were Taylor Street Baristas, the Black Sheep roast is classically-dark Italian rather than Australian or Third Wave floral and fruity.
posted by k3ninho at 9:18 AM on July 15, 2023
I went to Prufrock and Rosslyn when I was in London -- both multi-roaster shops and quite nice.
posted by ferret branca at 7:54 PM on July 16, 2023
posted by ferret branca at 7:54 PM on July 16, 2023
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To the west of Hyde Park, you could try Kuro Coffee, Notting Hill Coffee Project or Lift Coffee.
To the south, Guillam Coffee House, Hagen Espresso Bar (several of these in South Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge), Blank Street Coffee (chain, but decent).
To the east, in Mayfair, Gentlemen Baristas (bonus excellent pint of Guinness at the Guinea Grill a couple of door's down), HR Higgins, District Coffee (Brook's Mews).
To the north, I recently commented about some near Paddington. Harrison's, Blank Street Coffee, Frequency Coffee and Tab X Tab.
Around Victoria/Westminster, Notes Coffee and Wine Bar (several of these around London), Hermanos (same), Formative Coffee, and on most weekdays, Flat Cap coffee cart on Strutton Ground (I go here when I'm at work). Any of these you're a short walk from St James's Park.
For other solid specialty coffee shops around London, I'd suggest places like Department of Coffee and Social Affairs off Carnaby Street, any of Caravan's locations, Kaffeine near Oxford Circus, Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market, Covent Garden, Bermondsey), Prufrock on Leather Lane (owned by famous coffee man James Hoffman), and the Espresso Room off St Martin's Lane (near Leicester Square station).
posted by knapah at 1:25 AM on July 13, 2023 [8 favorites]