10 spots to try the best coffee in London
It’s often the little things that bring us the greatest pleasure and for many of us, coffee is one of those little things: get it right and it will set you up for the day. Get it wrong and nothing will fix it. So you don’t have to take the risk of ordering a sub-par cup of Joe, we’ve compiled a list of our ten favourite coffee spots in the city. Grab your Oyster card and start your caffeine crusade!
1. Scandinavian Kitchen, 61 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PP
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A short hop off Oxford Street will find you at an oasis of Scandi charm in central London. As well as having a grocery-style selection of Nordic goods, Scandinavian kitchen has some great coffee and some delicious open sandwiches. Their breakfasts here are particularly good too.
2. Monmouth, 27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9EU
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Anyone who knows anything about coffee in London knows about Monmouth. Since they began roasting their beans at this spot in 1978, the company has built up a reputation for themselves as some of the finest coffee producers in the city. As well as this being a café, the famous Monmouth beans are also sold whole and ground for you to brew at home.
3. TAP Coffee, 114 Tottenham Court Road, W1T 5AH
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A popular spot with students from nearby UCL, TAP is more commonly known as the bicycle café, owing to the two-wheeler that hangs above the entrance. The soft lighting and wooden furnishings make it the perfect spot to curl up with a book and their enticing selection of cakes will have you buying a lot more than just coffee.
4. The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs, 14-16 Leather Lane, EC1N 7SU
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A favourite with anyone working in the city, The Dept of Coffee have several locations around central London from Spitalfields across to Carnaby Street as well as selling their variety of blends to take away in-store. The social affairs element of the café comes from their commitment to giving back, with the interior of the stores designed by Goldfinger Hub, a social enterprise that trains those in disadvantaged areas of London to work with pre-owned materials.
5. A Corner of the World, 253 Bethnal Green Road, E2 6AH
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For any Portuguese and Spanish ex-pats looking for a taste of home, this café is for you. A colourful breath of fresh air on Bethnal Green road, A Corner of the World sees traditional Spanish and Portuguese dishes served up in a friendly fashion. Try the Galao, a Portuguese take on a latte and nab yourself a custard tart while you’re at it.
6. Algerian Coffee Stores, 52 Old Compton St, London W1D 4PB
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If you like me are a sucker for some old-world nostalgia, then Algerian Coffee Stores is the place for you. The store has been operating since 1887 selling the finest teas and coffees and although thet don’t have a sit down spot, coffee that starts at £1 for an espresso or £1.20 for a cappuccino is hard to beat. Drop in and have a chat with the staff and they’ll find the blend that’s right for you.
7. Store Street Espresso, 40 Store Street, WC1E 7DB
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Located just off Tottenham Court Road, Store Street is a sleek café that specialises in great coffee. Working with the Square Mile group on their espresso blend they serve hot and cold brew coffee as well as some delicious pastries. And if you prefer a milky coffee, their flat white is particularly good.
8. Violet Cakes, 47 Wilton Way, E8 3ED
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A café that’s grown from a bakery can only sell good things and that’s certainly true of Violet Cakes close to London Fields. Beginning life as a small stall in Broadway Market, owner Claire Ptak now has her own book as a testament to her skill in the kitchen. Drop by for a slice of Victoria sponge or one of her great whoopee pies and enjoy the tranquillity of this part of London.
9. Federation Coffee, Brixton, Unit 77-78, Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
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South London is often the forgotten side of the city when it comes to eating out, but it is in fact a hot bed of hidden gems. Brixton’s food scene is a great example of this, and if you’re in the neighbourhood and looking for coffee, you need to head to federation. Sourcing their coffee from the likes of Origin Coffee Roasters and Campbells and Syme the variety and passion behind their coffee makes it some of the best in the city. Well worth a trip south of the Thames.
10. The Black Lab Coffee House, 18 Clapham Common Southside, Sw4 7AB
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Despite having something of an unsuspecting exterior, The Black Lab is a great spot in Clapham Common. Using Campbell and Syme roaster and offering some great healthy lunch options, the place is a great spot to relax at the weekend, either by yourself or with friends.
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Cover image courtesy of Levent Ali.
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Written by Mary Plunkett
Mary’s curious personality means that she is forever looking to explore new places and cultures. Like many Irish kids, Mary first got a taste for travel on family camping holidays to France.
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