Shoreditch Grind – London

Address: 213 Old Street, London EC1V 9NR
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7490 7490
Web: http://www.shoreditchgrind.com/
Beans used: Roasted exclusively for Shoreditch Grind and blended in-house.
Food served: Yes, selection of breakfast and lunch items as well as baked goods.

Occupying the old Roundhouse on Old Street is this unusual but fun espresso bar that also features a writing, recording and mixing room upstairs. On the outside the signage is reminiscent of old movie theatres, with the film names replaced by quirky statements. The theatrics are continued inside; there’s the wonderfully high ceiling and winding staircase that hugs the walls of the round building and some cool tunes playing in the background. But enough about the show’s superficial charm. The coffee is sound (see what we did there?) and you could happily lose yourself for a while sitting at one of the outward facing benches, watching the world pass by, wondering if you could still make it as a world famous rockstar. The service was a bit of a let down, but maybe we caught them on an off performance. Without giving too much away maybe you should just go see the show.

Thanks to Hayden for assisting with the content for this one.

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Allpress Espresso – London

Address: 58 Redchurch Street, London E2 7DP

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7749 1780

Web: http://www.allpressespresso.com

Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)

Food served: Yes, selection of sandwiches and baked goods.

Find yourself in the vicinity of Brick Lane and you’d be correct in assuming a good coffee wouldn’t be hard to find. But one in a medium sized, quiet, modern (yet cozy) setting is a little harder to stumble upon. Try the short walk over to Allpress and be greeted by great, attentive staff and an impressively neat interior that accommodates an equally impressive roaster. This is a great café – well staffed and positioned away from the craziness so you can actually enjoy a coffee in peace. The coffee is what you’d expect – good strength, well presented, slightly sweet. The best coffee houses in London may serve up a notch or two above the standard offered here but hey, we’re pretty critical after all…

Thanks to Hayden for assisting with the content for this one.

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Ozone – London

Address: 11 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4AQ

Tel: +44 (0) 207 490 1039

Web: http://www.ozonecoffee.co.uk/

Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)

Food available: Yes, selection of breakfast and lunch items and baked treats.

A short walk from what I like to call the 'Old Street Cyclists Roundabout of Death’ lies Ozone Coffee Roasters, a vibrant and energetic café and roasting house without the chaos. The exposed brick walls and raw, unpolished timber floorboards and bench tops give the place a real rustic feel. The coffee is near perfect, boasting just the right strength, texture and consistency and wonderful presentation. And, of course, it is served in a cup with a typically undersized handle to properly insert your index finger through (the only negative criticism really).

Big thanks to Robyn for telling us about the place.

Fernandez & Wells – London

Address: 16A St. Annes Court, Soho, London, W1F 0BG

Other locations:

Somerset House – Strand, London, WC2R 1LA

Soho – 43 Lexington Street, London, W1F 9AL

Soho – 73 Beak Street, London, W1F 9SR

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7494 4242

Web: http://fernandezandwells.com/

Beans used: Own blend of Has Bean coffee beans

Food served: Yes, meat, cheese and olive platters as well as selection of sandwiches and baked goods.

With several locations around London, this review will focus on the one at St. Anne’s Court in Soho.

Sitting quietly on one of the connecting passageways that is St. Anne’s Court, exists the cute little no frills café Fernandez & Wells. Inside, the mix of timber bench seating alongside metal tables and stools reflects the no-nonsense, raw character of the place. On the weekend this establishment offers a nice breather from the craziness of Oxford Street. The coffee is not the best we’ve tried but it is good, if a bit dry. Presentation is neat, the staff are casual and all this sums up the very basic, neutral experience that you’ll find yourself in. A pleasant experience all the same.

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Notes and Music – London

Address: 31 St Martins Lane, London WC2N 4ER

(Also at 36 Wellington St, WC2E 7ED)

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7240 0424

Web:  http://notesmusiccoffee.com

Beans used: Square Mile

Food available: Yes, small selection of breakfast, lunch and dinner items and some pastries.

A pearl in Covent Garden. Though located next to Trafalgar Square, Notes manages to remain hidden from the tourists. It does get busy though, and you may have to wait for a table. With a cool interior, jazz music playing in the background and movies screening in the basement. Your coffee will be made by one of the delightful staff, putting together a nice lightly flavoured coffee that is as smooth as a vanilla ice cream.

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The Breakfast Club – London

Address: 33 D’Arblay Street, London, W1F 8EU

Other locations:

Hoxton – 2-4 Rufus Street, London, N1 6PE

Angel – 31 Camden Passage, London, N1 8EA

Spitalfields – 12-16 Artillery Lane, London, E1 7LS

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7434 2571

Web:  http://www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/

Beans used: Matthew Algie

Food available: Yes, large menu selection or brunch, lunch and dinner offerings.

With several locations around London, this review will focus on the one in Soho.

We don’t normally review chain cafés, as they’re usually pretty ordinary. However, The Breakfast Club is a bit different. It’s very popular and for good reason. You’ll be waiting a long time, however, if you rock up around 10am on a Sunday morning, their busiest day of the week. Once inside you’ll be greeted by a bright, buzzing vibe, decent food and great coffee – very good coffee. Pop in during the week and it’ll be in your hands much quicker than on a busy Sunday morning. 

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Look Mum No Hands – London

Address: 49 Old Street, London, EC1V 9HX

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7253 1025

Web:  http://www.lookmumnohands.com/

Beans used: Square Mile

Food available: Yes, usual café style range of salads and small meals

Look Mum No Hands is the result of the unusual merger of café and cycle repair shop. It makes sense; get your bike fixed and enjoy a coffee or meal whilst you wait. We’ll stick to what we know and review the coffee, which is consistent, smooth and not too strong. The atmosphere is lively yet relaxed and there’s plenty of literature around to keep your eyes busy. Sit outside, or inside, or get one to ‘ride-away’.

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Salvation Jane – London

Address: Unit 2, Oliver's Yard, 55 City Road, London, EC1Y 1HQ

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7637 3347

Web: http://www.salvationjanecafe.co.uk/

Beans used: Square Mile (available for purchase)

Food available: Yes, small menu (with a promise to grow) with a nice selection of breakfast and lunch items as well as baked products.

Only just over one week old, Salvation Jane is the younger sibling to the popular Lantana café in Fitzrovia. We decided that we knew the coffee was going to be good at this place before we even walked in. So, instead of putting the barista to the test with our usual order, we leapt at the opportunity to enjoy an affogato. Antipodeans will welcome such a treat as they can be hard to find in London. Needless to say it met our expectations. Your order will be taken and served by one of the easy going, friendly staff who don’t mind a bit of a chat. I said to my co-blogger at the time, “I have a feeling about this place – it’s going to do really well”.

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Flat White – London

Address: 17 Berwick Street, Soho, London W1F 0PT
Tel: +44 (0) 7837 919 099
Web: http://www.flatwhitecafe.com/
Beans used: Square Mile (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, serving breakfast as well as selection of sandwiches and salads.

You’ve probably already heard about this place. It’s usually one of two or three places recommended to Antipodeans that promises to serve up great coffee that we’ve been used to in Australia or New Zealand. The truth is it doesn’t and I have no idea why so many lemmings pile into this place every day. Aside from the usual busyness or the seemingly disinterested staff, the coffee is subpar. We’ve given the guys here a couple of chances to impress us but so far all we got was watery, dirty coffee with no texture or taste. It seems like they’ve dropped the ball, if they ever even had it all.

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Federation Coffee – London

Address: Unit 46, Brixton Village Market (Granville Arcade), Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
Tel: N/A
Web: http://federationcoffee.com
Beans used: Nude Espresso (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, soup of the day as well as selection of small pastries.

Brixton's best coffee, no doubt. And a regular savior to the morning struggle. The baristas in here are very consistent and the standard never drops. The coffee is always thick and strong with each one just the right (small) size. Even take aways come with latte art (yey!) It's located in the growing, lively Brixton Village which sometimes, especially weekends, gets really busy so be prepared for a bit of a queue.

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G&T – London

Address: 204 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9NQ
Tel: +44 (0)7956 355 145
Web: http://gandtlondon.tumblr.com/
Beans used: Union (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, selection, sandwiches and baked goods. Also selling a range of fresh and packaged organic products, including fruit and vegetables and juices.

G&T is a 100% vegan organic shop and coffee house that does everything right. The delightfully friendly owners, originally from Milano, have brought with them the culture of coffee making and ethically responsible produce to this small café in London’s east, where they create with care and love a great coffee every time. And, using only organic ingredients, they really know how coffee should be made. It’s a coffee house where you’ll feel personally connected to; your local supplier rather than just another shop.

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St. ALi – London

Address: 27 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5RN
Tel: +44 (0)20 7253 5754
Web: http://stali.co.uk/
Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, breakfast, variety of baked goods and desserts, large selection of lunch items

Located in the busy creative district of Clerkenwell, St. Ali café and roasting house crafts, with great care, some of the smoothest, most velvety coffees in London. Like their older Melbourne brother, attention to detail is exceptional, presentation is meticulous and the staff are very friendly. The coffee itself lacks the strength you may expect from such a high quality establishment, but an extra shot should sort you straight out. The interior is modern yet wonderfully warm. You can sit at one of the regular small tables or on one of the many stools that surround the bar area.

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Sacred Café – London

Address: 13 Ganton Street, (off Carnaby Street), London W1F 9BL
Other locations:
Highbury Studios – 8 Hornsey Street, London N7 8EG
Westfield London – The Atrium, London W12 7GQ
Kingly Court – (off Carnaby Street), London W1B 5PW
Covent Garden – Stanfords, 12-14 Long Acre WC2E 9LP
Torrington Street – Torrington Place, (off Gower Street), WC1E 6EQ
Tel: +44 (0)20 7734 1415
Web: http://www.sacredcafe.co.uk/
Beans used: Roasted on premises (available to purchase)
Food available: Yes, selection of sandwiches and baked goods

With several café locations around London, this review will focus on the original near Oxford Circus.

Just off the busy Carnaby Street lies this popular lively café serving consistently good coffee every single time. It’s no well-kept secret; however, unlike some other popular chain establishments, it doesn’t suffer a case of success–led arrogance. The ‘sacred’ theme is carried from the sign out the front to the lectern down the back where a competent barista proudly works to bring you a strong, finely balanced coffee. There’s usually plenty of seating available outside, inside at ground level and in the lower basement. Try Sacred; it’s God’s will…

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Andor Bureau – London

Address: 3 Mare Street, London E8 4RP
Tel: N/A
Web: http://www.andorbureau.com/
Beans used: Monmouth
Food available: Yes, menu comprising salads, sandwiches, pastries and baked goods

With nothing more than a small, understated sign out the front this unassuming café could easily go unnoticed. However, the many people that visit Andor Bureau are a testament to it's popularity owing to the fact that it serves well made coffee in a relaxing atmosphere. Little emphasis is put on the presentation of the coffee but it tastes just right all the same (even if it is a little on the weak side). The laid back staff, eclectic mix of timber furniture, soft background music and art exhibition that occupies the rear of the space all come together in a way not many places in London can achieve with the same success.

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Caravan – London

Address: 11–13 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QD
Tel: +44 (0)20 7833 8115
Web: http://caravanonexmouth.co.uk/
Beans used: Roasted on premises (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, café style share plates and mains

One of the new kids on the block, Caravan is without a doubt one of the best café establishments in all of London. This large café/restaurant has quickly developed a strong reputation for consistently brewing amazing coffee and Antipodeans will no doubt appreciate the familiar range of varieties on offer. Positioned at the South end of the small but vibrant Exmouth Market, Caravan should be very, very high on your list of coffee houses even if it is a little out of the way.

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Foxcroft & Ginger – London

Address: 3 Berwick Street, Soho, London W1F ODR
Tel: +44 (0)20 7287 5890
Web: http://www.foxcroftandginger.com/
Beans used: Climpson & Sons (available for purchase)
Food available: Yes, selection of hot and cold sandwiches and baked goods

You would be forgiven for heading straight past this quiet café and into one of the two or three well known coffee-serving establishments when visiting the Soho area. No doubt Foxcroft & Ginger isn’t on top of your ‘Best Coffee Places’ list. It should be. With small overhead spotlights illuminating the counter in front of a large tiled wall and a long cushioned seat down one side, Foxcroft & Ginger is a fusion of old and new, edgy yet inviting, simple but oh so comfortable. The coffee is brewed wonderfully well. The staff and atmosphere are warm. Everything is spot on. And you won’t have to stand in queue long (if at all) to get your fix. We’re wondering if we shouldn’t tell anyone at all about this little gem…

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Kaffeine – London

Address: 66 Great Titchfield St, London W1W7QJ
Tel: +44 (0)207 580 6755
Web: http://www.kaffeine.co.uk/
Beans used: Square Mile
Food available: Yes, light meals, selection of salads, sandwiches and baked items

The short walk away from busy Oxford Street is worth the caffeine fix at this cute little café. Those who like their coffee strong won’t have much to complain about here, as Kaffeine’s well-trained staff know how to serve up a well orchestrated coffee that is everything that it should be.

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