Cheap and pleasant cafe restaurant, the coffee is underwhelming but the staff and environment are nice. A decent choice if you’re at Kensington Olympia, which is rare.
Coffee **
£1.55
Environment ***
Service ***
Author: espressolovin
Enjoys a nice coffee in pleasant surroundings, with perhaps the option to walk around and take in the scenery. Company optional.
Cafe Continente, North End Road (nr West Kensington tube)
Pleasant place. Lots of space, nice cakes. Great breakfasts – try the French Toast with berries and marscapone.
Coffee ***
£1.55
Environment ***
Deena B’s, 308 Old Brompton Road, SW5 0JF (opposite Brompton Cemetery)
Very pretty little cafe with large windows looking across to the atmospheric cemetery on the other side of the road, this place is lovely – though not cheap. I’d say: worth it.
Coffee ***
£2
Environment ****
El Vino, Bridge Street EC4 (Blackfriars)
This is a hidden gem more suited to wine-lovers than coffee gourmands, but I love the environment and surrounds.
You are somewhere between a traditional Englishman’s Club and a Parisian cafe, with row on row of wines available behind the bar.
There are selections of tapas and sandwiches, and a waitress service area for hot food.
The coffee is bearable – quite “French” in style – but the atmosphere more than compensates.
Coffee **
£1.75
Environment *****
Others: great wines, beers and a selection of food available. Totally off the beaten track – you may be the only one in there.
Blue State Coffee, Wall St, New Haven, CN
Well, you might not agree with their politics, and you might have to explain what a single shot espresso is (“European-style”), but you have to agree: they make a beautiful coffee!
Strong, thick, honey overtones and a sweet finish, this is as good as it gets. Worth the effort.
And you can enjoy the plentiful seats and mellow music while you’re at it.
Coffee ***** (after some explanation)
$2.25
Environment ***
Gregory’s, 4th & 24th (Lexington Ave), New York City, NYC
Looking like a computer shop with a hint of coffee, every other person is on a laptop, iPad or both, simultaneously.
Good coffees, though, so you can see why they come here.
Coffee ****
$2.18
Environment ***
Cool.
La Colombe Torrefacion, Lafayette / Prince St, New York City, NY
My favourite espresso bar in New York, this little gem on the corner of SoHo packs a punchy little coffee.
$2
Coffee *****
Environment ****
(Closed) Sirous, West End Lane, West Hampstead NW6
Great chill-out cafe for locals. A few of tables outside to eat or watch the world go by, and the front opens up during summer months.
Decent English breakfast and selection of newspapers. Good sofas and space for kids to roam. Shame the coffee is bog standard.
Coffee ***
£1.50
Environment ****
Caffe Vergnano, Staple Inn, 337-338 High Holborn, WC1AV 7PX (Chancery Lane tube)
“The best espresso in London” says The Times, apparently.
Well, it certainly is one of the prettiest. Made in a massive, chrome Elektra machine and served on a platter with a goccia of water and a small chocolate, it looks great.
There are lots of tables inside and out, and friendly staff. Good place.
Coffee **** (not my favourite, but very good)
£1.90
Environment ****
Truckles, Bury Place WC1A 2JR (nr British Museum)
Lovely surroundings as this is a bistro more than a coffee shop.
Prices reflect its location and clientele. Not cheap.
The tucked-away location is nice, with a small courtyard at the front and back, and no traffic. Escape from the tourist hordes, but might be different on a summer weekend.
Coffee also better than expected.
Coffee ***
£1.95
Environment ****
espressolovin 