Author: espressolovin

Enjoys a nice coffee in pleasant surroundings, with perhaps the option to walk around and take in the scenery. Company optional.

Cafe Maya, 114 Farringdon Rd, EC1R 3AP

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Plenty of locals is always a good sign, and there are a couple of postal workers from Mount Pleasant opposite. It’s on a busy crossroads diagonally across from the entrance to Exmouth Market, so it’s not a peaceful spot, but it’s friendly and well priced, and actually quite a relaxing corner given the bustle outside. The four tables on the road outside must be for dedicated smokers only, though!
Coffee ** (bog standard long espresso – perfectly drinkable)
£1.30 to drink in
Environment ** (photos of the area circa 1915 on the walls)

English Restaurant, 50-52 Brushfield St, Spitalfields, EC2

Pricey, but great coffee and really atmospheric place, it’s good for cold, grey days when you don’t want to be outside in the market. Lots of dark wood panelling and a few tables for coffee and cakes ( the larger part is for the restaurant) with a funky, bohemian vibe.
Coffee is short, strong and slightly caramel / treacle flavour. Lovely.
Coffee ****
£1.80
Environment ****

Double Shot, 38 Tavistock St, WC2E 7PB (nr Covent Garden market, theatres – off Drury Lane)

Quite a find in an area known for ‘variable’ quality and tourist traps, this is a fantastic coffee shop – fabulous, comfy sofas, quirky but elegant decor, and excellent coffee. I completely forgive the above-average prices, given the rents in this area. Worth seeking out if you’re in Covent Garden or at the Royal Opera or a theatre nearby. You might even catch a famous face from the surrounding stages.
Coffee **** (great tobacco flavours, though I needed 2 sugars!)
Environment *****
Service ****

Crown Cafe Bar, Strand, WC2 (nr Aldwych circus, Lyceum theatre)

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Greasy-style cafe, and that’s a good thing! Honest food that keeps you going.
Decent espresso from here too, although not worth going out of your way for. Plenty of seats, for eating, and some window perches looking over the busy Aldwych junction at The Lion King in the Lyceum Theatre opposite.
Coffee ***
£1.70 (or £1.60 – depends!)
Environment **

Kua ‘Aina, 26 Fouberts Place, W1 (just off Carnaby Street)

Loss good, and decent price compared to some nearby competitors (I’m looking at you, Garden Cafe Bar).
A few tables outside and several more at the back and downstairs. It feels a little incongruous to have a Hawaiian theme in 9°c temperature but that’s London in autumn. Friendly if slightly slow service, but it’s a burger-bar primarily so staff can be forgiven for cooking the tasty-looking hot food first.
Pleasant coffee – mixture of flavours with honey overtones (surprisingly!)
Coffee ***
£1.45
Environment ***
Service ***

Get Coffee, 3 Fleet Street, WC2 (end of Strand, opposite High Courts)

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Quaint meets contemporary in this coffee, tea and tiffin shop at the end of the Strand. Own blend of coffee, but faintly disappointing – not thick and sticky as it could be.
But then, that’s my taste. It is very nice coffee, and with decent seating downstairs (only a few seats upstairs) and friendly staff, it’s a nice spot. They’re also on twitter: http://twitter.com/GetCoffee1
Coffee *** (maybe more…)
£1.40
Service **** smiley!
Environment ***
Others: great snacks and teas

Cilantro, Broadgate Tower, EC2 (edge of City)

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Independent and decent sandwich shop, with nice-enough coffee and not-as-nice prices, as they add VAT or service charge if you sit in. Shame. Good seats and friendly, sit upstairs for quiet, or outside if it’s warm. Best of local area independents, but will perhaps struggle against Pret and Eat chains.
Coffee ***
£1.75 (inc. VAT) sitting in

Coco de Mama, 85 Fleet Street, WC2 (Farringdon / St Paul’s end)

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Modern, clean, functional (think Alessi design or, if you’re being unkind, IKEA) sandwich and coffee shop at the Ludgate / Blackfriars end of Fleet Street, this does a nice, short Italian style espresso. Seven tables and some window seats, and a light interior make this a nice, if not exactly comfortable, place to pause. Friendly staff.
Coffee ****
£1.45
Environment ***

Belleville boutique Arty and Cafe 77-79 Westbourne Grove, W2 (near Bayswater)

If you want a really pleasant, arty, bohemian environment that is half coffee-shop, half arts-and-crafts furniture store, then this is the place you’ve been looking for! However, if you just want a no-nonsense cheap espresso, then you’ll pay over the odds. The environment is unique and makes up for it, overall.

Espresso *** (French, long, decent flavour)
Cost £1.95 * (Ouch!)
Service **** nice
Environment **** arty!