Cafe Maya, 114 Farringdon Rd, EC1R 3AP

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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 ***

Bathurst Deli, 3 Bathurst Street, W2 (nr Lancaster Gate)

Very nice, quite French but serves a great little espresso, as well as a good selection of food (hot and cold), and also licenced for alcoholic drinks. Four tables outside on the pavement, on a quiet road (there’s no through-road, so cars rarely pass), and a very West-London crowd. Highly recommended, especially given the location, and not too expensive either. Great place to pause if you’ve been wandering the northern slopes of Hyde Park.

Coffee ***
£1.40
Environment ****
Service ****

Ambassadeur, Shepherd Market, Mayfair, W1 (nr Green Park, Hyde Park tube)

£1.30 espresso. Nice flavour. Well made. Friendly enough place.
Decent little sandwich shop. 5 tables and open to the Parisian street (without the traffic) it appears a good place to sit – rare in Mayfair.

Coffee ***
Environment ***
Service ***

Sunset 2, Charterhouse Street, (Smithfields Market)

Cheap and cheerful, catering to the workers at the historic meat market opposite, this has two street tables outside and almost no space inside, but is a great place to stop off if in the area. Try the cakes too – the apple pie slice will keep you going for 8 hours!
Coffee ** (it depends who makes it)
£1.10 (can’t go wrong at this price)