Sampa is a great alternative to the better-known coffee shops in the middle of Leather Lane. It is not cheap, but seems a bit more friendly and less…over-cool.

Attractive and deceptively spacey coffee shop on the corner of Portpool Lane. Good selection of seats and benches, with views of the market outside. Lots of snacks and baked goods for sale to go along with your coffee, and a good selection of coffees and teas (the coffee is roasted in Shoreditch by Ozone, apparently).

Good espresso, albeit at Leather Lane prices. I prefer here to Dept of Coffee and Social Affairs and Prufrock, just 100m up the road. Not stepped over the hipster line – just enough hipster, let’s say (is that a thing?).

I’ll be back, although I suspect it gets busy at lunchtime.

Coffee ****
£2.30
Environment ****

More of a cocktail bar, it’s a destination for friends or office colleagues more than a plain old coffee shop. However, during the day it is quiet and a great (if somewhat unusually styled) hiding place. You may even have the whole thing to yourself. Free wifi and bar food might keep you there too.

The coffee is alright, but overpriced. You pay for the location and facilities. Probably worth it, too.

Coffee ***
£2.50
Environment ****

Rough and rustic, with reclaimed wood everywhere and handwritten cardboard signs in the window, two (utterly un-matched) tables and a scattering of chairs, there’s an honesty about this place. The coffee is ok too.

Coffee ***
£1.80
Environment ***

Almost hidden among chiropractors and bookshops, Caffee 2 is a decent little espresso bar. Three tables provide somewhere to rest, and the organic coffee is sweet and tangy.

Coffee ****
£1.50
Environment ***

On the corner of Exmouth Market, opposite the Cafe Nero, is this spacious licensed café full of well dressed architect-types – relaxed open shirts, jeans, expensive tweedy blazer and thick-rimmed glasses (for the men). Good, very short coffee. Complimentary glass of water (nice touch that you get in upmarket places). 14 tables and some stools. Windows all round and some benches outside. It’s also a bar, with food and a wide range of drinks. Nice, efficient staff.

So I don’t know why I felt it was a bit soulless?

(I’d come back again, though).

Coffee ****
£2.00
Environment ****

The largest single espresso I have possibly ever seen – perhaps a communications error between the very smiley deli staff – resulted in a watery and not especially good espresso coffee. However, I have to admit I quite liked the taste!

The deli is small and clean, with small touches like fresh flowers and magazines making it a pleasant enough place to pass 10 minutes. The buzz of the drinks fridge tended to detract from the overall charm, however.

Lots of seats inside (though it looks like you could hardly use them all at the same time) and 4 tables outside in the pedestrian passageway mean it offers options if you’re looking to hide away.

Coffee **
£1.40
Environment ***