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 ****

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 ***