The daily grind.
It’s far easier to get through with a little of the daily grind.
Specifically, the kind you’ll find rustled up at these coffee shops, where their love of the brew borders on the fanatical. London’s coffee houses have come a long way, and we’ve gathered our favourites: from cosy neighbourhood cafés to third-wave coffee shops with scientifically-optimised espressos.
These are the best coffee shops in London.
Monmouth Coffee | Covent Garden, Borough, Bermondsey
You could say Monmouth is where it all began – the tasting rooms, ethically-sourced beans, speciality blends, the caffeine addictions… Founded in 1978, it’s often cited as the source of London’s modern-day coffee craze and has branches in Covent Garden (the original spot), Borough (the biggest) and Bermondsey (where they roast). If you want a partner for your brew, the shops also sell pastries and sweet treats from Little Bread Pedlar, Sally Clarke & Babelle.
Good for: A cup of London coffee history.
Addresses: Covent Garden 27 Monmouth Street, London WC2H 9EU | Borough 2 Park Street, London SE1 9AB | Bermondsey Spa Terminus Unit 4 Discovery Estate, London SE16 4RA
–
Fair Shot | Covent Garden
Everyone deserves a fair shot: that’s the heartwarming ethos of this social enterprise. Currently 95% of adults in the UK with learning disabilities are unemployed, and it’s Fair Shot’s objective to empower more of these people with the skills to work in hospitality. It’s an amazingly successful programme; currently every one of their graduates has gone on to find employment. And now they’ve opened a central London coffee shop that’s not only staffed by their trainees, but where 100% of sales go back into funding the programme. It’s basically as wholesome a business you could hope to support – and yes, their coffee also happens to be amazing.
Good for: A cuppa that gives back.
Address: 3 Slingsby Place, London WC2E 9AB
–
Prufrock | Clerkenwell
“I have measured out my life with coffee spoons,” laments Prufrock in T. S. Eliot’s eponymous poem. But at this Leather Lane coffee shop and training school, that’s left up to the impressively nerdy precision of the team, who ‘dial in’ (i.e., tinker with various parameters) when brewing their Square Mile grounds, and log the results in spreadsheet in their eternal quest to crack the ultimate brew. Which, frankly, is all you’d expect from a place run by a former World Barista Champion and Head Judge…
Good for: Scientifically perfected coffee
Address: 23-25 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TE
–
Flat White | Soho
A coffee shop called Flat White? With smashed avo on sourdough on the brunch menu? Yeah, we know where these guys are from… This Antipodean cafe has been going strong on Berwick Street since 2005, and prides itself on being the first coffee shop in London to serve the eponymous flat white. They also do a banging banana bread and gluten-free brownies, another tell-tale sign that this is an Aussie/Kiwi team up…
Good for: A flat white, obviously.
Address: 17 Berwick Street, W1F 0PT
–
Ozone | Old Street, London Fields, St. Pauls & The City
Ozone London Fields
Laid out over two floors – café on the ground floor, in-house roastery downstairs – the original Ozone coffee shop has a raw, industrial look you won’t find at Costa: exposed brickwork, brushed metal, hand-painted signs, high ceilings, weathered tables and leather booth seating. Their sophomore branch in London Fields is a lighter, airier affair, converting an old factory space into a serene sea of birch plywood and soft lighting.
Being a roaster as well as a coffee shop, Ozone frequently creates and reinvents its own blends, and hosts the occasional “cupping” (the technical term for “coffee tasting”, apparently). Their powerful brews will kickstart your morning, but if you can, carve out some time to enjoy one of their famously excellent brunches.
Good for: When you’re after a real power boost.
Details: See all Ozone locations here
–
The Wren | Blackfriars
Jess Williams Photography
Let’s talk coincidences. 1) Christopher Wren designed the rebuild of the St. Nicholas Cole Abbey after the Great Fire of London, at the same time that the first coffee shops in London were beginning to spring up. 2) That abbey is now home to a coffee shop. It’s a series of strange interconnections which have ultimately led to you scoring a Caravan-roasted espresso, a creme egg brownie, and a dinky table beneath a lofty, rococo ceiling and the dappled light from modernist stained glass windows.
Good for: Ridiculously fancy surroundings.
Address: 114 Queen Victoria Street, EC4V 4BJ
–
Grind | All Over London
Despite proliferating like wildfire across London, each Grind establishment retains an independent feel. The coffee, meanwhile, is consistently excellent. That’s because they roast their house blend daily in Shoreditch, train their baristas for months on end, and own a record label. Which is scientifically proven to have a measurable effect on taste.
Good for: Espressos that turn into the martini variety come evening.
Address: See all Grind locations
–
46b Espresso Hut | Homerton
While local to about 3% of London, 46b is worth the pilgrimage for everyone else – since their coffee’s roasted by Square Mile, their brownies baked by E5 Bakehouse, and their croissants by Yeast Bakery. Everything else – the cosy, shabby chic interiors, chipper service and delicious Greek-inspired snacks – they handle pretty well themselves.
Good for: Unusual accompaniments to your cup of joe
Address: 46b Brooksby’s Walk, E9 6DA
–
Monocle | Marylebone
A coffee shop as seen through the lens of Monocle magazine, with Allpress-roasted coffee; Japanese breakfasts and Scandinavian lunches; whisky highballs; matcha hot chocolate; and something called banana juice.
Good for: A zen bubble in central London
Address: 18 Chiltern Street, W1U 7QA
–
Café Below | Bank
St. Mary-le-Bow is a beautiful church in the middle of the City. And below Le-Bow is one of the best coffee shops in London: an atmospheric, family-run café tucked away in the crypt, with Climpson’s coffee, hot breakfasts, seasonal lunches, secret supperclubs, and an in-house shoeshiner.
Good for: An independent City spot
Address: Beneath St. Mary-le-Bow, Cheapside, EC2V 6AU
–
Caravan King’s Cross | King’s Cross
Spending all day in a Caravan just got more appealing. These laid-back NZ-inspired coffee shops have popped up all over London, making a name for themselves for inventive brunch dishes (the fried jalapeño cornbread is their big box-office hit) and quality coffee that they roast onsite themselves, using beans sourced sustainably from all corners of the word. They also host coffee school every Saturday at their North London roastery where you’ll get a tour of the place and learn all the terms and tricks (and then probably go home, straight to the internet, to buy a new espresso machine).
Good for: When you require espresso, but also one of the finest brunches in London.
Details: See all Caravan locations
–
Saint Espresso | Across London
Since arriving on the scene just over ten years ago, Saint Espresso have been a godsend for people around North and East London looking to appease their coffee cravings. Their sleekly-designed coffee shops are all equipped with the latest gadgets and gizmos where chatty baristas pump out perfectly poured long blacks, macchiatos and the rest using beans that they roast themselves in their Hackney HQ. The homemade cakes (from lemon and carrot to polenta) are a slice of heaven too…
Good for: The classic coffee and cake one-two
Details: See all Saint locations
–
Over Under | Across London
A collection of laid-back, minimalist coffee houses with rotating art exhibitions. Over Under serves top-notch coffee, breakfast, and some great hot-weather options including iced matcha lattes.
Good for: Flawlessly executed specialist coffees
Address: See all Over Under locations
–
Catalyst Cafe | Holborn
Carving out a niche for itself in an area spoilt for good coffee shops, Catalyst ticks all the usual specialist coffee boxes: beans roasted and ground in London, sourced directly and ethically from sustainable farms, and expertly matched to the mode of coffee-making, be it French press or Moka coffee pot. But beyond that, it serves up some hella delicious food, with strong weekday brunch game and Greek-inflected dishes for lunch and Friday night dinners. It also plays host to guest chef takeovers with some of the hottest names in the city…
Good for: A sit-down breakfast
Address: 48 Grays Inn Road, London WC1X 8LT
–
Allpress | Dalston
One of New Zealand’s most feted coffee brands, Allpress has been around as long as Starbucks – and where the latter plumped for speed, Allpress went for quality; so if your espresso wasn’t brewed within the magic window of 23-28 seconds, you can bet that’s not the one they’ll be serving to you. Swing by their industrial Dalston roastery and café when you want to sip on a direct trade roast made with some serious TLC.
Good for: Plenty of workspace, and al fresco seating
Address: 55 Dalston Lane, E8 2NG
–
Climpson and Sons | Hackney
A charming spot just off Broadway Market combining an original, old-school shop front with breezy modern interiors. As bean suppliers to many of the best coffee shops in London, these guys know what they’re doing. At weekends flocks of market-trawlers head here for their fix, so try to head over on a weekday when it’s quieter – or in the evening for nitro espresso martinis on tap.
Good for: Sipping a morning brew with a paper
Address: 67 Broadway Market, E8 4PH
–
Vagabond | Highbury
The stuff they serve here is not your average joe.
Founded by a former TAP barista, Vagabond naturally roasts its own beans, which are then brewed into predominantly espresso-based drinks. A great spot for getting some work done, the space itself is kitted out with wooden tables and al fresco seating in their back yard – and it plays host to a killer full English breakfast.
Good for: Focussed working
Address: 105 Holloway Road, N7 8LT
–
Attendant | Fitzrovia, Clerkenwell & Shoreditch
Probably the most unusual coffee shop in London, Attendant’s flagship is based in a former public toilet. They’ve worked around the old Victorian urinals and turned them into quirky counter seating, where you can knock back one of their own house-roasted, smooth seasonal espressos or single-origin pour-overs, and a hefty sandwich (prepared in the former toilet attendant’s office, if it makes you feel any better). It’s so good, you’ll spend more than just a penny.
Good for: A quirky setting
Address: 27a Foley Street, W1W 6DY | 75 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TJ | 74 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3JL
–
Birdhouse | Battersea
Birdhouse sports stylishly minimalist interiors dotted with quirky, bird-themed paraphernalia.
It’s classic scandi’n’avian design.
But it’s a mere accessory to the stuff they’re serving up, namely sweet, smooth roasted Allpress coffee, chunky home-made bakes and toasted Cuban bocaditos. It’s a place to bring your book, and maybe write one too.
Good for: Proving southwest London’s got the goods, too.
Address: 123 St. John’s Hill, SW11 1SZ
–
Kanella & Co. | East Dulwich
Hanging out towards the middle of Lordship Lane – in the fancy patch near the cheesemonger and the fishmonger and the farm shop – is Kanella & Co., a slick, family-run coffee shop serving probably the best oat milk latte in East Dulwich. You’ll also find a daily-changing, freshly-made spread of Greek treats (spinach and feta swirls and the like) which you can either eat in or take-away. Plus they run regular Greek-inspired supper-clubs which sell out in seconds so be quick.
Good for: Feeling like one of the family
Address: 6 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich, London, SE22 8HF
–
Kaffeine | Fitzrovia
This laidback Aussie-owned cafe has two locations, both in Fitzrovia (and apparently counts David Beckham as a regular). It mostly excels in espresso-based Square Mile brews alongside guests that pop in from around the globe, plus fruit-flavoured filters from the likes of Ethiopia. Be warned though: too much Kaffeine comes with a few long-term side effects… you’ll become a bonafide coffee snob and you might end up enjoying vegemite.
Good for: Potentially seeing David Beckham
Address: 66 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7QJ | 15 Eastcastle Street, W1T 3AY
–
Antipode | Hammersmith
Antipode is another coffee shop from Down Under, which guarantees – besides being greeted with a g’day – a cracking cup of Joe (they use Square Mile Red Brick beans here, in everything from ultra-smooth flat whites to tumeric lattes made with almond milk). Grub is equally delicious: any grumpy day can be fixed by a loaded kimchi grilled cheese with mature cheddar. Come 5pm on weekends there’s a seamless transition from espresso to espresso martinis, with natural wine and Aussie beers to boot.
Good for: A hit of Melbourne coffee culture
Address: 28 Fulham Palace Rd, London W6 9PH
–
Hjem | Kensington
You can call this Danish café in Kensington home because A) they make top-notch coffee with Climpson & Sons and Kiss the Hippo beans, plus their very own almond milk, B) there are Nordic sandwiches made on freshly-baked rye and ‘Hjemmade’ pastries like vegan maple syrup-glazed cardamom buns, and C) that’s what Hjem means in Danish.
Good for: Scandi vibes and a ‘hidden’ patio out the back.
Address: 3 Launceston Place, Kensington,W8 5RL | 157 Gloucester Road, SW7 4TH
–
Carbon Kopi | Hammersmith, Fulham
There’s two of these independent NZ-inspired coffee shops in London – one in Fulham and the other in Hammersmith – and both are carbon copies, not just in name, but in that they crank out inspired speciality single-origin brews combined with unhomogenised milk from The Estate Dairy (because the milk matters too!), all using a Victoria Arduino Black Eagle Maverick. Which is a state-of-the-art espresso machine, apparently.
Good for: A seat in the sun
Address: Hammersmith 11 Margravine Rd, W6 8LS | Fulham 1 Hazlebury Rd, London SW6 2NA
–
Stir Coffee | Brixton
Stir coffee. It’s good advice for brewing a cup – and a great place for getting one professionally made. The house roast here is Mission Coffee Works, but they also switch it up every now and then with acclaimed small-trade artisanal guests, and if you’re after a brew of the different sort, then they also serve a range of craft beers…
Good for: A place where your dog is made to feel just as welcome as you.
Details: 111 Brixton Hill, SW2 1AA
–
Lumberjack Coffee | Camberwell
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) the baristas here don’t wear flannels shirts and carry axes, but they make a mean brew (courtesy of Assembly down the road in Brixton), as well as sling a variety of artisanal meats and cheeses from their deli including Neal’s Yard produce, sweet and savoury goodies from the kitchen, and locally-made bits and pieces. Come for a latte. Leave with candles, tea towels, a bottle of organic prosecco and gluten free Italian amaretti…
Good for: Coffee, but also getting all your Christmas shopping done in one go.
Details: 70 Camberwell Church St, SE5 8QZ
–
Nude Espresso | Shoreditch
Nude Espresso has the perfect blend of being a big-enough venue to camp out with a laptop (and not feel guilty for hogging a seat) while simultaneously being small enough to feel cosy. As you might have cottoned on via the name, espresso is their strong point (and some of the best iced coffees in London). They get their beans from small farms in South and Central America and roast ’em in-house with some serious machinery (a Loring Smart Roaster, which they say is also the most advanced and eco-friendly roaster out there). They also collab with cycling teams around the capital, so you can be sure that their stuff will keep you going through the day.
Good for: Iced coffee and choc chip cookies fresh out of the oven.
Details: 25 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR
Caffeine fiend? Check out the best afternoon teas in London