Are you a coffee enthusiast visiting London or a local looking to explore the city’s vibrant coffee scene? You’re in luck! London’s coffee culture has exploded in recent years, with artisanal roasters and skilled baristas popping up all over the city. In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through the 15 best places for coffee in London, based on coffee flavor, customer ratings, ambience, and those little extras that make a coffee shop truly special.
1. Monmouth Coffee Company
Location: 27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9EU
Monmouth Coffee Company is a London institution, and for good reason. Founded in 1978, they’ve been at the forefront of the specialty coffee movement in the UK for decades.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Monmouth roasts their own beans, sourcing them directly from single farms, estates, and cooperatives. Their espresso blend is a particular standout, with a rich, complex flavor that’s perfect for flat whites and cappuccinos.
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Customers rave about the consistently excellent coffee and knowledgeable staff.
Ambience: 3.5/5
The Covent Garden location is small and often crowded, but the rustic charm and aroma of freshly ground coffee make up for it.
Extras:
- They offer a wide range of single-origin beans to take home
- Free tastings are available to help you choose your beans
- Delicious pastries from local bakeries are available
2. Kaffeine
Location: 66 Great Titchfield Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7QJ
Inspired by the antipodean coffee culture, Kaffeine brings a slice of Australian coffee excellence to London.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Using Square Mile coffee as their house roaster, Kaffeine consistently serves up some of the best flat whites in the city. Their rotating guest espressos are always worth trying.
Customer Rating: 4.7/5
Customers love the friendly service and the quality of the coffee.
Ambience: 4/5
The sleek, modern interior provides a comfortable space to enjoy your coffee, whether you’re working or catching up with friends.
Extras:
- Excellent food menu with healthy, fresh options
- They offer coffee workshops for enthusiasts
- Loyalty card program for regulars
3. Prufrock Coffee
Location: 23-25 Leather Lane, Holborn, London EC1N 7TE
Founded by former World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies, Prufrock is serious about coffee.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Prufrock rotates their coffee offerings regularly, featuring some of the best roasters from around the world. Their pour-overs are particularly noteworthy.
Customer Rating: 4.6/5
Customers appreciate the expert baristas and the opportunity to try unique, high-quality coffees.
Ambience: 4.5/5
The spacious, minimalist interior creates a calm oasis in the heart of busy Holborn.
Extras:
- They offer barista training courses
- Curated selection of coffee equipment for sale
- Informative tasting notes provided with each coffee
4. Workshop Coffee
Location: 80 Mortimer Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7FE
Workshop Coffee roasts their own beans and has several locations across London, but their Fitzrovia cafe is particularly lovely.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
Their house espresso blend is well-balanced and works beautifully in milk-based drinks. The single-origin filter coffees are always worth exploring.
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Customers consistently praise the quality of the coffee and the skill of the baristas.
Ambience: 4/5
The Fitzrovia location offers a bright, airy space with plenty of seating. It’s a great spot for both quick espressos at the bar and leisurely filter coffees.
Extras:
- They offer a subscription service for their coffee beans
- Seasonal food menu featuring local ingredients
- Regular public cuppings (coffee tastings)
5. Ozone Coffee Roasters
Location: 11 Leonard Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 4AQ
Ozone brings a bit of New Zealand coffee culture to London, with a focus on sustainability and ethical sourcing.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
Ozone roasts their own beans, offering a house blend for espresso and a rotating selection of single-origin coffees. Their flat white is particularly good.
Customer Rating: 4.6/5
Customers love the consistently great coffee and the buzzy atmosphere.
Ambience: 4.5/5
The large, industrial-chic space spans two floors and includes a visible roastery. It’s always lively and energetic.
Extras:
- Full brunch and lunch menu, with an emphasis on locally-sourced ingredients
- They offer wholesale services and barista training
- You can watch the roasting process in action
6. Rosslyn Coffee
Location: 78 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4N 4SJ
A relative newcomer to the London coffee scene, Rosslyn has quickly established itself as one of the best.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Rosslyn serves coffee from a rotating selection of top European roasters. Their espresso shots are dialed in to perfection.
Customer Rating: 4.8/5
Customers rave about the exceptional quality of the coffee and the friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Ambience: 3.5/5
The space is quite small with limited seating, but the minimalist Scandinavian-inspired design is very pleasing to the eye.
Extras:
- They offer a small but high-quality selection of pastries
- The staff are always happy to discuss coffee and brewing methods
- They sell a curated selection of coffee equipment
7. Kova Patisserie
Location: 6A St Anne’s Court, Soho, London W1F 0BG
While primarily known for their Japanese-inspired desserts, Kova also serves some of the best coffee in Soho.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
Kova uses beans from Alchemy Coffee Roasters, and their espresso drinks are consistently excellent. Don’t miss their Spanish Latte, a sweet and creamy treat.
Customer Rating: 4.7/5
Customers love the combination of great coffee and unique desserts.
Ambience: 4/5
The cafe has a clean, modern aesthetic with Japanese influences. It’s small but cozy.
Extras:
- Their signature mille crepe cakes are a must-try
- They offer a range of specialty drinks like Matcha Latte and Hojicha Latte
- Seasonal desserts that pair perfectly with coffee
8. Attendant
Location: 27A Foley Street, Fitzrovia, London W1W 6DY
Housed in a converted Victorian public toilet, Attendant is one of London’s most unique coffee shops.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
Attendant roasts their own beans, with a house blend for espresso and rotating single-origin options. Their flat white is particularly good.
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Customers praise the quality of the coffee and the unusual setting.
Ambience: 5/5
It’s not every day you get to drink coffee in a beautifully restored 19th-century bathroom. The original Doulton & Co. porcelain urinals now serve as an intimate seating area.
Extras:
- They serve a great brunch menu
- The unique location makes for great Instagram photos
- They sell their house-roasted beans to take home
9. Grind
Location: 2 Clerkenwell Road, London EC1M 5PQ (Clerkenwell Grind)
Grind has locations all over London, but their Clerkenwell cafe was the original and remains a favorite.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
Grind roasts their own coffee, with a house espresso blend that’s rich and chocolatey. They also offer single-origin filter options.
Customer Rating: 4.4/5
Customers enjoy the reliably good coffee and the lively atmosphere.
Ambience: 4.5/5
Grind cafes are known for their sleek, Instagram-friendly interiors. The Clerkenwell location is spacious and stylish, with plenty of seating.
Extras:
- They transform into a cocktail bar in the evenings
- Their pink compostable coffee pods for Nespresso machines are very popular
- They offer a great food menu, including excellent brunch options
10. Bread Ahead
Location: 21 Beak Street, Soho, London W1F 9RR
While Bread Ahead is primarily known for their amazing doughnuts, their coffee game is equally strong.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
They use Square Mile coffee beans, consistently producing excellent espresso-based drinks. Their flat white is a standout.
Customer Rating: 4.6/5
Customers love the combination of great coffee and world-class baked goods.
Ambience: 4/5
The Soho bakery and cafe is bright and welcoming, with the enticing aroma of fresh bread and coffee.
Extras:
- Their doughnuts are some of the best in London
- They offer baking classes, including sourdough workshops
- You can watch the bakers at work in the open kitchen
11. Origin Coffee Roasters
Location: 65 Charlotte Road, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3PE
Origin Coffee Roasters brings a taste of Cornwall to London, with a strong focus on sustainability and direct trade.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Origin roasts their own coffee, offering a house espresso blend and a rotating selection of single-origin coffees. Their pour-over coffees are particularly noteworthy.
Customer Rating: 4.7/5
Customers consistently praise the high quality of the coffee and the expertise of the baristas.
Ambience: 4/5
The Shoreditch cafe is sleek and modern, with a minimalist aesthetic that lets the coffee take center stage.
Extras:
- They offer coffee tasting flights
- The cafe hosts regular events, including public cuppings and brew method demonstrations
- They have a strong commitment to sustainability, using compostable packaging and supporting reforestation projects
12. Roasting Plant Coffee
Location: 4 Borough High Street, London SE1 9QQ
Roasting Plant Coffee offers a unique experience with their Javabot system, which roasts coffee on-site and delivers beans to the baristas via pneumatic tubes.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
The freshly roasted beans make for excellent coffee. You can even create your own unique blend from their selection of single-origin beans.
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Customers love the theater of the Javabot system and the freshness of the coffee.
Ambience: 4/5
The cafe has a futuristic feel, with the Javabot system taking center stage. It’s always exciting to watch the beans whizzing through the tubes.
Extras:
- Create your own custom blend of beans
- Watch your coffee being roasted right before your eyes
- They offer a loyalty program with good perks
13. Gentlemen Baristas
Location: 63 Union Street, London SE1 1SG
The Gentlemen Baristas combine Victorian-inspired decor with thoroughly modern coffee.
Coffee Flavor: 4.5/5
They roast their own beans, offering a house blend and rotating single-origin options. Their espresso is particularly good, with a rich, complex flavor.
Customer Rating: 4.6/5
Customers appreciate the quality of the coffee and the friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Ambience: 4.5/5
The Union Street location (their first) has a charming Victorian-inspired decor, complete with staff in bow ties. It’s cozy and inviting.
Extras:
- They offer a full brunch menu
- Coffee appreciation and home brewing classes are available
- Their coffee subscription service is excellent for home brewers
14. Nude Coffee Roasters
Location: 26 Hanbury Street, Spitalfields, London E1 6QR
Nude has been roasting coffee in East London since 2008, building a devoted following for their expertly crafted drinks.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Nude roasts their own beans, with a focus on highlighting the unique characteristics of each origin. Their espresso blend is well-balanced and complex.
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Customers consistently praise the quality of the coffee and the skill of the baristas.
Ambience: 4/5
The Hanbury Street location is bright and airy, with a minimalist design that creates a calm oasis in bustling Spitalfields.
Extras:
- They have an on-site roastery, so you can often smell the coffee being roasted
- They offer barista training courses
- Their ‘Nude Espresso’ blend is available to purchase for home brewing
15. Kiss the Hippo
Location: 50 George Street, Richmond, London TW9 1HJ
Despite the playful name, Kiss the Hippo is serious about coffee, with a focus on sustainability and quality.
Coffee Flavor: 5/5
Kiss the Hippo roasts their own organic coffee, offering a house blend and rotating single-origin options. Their filter coffee is particularly noteworthy.
Customer Rating: 4.8/5
Customers rave about the exceptional quality of the coffee and the friendly, passionate staff.
Ambience: 4.5/5
The Richmond cafe is beautifully designed, with plenty of natural light and plants creating a fresh, inviting atmosphere.
Extras:
- They offer coffee subscriptions and brewing equipment for home baristas
- All their packaging is compostable, reflecting their commitment to sustainability
- They host regular cupping sessions and brewing workshops
Conclusion
London’s coffee scene has something for everyone, from historic institutions to cutting-edge newcomers. Whether you’re after a quick espresso, a leisurely pour-over, or the perfect flat white, these 15 cafes represent the cream of the crop in London’s vibrant coffee culture.
Remember, the best cup of coffee is the one you enjoy the most, so don’t be afraid to explore and find your personal favorites. Happy caffeinating, London!