14 Independent Coffee Shops To Mix Up Your Usual Pret Takeout
Dotted on every street corner in London you’ll find a coffee shop, usually a Costa Coffee or Pret abrim with tired commuters, business types getting their morning fix and tourists eager to get their hands on a cold brew. But if you look a little further up the road, you’ll often find a cosy independent coffee shop housing specialty coffee, a bustling atmosphere and a corner perfect for hot desking.
Satisfy your Monday morning coffee fix with one of these independent coffee shops.
Jolt Coffee
Jolt Coffee has become city renowned for its specialty ice blends and black-gloved staff, which now fits well with COVID-19 regulations. The Fitzrovia hideout opened up last year and brought with it style, charisma and great coffee. Every single style of coffee has been carefully thought out and crafted, using single-origin beans to create well-balanced and theatrical blends. Known best of their lattes, we’d recommend trying their ‘Spanish’ or pistachio for a little extra nuttiness.
Location: 40-41 Great Castle Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 8LU
Website: www.joltcoffee.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/p/CEru92LAWM_/?hidecaption=true
Noxy Brothers, Burlington Arcade
Following the success of their coffee cart in Burlington Arcade, Noxy Brothers have recently launched their permanent residencies inside the luxury retail landscape.
Kickstart your morning with one of their expertly single origin coffee blends or cool down with one of their coffees over ice this weekend. Paired alongside one of their flaky pastries or oozy cheese toasties, you’re in for a real treat.
Location:51 Piccadilly, Mayfair W1J 0QJ
Website: www.burlingtonarcade.com
Grind
If you look up London coffee shops on Google, one of the first that pops up is the hugely popular Grind branch. Defined best by its beautifully on-trend interiors, their coffee isn’t half bad either. When you can nab yourself a table it’s a great place to work in during the day, as well enjoying their signature coffee martinis come nightfall. Head on over, grab brunch and see what all of the fuss is about.
Location: Various Locations
Website: www.grind.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxZd5xQHB46/?hidecaption=true
The Coffee Jar
If you’re looking for a coffee pitstop while you’re wandering around Camden Town, head on over to The Coffee Jar for class coffee brewed by expert baristas. They brew London’s finest Monmouth Coffee (more on them later) and boast adorable cakes that are too good not to try.
Tame your sweet tooth and head in for a cinnamon swirl, or cool down this summer with one of their iced matcha lattes. These will seriously keep you coming back for more.
Location: 83 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 7PP
Find out more on their Instagram page
Allpress Espresso
Helping to fuel coffee lovers since 1989, Allpress Espresso now works with over 1,000 independent coffee shops across the world helping to power tired individuals day in and day out. The roasters themselves have two outposts in east London, one in Shoreditch and another in Dalston, so you can settle in for one of their world loved brews yourself.
Allpress Espresso now works with over 1,000 independent coffee shops.
Location: 58 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, E2 7DP || 55 Dalston Lane, Dalston, E8 2NG
Website: www.allpressespresso.com
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC6wXQwJE1b/?hidecaption=true
View this post on Instagram
The Espresso Room
Fill your day with foliage and great coffee when you visit one of The Espresso Room’s London locations. The coffee shop branch has reopened, allowing them once again to help fuel commuters, business workers and tourists for their busy day ahead. You’ll feel at home here, thanks to their cosy interiors, gallery walls and houseplants dotted around, not to mention the lingering smell of freshly brewed coffee.
It’s also great for working in if you’re bored of working from your couch.
Location: Various Locations
Website: www.theespressoroom.london
Origin
Another coffee giant is Origin, the coffee roaster renowned for its dedication to sourcing only the best, top quality roasts. With outposts in Shoreditch, Southwark and The British Library, as well as two shops in Cornwall too, Origin is both on trend and has a monthly rotating list of their favourite specialty coffee for that specific month.
We love their Shoreditch shop thanks to its quirky wall mural and industrial interiors. It’s the perfect spot for a specialty brew, munching through plates of avo toast and working.
Location: Shoreditch, Southwark & The British Library
Website: www.origincoffee.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-bQQrnJUc/?hidecaption=true
Hermanos
Bringing delicious Colombian coffee to the forefront of Londoners minds (and mouths) is Hermanos, a coffee branch set up by two Colombian brothers dedicated to their heritage and great coffee. Home to some of the finest roasts in the world, you’ll certainly feel a zing of energy after you’ve relaxed and enjoyed a coffee (or takeout) from here.
If you enjoyed your brew but don’t live close enough to one to enjoy one of their brews on the daily, head online and order in your favourite roast to serve up next time your friends and family are over to visit.
Location: Various Locations
Website: www.hermanoscoffeeroasters.com
Hackney Coffee Company
A coffee shop isn’t the first place you think of when you picture a wedding, but then again, you haven’t seen how beautiful the Hackney Coffee Company’s event space is. Home to weddings and coffee, the famed Hackney Coffee Company is dedicated to bringing people together no matter their background.
Home to exposed brick walls and industrial inspired interiors, it’s the perfect place to catch up with friends over a brew or two.
Location: 503 Hackney Road, E2 9ED
Website: www.hackneycoffee.co
Monmouth Coffee Company
London is swamped with coffee shops dotted on every street corner but the mammoth giants at the top of the pillar, at least for us, are Monmouth Coffee Company. These guys know every you could possibly need to know about what roasts work best for each coffee style, how to brew each blend until they’re perfect and not overly bitter, and how to continue on this stretch with every single takeout order.
Head on over to one of their London outposts and their team will help you pick out the best coffee fit for your needs, preferences and personality. You can’t go wrong with Monmouth Coffee Company.
Location: Seven Dials, Bermondsey & The Borough
Website: www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/p/BxQMVeahoYH/?hidecaption=true
Kaffeine
Born out of a love for the dedicated coffee culture in Australia and New Zealand, Kaffeine now boasts two espresso bars in Fitzrovia. While both outposts are on the smaller side, they continually churn out high quality specialty coffees, best for when you’re on the go or fancy cosying up on one of the benches and people watching your day away.
If you’re looking to up your coffee game at home, Kaffeine holds courses that’ll help you make the most out of your roasts and whizz up exceptional latte art.
Location: 15 Eastcastle Street, W1T 3AY || 66 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7QJ
Website: www.kaffeine.co.uk
Flotsam & Jetsam
Wandsworth’s Flotsam & Jetsam is an independently owned Antipodean-style coffee shop serving up fresh juices, brunches, pastries and Allpress espresso coffees. We love this cafe thanks to its colourful lattes, cosy interiors and outdoor space, just perfect for people watching as passersby wander past.
Location: 4 Bellevue Parade, Wandsworth Common, SW17 7EQ
Website: www.flotsamandjetsamcafe.co.uk
Look Mum No Hands!
A coffee shop with a difference.
Look Mum No Hands! sounds like a film title for a low budget Netflix film but it’s actually a really cool cafe and bicycle shop located on Old Street. Whether you need your tyres changed or not, sit in for a coffee and slice of cake next time you’re near Old Street.
Location: 49 Old Street, Old Street, EC1V 9HX
Website: www.lookmumnohands.com
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC5UHuuh9L3/?hidecaption=true
Second Shot
A coffee with a conscience. Second Shot coffee shop is on a mission to help tackle the homelessness in London, one espresso at a time.
Both of their London outposts employ individuals who have been affected by homelessness, helping to train them up and onto a journey of employment for a better future. The coffee itself is also great, and they have the option for you to help pay towards food or coffee for someone in need.
Location: 475 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green, E2 9QH || 49 Church Street, Marylebone, NW8 8ES
Website: www.secondshotcoffee.co.uk
