London has a thriving coffee scene. Bolstered and made famous by legendary coffee spots like Prufrock Coffee and roasters like Square Mile, this grand old city is home to a multitude of cafes, making it difficult to even know where to start–a pretty wonderful problem to have. Equipped with Blue Crow Media’s London Coffee Map and iPhone App, and Vespertine Press’ “Independent Coffee Book: London”, I set out to discover what Londinium has to offer.

Association

Association Coffee
10-12 Creechurch Ln,
EC3A 5AY

Opened in March of 2012, The Association is a much-welcomed respite in the middle of London’s busy “City” limits, a square mile parcel in the very heart of the city. Association is tucked away down Creechurch Lane, with an aesthetic dominated by a combination of exposed-brick walls, modern lighting, and simplistic seating arrangements. They feature a rotating selection of coffees from Square Mile and Workshop at the bar, with filter coffee methods that include Aeropress, V60, Woodneck, and Syphon, and shots of espresso pulled on a lovely-looking Synesso. The Association isn’t far off from the Tower of London, and only a short walk from the Aldgate Underground stop, making it a convenient coffee shop for tourists. Be sure to visit on a weekday, as Association is closed on evenings and weekends.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, or just like the color teal, Curators Coffee is a 5-minute walk away. This tiny space grinds up Union and Square Mile coffees on teal-colored Mazzers, then pulls shots on a teal La Marzocco.

Kaffeine

Kaffeine
66 Great Titchfield
W1W 7QJ

Just around the corner from Oxford Circus, Kaffeine is really pretty great – when you imagine “that perfect London coffee bar” experience, this is where you’re thinking of. Talented baristas pull shots of Square Mile on a Synesso Cyncra, and offer an espresso-based-only menu, including gorgeously textured espresso+milk drinks. The interior is slim and cozy, offering seating just inside the steamed-up window, or in the back on the wood-slat benches. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a guest roaster offering–they recently finished up featuring SF-based Ritual Coffee, are currently featuring Sweden’s much-loved Koppi on bar, and will be expecting coffees from Coffee Collective and Tim Wendleboe over the next few weeks. Highly recommended.

Fernandez & Wells

Fernandez & Wells- Somerset House
Somerset House
Strand W2R 1LA

To call it “stunning” would be an understatement. The setting of Fernandez & Wells’ Somerset House location, snug in the corner of a gorgeous Victorian courtyard, brings a visit to this British arts and cultural center full-circle by offering up stellar coffees from Has Bean, and providing plenty of seating for weary legs. In addition to exemplary coffees, the cafe is dedicated to good wines, craft beers, and Spanish ham—a little bit of something for everyone. Having a chat with the multi-tasking baristas can be a bit difficult due to sheer volume of customers and bar set up—the Synesso is awkwardly positioned at the far end in a corner—so, don’t expect a long discussion about the origins and processing of your coffee. What F&W lacks in chattiness, they make up for in availability. This location is open until 10pm most evenings, making it a great after-dinner coffee option. Take a walk along the Thames, then head here to grab a cappuccino and a window seat.

Another great, late-night option just up the road is Notes Covent Garden, serving up Has Bean—and yes, Square Mile—along with occasional guest roasters.

Store Street

Store Street Espresso
40 Store Street
WC1E 7DB

Narrow and unassuming, the front half of Store Street Espresso gives way to a bright, sky-lit back seating area. The cafe itself is only a stone’s-throw from the British Museum, and in between Goodge St. And Tottenham Court Rd. Tube stops. Although primarily offering Square Mile on a pretty Synesso, you’ll likely find a guest roaster on deck (Store St. Currently has a limited run of Denmark’s Coffee Collective). The space inside is cozy and compact, with a clean and modern look and feel. Be sure to check out the gobs of artwork on the walls and snag a seat beneath the central sky-light.

A walk north on Tottenham Court Rd. leads you to Tapped & Packed‘s original 26 Rathbone Place Rd. location.

Workshop

Workshop Marylebone
75 Wigmore Street
W1U 1QD

Workshop Coffee‘s second (and significantly smaller) location is a gem. Friendly staff and a robin’s egg blue Synesso Hydra (now with matching ceramics!) give the cafe a welcoming atmosphere, made even better by great coffee offerings from Workshop’s own roastery across town. Limited seating makes this more of an in-and-out stopping point, but don’t miss the opportunity to talk coffee with the staff, who always seem to be dialing in something new. Oh, and Workshop Marylebone is right in between Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens and Regents Park, so if you fancy a stroll and it’s not too blustery outside…

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The first event of its size and kind in the city of Adelaide, Thursday night is the maiden voyage of JamDown Adelaide, a latte art throwdown that brings international roasters and attention to the burgeoning coffee scene in South Australia. The event is hosted by Bar 9 (96 Glen Osmond Rd, Adelaide, SA 5063), and will feature coffees from Square Mile (London), Discovery Coffee (Victoria, BC), 5 Senses (Perth / Melbourne) and AIR (Sydney).

Learn more on Facebook, and read up on Bar 9 here. If you’re located in or around the City of Churches, consider attending! There’s free beer from McLaren Vale, and they’ll be giving it away until you drink it all.

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The party will feature exclusive chats from 2009 WBC Champion and really very nice fellow Gwilym Davies, 2010 UK Barista Champ and perennial international contender John Gordon (who is also very nice), and Mr. Kees himself. Festivities start at 4pm, and will feature beer from BrewDog, coffee from Square Mile, and maybe some stroopwaffels brought from the Netherlands by KVDW?

We yet to step foot in Prufrock’s Leather Lane club (!!!), but at least you won’t have to worry about spilling your coffee on one of those bloody poncy £775 jean jackets over at the boutique they share with the Shoreditch shop. Seriously, that place sells trousers worth more than this website.

Check out Prufrock coffee online here.

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