Once again we have been out and about walking around London finding new and interesting places and along the way we have been seeking out new, independent Coffee Shops and it’s been a while since we have actually done a Coffee review, so this is a biggy!!
We have been all over the place recently and this review will show that, but let’s start in the Heart of London…
Black Sheep – St. Paul’s Cathedral
When looking for a coffee shop that wasn’t a Costa we decided to try the Black Sheep Coffee. We approached the booth and found that you had to order everything via the large screen – a bit of a learning experience but we went ahead. We waited and waited – whilst people who had ordered off the app came to collect – it was a fairly long wait in the end. The coffee was fairly expensive but it wasn’t bad, it was ok not great.
Third Culture – Broadway Vegan
When we found ourselves in Broadway Market again we decided to give some of the new coffee shops a try and spotted this – Third Culture. We wanted some food as well and saw that there was still sandwiches in the window. We ordered a vegan cheese something – It was really good!!! The server was really nice and incredibly helpful – helping us find out what contained things we were allergic to. All in all the food was good the coffee’s were good but not great.
We have always looked at this Deli but thought ‘too pretentious and probably expensive’ well on the hottest day of the year – this year. We decided why not? Lets give it a go! We got Iced Mocha and Iced Black Americano – served in normal take away cups. The coffees were indeed expensive and a little on the small side because ‘artisan’ they weren’t bad/not great but very forgettable unlike the lovely weather for once!
Well Bean Bakers – Gallion’s Reach
This place is camouflaged and we mean hidden away behind a building site, on the side of a block of flats down from the runway for the City Airport and with absolutely no signs. It was only when we desperately hunting on google for coffee shops in the area that this popped up. This Vegan Bakers and coffee was really good, large and really welcoming.
The Hoxton Beach Coffee Shop in Highgate? Hoxton is a bit of distance away. As the name suggests its trendy, with their T-Shirts on sale with really 80’s style graphics and a lot of staff members, we mean like over 10 servers all baring the grumpy ‘I don’t want to be serving you‘ face!! But the coffee was ok, a bit small and powdery, but ok.
Jerry’s, Angel
This kiosk has been here for years, it was a smoothie shack before Jerry took over and he has done a good job, it’s a little hidden on the corner of Liverpool Road, but the coffees were good, so good we finally have a cheaper alternative to Kobo or Nero in The Angel.
Hackney Gelato – Coppermill Fields Car Park
More of a truck with an ice cream fridge pulled along on the back, The staff were fairly rude as implied with ‘Hackney’ we don’t know if that was just how they were or if it was due to the extremely stupid people asking ridiculous questions.
The coffee was pretty good, we haven’t tried the ice cream due to Lactose intolerance!
The Larder – William Morris Gallery
This is the second ‘Larder’ the first is in The Walthamstow Marshes and it’s quite nice, very nice layout and design, the baristas though are a bit suspect, one was complaining that people shouldn’t ask for anything different to the way he wants to make a coffee and that should be happy getting what they are given. Thankfully we were served by the other one who was a lot nicer and gave us a black Americano and an Oat Mocha with no issue!
This is confusing the logo states Rebel Coffee but the shop is called Lynn’s? This was the only coffee shop we could find in the whole of the area. The Iced coffee was powdery and not so good, interesting interior and nice server though.
Once again we found ourselves strangers in a strange land – where coffee seemed scarce but there was a light at the end of the tunnel – Fabio’s. A very small kiosk with a number of people gathered around outside all talking about climbing.
The coffee was a perfect temperature and actually really good shame about the abysmal weather!
Gardener’s Cottage Cafe – Valentine’s Park
One of the worst coffee shops of the year and we aren’t even near the end. Ash’s Mocha was totally undrinkable – very watery, foamy and a little cigarette in water. Bob’s Americano was what can only be described as when the coffee machine ran out of actual coffee and just ran through hot water with a hint of over processed burnt powder. Ash believes this is poison but Bob just believes it is really gross coffee.
The only reason this gets any rating at all is the Jewish girl serving (she had a Star of David Necklace) was really nice and deserves a mention and half a star.
Well there you go, that’s a random collection from all over the place.
We shall resume our walks next week!
Climbing Moss 
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