Notes - Canary Wharf

This location was the tidy little booth in Canary Wharf station.

A note lets customers know they roast their own coffee in Kings Cross, which is a nice touch and adds an independent aura.  It has to be said though, the filter is so extremely hot its almost impossible to taste any subtle flavours that said roast may contain.

Still, overall I do respect their intentions.  As an added bonus, they serve outstanding brownies.

★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
notes-uk.co.uk

Unit 5 Canary Wharf Station, London E14 5AB

Taylor Street Baristas (revisited)

I have previously been underwhelmed by their efforts, thinking they should be better.  I can say that in recent weeks I have been back and they now appear to be at the top of their game. 

Now offering US style "pour yourself" filter options with frequently changing options, something I've been waiting years to come to the UK.  as far as the City goes, haven't found better.  Minus one star for their irritating/confusing queuing arrangement.


https://www.taylor-st.com/pages/stpauls
2 Cheapside London EC2V 6AA

★★★★★★★★★☆

Highstone Brew

Relative newcomer on Camden Road.  Pleasant interior and friendly staff although not particularly slick.  The coffee is standard fare, acceptable but nothing write home about. However its good to see a place like this operating in that location, a welcome sight.


★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

no apparent website...

90 Camden Road
London
NW1 9EA

Monmouth Coffee

Ground Zero when it comes to gourmet London coffee - they have been around since 1978, and the frequent queues outside their small café in Monmouth street will testify to the ongoing popularity.  

Always offering quality filter, sourced from various locations around the world.  Newcomers may lay claim to the title but I say its still the best and most consistent around. 

★★★★★★★★★☆

monmouthcoffee.co.uk

27 Monmouth Street, Seven Dials, London, WC2H 9EU

Soho Coffee Company

St Pauls branch.

This place seems to say the right things, cool sounding name (despite tenuous links to Soho itself) and good credentials - an award from Ethical Consumer Magazine.  A touch of pointless hubris thrown in ("We think we have the best Flat White in town"). Completely meaningless to me of course since we are here to discuss the filter and nothing else.     Its neither a corporate or indy feel, somewhere in between - which I find mostly a good thing.

The coffee (by that I mean the filter, of course)? I'm always impressed with somewhere that offers a filter at most times of the day.  And it was indeed pretty good.

http://sohocoffee.com/
5-14 St. Paul's Churchyard, The City
London, EC4M 8AY

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Attendant Coffee

Attendant Coffee


I only recently discovered this gem on Leather Lane. These guys are the real deal, they roast their own blend and happy to discuss the technical details of producing coffee.  The food is also excellent.  Looking forward to an ongoing relationship.

75 Leather Lane
London, EC1N 7TJ
http://the-attendant.com/locations/clerkenwell/

★★★★★★★★★☆

Tap Coffee (No 114)

One of a handful of branches, these guys are stripped-down and dare I say almost brutalist in style.

Excellent coffee with a variety of roasts on offer.  keep up the good work.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

No.114

Tottenham Court Road W1T 5AH 

http://tapcoffee.co.uk

Lantana

Lantana Cafe Camden

*Update as of 2018 - unfortunately this brand has been replaced in Camden Market but the brand continues in other locations in London*

Our Antipodean cousins are fond of telling us they somehow brought high-end coffee to the masses.  Ok, I'll give them the Flat White but of course that's not what I'm here to talk about.

This Australian chain has a few locations in London now, and consistently offer an excellent roast filter. So yes, this is an example of walking the talk.

45 Middle Yard, Camden Lock Place, Camden Market, London, NW1 8AF



http://lantanacafe.co.uk/

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Tea and Glory

A newcomer to Chalk Farm Road with scandi-inspired wooden interior that sets it apart from a good many hipster coffee venues.

The staff are well meaning although not likely to win any competitions soon.  They didn't appear to include any bearded, black t-shirted baristas among them, and not a MacBook in sight, so they are doing something right.

It offers a veritable plethora of teas, and to be fair it does appear to be considering tea as its main selling point.

Having said that, they certainly make a good offer of coffee choices too, along with aero press and long black filter.

The monthly filter on offer was a roast from Ethiopia.  I'm sure a sophisticated drinker would find it delicate and interesting on the palate.

Unfortunately to me, it tasted like tea.

★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆


https://www.teaandglory.com

29 Chalk Farm Road
Camden
London
NW1 8AJ

Brown and Rosie

One of the points of difference with Brown and Rosie appears to be the Australian roasted beans.  Interesting as a concept, the carbon footprint cant be trivial as beans are traversing most of the globe to arrive at this bright and cosy café on Exhibition Road.

The staff are very friendly and the food is a cut above.

The coffee is varied as different beans and roasts are available at differing times.

I had a filter blend from El Salvador.  Noteworthy.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Brown & Rosie
brownandrosie.co.uk

10-12 Exhibition Rd, Queen's Gate SW7 2HE

Melrose and Morgan

M&M have long provided high end deli-oriented produce at fairly eye-watering prices.  I'm not here to review the food (excellent and varied though it often is) but this is all about the coffee.

So, can they provide a good brew? The answer is absolutely yes, while there is no filter offered, the Americano option is excellent with a very good roast.   

Overall Score:  ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 

Melrose & Morgan

www.melroseandmorgan.com

42 Gloucester Avenue, London NW1 8JD