It happened the first day I was in London. I was walking around enjoying the sights when I decided to stop by a cafe for a coffee. I ordered a cap, no milk, no sugar. Simple. I waited a few minutes. I grabbed my coffee and I took a sip. It tasted like watered down brown muck. Bitter and awful. I nearly spat it out if it wasn’t for the barista, if you can call him that, with a puzzled look as I choked down my coffee.
You, like many before you, will come to the sinking realisation that the UK has terrible coffee. For the typical coffee-loving Aussie who is used to great coffee this will be a huge loss!
However, before you decide to drink tea for the rest of your time in the UK, there is hope. In every major city there are rare gems who make great coffee for the people who appreciate it. They may be few and far between but they are worth going out of your way for! Here’s a list of the best coffee shops in the UK.
London:
1. Sendero Specialty coffee – They have coffee shops located in Battersea Park, Brixton and Clapham
2. Brickwood Coffee and Bread – There are four of these cafes located in Balham, Clapham, Streatham and Tooting
3. Abuelo – in Convent garden
4. Monmouth Coffee Compnany – in Borough Market
5. Antipode – in Hammersmith
6. Ozone Coffee Roasters- in Shoreditch and London Fields
7. Coffeeology – in Richmond, Chiswick, Brentford and Park Royal
8. Artisan Coffee – in Putney
9. Kaffeine – in Fitzrovia
10. Over under Coffee – in Earl’s Court, West Brompton, Clapham, Ladbroke Grove, Wandsworth, South Kensington, Gloucester Road
11. Rosslyn coffee – near Mansion House
12. Saint Espresso – near Baker Street station
13. The Roasting Party – near Sloane Square
14. Department of Coffee and Social Affairs – in Carnaby
15. Workshop Coffee – near Marble Arch
16. 2 Love Tea and Coffee House – near Clapham Junction station
17. Lockdown bakehouse – in Wandsworth
Manchester
18. Federal Cafe Bar
19. Fig and Sparrow
Birmingham
20. Quarter Horse Coffee
Liverpool
21. Root Coffee
Bristol
22. Full Court Press -near St. Nicholas Market
23. Little Victories – on Spike Island
If you are finding it hard to find decent coffee you can also try a company called Minor Figures started by three Aussies. They make a whole lot of cold brews (I like their Mocha!). This may not be your hot coffee in the morning but it’s worth a try! The great thing is they ship all over the UK.
PS: If you happen to come across any other places with amazing coffee (particularly outside London) who you think should be on our Best Coffee Shops in the UK list, please tell us in the comments. Aussies in the UK will appreciate it!