15Grams Coffee House, Greenwich

Where to find the best coffee shops in London, no matter what part of the city you find yourself in. 

Attendant Coffee Roasters, Fitzrovia

When it comes to independent coffee shops, London has so many options to choose from that it can be difficult to know where to go for your morning latte.

15Grams Coffee House, Greenwich

From single bean origin coffee that is ethically sourced to coffee served in a former men’s restroom, London has a lot to offer.

15Grams Coffee House, Greenwich

While many of the shops in this list roast their own beans, there are also some that feature a rotating list of guest coffee roasters from London as well as other parts of the world.

Doe & Fawn Coffee Roasters at Kafi, Fitzrovia

After much research and a lot of caffeine highs, this is the guide I’ve created to help you find the best coffee shops in London. The list gets bigger with each trip I take to London.

Strawberry hazelnut tart & dark chocolate raspberry brownie at WatchHouse, Spitalfields

I hope this list helps you find a great place to stop for coffee, and maybe even a delicious pastry!

Grind

Greenwich Grind

If you’re looking for a cafe that has excellent coffee, food and friendly staff, Grind is just the place. Not only will you find high quality coffee that’s sustainably sourced, you’ll also find some of the friendliest baristas and best breakfasts London has to offer.

After my first visit to Grind’s Soho location on Beak Street, I completely understood the popularity this London-based coffee roaster. Owner David Abrahamovitch, who founded the company in 2011 with his Australian DJ friend Kaz James, opened the first location in a Shoreditch storefront left to him by his father. Over the next decade the company expanded to eleven locations throughout the city, many of which serve full food and drink menus.

The company’s mission is “to make sustainable coffee available to the home brewer,” a task they accomplished in 2020 through the incredibly successful launch of their brew-at-home coffee pods. The pods come in adorable pink containers that match the cafes’ interior decor, said to be inspired by David’s wife’s love of pink.

If you find yourself in close proximity to one of their cafes, definitely stop by for a latte and some delicious food. In addition to the Greenwich location, several of their other cafes also accept reservations, so be sure to book ahead.

Find out more about Grind here.
Greenwich Grind
17 Nelson Rd.
London SE10 9JB, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 20 3823 6545
Hours: Mon-Tues 8am-5pm; Wed-Thurs 8am-10pm;
Fri 8am-11pm; Sat 9am-11pm; Sun 9am-6:30pm

WatchHouse

WatchHouse Spitalfields

Named after the former 19th century watch house that houses their original Bermondsey location, WatcHouse has been serving coffee roasted in-house since 2014. On offer at their many cafes are a variety of high quality single bean origin coffees as well as an eye-popping array of house-made pastries and original brunch dishes. The company takes a down to earth approach to the way they serve coffee which appeals to both aficionados as well as to everyday coffee drinkers.

My husband and I received a warm welcome from a friendly barista at their Spitalfields location, who found us an open table in their crowded cafe. We sat down to expertly made cortados and two different desserts which included a raspberry and almond dark chocolate brownie and a strawberry and hazelnut Bakewell tart. We enjoyed the experience so much we ended stopping by their Tower Bridge location the following day for a fabulous brunch of eggs Benedict served with tender shredded pork and a thick slice of toasted banana bread served with house-made whipped butter, raspberry jam and hazelnut butter.

All thirteen of their cafes are worth visiting, each one housed in historically important locations designed to “play a contemporary role in the Modern Coffee experience, while also preserving their unique history in the community.”

Find out more about WatchHouse here.

WatchHouse, Spitalfields
139 Commercial Street,
London, E1 6BJ
Hours: Mon – Fri 7:30am – 5:00pm.
Sat – Sun 8:00am – 6:00pm.
Bank holidays 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Phone:+44 (0) 203 246 0087

Attendant Coffee Roasters

Attendant Coffee Roasters in Fitzrovia

Who wouldn’t want to sit down to enjoy a coffee in a urinal? That’s what you will find at Attendant Coffee Roasters in Fitzrovia, a coffee shop and cafe housed in a former gentlemen’s loo. After descending a set of stairs that leads down to the coffee shop, you’ll soon discover a tastefully restored cafe that serves a variety of food options for breakfast and lunch. Settle in at one of the barstools to enjoy high quality coffee drinks skillfully made by their friendly baristas, as well as a variety of tasty pastries. Reason enough to stop by for a coffee and a slice of banana bread while sitting in front of a urinal!

Find out more about Attendant Coffee Roasters here.
Attendant Coffee Roasters, Fitzrovia
27A Foley St, London W1W 6DY, United Kingdom

Alex Coffee

Alex Coffee, Fitzrovia

Open since 2017, this Fitzrovia coffee shop specializes in small batch coffee and impeccable flat whites made with the shop’s signature espresso blend. Knowledgable and passionate about coffee, owner Alex oversees the roasting of the blend at a local roaster, in addition to offering a selection of filter coffees from Red Bank Coffee Roasters, located up north in the Lake District. This is a place to make a brief stop to try some of the best coffee in the city while enjoying a chat with the shop’s friendly owner and namesake Alex, who welcomes you in with a warm smile.

If the weather is nice, enjoy your coffee at one of the outside tables in front of the shop’s turquoise exterior, which brings to mind visions of the crystal blue waters that surround the shores of Alex’s native Greece. Our flat whites were some of the best we had during our coffee shop tour of London. I can still taste the dense, creamy foam and the lingering flavor of the espresso. We look forward to stopping by for another coffee during our next visit to London.

Find out more about Alex Coffee here.
Alex Coffee
1 Hanson Street
London, W1W 6TA, UK

Kaffeine

Kaffeine coffee shop in Fitzrovia, London

Open since 2009, this Fitzrovia coffee shop is the place to go to try a variety of independent coffee roasters from London and beyond. One of the best things Kaffeine has to offer is their coffee tasting flight. Three different coffee tasting options arrive arranged on a tray at your table along with a palate cleansing glass of sparkling water.

Their rotating list of micro roasters, house made baked goods, light lunch options and coffee flight are reason enough to stop by one of their two Fitzrovia locations. Though snug, we were able to snag a table so we could sit down to enjoy our coffee tasting, which featured a shot of espresso, a cortado and drip coffee.

Find out more about Kaffeine here.
Kaffeine, Fitzrovia
Great Titchfield St.,
London W1W 7QJ, United Kingdom
Hours: Mon-Fri 07.30am – 5.00pm; Sat 08:30am – 5.00pm; Sun 09:00am – 5.00pm66

15Grams Coffee House

15Grams Coffee House, Greenwich

This independent coffee roaster in Southeast London offers a variety of single bean origin coffees from around the world. Owner Joe Faulkner, a former photographer and coffee enthusiast says his company is “dedicated to sourcing only the highest quality, sustainably grown specialty coffee,” with a focus on creating a positive impact in the community. 

After spending just a few minutes chatting with Joe and the other baristas at the Greenwich cafe, located just outside the bustling market, it’s easy to see their commitment to positively impacting people’s lives through each cup of coffee. We enjoyed our drip coffee and cortado with a slice of the cafe’s homemade banana bread at one of the tables outside. Coffee is served in unique coffee cups, evocative of 70’s color schemes which are also reflected in the cafe’s stylish interior. It was the perfect place to take a break from touring the historical sights in the area while watching people come and go from the market.

Read more about 15Grams Coffee House here.
15Grams Coffee House
28 Greenwich Church St,
London SE10 9BJ, United Kingdom

Kafi

Coffee & chocolate tasting at Kafi in Fitzrovia

Owners Yatish and Tripti opened up this shop in Fitzrovia in 2019 with “a vision to create a sustainable coffee cup.” The cafe brews beans from both fellow Firtzorvians Workshop Coffee as well as a rotating list of guest roasters. The guest roaster when we visited was Doe & Fawn Roasters, located two hours north of London in Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire.

We enjoyed our cortados while seated across from a friendly local at the snug communal table, listening to Blur’s “Park Life” on the cafe’s sound system. Along with the coffee we tried two different varieties of single bean origin chocolate bars that the cafe offers from Land, a bean to bar chocolate maker located in East London. From the inviting interior friendly, skilled baristas, excellent coffee and sound music choice, Kafi was the quintessential London coffee shop experience.

Find out more about Kafi here.
Kafi
20 Cleveland St,
London W1T 4JA, United Kingdom

Doe & Fawn Coffee Roasters

Origin

Chocolate and coffee tasting at Origin Coffee, Shoreditch

Founded in 2004 by owner Tom Sobey, Origin Coffee is an independent coffee roaster focused on offering the highest quality coffee possible through a “sustainable, triple bottom line approach.” With three locations in London, including Shoreditch, Kings Cross and Southwark, Origin takes its coffee roasting process very seriously. The cafe offers an ever changing variety of single bean origin coffees from around the world, roasted by a team of experts.

During our visit to their Charlotte Road location we tried two different varietals, Brazil Trapia and Beija Flor, a rare varietal from the mountainous region of Mantiqueira, Brazil. Beija Flor, which featured tasting notes of apricot, cashew and praline, was one of the best single bean origin coffees we tried during our trip to London. The cafe even offers “latte art” classes where students can learn how to create the perfect foam from their award winning baristas. 

Read more about Origin Coffee here.
Origin Coffee, Shoreditch
Charlotte Road, Shoreditch
65 Charlotte Road,
Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3PE
Hours: Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:00 Sat: 09:00-16:00 Sun: 09:00-16:00

Redemption Roasters

Redemption Roasters, Kings Cross (Granary Square & Coal Drops Yard)

College friends Ted and Max started Redemption Roasters in 2016 after the British Ministry of Justice approached them about setting up a coffee roasting program for prison inmates. Now with ten locations throughout the city, the company has made a substantially positive impact on the community through their ethically sourced coffee, roasted entirely within the prison system.

On a recent visit to their Kings Cross location at Coal Drops Yard, I enjoyed a flat white made with their bright and juicy house espresso blend called “The Yard” while chatting with the friendly baristas about the company’s mission. If you’re into ethically sourced coffee with a humanitarian cause, definitely stop by Redemption Roasters, a business you can feel good about supporting.

Find out more about Redemption Roasters here.
Redemption Roasters at Kings Cross
Unit 109, Lower Stable Street,
Kings Cross, London,
N1C 4AQ

High Grade

High Grade Coffee on Brick Lane, Spitalfields

This independent coffee shop, located in the Old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane in Spitalfields, offers a tranquil space to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the neighborhood. Choose from an expansive list of single bean origin coffees that change on a monthly basis.

Started in 2017 by friends Liam and Stevie, the company’s mission is to “offer the best product possible for the consumer, farmer and the planet,” with an ethos focused on “passion over profit.” We enjoyed a flat white and a drip during our visit, both of which were excellent.

Find out more about High Grade here.
High Grade Coffee, Spitalfields
The Old Truman Brewery Courtyard
91 Brick Ln
London E1 6QL, United Kingdom

I hope you continue to join me as I explore London’s ever expanding coffee scene!

Check out my other London food & travel guides here:

Guide to the Best Afternoon Tea in London

The Perfect Itinerary for an 11 Day Tearoom Tour of the UK

Review of Afternoon Tea at the Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon at Fortnum & Mason

*All words and photos by Kathleen Phipps.