Tech City News brings you East London’s Finest Coffee
Tech City News brings you East London’s Finest CoffeeThe importance of coffee shops and the serendipitous meetings that they engender in tech hubs is fully understood by East London’s growing community of start-ups, and goes some way to explaining the way the community came together to oppose government plans to make it easier to convert buildings into residential apartments that some said could have threatened tech city in February.
London’s long history of coffee drinking
In East London the coffee shop has become a de facto extension of the office, hosting meetings, brainstorming sessions as well as impromptu encounters, and some even have dedicated co-working space to facilitate this.
But despite London’s long and rich tradition of coffee houses dating back to the 17th century, it is only relatively recently that London has embraced speciality coffee enjoyed in parts of Australia and New Zealand for decades.
London’s first coffee house was opened in 1652 by Pasqua Rosée, and coffee houses quickly became a hotbed of debate, influential in the propagation of ideas and the spread of news, with the London Stock Exchange starting its life out of a coffee shop called Jonathon’s in 1698.
After a temporary hiatus of a few centuries due to the sterling marketing techniques of the East India Company that saw tea replace coffee in the public’s affections, coffee came back with a bang in the mid twentieth century with the arrival of the first Italian espresso machines, and the rise in recent years of independent coffee houses and world-class roasters in the capital has made London one of the most exciting scenes for speciality coffee in the world.
Put down that cafetiere and step outside
East London is home to some of the best of the new independent coffee houses, but also some passable but lacklustre spots that you wouldn’t dream of mentioning in a chat with a high-end barista at the risk of sounding like a philistine.
So put down that cafetiere, place that percolator back on the shelf, and let Tech City News hold your hand and guide you through some of the best sources of coffee in East London.
46b Espresso Hut
This intimate little spot is tucked away in Homerton just next to Chat’s Palace and is staffed exclusively by owners Eva and Dominic which explains the consistently high standard of coffee and service.
46b Espresso Hut is easy to miss with its unassuming shopfront, but once you’ve tried the coffee you’ll never forget this little gem in the heart of Homerton. The Redbrick espresso blend from London roasters Square Mile gives the espresso here a fruity intensity, but the skill with which the milk is handled make the latte a silky experience not to be missed.
Excellent food including sandwiches made with bread from local bakeries and decadent chocolate brownies are served.
Address: 46b Brooksby’s Walk , e9 6da London, United Kingdom
Protein by Dunnefrankowski
Hidden on a backstreet behind Liverpool St station, Protein is on the ground floor of a creative agency and hosts a co-working area in the back.
Protein was founded by Rob Dunne and Victor Frankowski who host regular tasting classes as part of their ‘creative coffee consultancy’.
This place is all about the coffee, so don’t expect any extras.
Protein boasts a very intimate atmosphere and the friendly barista Michael is happy to talk about coffee and the subtleties of each stage of production that can affect its flavour.
Protein has an excellent selection of beans on rotation including beans from Has Bean in Stafford as well as some from Square Mile.
Address: 18 Hewett Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3NN
Ozone Coffee
Located just behind the Old Street roundabout, Ozone is a coffee roaster from New Zealand that roast their beans in the New Zealand style.
Big whirring machines and sacks of beans from all corners of the globe make up Ozone’s basement roasting operation while a lively coffee shop showcases their talents on the ground floor.
The coffee is exceptional, but the scale of the operation means the intimacy of some of the smaller coffee houses is lost. That being said there is plenty of space for out-of-office meetings and working from a laptop.
The Synesso Hydra espresso machine and heavy Kiwi-style roast make for a rich and complex espresso, and the range of food is excellent and won’t break the bank.
Address: 11 Leonard St, London EC2A 4AQ
Workshop
Workshop Roast their own beans on site in Clerkenwell, right next to the bar, offering impressive views of their processing and storage operation.
The roast here is lighter in style, more aligned with the styles emerging from other London roasters, and lends itself to a pricier, slower filter coffee experience, enjoyed black without milk.
All harshness and bitterness is removed from the Gichathaini Kenyan beans using this method, and the more subtle, floral notes of the bean can be appreciated, much like sipping a herbal tea.
Enjoyed with a Rhubarb muffin, the coffee experience of this spot is excellent.
Address: 27 Clerkenwell Rd, London, Greater London EC1M 5RN
Association
Located in The Old Tea Warehouse in Aldgate, Association stock beans from Square Mile, Has Bean and also Workshop down the road, and their baristas are bursting with dedication to and knowledge of coffee, its history and tasting notes.
Association is the talk of the town, striking the right balance between a large, spacious coffee shop and keeping just a few, dedicated baristas, and their name repeatedly comes up in talk with London’s coffee geek inner-circle.
Barista David Robson can work magic with his grinders by Mazzer and the Synesso Hydra espresso machine, and will happily discuss roasting styles and coffee beans with you.
The perfect spot to enjoy a bright, almost sharp Macchiato after a long day’s work. Attracts bankers from the city as well as creative types.
Address: No. 10/12 Creechurch Lane London EC3A 5AY