Best Coffee in London

London's specialty coffee scene has been world-class since the early 2010s — the city played a significant role in the third-wave coffee movement and now has an extraordinary density of independent roasters and cafes, particularly in East London and the inner neighbourhoods.

The Pioneer Roasters

Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market and Covent Garden) was one of the first serious specialty roasters in the UK — the Borough Market branch still has a queue most mornings and the coffee is still excellent. Square Mile Coffee Roasters (East London roastery, wholesale) and Hasbean are two of the most respected UK roasters supplying many of the best cafes. Workshop Coffee (multiple locations) and Ozone Coffee are reliable chains that maintain quality across sites.

Best Areas for Independent Cafes

Shoreditch and Hackney have the highest density of excellent independent coffee shops — Climpson & Sons on Broadway Market is a long-standing favourite. Bermondsey and Bermondsey Street have developed their own strong café scene alongside the wine bars. Soho has several good options that make a West End morning coffee worthwhile without resorting to chains. Marylebone has a pleasant café character along the High Street.

What to Order

The flat white (a double espresso in less milk than a latte, with microfoam) became mainstream partly because of London's Australian and New Zealand coffee culture influence. Filter coffee (pour-over, batch brew) is the serious single-origin showcase at good specialty cafes. Cappuccinos and lattes are fine but less likely to show off a good roast.

Tips

• Monmouth Coffee at Borough Market is still one of the best — worth arriving for when the market opens.
• Ask for a filter coffee at a specialty café if you want to taste the beans properly.
• Hackney and Shoreditch have the best independent café density — walk slowly and duck into ones with roasters visible.
• Chain cafes in London: Pret a Manger coffee is reliably decent for a quick option.