Problem with most coffee shops these days is they shut too early some of the major chains open a little later but after say, at a stretch , 9 your only choice is a pub for socialising. We often want to go to smaller individual coffee shops but then find they shut at 5 when we don't really get going till around then as, like Tom, we work late and live late mornings are just not our thing.
I really love the history angle in some of your videos, London has such a rich background and it’s great for you to incorporate that into your content! Great stuff.
I just found your channel when I searched for London street foods. I’m moving back to London in a couple months and your food and coffee stops have made me so excited to be returning to London. I love the diverse food options in London and I’m so glad that the coffee scene is upping its game. I currently live in San Francisco and the coffee scene here is so amazing. Thank you for sharing your faves with us and I hope to find more inspiration on your channel in the coming months. A cool recommendation for coffee in London is this really neat place that serves coffee in aid of artists with disabilities called Dialog Hub Cafe at 43 York Rd, London SE1 7NJ, UK. You order your coffee in BSL (they have amazing guides to help you order in BSL). Their coffee is amazing too!
Grind is quite cool by Old Street roundabout, but just round the corner on Leonard Street is Ozone Coffee Roasters, where they roast in the basement and serve coffee and lovely Kiwi food on the ground floor. Well recommended. For a chain, the Blue Volcano beans in Black Sheep coffee is good and fairly widely available. It would be interesting to know more about the Italian coffee bars of Soho, especially the OG ones from the 60s and earlier, like Bar Italia on Frith St and see what they add to the London coffee scene now.
Really recommend 21 grams in Fulham - people who work there are lovely, great coffee and it’s a great space to stop for a chat w someone/a break. Devotion (by Clapham Junction station) also serves a brilliant espresso and baristas can acc help talk through the flavour profile.
Tom please come and try this “ the robin craft cafe’ “ 38 sheen lane , we have more than just coffee we also do serve Thai food and lots more where you can sit down and enjoy delicious lunch , looking forward to see you
Namaste Coffee & Yoga - Wandsworth Bridge Road. Definitely worth dropping in. The coffee is sublime with a real appreciation for quality and flavour. Also a lovely location by the bridge. They also make incredible brunches and pastries! I would recommend you give it a go Tom! (great content as always!)
It would be interesting to know how many coffee shops closed their doors during the pandemic, and whether there are any estimates on how many will reopen in the coming year or two. I recently visited London, and before covid, there were coffee shops everywhere. However, now I have to make an effort to find them. Well, almost, but you get the idea.
Surprisingly, I found it was mainly the big players that got hit and had to downscale; Starbucks, Pret etc. I think the small one and bands manage to keep going.
Delicious coffee out there. Thanks Tom. Love your videos. Would you be able to male one video on how many miles a TX crossed so far ( for example, in 5 years, xxxxxx miles), or how much can it cross before it's out of service
If you're ever down Brixton Hill there are two great independent coffee shops just opposite each-other. F Mondays, and Stir Coffee. F Mondays has also just opened a branch on Coldharbour Road, just a few doors up on the other side of the Ritzy. Really excellent coffee from both.
Great video Tom. I’ve worked around the corner from St Mary Aldermary for 20 years and didn’t know it was there! I’ll definitively give it a check out now. And Redemption Roasters - what a great social business!
Hi Tom, Recently I’ve become a fan of GAIL’s Bakery, branches around London. I go in for a tea/coffee and pastry or a cake. They are an ideal alternative to the pub for me.
There is a cycle coffee shop somewhere in London? Its not London but my favourite coffee house is Rustic Bean, located in Chipping Norton. RB makes the smoothest coffee I have ever had so far. Second place is Mostro in Oxford. Smooooooth :)
Great video Tom, you did a really good job at covering the bases of what makes specialty coffee special. Would love to visit some of these spots if I ever made it all the way to London!
As a Swede it's always hard to find proper coffee in London, i e filter coffee. Don't give me that espresso rubbish, I just want a good poor over, black. And if you do find it it's weak as hell. Would love some tips for a proper strong poor over, anyone? 😊
Great video Tom. Good selection of coffee shops. I'm a coffee service engineer driving around London (annoying cab drivers like you 😉) but all top choices here. If you haven't already, try out Hagen, Workshop Coffee or Prufrock Coffee
@@TomtheTaxiDriver depends also if decaff the chemical method - or the Swiss water method / to take out the caffeine. Also try Galapagos Island coffee San Cristobal from Higgins Coffee Duke St Mayfair -- best coffee there is.....
I hate these coffee shops. If you look like working-class they'll give you the worst evil eye they can, so you know you need to eff off and never come back. They won't even ask if you want take-away, you'll get it anyway. The coffee is great but not worth the frown faces you get to look at while waiting. Dressing like a tourist helps a little.
All depends on the coffee shop management and how the customer engages with staff. When you overhear people who just bark “skinny latte!” It’s no wonder that the stuff might get a bit frustrated. I’ve removed it in this video, but it’s a great chance to ask the staff how they are and usually most barista staff are super friendly because they enjoy the environment 😃. Coming from retail/hospitality (and this is true in the taxi also). I couldn’t care who have as a customer, but engagement and pleasantries go a very long way.
@@CasparAremi Thanks for advice I didn't ask for, but since you're at it, please give me your cousellors contact details. Who knows, maybe someday I'll need it?
Redemption…. The woman who ‘speedily placed’ the food to Tom on the counter. Does she deserve to be redeemed for her utterly rude service??!! Maybe she was having a ‘bad day’?😵💫 Or maybe she has never been released!!🤔
