<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nSay “London coffee culture” and most people immediately picture a flat white. This popular drink is made from strong espresso and finely textured milk (known as microfoam), and it has less foam and a stronger coffee flavour than a traditional cappuccino<\/strong>. It’s simply the ideal balance for anyone who wants to taste the beans while still loving that creamy milk texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat’s interesting, though, is that this iconic drink doesn’t actually come from Britain at all. Australia and New Zealand have been fiercely arguing over its origins since the 1980s<\/strong>. While Sydney claims it was invented there in 1985, Wellington has a story about a barista from 1989 who supposedly failed to froth the foam for a cappuccino.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe’ll probably never know the truth, but the fact remains that London played a key role. Around 2005 the drink arrived in the British capital thanks to those antipodean immigrants, and London then popularised it for the rest of Europe<\/strong>. That’s why the flat white is now considered an absolute London coffee-house classic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Specialty Coffee vs. the Chains<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nYou might be wondering why you’d bother hunting down small independent cafes in London when there’s a Costa, Pret A Manger or Starbucks on every corner. The difference comes down to what’s known as specialty coffee. While the giant chains rely on darker, standardised roasts that always taste the same kind of average, independent venues buy single-origin beans with a traceable source<\/strong> directly from the farmers.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese beans are then roasted much lighter to let their natural fruity or chocolatey notes shine through. On top of that, your drink is prepared by a brilliantly trained barista<\/strong> who keeps a close eye on both water temperature and extraction time. Chain coffee may be a touch cheaper and served a bit faster, but flavour-wise it doesn’t come close to the specialty stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs vegetarians, there’s one more thing that makes us genuinely happy. In London’s specialty cafes, plant-based milks are completely standard<\/strong>. They’ll routinely offer you quality oat milk from brands like Oatly or the local Minor Figures, and often won’t even charge extra for it. Oat milk also steams beautifully and doesn’t overpower the flavour of a specialty espresso.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>18 of the Best London Cafes<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTo make exploring London’s coffee scene easier, we’ve split our selection by neighbourhood. Whether you find yourself in buzzing Soho, elegant Bloomsbury or hipster Shoreditch, you’ll always know where to head for the best caffeine hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAt a specialty cafe there’s a trained barista behind the bar (Photo: Ketut Subiyanto \/ Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Soho and Fitzrovia<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThis area right in the heart of the West End is full of narrow lanes, theatres and independent boutiques. The coffee scene here is incredibly strong, and you’ll find both historic icons and modern, minimalist espresso bars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>1. Algerian Coffee Stores<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAlgerian Coffee Stores (Photo: Algerian Coffee Stores, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nVisiting this hundred-year-old little shop in Soho feels like a fascinating journey back in time<\/strong>. Coffee lovers are utterly charmed by the old-world atmosphere, filled with the aroma of freshly roasted beans from all over the world. Beyond buying from the incredibly wide range of coffees to take home, everyone loves grabbing a perfectly extracted espresso<\/strong> to go, guaranteeing the best energy for more exploring around London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>2. Kaffeine<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tKaffeine (Photo: Kaffeine, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt this Australian cafe just off Oxford Circus, you’ll be greeted by an incredibly warm and friendly atmosphere<\/strong> maintained by a smiling team. Visitors eagerly return for the best balanced espresso in the city and a perfectly made long black. For fans of alternative brewing methods, the precise pour over<\/strong> is a huge draw too, radiating a real love for the craft of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>3. Attendant Coffee Roasters<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAttendant Coffee Roasters (Photo: Attendant Coffee Roasters | Fitzrovia, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA visit to this place is an absolute must, because it’s set inside a beautifully restored Victorian public toilet<\/strong> from the 1890s. People have completely fallen in love with this quirky, creative concept, where you can enjoy excellent coffee right among the old urinals. Besides the unique historic setting, the fantastic light lunches<\/strong> get plenty of praise too, with soft, fresh bread and beautifully seasoned sauces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>4. Archetype Coffee<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tArchetype Coffee (Photo: Archetype Coffee, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis small, cosy hideaway with a lovely logo and artistic decor has an incredibly laid-back atmosphere<\/strong>. Customers love chatting with the friendly owner and keep coming back for his excellent flat white with beautiful latte art<\/strong>. Although the space is genuinely tiny, this stop is absolutely worth it for the top-notch coffee quality and pleasant prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>5. Kiss the Hippo<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tKiss the Hippo Coffee Fitzrovia Corner (Photo: Kiss the Hippo Coffee Fitzrovia Corner, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIn this beautiful, light-filled venue, the smiling baristas will conjure up not only an exceptional flat white, but even playful latte art<\/strong> in the shape of Hello Kitty. Alongside the precise coffee from their own roastery, visitors highly praise the brilliantly made matcha latte. And as a sweet finishing touch, don’t miss the excellent banana bread<\/strong> that customers happily return for again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>Covent Garden, Bloomsbury and Westminster<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThese elegant neighbourhoods close to the main tourist attractions hide several fantastic cafes, many of which also focus on helping disadvantaged people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>6. Lever & Bloom Coffee<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLever & Bloom Coffee (Photo: Presley Vasiliou, Google Maps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThis charming spot is an absolute paradise for anyone who loves unusual sweet pastries<\/strong>. People keep eagerly coming back mainly for the fantastic cardamom knots and the utterly divine treats with figs, mascarpone and honey. Alongside the exceptional goodies, the great coffee and incredibly friendly service<\/strong> get huge praise too \u2014 it’s a genuine pleasure to have a morning chat with the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>7. Neal Street Espresso<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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