The 2010 World Barista Championships were a turning point in the coffee culture in London. Suddenly, London was on show to the world and the new wave independent cafes had a chance to shine.
The 2009 champion Gwilym Davies provided inspiration and the 2010 championship left a lasting impression on coffee culture in London.
Timeout magazine has a solid and inclusive list of London’s best coffee. It’s a bit patchy, but it’s a great list.
The best coffee in London is at Prufrock in Leather Lane. I wish there was more to say than that but there isn’t. The Prufrock team may not be friendly or helpful but they are purists and their coffee is amazing.
But the best coffee isn’t the same thing as the best cafe. In fact, the things that make a cafe great don’t always lead to the best coffee. And vice versa. For example, staff that are fanatical about coffee can be off putting to customers who are a little unsure of themselves.