Photo from www.coffee-photography.com
What the Swedes call fika – a companionable coffee break, often with a slab of cake thrown in for good measure – is now a staple of my weekend. Luckily for me, my patch of the east end has more than its fair share of lovely places to stop for a cup of the good stuff. Here are my five favourite coffee spots.
1) Prufrock
I first fell in love with owner Gwilym Davies’ perfect espressos at Whitecross Street Market. He’s since left his outdoor stall behind and opened Prufrock in Leather Lane, followed more recently by a teeny sister outlet at Present in Shoreditch High Street. Both are havens for coffee purists and the Leather Lane branch has a selection of excellent cakes (try the incredibly zingy lemon drizzle). Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, smoothly accommodating both slow sippers and the gulp-and-go crowd. You can even pick up some new skills at Leather Lane’s regular barista training and coffee tasting events.
Nearest tube: Old Street
Nearest overground: Shoreditch High Street
2) The Bridge Coffee House and Bar Lounge
The steampunk-style clutter of this coffee place is the reason I keep returning. An ancient cash register hulks over the bar, the windows are swathed in red velvet and wherever you look there’s the gleam of brass. It’s a world away from the grime and hustle of Kingsland Road outside. They serve pastries and light snacks, and in the evening the whole place becomes a bar.
Nearest tube: Old Street
Nearest overground: Shoreditch High Street
3) Fabrique
London’s first proper Swedish bakery burrows into the railway arches behind Hoxton’s Geffrye Museum. As well as offering giantic rye loaves and toothsome cakes, they brew proper Swedish coffee – which means you’ll definitely be wide awake by the time you leave. Cinnamon buns are dotted with crunchy sugar pearls and the ginger cookies are incredibly more-ish. There’s an emphasis on Swedish festival food, so in early December I’ll be beating a path to their door for lussekatter (sweet saffron buns).
Nearest tube: Old Street
Nearest overground: Hoxton
4) Genesis Cinema Cafe
The recently refurbished Genesis Cinema has created a cool cafe space at its entrance, replete with squashy leather sofas and old film posters. They buy their beans from the fabulous Nude Espresso, who also ran training sessions to turn box office staff into Inglorious Baristas. Old-school pastries and cakes are from east end institution Rinkoff’s Bakery. You can also get a decent glass of wine and Meantime beer.
Nearest tube: Stepney Green
Nearest overground: Whitechapel
5) G&T
Nestled in a tiny spot half-way up Cambridge Heath Road, G&T offer coffee and organic sandwiches and cakes. More of a take-away than a place to linger (like Prufrock’s Shoreditch branch, the only seats are outside), but it’s definitely worth stopping by for a flat white and a toffee apple muffin.
Nearest tube: Bethnal Green
Nearest overground: Cambridge Heath
Gonerby 