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I'm off on a short break with Mrs Bloke next week, a couple of nights in that London and then a couple in Bruges. I got plenty of helpful ideas for the Bruges leg from the STW hive mind in this thread. We're fairly familiar with London so have an itinerary roughed out for there too. However, I'm a bit of a coffee geek and fancy visiting a few decent independent London cafes whilst there. I'm a Hoffman fanboi, so will definitely be visiting Prufrock, but looking for other suggestions. We are staying near Marble Arch but will be mooching about all over. Main things I'm looking for are a nice place to sit and relax, good quality speciality coffee made by skilled baristas, cake!
Isn't that where Hoffman tried the worlds most expensive espresso shot?
Might be interesting just watching the clientele.
Isn't that where Hoffman tried the worlds most expensive espresso shot?
I remember that! I don't think it was Prufrock which he partly owns. Wherever it is, I don't think my budget will stretch to it!
There is Kaffeine in Soho, which gets a mention in this Guardian article about the newly fashionable “Long Black". If it’s in The G it must be good.
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/06/long-black-coffee-uk-americano-taste-drink
https://www.theguardian.com/food/2025/feb/06/long-black-coffee-uk-americano-taste-drink
Monmouth, either in Seven dials or Borough Market.
Another vote for Monmouth, they have a small place in Monmouth Street Covent garden. Walkable from Holborn or Leicester Square. Daughter's partner who is a barista trained/professional coffee enthusiast really rated the espresso.
Monmouth and Kaffeine on the list, ta 👍
If you're a coffee nerd, any of the Watch House shops. They do amazing coffee and their food is just as good.
Roasting Plant on London Bridge is good to and you can watch their processes too which is quite novel.
Dark Arts @ Nowhere in Soho
So many coffee shops now and independent small roasters who roast with passion that can say you taste wild berries , cocoa and maybe a hint of vanilla
Are baristas any different from a barman/barmaid that can do a nice Shamrock on a Guinness?
Most cafes buy in their cakes from Costco and leave the cafe walls with the exposed old brickwork and maybe have one or two old knackered sofas then charge you £4 for a lukewarm flat white
Is it safe to Google for long black!? 😬🤔
If you are at Prufrock then pop round to Colonna and smalls.
I'd say Attendant as well as it's close to the above 2, but every time I've tried to go it's been closed.
Nagare if around Spitalfields.
It's not a special coffee place especially, but Fork Deli in Fitzrovia has been decent in the past for a coffee and bite, I'm pretty sure they repainted it and it was in Killing Eve too.
Not tried it but a (coffee nerd)friend was buying beans from Brood recently, so that is worth a try.
I've tried a few places round Coal's drop yard and none of them are places I'd rush back to.
Are baristas any different from a barman/barmaid that can do a nice Shamrock on a Guinness?
I'd say 'it depends'. Many won't be but you do get the odd nerdy mega enthusiast who'll go the extra mile. In one place, in Dorchester no less, he had been playing with his new espresso machine and offered to make me two small espressos instead of a double - same beans, same prep but different pressure profiles, one rising, one parabolic curve - just for fun and to see what difference, if any discernible, it made.
Probably sounds pretentious to some but I think he genuinely just like trying things out and was happy to have a customer with an interest. Not that I could really tell 🤣 managed to convince myself that one of them seemed marginally sweeter but I was probably imagining it.
Sounds like a great trip! Prufrock is solid. Check out Monmouth Coffee (Covent Garden or Borough Market) for some of the best beans. Kaffeine (Fitzrovia) is another gem, proper good coffee and chill vibes. If ur near Soho, hit up Flat White. Enjoy the caffeine & cake!
Going to repeat the Monmouth recco. The Borough Market branch is the one you want for chilling/people watching as it is open onto the market. Unless it's changed, or I am misremembering, the Covent Garden one is a surprisingly small little shop.
Thanks all, some excellent recommendations which I'm really looking forward to trying. I think I shall be adequately caffeinated!
I actually think Rapha make a very decent long black. Not as niche as some of the ones above though!
Prufrock https://prufrockcoffee.com around the back of Hatton Gardens on Leather Lane
****offee https://****offee.com down in Bermondsey (and other locations).
the first for their excellent coffee and range of options. The second for their excellent attitude and super PNG bean choice.
I think I shall be adequately caffeinated!
With that lot, wired more like.
Monmouth are a bit meh now, there’s much better coffee available, Watch house and Shot coffee are not far from marble arch, while Shot is a bit Mayfair bling if you ignore the silly money rarities the standard coffee is good, if prufrock is busy then Collona are just down the road and Dose in farringdon are very good and not far away is Sofu coffee who do some amazing brews from China. appreciate this is Farringdon way but sounds like you will be getting around.
if you are near borough on a weekday try Saint9 not monmouth.
Redemption Roasters at Centre Point and Monmouth Coffee (and Street) are local to my office. Redemption is next to Tottenham Court Road Elizabeth Line station. I bought a bag there yesterday and think it is as good if not better than Monmouth. Note I have no sense of smell, but am told Monmouth smells amazing. You'll be sitting outside though as seating is limited and its in the shade. But I'd go to the Attendant, just for the atmosphere. Nowhere else like it.
https://www.the-attendant.com/pages/locations You want Fitzrovia - not far from Marble Arch
Redemption Roasters - are also in Coal's drop yard and maybe it was just the barista/day/branch, but were nothing special although I appreciate their business goals though.
Redemption do over roast their filter coffee, the espresso based drinks with milk are fine but wouldn’t expect an amazing straight espresso, still better than any high st chain though.
I prefer straight espresso or a long black coffee. Not necessarily a "long black", although I'm happy to try to see if they're noticeably different from americano, I'm sceptical tbh! More usually a pour over if they have an interesting (lighter) roast and the barista knows what they are doing or an americano if they don't. Loving all these recommendations, thanks again!
I actually think Rapha make a very decent long black. Not as niche as some of the ones above though!
What, Rapha, or a ‘long black’ - basically a black coffee given a posh name to cover up the fact that it’s just a black coffee, by coffee snobs. 🤪
Surely a lot of this will depend on the type of coffee you actually like? Some nutty / choccy brazilian type thing or a heavy dark roast "italian" style. I imagine that will have way more bearing on where to go.
‘long black’ - basically a black coffee given a posh name to cover up the fact that it’s just a black coffee, by coffee snobs.
My drink of choice lots of the time, anyone who serves this as they would an americano is doing it wrong, it should be much shorter. I am also happy to be called a coffee snob, life is too short for bad coffee.
I would add Workshop. I haven’t been in ages but if Prufrock was too far this was always my favourite alternative.
You can’t go too far wrong if you follow your nose in London TBH.
Redemption are good for their ethics and ethos but their coffee’s not the best.
Rapha that someone mentioned is good, Alchemy are good, WatchHouse…
Avoid Black Sheep.
So just walked across Hyde Park to Shot in Knightsbridge. Mrs Bloke is enjoying a mocha and I'm trying the much hyped long black. It is very nice, but it's just a shorter americano really!
It's very posh and a bit bling but a nice place to sit. Ambience and service 9 
/10. Coffee 8/10. We are on our way to the Tim Burton exhibition at the design museum and cabinet war rooms this afternoon. Book of Mormon last night which was excellent.
We might squeeze a visit to Prufrock in. If not today, on Friday on way our back home. Tomorrow we swap coffee for beer, chocolate and frites in Bruges.
So just walked across Hyde Park to Shot in Knightsbridge. Mrs Bloke is enjoying a mocha and I'm trying the much hyped long black. It is very nice, but it's just a shorter americano really!
It's very posh and a bit bling but a nice place to sit. Ambience and service 9/10. Coffee 8/10. We are on our way to the Tim Burton exhibition at the design museum and cabinet war rooms this afternoon. Book of Mormon last night which was excellent.
We might squeeze a visit to Prufrock in. If not today, on Friday on way our back home. Tomorrow we swap coffee for beer, chocolate and frites in Bruges.
as I understand it, a long black would not be far from a shorter Americano but you also put the espresso on top of the hot water rather than vice versa, which means you keep the crema on top. How much of a difference to flavour that makes I'm not sure (the crema tends to be bitter!) but it looks a bit nicer I think. (How much of a difference it looking nicer makes to the drinker, well yeah)
Mrs Bloke latte art looks like a small cock and two enlarged balls
I've realised why my flat white I used to buy were disappointing due to the barista over confident just using their hand for a temp gauge, no warmed up cups and making sure they can draw a wee fancy pattern
I can recommend a Greggs white coffee (I'm sure if you want to call it a stupid name you can do but its still a white coffee) and a sausage butty. Some Greggs you can eat inside too!
Imagine having a weekend break in a city, eating some nice food, taking in some exhibitions or maybe a show and topping it off with a Greggs?
I mean what’s wrong with a Tesco meal deal? they do coffee there too...
Glad you liked Shot. Shame the Alain Ducasse coffee and chocolate place closed in coal drops yard, they never reopened after covid. had the best espresso and filter there ever. If I ever go to Paris again then i’ll visit the one there.
Every time, without fail. Like moths to a flame. Greggs/McDonald's/Tesco instant fanbois to a coffee thread. I wonder if they go on "what new car threads" to say "want you want mate is a shitty, clapped out 30 year old Micra"? Or "what gig" threads with "wot's wrong wiv Karaoke you stuck up w..........."!! 😄
As it happens If I'm not on holiday, in a rush and just want a gob full of generic hot liquid, I don't mind a Greggs.
I know "hidden gem" is often overused, but if you're near Borough Market / London Bridge, 2 mins around the corner is the Steaming Pitcher, in the old Hop Exchange
Interesting location, actually decent coffee and pastries. Plus a vintage motor racing car!
Every time, without fail. Like moths to a flame. Greggs/McDonald's/Tesco instant fanbois to a coffee thread.
Forgot about maccies coffee. Thats good too. They put some milk in it if you ask as well. Washes a mcmuffin and a hash brown down lovely. And you can sit inside.
Never had a Tesco coffee before though - is that out of those Costa machines etc? I'm not a ****ing caveman... that stuff is filth.
as I understand it, a long black would not be far from a shorter Americano
Dont you mean an canadiano?
@DaveyBoyWonder I see you're after a Sonder Camino? Forget that, you need one of these. It's got wheels, gears and everything. It's even got a cup holder for your Greggs coffee FFS, you don't get that with Sonder! You can even call it "a stupid name" if you like? 😉 
as I understand it, a long black would not be far from a shorter Americano
Dont you mean an canadiano?
Hey, it's not a USAno! MY Americano has native heritage, or something something South American countries often provide the beans so maybe they can have credit for the drink too.