Posted Mon Jan 5, 2004, 4:18pm Subject: Will be Visiting London in July 2004 --- Any Recommendations?
Hi there ...
My family and I will be visiting London (staying in St. James) during July of this year. In looking at the UK discussions it seems that the last real posts with recommendations for good/great espresso in London were made in May of 2003.
Has anyone found any places worth visiting since that time?
My hotel (The St. James's Club) does have a machine of some sort, but I'd appreciate any comments or information about really good places that any Londoners might have for us during our visit.
Drumlin72 Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 49 Location: Kansas City, MO Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Jan 5, 2004, 5:04pm Subject: Re: Will be Visiting London in July 2004 --- Any Recommendations?
I was in London in May of 2002. Unfortunatly?, I went with some one who works for SBUX and we had to hit as many of them as possible...uggg..but he is a good guy and we got free drinks! :) There is another chain there called Costa. They are do-able. There may also be a Matthew Algie there. They are supposed to be decent. Try going to londontown.co.uk You may be able to get some info there. And another piece of advice is you can stay at Bed and Breakfast homes. It is cheaper and a lot more personable. The ale is cheaper there too. Also, have a Guinness while you are there..oh man...fabulous! :) Have a good time.
flimbag Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 174 Location: Liverpool Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Euro2000 Jr. Grinder: Minging Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Cona Jr. Drip: I know you are, but what am... Roaster: Prima Popcorn Popper
Posted Mon Jan 5, 2004, 10:16pm Subject: London... and Amsterdam?
I believe that Matthew Algie's London shop is the only place in the capital that will attempt to pull a cappucino decorated with latte art, and while I haven't been there myself, they clearly care a great deal about coffee.
For non-espresso based drinks and buying beans, Monmouth Coffee on Monmouth Street (between Shaftesbury Avenue and Long Acre) is excellent. They have a micro-roastery in the basement and the place is just full of sacks of coffee beans.
I've always tended to find the best coffee in the many small italian coffee shops that are dotted all over the capital. It's a somewhat haphazard process and rather hit and miss, but you're much more likely to get a classic Italian espresso or cappucino than you'll find in any of the chains. If you think the US chains are bad, the British ones are often awful.
I've been making my own espresso drinks for less than two months now. Today, I had a friend come around and he told me that he'd been for a cappucino in Costa Coffee. He said that the quality of their drinks, compared to mine is uncomparable. (I've made him perhaps 3 or 4 drinks over the last few weeks.)
He noticed that the so-called 'Barista' didn't bother to tamp, and was re-using stale milk. While I haven't quite mastered producing consistent microfoam yet, I get it right about one in three cups, but the cup he was served was a nasty thin confection that didn't even have the sea foam on the top and was more akin to a badly-made latte.
I think I'm going to find it very difficult returning to the chains, now that I can consistently make a far better cup in my own home. But I'll keep my eyes out for some of the better coffee shops in London and post 'em as I spot 'em.
While we're on the subject, I'm off to Amsterdam at the end of this month, and while it's very easy to find a good cup of coffee in the Netherlands, I'd also be interested in people's recommendations.
No need to recommend the 'other' type of Amsterdam coffee shop though. I'll be staying in the Bridge Hotel on the Amstel, which is just around the corner from The GreenHouse, and while the coffee sucks, the 'other' menu has much to commend it. ;-)
Sunnyfield Senior Member Joined: 9 Jul 2002 Posts: 140 Location: Hong Kong Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: GS3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Drip: Swissgold single cup filters Roaster: Mini-800 500g gas roaster
Posted Wed Jan 7, 2004, 8:46am Subject: Re: London... and Amsterdam?
Flimbag_of_java... you are lost, you have crossed the point of no-return: Better start saving for an E61 (or maybe a HEX)! :)
In Amsterdam they make good espresso-based drinks at Brandmeester's (Van Baerlestraat) en the Bagels & Beans shops. A few other places may pull half-decent espressos, but with varying results.
flimbag Senior Member Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 174 Location: Liverpool Expertise: I like coffee
Espresso: Euro2000 Jr. Grinder: Minging Mazzer Mini Vac Pot: Cona Jr. Drip: I know you are, but what am... Roaster: Prima Popcorn Popper
Posted Fri Jan 9, 2004, 3:08am Subject: Re: London... and Amsterdam?
Thanks, Sunnyfield. As someone who works in the addictions field, I didn't actually need telling, but your diagnosis is absolutely correct. I definitely meet enough of the DSM IV criteria:
- Tolerance: a need for markedly increased amounts of the substance - Withdrawal: a characteristic withdrawal syndrome from the substance - The substance is taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended. - A great deal of time is spent in efforts and energies to obtain the substance, use the substance, recover from the substance.
(Just before Xmas, in my search for the G-d shot, I found myself drinking three double shots *after* midnight!)
And that's just the coffee itself! I won't even get into the paraphernalia, but suffice to say that the rest of my house is a tip, while the Gaggia stands gleaming, polished like a shrine to the God of Coffee.
As for your predictions about my upgrade, again, you're bang on the nail. I've already started my savings account with the current objectives being a Mazzer Mini and an Isomac Tea.
My next problem is how to convince my wife that a coffee machine that cost more than our oven, refrigerator and freezer combined, is actually a bargain by comparison... ;-)
UKCG Senior Member Joined: 5 Jul 2003 Posts: 14 Location: Leeds, England Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Wega 1gp Mininova Grinder: Mazzer Mini Roaster: Hearthware Precision
Posted Sat Jan 17, 2004, 4:38am Subject: Re: Will be Visiting London in July 2004 --- Any Recommendations?
The Matthew Algie place that has been mentioned is called Tinderbox and is on Upper Street in Islington. The blend is double roasted and the standards of care and attention paid to the drinks are incredible!! The Barista's are also very gifted latte artists..
Covenut Senior Member Joined: 28 Feb 2004 Posts: 40 Location: Shelter Cove, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Silvia w/PID,... Grinder: Rancilio Rocky, Solis... Drip: Does a Coffee Press count? Roaster: Behmor 1600, Zach & Dani's
Posted Sun Feb 29, 2004, 11:55am Subject: Re: Will be Visiting London in July 2004 --- Any Recommendations?
Okay for what it is worth! Take your own coffee, machine and one of those universal plugs! I have yet to taste anything over there that even remotely reminds me of the coffee at home here. When visiting family there I take my own coffee and resort to using my sister's stove percolator - yes I know she lives in the dark ages but at least its coffee that I can taste! But, the next time I go there it will be worth the 40 mile train ride to the Tinderbox in Islington to taste their coffee as Will suggests. Patty
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