The Best London Coffee Shops That Need To Be On Your Radar

London’s coffee scene has been brewing for years with a new coffee shop popping at every corner of the city. Whether it is a frothy cappuccino, oat flat white or French press that gets you going, this city has you covered. To celebrate International Coffee Day, we've scoured the boroughs of London and included some of our personal favourites to bring you a guide to very best independent coffee shops this city has to offer. 

1. Origin Coffee, Shoreditch 

Our top pick is around the corner from the office. Origin Coffee is an independently owned speciality coffee roaster that is bound by one central ethos: to source exceptional coffee with sustainability and traceability at the heart of every brew. A certified B Corp business, Origin Coffee sources the majority of its coffee through direct trade with farmers around the world. With a brew bar and illustrative mural taking centre stage, expect precision pours and artistic influences throughout. 

^{Mural photography © Joel Smedley}

2. Frequency 

Located in Kings cross and Angel, Frequency's roasting journey is like no other. Starting at the Tate Britain, the iconic museum hires out their state of the art roaster to allow independent coffee companies, including Frequency, to create world class brews that support the museum and galleries. Plus, when the day is done, Frequency transforms its coffee shops into cosy candlelit bars. A must try!

^{Images © Michael Franke & Jamie Orlando Smith}

3. Violet Cakes

Although famous for its cakes, Violet Cakes produces some mean oat flat whites. On a sunny day you can find the locals hanging around the shop enjoying a coffee with some excellent treats. 

Before opening the café in East London in 2010, Claire Ptak started baking from home and selling her delicious goods on Broadway Market. All the cakes are made with organic and low intervention ingredients and adorned with seasonal flavours. Our top tip? Pair the excellent oat milk flat white with butterscotch blondies, almond polenta muffins and spelt cake with seasonal fruit.

^{Images © Oliver Hooson}

4. The Monocle Café 

The Monocle Café is situated on the charming Chiltern street in Marylebone. The space is Monocle magazine's second spin-off café brought to you by the publication's founder Tyler Brûlé (the first location can be found in Tokyo, Japan). 

After a little stroll around the shops, sit down to enjoy a coffee made from Allpress beans followed by a beautifully presented cake made by Masayuki Haraby of Lanka - a patisserie focused on fusing Japan’s flavours with French baking. Grab your coffee and tea flavoured cake and head over to the living room in the back for a relaxing read through their selection of magazines and books. 

^{Image © Monocle}

5. WatchHouse

We can't get enough of WatchHouse's Bermondsey Street location - an 19th century former watch house transformed into modern sanctuary for coffee lovers. Covering just 25 sq. meters, this coffee house is our go-to for unique single origin brews. WatchHouse also comprises of eleven more locations, each with their own distinct design identity, so you can be sure you'll never be too far from a must-try coffee. 

^{Image © Darren Rowlands} 

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