Nude update

Nude is definitely my number 1 for milk coffees in London. Perfect every time.

The Grocery

54-56 Kingsland Road, Bethnal Green, London E2 8DP
Map - http://www.multimap.com/s/QCxCpBBS

Open – 0800 - 2200, 7 days

Type of Beans – ?

Type of Machine – Wega

Espresso 7/10 – Not too bad. Good crema, hot, good amount of coffee. Taste, only ok.

Latte 5/10 – Average. Poor taste and left an unpleasant after taste. Milk not steamed well either, separated from froth, so not smooth. Served in a water glass with no saucer or spoon, which I quite like actually (difficult if you want sugar though). Served quite hot.

Atmosphere and service 8/10 – Good service. Usually seem to be very hung over on a Sunday, but still nice and smiley. East London line runs right over head, but it's not too noisy. Quite a relaxed place, nice building. Don't sit on the sleepy cat that's always on one of the chairs!

Overall 6.5/10 – Not recommended for coffee. I've been here a few times as it's close to me. It's pretty inconsistent, which isn't a good sign. The breakfast is also variable, but it can be very good when they get it right. Similar vibe to the Food Hall just around the corner, would recommend the Food Hall over the Grocery.

Food Hall

374-378 Old Street, London, EC1V 9LT

Map – http://www.multimap.com/s/hOA2VxlY

Open - Mon - Fri 9-6, Sat-Sun 10-4

Type of Beans – Monmouth Espresso blend

Type of Machine – La Marzocco

Espresso 9/10 - After seeing the beans and machine my expectations were high and the espresso didn't dissapoint. It was their first coffee of the Sunday morning and the staff were looking like they thoroughly enjoyed Saturday night, but the quality was high. Rich and even taste, nice size and hot cup.

Latte 6.5/10 - Milk was pretty smooth, but it was too hot. I like it hot but it was cooked. (As soon as the milk is over heated the taste changes completely, which is why a lot of places serve their coffees warm)

Atmosphere and service 7.5/10 - Service was reasonable, but not very friendly. This place is half grocery store with lots of yummy treats, half cafe. There is seating in the back.

Overall 7.5/10 - Not recommended for coffee. A tough decision, but I can’t recommend a place that burns the milk. It’s a nice place for bakery items and small goods though. 

Prufrock coffee concession (in Present clothes shop)

140 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JE‬‎ -  020 7033 0500 ‎

Map – http://www.multimap.com/s/Rv0GyKM7

Type of Beans – Square Mile

Type of Machine – Beautiful old fully manual lever machine

I'm not worthy enough to judge the 2009 World Barista Champion, Gwilym Davies, and his fellow baristas. How can I judge? These guys obviously know a lot more about coffee than I ever will. But what would a review be if it wasn't opinionated? I will write but I won't score.

Espresso –  Served in a nice hot cup, beautiful dark crema, big flavour. Everything looked and smelt perfect, I have to admit though that I didn’t enjoy the taste. I have no doubt that it tasted exactly as they had intended it to, but to me it was sour. I think this sourness comes from having very finely ground beans. I’m sure this is all deliberate and the aficionados strive for this taste, but I prefer a more balanced, smoother taste on the tongue. My boss always told me coffee should taste how it smells, I agree.

Latte – I’m saving this for my next visit. Gwilym was doing the milk and it looked like pure velvet.

Atmosphere and service – Perfect. A beautiful set up at the front of an Italian clothes store. Only a tiny bit of seating out the front but you can still have your coffee in a ceramic cup if you like. Gwilym and the other barista were very welcoming and love to talk shop. They know just about everything there is to know about coffee in London, just ask.

Overall - It goes without saying that this place is recommended. If you are only going to have one coffee in London it should be here. As proof of Gwylym’s passion for his profession he has introduced a disloyalty card at Prufrock, advertising 8 nearby cafes. It states, “complete this tour of East London’s emerging coffee scene to claim a free coffee from the World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies @ Prufrock”. Can't wait to go back. 

Caffe Vergnano 1882 - Charing Cross

62 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0BB‬‎ - ‪020 7240 8587‬‎

Map – http://www.multimap.com/s/gVF5YoyE

Type of Beans - Vergnano

Type of Machine – Elektra

Espresso 9/10 – Excellent. Vergnano’s owners pride themselves on the quality of their coffee, from the picking and roasting of the beans, to the machine used, as well as how the beans are ground and extracted. It shows in the rich and smooth taste of the espresso.

Latte 7/10 - Sadly, the owners also get on their high horse about lattes and cappuccinos not being real coffee. I understand the argument but I don’t agree with it. There’s a time of day for a latte and a time of day for an espresso. If you make good espresso you should do it justice by caring about how the milk that goes with it is steamed, these guys don’t.

Atmosphere and service 6/10– Not much room, not even enough to have a toilet on the premises. Service has not been friendly any time I have been there. The Elektra coffee machine really is magnificent though.

Overall 7.5/10 – Recommended. You have to appreciate their passion for good coffee, and for highlighting the fact that there is a lot of poor coffee being made in London. However, I don’t like being told how to drink my coffee and I don’t think anybody else does either.

The Bridge

15 Kingsland Road, Bethnal Green, E2 8AA - 020 7684 1461

Map - http://www.multimap.com/s/049c1smS
Type of beans - Rizzi
Type of machine - An Elektra is present, but doesn't seem to be in use.
Espresso 2/10 - My Mum always said "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"
Latte 5/10 - Surprisingly ok given the taste of the espresso, but not recommended. Served in a ginormous mug of over heated milk.
Atmosphere and service 9.5/10 - I'll come back just to hang out. The Bridge has recently opened and the owner has done an amazing job of kitting the place out. It is warm, very friendly, and the furnishing and decoration (including the super old till and old school Elektra machine) really take you back in time. Very popular already. Good food, and there's even a help yourself sweets bowl.
Overall 6/10 - Recommended. If only for the atmosphere. Have a tea or a hot chocolate, it's worth a visit.

Fernandez and Wells - Cafe

73 Beak Street, London, W1F 9SR, United Kingdom‎ - 02072878124
Map - http://www.multimap.com/s/hnisVr9R
Type of beans - Own blend from Darlington's Coffee

Type of machine - Synesso, Cyncra

Espresso 8.5/10 - Beautiful shot. Full flavoured, smooth taste, thick crema.

Latte 8/10 - The milk did the coffee justice. Lovely taste. Served warm, I like my milk a little hotter but it's a personal preference.

Atmosphere and service 8.5/10 - Very nice staff. Not as manic as other popular spots in Soho. Lovely sweets as well.

Overall 8.5/10 - Recommended. Tucked away in Soho easily one of London's best places for coffee. A more peaceful alternative to Flat White just around the corner. Open til 6pm daily.

Nude Espresso

26 Hanbury StreetShadwell, London E1 6QR, 07804 223 590
Map - http://www.multimap.com/s/Qi1MzLK3

Type of beans - Roast their own beans on sight, previously used Monmouth

Type of machine - TBC

Espresso 6/10 - Lovely crema, freshly ground beans, however it was lacking. Tasted like the extraction was fast, quite sour, not offering the full flavour of the beans. They might use fast extractions to handle the busy weekend crowd.

Latte 9/10- Near perfect. Any deficiencies with the espresso shot is well masked by beautifully steamed milk. Silky smooth, good temperature, great taste. Served in small glasses which means you get a full flavoured coffee and no milk belly.

Atmosphere and service 8/10 - Very busy, but friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. Great breakfast/lunch as well as cakes and brownies.

Overall 8/10 - Recommended. I will continue coming back. I only feel slightly let down by the espresso, everything else was excellent. Open til 6pm daily