London’s speciality coffee scene is genuinely one of the most exciting places to be a coffee drinker right now. It keeps evolving, new roasters keep appearing, and the quality just keeps climbing. I’ve spent more time than I’d care to admit wandering between cafes and roasteries across the city, so here’s a handful of the ones that have stuck with me.
Square Mile Coffee
You can’t really talk about London coffee without mentioning James Hoffmann. The Hoff and Anette Moldvaer started Square Mile back in 2008, and honestly? It’s become the backbone of the whole scene here. I used to work near Prufrock, which pulls Square Mile shots, and I never once regretted whatever was on offer that week. There’s a reason they’re the benchmark.
PLOT Roasting
PLOT feels like the indie darling of the moment, and for good reason. They’re tucked away in Woolwich and obsessed with transparency and what they call “cup character.” I came by this their coffee being served in NKORA and was blown awway by the batch brew.
Monmouth Coffee Company
This one’s nostalgic for me. When I first started actually caring about what I was drinking, I’d trek over to Jones of Brockley in East Dulwich just to grab a bag of Monmouth. They’re the heritage choice — while everyone else chases the latest experimental fermentation, Monmouth has spent decades quietly perfecting sourcing and traditional roasting. Walking past their Borough Market shop still feels like a rite of passage. Their beans come direct from single farms, and that’s what keeps people coming back.
Volcano Coffee Works
I stumbled across Volcano because of SD Cafe in East Dulwich — another excellent spot, for what it’s worth. They’re based in Brixton, Certified B Corp, and they prove you can roast at scale without sacrificing ethics or quality. Their whole thing is “Full Power” coffee — roasts that can handle milk without disappearing, but still taste like actual coffee underneath.
Dark Arts Coffee
My brother introduced me to this one — he had a bag when I visited and I immediately fell for the branding. Luckily the coffee backs it up. They’re based in a railway arch in Hackney and bring this much-needed subculture edge to an industry that can take itself too seriously. Don’t let the occult imagery and heavy metal vibe fool you — the roasting is precise, sophisticated, and they absolutely nail bold, fruity African coffees.
These are just 5 of many, if there is one you like go and add a review on https://indiecoffeeclub.com
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