A Look At London’s Coffee Culture - From Coffee Stalls To Coffee Houses, A Specialized Craft, And Community

Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey…

Love Actually, Mary Poppins, Sherlock Holmes, The One With Ross’s Wedding…

Afternoon tea and biscuits, fish and chips, bangers and mash…

If the hints above haven’t given it away yet, today we’ll be travelling to jolly England, specifically to the city of London, to examine this vibrant city’s coffee culture. 
But, before we do, let’s have a little fun…

London is a globally known and popular city, but how much do you know about what some call The Swinging City?

• London is commonly known for its iconic double decker red buses, often seen in photos of the city as well as in films and sitcoms; they’re even referenced in popular literature. 

But, it wasn’t until 1907 that General Omnibus decided to paint all of their buses red. Prior to this time, the buses were actually painted in various colors to distinguish between the differing routes each one travelled. 

• Did you know that London is one of only two cities to have hosted the Olympics three times? Both Paris and London have hosted the summer Olympic games more than any other city in the world!
  

• The subway system that runs under London, or London Underground as it’s often called, is the oldest subway in the world. 

• Big Ben is actually not the name of London’s iconic clock tower. Say, what? (Is it just me, or is anyone else surprised by this?) 

Big Ben refers to the enormous 13-ton bell inside of the clock tower, but the name of the tower is actually Elizabeth Tower. 

• London is essentially the Seattle, Washington of England. 

Here in the states, we commonly think of Seattle, Washington as a typically dreary city, a place where sunny days are rare and umbrellas are always in style. But, locals commonly tell a different (even sunnier) story. 

And, apparently the same is true for London, England. Like Seattle, London is commonly, mistakenly, known for grey and rainy weather; however, on average this city only receives roughly half as much rainfall each year as New York. 

In all actuality, as London is in the southern part of England, it tends to be a little warmer and brighter here than many imagine. Of course, we’re not talking about sun and sand though, so still plan to bring your jacket when visiting. 

• Long before the monarchy, long before God saved the queen or the king, prior to London Bridge and Big Ben…before any of what we commonly associate with this fanciful English town today, the Romans actually ruled Britain under Emperor Claudius. 

And at this time, roughly AD 43, the city was called Londinium. 

• While English is the official language of London, there are more than 300 languages spoken across this city’s nearly 9 million residents. 

And lastly - possibly the most pertinent interesting fact for coffee connoisseurs - while many across the globe associate Britain, and secondarily England, with tea, this city actually has an extraordinarily rich coffee culture! 

Sure, there is definitely a rich history surrounding coffee’s leafy cousin in England, but coffee is also a vibrant and vital part of the very identity of London. 

So, let’s pour ourselves a collective cup (of coffee, not tea…for now at least) and see what The Old Smoke, The Big Smoke, The Square Mile, The City of Dreams…has to offer!

Then And Now - London’s Rich Coffee History

To truly get a right sense of how cafes and coffee culture has evolved in the city of London, we must travel back in time to the mid 1600’s, for this marks the opening of the city’s first coffeehouse - Pasqua Rosee’s Head. 

Pasqua Rosee was a Greek servant to Daniel Edwards, a man who imported goods (including coffee) from Turkey. 

During this time, these locations were sometimes called stalls, as they were more of a temporary stand where coffee was sold as opposed to the coffee shops we’re accustomed to today. 

Located in the financial and commercial part of the city, Rosee played the part of stall owner, barista, and PR man, distributing pamphlets throughout the city detailing “the virtue of the coffee drink” as well as his success as the first man to make and sell coffee in England. 

Pasqua Rosee’s Head indeed became quite popular, and its popularity is recognized as the catalyst to the opening of many other coffee stalls throughout London, eventually leading to the first of many coffee houses that would dot the cobblestone city streets.

In fact, by 1663, little more than ten years after Paqsua Rosee’s Head’s success, there were said to have been 83 coffee houses in London. 

Early coffee houses, while a new concept to English culture, were thought to be a welcomed alternative to pubs and inns.

And, while they certainly had a few questionable practices, at least as far as women are concerned, for the most part, these establishments set the tone for what we know and enjoy about coffee shops all over the world today. 

“No alcohol could be served in a coffee house, and no women were allowed in. They were proudly positioned as reputable venues - an antidote to drunkenness and violence. Coffee houses were a place for men to gather and share news and stories, have intellectual debates and do business deals.” 

Commonly, coffee houses became known as penny universities, because for the price of a cup of coffee, you could join intellectual discussions and debates, even learning from some of the greatest minds of the century. 

Coffee house culture was even seen as having significant political and business impacts in the 1600’s, with specific political parties, businessmen, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs only frequenting certain venues. 

Before we move into the 18th century, take a look at some of the coffee house loyalties that divided patrons:

• White’s Coffee House at St. James’s was for politicians.

• Button’s on Bow St. was where writers commonly gathered.

• Man’s was for stock traders (or stockjobbers as they were called).

• Goodman’s Field was home to a coffee house called The Little Devil, and most men who frequented this establishment were in the military.

• Lloyd’s Coffee House is said to be where insurance sales began, as the sale and underwriting of ships often happened here.

• In St. Paul’s Churchyard there was a coffee house called Child’s  and clergymen were the primary patrons here.
• Old Slaughter’s Coffee House in St. Martin’s Lane was a place for artists.

And, these only scratch the surface!

I’m not sure if I find these apparent coffee house divides to be sad or fascinating…how about you? 

No matter the impression left by these common divisions, this history paved the way for the expansion of coffee house culture, leading to what Londoners still enjoy today. 

And, as far as London’s OG cafe, Pasqua Rosee’s Head was unfortunately destroyed during the Great Fire of London. 

It was rebuilt near the end of the 1660’s, and at this time was renamed to The Jamaica Coffee House, as this is where most West Indies traders met. 

Sadly, the establishment is no longer a coffee house, but a pub, though a piece of this history remains slightly in the name - The Jamaica Wine House. 

Not unlike much of what European history details, coffee houses in London throughout the late 1600’s through the middle of the 18th century continued to be a meeting place of the minds, but in England, such an open spread of ideas was seen as a threat by King Charles II. 

Because of this, the king sought to have all coffee houses closed. 
However, as the tea and coffee stock in London was substantial by this time, he thought (and ruled) against this notion due to the economic and commercial upheaval it would have caused. 

So, while it seems that tea may have aided in the rescue of many coffee houses at the time, its popularity would also soon threaten its (coffee’s) future.

As most of you know, tea is technically the more popular beverage (compared to coffee) in England. 

And in London, during the late 18th and early 19th century, its popularity and affordability nearly snuffed coffee out. 

In fact, during this time, as tea rose in popularity, coffee house culture shifted drastically, with these venues transitioning into near elitist establishments, sometimes only catering to private members. 

Can you imagine coffee houses and cafes today being so exclusive? What a drastic shift! 

Thankfully, by the late 20th century, all of Britain saw a resurgence in coffee popularity, including London. 

And today, “you can’t walk down a street [in London] without finding a coffee shop.” 

More specifically, in the last 20 years or so, London has become “one of the world’s most prestigious destinations for specialty coffee and cafe culture.”

A Look Inside London’s Coffee House Culture

What a rich, varied, and unique history London has in regard to our favorite bean! 

Even better, their cafe culture today is equally as specialized. 

So, let’s finish our time today by taking a walk…or a double decker red bus ride…throughout the city to see what we can see when it comes to cafe culture in London, England.

Specialty Coffee Specialists

First, let’s begin with a historic cafe, Algerian Coffee Stores. 

London’s Algerian Coffee Stores was built in 1887. A cafe for coffee and tea connoisseurs alike, it has evolved into not only a cafe, but a leading supplier of both coffee and tea for the region. 

When it comes to java, they offer house blends, varying monthly selections, flavored brews, limited edition selections, and even raw coffee beans for those looking to roast on their own. 

Prufrock Coffee is a little less historic, having been founded in 2009 by a group of friends, one of which happens to be a World Barista Champion. 

Prufrock is a hotspot for specialty coffee, and they ultimately seek to support local producers and small-scale growers.

They feature coffee from a number of skilled roasters and claim their java selections are always changing, offering selective brews ranging from naturally fruity Ethiopian coffees to sweet washed Colombian beans.

Prufrock Coffee is also home to a training center which offers courses by the Specialty Coffee Association.

They feature coffee from a number of skilled roasters and claim their java selections are always changing, offering selective brews ranging from naturally fruity Ethiopian coffees to sweet washed Colombian beans.

Prufrock Coffee is also home to a training center which offers courses by the Specialty Coffee Association.

15 Grams Coffee is another favorite for locals in London, also specializing in small batch specialty coffee. 

With two locations in London, one serves as a quaint, small cafe, while the other, in a larger site, is equally dedicated to serving phenomenal coffee, but also comes with an all-day brunch selection and doubles as a wine and cocktail bar on Friday and Saturday evenings. 

Nostos is a coffee house and/or a coffee lab, depending on which location you visit. 

In their coffee lab location, you’ll notice they have an entirely separate bar for specialty pour-overs and espressos alone. And, with a feature like that, I think you could say this place is serious about serving quality coffee.

Of course, the locals agree…as do coffee connoisseurs as far away as Paris!

In their smaller, original location, Nostos is known as a place for creating experiences, not just phenomenal coffee. 

The name Nostos is a Greek word, loosely defined as homecoming. 

With this in mind, Nostos describes their mission and desire as a coffee shop as a journey, returning to our roots. 

“It’s the journey back to what truly matters, a journey we invite our customers to embark upon with every sip…A snapshot in your busy life, where you can take a moment to reset and relax.” 

Then, aside from London’s specialty coffee scene complete with single origin brews, small farm, small batch grown coffee, and artisanal cups, they also have quite a bit of quirkiness within their thriving coffee scene.

Unique Brews And Custom Views

With an appeal to locals and tourists alike, London has an array of unique and interesting coffee shops which range from those located in historical locales to those featuring themed decor and even a stunner that’ll make you think twice about whether you’re in a cafe or a restroom! (Don’t worry, we’ll explain.) 

To keep your mind from wandering, we’ll begin with the restroom referenced cafe…
Considered a bucket list location, Attendant is an “old Victorian Toilet” turned coffee house. 

Serving fresh, locally roasted beans and a lovely brunch, at Attendant you’ll find yourself in the presence of decorative urinals and classic Victorian tiles. 

And, as odd as this sounds, I can attest that from the photos alone, this coffee shop looks lovely. 

Next up is CA Japanese Pancakes, and while they do serve a variety of gluten-free and dairy-free souffle pancakes, they are widely known for their latte art and colorful coffees, offering specialty latte selections with bright blue and pink hues. 

Of course, their large java-inspired menu selections also include a tiramisu latte, Spanish latte, and all your expected espresso-based favorites. 

Then, dubbed one of London’s most amazing coffee shops, Host Cafe is located inside of the church of Saint Mary Aldermary. 

The coffee selection here is provided by local roasters, the pastries come from a local bakery, and the scenery, well, it’s as awe-inspiring as you can imagine, being located in a historic London church, one of the oldest in the city.

A Range Of Chains

Even chain coffee houses have their place in London, with cafes like Costa, WatchHouse, Blank Street, Grind, and Rosslyn Coffee seeming to take up a large space in the market. 

And, chains such as this don’t simply serve clever lattes, typical espressos, and other every day brews. 

No, chain coffee houses in London are said to have expanded to now include stylish interiors and high-end coffee selections. 

Unfortunately, to span the full scene, we’d need an extended stay as tourists! 

So, we’ve really only viewed the tip of an iceberg of coffee shops and culture which fill London’s streets with caffeine and community. 

Coffee shops span all areas of the city - north, south, east, west, and central - including other locally recommended gems such as Nagare, Dudley’s, Monmouth Coffee Company, Kaffeine, Bad Manners, Bad Coffee (which is actually really great coffee), and so many more! 

But, while we don’t have time to traverse the entire city, in our brief travels through the historic, the specialty, the unique, and even the ever-expanding chains of coffee houses in London, have you seen a trend? 

London’s historic coffee stalls and coffee houses were meeting places not only for the minds, but a budding locale for a sense of community. 

What certainly started as clique-ish, with the exclusion of women and the division of duty amongst men, eventually continued, building upon the framework of those initial experiences of sharing belief, talent, and chatter with one another over a good cup of joe. 

And today, London is filled with cafes, coffee shops, and modern day coffee stalls which espouse an even broader, greater outworking of these very things…places where religion and everyday life (and a need for caffeine) meet, places where like-interests in history, art, and architecture are appreciated in between sips, and places where artisanally crafted coffee beverages are prepared and served amidst crowds, amidst community, amidst folks looking to reset and relax…together.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.

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