The Chicken Coop

On the off chance you dont know, I’m a bit of a coffee addict. Or more correctly, a coffee snob. I dont like anything with milk, or too much water in it, so I drink espresso and ristretto mostly. What are those, you ask?

An espresso, which most people know, is a small shot of coffee, usually about 20-30ml (or 1 fluid ounce for those from the US who are stuck with 1800′s measurements). It has no water or milk added at all. In New Zealand (and, I think, Australia) this is also called a Short Black. These come in double and single, tho what that is varies from country to country:

• In AU/NZ, the double/single denote if the Barista uses a large or small filter in the espresso machine. This is the spoon-looking bit that attaches to the espresso machine. Basically, a double can hold more ground coffee than a single. The same amount of water passes thru either way. 95% of cafes will serve a double unless asked otherwise.
• Pretty much anywhere else in the world (UK, US especially, I dont recall what Italy and France did), single or double is the amount of water that passes thru the coffee grounds.

A ristretto is the same, but less water, around 10-20ml. Yes it is possible to have LESS water than an espresso. As CoffeeGeek puts it:

There is no where to hide with a straight unadulterated shot of espresso. Even more (less?) so with a ristretto shot. Any weakness in the blend or in the preparation of the coffee will be brought to light here. Either the heavens open up and the angels sing after that first sip or….something significantly less. Which is always such a disappointment knowing all the potential distilled into the dribble of coffee liquor that barely coats the bottom of your cup.

Given the choice, I drink ristrettos. Thats what I make when I’m at home, and if the cafe has it on the menu, that usually what I order. It’s cleaner, doesn’t have a long after taste, and doesn’t have too much of a caffeine hit (enough, but not too much), so I can have 3 or 4 a day without bouncing off the walls. It’s also less acid on the stomach than espresso (and there is no way I’d drink 3-4 mocha’s a day – good way to put on another 5kg of fat a month!)

Here in the UK, asking for a ristretto is usually met with a blank stare, and it’s even less common for it to be on the menu. Finding a place which can make a good, consistent espresso is a godsend. Having it close to home or work is even better.

To say the least, the coffee environment around the BBC (White City – W12) is shocking – and it’s no better around Canary Wharf. There is plenty of choice – a BBC cafe (not too bad), Starbucks (consistent, but consistently average) and Mangiare (ranges from sub-average to bloody nasty, tho the one inside the media center is better). But the Westfield Mall opened at White City this week, and there are a lot of cafes in there.

One of them is Sacred. Sacred is a New Zealander-run coffee shop in Carnaby St, one of the only places in London that feels like a cafe in Wellington, right down to Fat Freddies and the Black Seeds playing on the stereo. The coffee is consistently good, and now they are a 10 min walk from work. It was lovely asking for an espresso, and the person saying back to me “oh, you mean a short black”. I’ve not heard that since I was in Wellington, so I was forced to reply with a “chuur, bro!”

They also know what a ristretto is (well, the barista did), and they made a very, very good one, two days in a row.

The other place, which isn’t near to work (tho it is on the way), is Monmouth Coffee. There are three of them I know about – one in Monmouth St (around SOHO), and two in Borough Market. We have a friday ritual of a coffee and a pastry (and 250g of beans) from the Borough Market one on the way to work, and they really know how to make a good espresso – and ristretto, which is on the menu – and they price it right too (1 pound, not 1.40 to 1.80). Highly recommended.

There are a few other places around which do an ok-to-great espresso. Scooter Works is pretty good (Waterloo area). I’m yet to try Flat White (another kiwi run cafe, in SOHO). Hubbub, which is part of “the space” on the Isle of Dogs, is also good, and the whole cafe has a great feel to it. The food there is good too – tho they do serve pretty huge portions. It’s about a 15 min walk from home.

Nothing, however, beats my home espresso machine, mostly because I have it setup exactly how we like it (which most likely means that most other people would think it’s crap, but I can live with that). We got a Gaggia Espresso Colour – in red, no less (it goes faster). So far, it’s been fantastic – it makes great, consistent coffee, it’s easy to use, and hard to mess up. And it looks good, too.

Does anyone know of any other places around London which do especially good espresso? I’ll update this as we find more good places.

Update 1: Thanks to James, there are some more!

also, Bar Italia in Soho – classic Italian in the middle of London, right down to the efficient waiters in white shirt + skinny black tie combo. Algerian Coffee Stores on Old Compton Street also do a good one, with a few blends to try (and an online shop). Oh, and it’s perfectly priced too – change from a pound? For coffee? In London? Lovely.

Update 2: Thanks to GMoney….

Another place that does good espresso’s is The Tapa Room (underneath Providores on Marylebone High St). They use Monmouth beans and again, Kiwi run.

… and it’s a Peter Gordon place – he’s rather well known in NZ, I believe – has a signature restaurant at the Sky City Grand….

[Pic at the top by Br3nda. Released under Creative Commons]