By Derek Lamberton
Photo by Brian Jones, courtesy Kaffeine
Situated down the calmer end of Great Titchfield Place, this is one of my favourite London cafés. Its location -- unless you are lucky enough to live or work next door -- eliminates the take away option, so by the time you arrive you are ready for a break and a quality coffee.
Inside Kaffeine, the atmosphere is subdued, the staff friendly and the customers more relaxed than their resolutely trendy brethren in nearby Fitzrovia. The bar is anchored by a Synesso Cyncra, which is visibly one of the most attractive machines I have seen in London, and according to the baristas, of unsurpassed quality. Needless to say, they are proud of their espresso machine and aren't afraid to tell you. But more importantly they make incredible coffee with it.
The owner, Peter Dore-Smith, is a tall Australian most often found working behind the bar. His restrained intensity gives off the impression of someone who has been in the coffee business for a while, or at least someone who has had his fair share of caffeine. His enthusiasm for coffee is such that when he overheard my colleague Rich declare himself a tea-drinker, he brought him behind the bar and taught him how to make a flat white. Rich no longer drinks tea.
Kaffeine sticks to the Square Mile seasonal roasts, serves a rotating selection of pastries and baked treats for breakfast, and salads and sandwiches for lunch from their own kitchen.
Lemonade muffins are available this week in case quality coffee isn't enough incentive to make the trip.
Either way, it's worth the walk.
Website: www.kaffeine.co.uk
Location: 66 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7QJ
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 - 6pm; Saturday 9am - 6pm
Coffee: Square Mile
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Mr_T
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Nice D-Lamb! Nice!
- 2 years ago
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Mr_T
