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Where to find the best coffee in central London

One of the greatest things about working in London is the array of really good coffee and Broadgate is home to some of the best independent coffee shops and cafes in the city.

From Vietnamese drip coffee at Hop via the Gran Caffè illy at Eataly to BloomsYard’s carefully made flat whites using Assembly roasted beans, we’ve selected the unmissable places to enjoy morning lattes until evening Espresso Martinis.

Beany Green, Broadgate Circle

With beans sourced direct from fellow Aussies, The Roasting Party, your morning cup is elevated to art form at Beany Green (they like to take their time creating the perfect shot but it’s really worth waiting for). Theor bespoke blend combines “50% Columbia (round body and dark chocolate), 25% Brazil (complex and nutty) and 25% Guatemala (acidity and chocolate) beans to create a smooth ristretto perfect for milk-based drinks.”

Illy at Eataly, Liverpool Street

Transport yourself to Torino with beautifully presented Illy’s Gran Caffe. Saunter up to the counter and grab a pastry and an espresso on the go or settle down at one of the tables overlooking the sweeping arcade of Liverpool Street and order a delicious cappuccino and slice of dolce. They’ve also created specials including illy’s Cold Brea – a 100% Arabica coffee cold-brewed for 12 hours which is naturally sweet and refreshing while the Marocchino is an espresso with hot chocolate that’s topped with frothed milk.

Grind, Broadgate Circle

Cult London coffee house, Grind is the perfect spot for a morning coffee and breakfast or brunch meet-up. Their coffee comes directly from the celebrated Grind roastery – based a couple of minutes’ walk from Broadgate in Shoreditch – with their instantly recognisable cans of bean and ground coffee available to buy alongside compostable Nespresso pods.

Everyman Broadgate, Finsbury Avenue Square

A cinema might not be the obvious place for good coffee but the staff at Everyman Broadgate make incredibly good coffee: from macchiatos to Americanos. What they’re particularly famous for are their Espresso Martinis. Drop by their welcoming bar and sip on an elegant mix of vodka, coffee liqueur and espresso.

Pret, Bishopsgate and Broadgate Plaza

In a very smart move, Pret has launched their coffee subscription service and for just £20 a month you can get your daily caffeine fix as many times as you want. Serving up excellent oat flat whites using 100% organic and 100% Arabica beans (milk alternatives are free of charge) alongside organic teas, hot chocolates, smoothies and frappes – it’s an investment worth making. 

Redemption Roasters, The Pavilion at Broadgate Circle

Redemption Roasters is a social enterprise that serves up some of the best coffee in London. Training young offenders in roasting and barista knowledge, they’re not only serving up excellent flat whites but changing the world for the better to boot. As they explain: “ Our roastery is inside the walls of HMP the Mount and our network of barista academies operate in justice sector institutions across the country. As part of our mission to help offenders successfully reintegrate into society, we train them in professional roastery and barista skills. On release, we help our ‘Graduates’ to find work, either in our own coffee shops, or with our wholesale clients.” Their cakes are pretty amazing too. 

Yolk, Finsbury Avenue Square

Alongside their egg pots and giant sandwiches, Yolk London has joined forces with Dark Arts coffee (which we can vouch is really really good) and unhomogenised milk from Northiam Dairy in East Sussex to create some of the best coffees you’ll ever try. Try a single origin cup with their Nduja Club! Sandwich – freshly roasted chicken thigh, smoked sweetcure streaky bacon, nduja mayo (the key), tomato, cos and bubbly ciabatta. 

BloomsYard, 100 Liverpool Street

The team at BloomsYard take coffee very seriously and it shows. Having joined forces with Assembly (who are based in south London) they’ve created a speciality roast that’s addictive. Carefully preparing milk to the perfect temperature and consistency, once you’ve tried their coffees you’ll want to visit again and again while relaxing in the brightly lit cafe with huge windows overlooking Broadgate Circle. Happily, you can order ahead via the Broadgate app then pick up your cup on the way to your desk/meeting/commute. 

Hop Vietnamese, Finsbury Avenue Square

In the words of one Yelp reviewer, “The coffee. Sweet jesus the coffee is good. I’m already a massive fan of Vietnamese Drip Coffee after having tried it in Ho Chi Minh / Saigon. It’s amazing. This place do it WELL. It’s delicious both black and white, but it’s delicious-er with the condensed milk.” Putting it to the test, they’re not wrong – this is coffee that’ll give you a hug and send you off for the day happy and content.

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Last updated Thursday 5 October, 2023