<![CDATA[Get Caffeinated, Get Coffee... - London]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2026 04:23:47 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Ruttle and Rowe, Walthamstow]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:30:46 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/ruttle-and-rowe-walthamstowhttps://www.ruttleandrowe.co.uk/
19 Victoria Road, Walthamstow, London E17 4JY

Walthamstow is not without its fair share of speciality coffee shops but Ruttle and Rowe is so uniquely placed that it unintentionally exudes a quiet self confidence about its standing in this world of craft caffeine.

Sitting at the corner of two sleepy residential streets far from the bustling High Street, the middle class denizens of the Village, and just a little too out of the way from the hipster district of Wood Street, it’s as though it just fell from the sky and crash landed where it presently sits, a stones throw from Chestnuts Field, and decided to just roll with it.

A gorgeous little space taking on the shape of a classic corner shop, its wooden facade leads into a space of exposed brick and stone tables that feels substantial yet cosy, like a coffee cave hewn from the rock of a terrace house. I choose not to sit inside though but retire to the wooden tables outside to sip on the smoky chocolate orange of the iced oat latte I’ve just ordered and take in the peace of the surroundings, something you can’t always say of the area as a whole.

Not just a cafe, Ruttle and Rowe is a small batch roaster in its own right, partnering with farmers to offer a fair price on coffee that is ethical and traceable whilst still tasting absolutely exquisite. Its that combination of quaintness and class that seems to roll through the core of the place and marks it out as something a little different for those prepared to venture a little out of the way to discover a little gem.
]]><![CDATA[Espresso Bar, Tate Modern, South Bank]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:26:34 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/espresso-bar-tate-modern-south-bankhttps://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/level-10
Blavatnik Building, London SE1 9TG England

In 2016, Tate Modern opened its long awaited second building, Switch House (later to become the Blavatnik Building). At its very peak, a viewing platform from which you could see down the South Bank and out over the Thames. The problem was that, from this vantage point, you could also stare into the surrounding flats. 

A controversy ensued and talk of legal action, but what could the Tate do to protect their crowning glory whilst avoiding the wrath of wealth Londoners? It would seem the answer was to repurpose the area as an espresso bar, closing pff the balcony so you can’t get close enough to the edge to peer into how the other half live whilst still offering views of the river and beyond. Plus, now they could turn a profit and sell their own brand coffee, which they roast at a WWII Nissen hut at the back of Tate Britain.

Navigating the lift system to the top of the building feels a little like a 90s video game puzzle (the original Pokemon players will know what I mean) as you can’t directly shoot to the top but need to find the right floor to change at. Once you do puzzle out this awkward ascent you are rewarded by the aforementioned views and the opportunity pick up a branded pick me up alongside cakes and confectionery.

Slightly citrus, the acidic night of my oat flat white cuts through the milk and manifests with a somewhat lemony floral that alights on the tongue with a dancing fizziness. A sharp burst of coffee that tickles the tip of the tongue but is smooth on the throat offering an oddly alluring cup of coffee that one might not expect from purveyors of art. Well worth the visit if you’ve popped in for some pop art or are meandering about the modernism. ]]><![CDATA[Kiss the Hippo, Richmond]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:24:00 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/kiss-the-hippo-richmondhttps://kissthehippo.com/
50 George Street, Richmond-upon-Thames TW9 1HJ England
Richmond is almost a world unto its own in London. It hardly matches up to the rest of the city with its gloriously leafy surroundings and opulent wealth, it has more of the air of a Surrey village than a suburb of the great metropolis.

One thing it does carry over from the city though is the coffee culture, with a delicious smattering of specialty cafes. Perhaps unsurprising since people here can afford a good cup of coffee, but it does leave you with a choice on your hands when in the vicinity.

Having had Kiss the Hippo beans in my household, on several occasions, I know they’re a reliable source of quality caffeine and so wandering just a short way from the tube station, one can find their way to the minimalist espresso bar that houses their selection of brews.

It’s all wood and Scandi chic with a cosy, almost rural, feel to it. Bold and bright, the cafe interior matches the notes the iced oat latte I pick up with a short, sharp shot of floral sprightliness coming straight to the fore. Perfect for a pick me up on a day ambling about the area or for sitting in and hiding away from it all.
]]><![CDATA[Oswald Cobblepot’s Coffee Emporium, Gunnersbury]]>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:21:28 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/oswald-cobblepots-coffee-emporium-gunnersbury391 Chiswick High Rd., Chiswick, London W4 4AR

It’s perhaps no surprise that a coffee shop named after a Batman antagonist is all decked out in black. There is a supervillain sleekness to it all but the question is whether the coffee holds its own in these surroundings. 

Just a few steps from Gunnersbury tube station, the awning outside proclaims “Villainously Good Coffee” so sets out a bold claim to overcome straight from the outset. The heat of the day is already sweltering and I have to opt for an iced oat latte but even this has a rich honey essence to it. 

A smooth Allpress coffee, it  is a creamy cup of coffee that leaves me sated and happy to bound about the rest of my day. The claim may be bold but there’s a level of fairness in it.]]><![CDATA[Monmouth Coffee, Covent Garden]]>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:44:13 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/monmouth-coffee-covent-garden27 Monmouth Street, Covent Garden, WC2H 9EU

https://www.monmouthcoffee.co.uk/
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It’s rare that I will revisit a spot for a review but I haven’t visited Monmouth Coffee since the inception of this blog. With a few cafes around London, they’re all damned-near impossible to get into if you don’t time it just right and their flagship just off of Seven Dials, Covent Garden is somewhere I haven’t ever managed to intentionally get into. It’s always got a queue down the road when I fully fancy going in, so I only ever seem to succeed in entering when passing, jumping at the opportunity to get inside by sheer chance at the moment the line disappears.

I can’t help doing this at every opportunity (which admittedly, is not often) because I’m drawn to it by the wooden work tops and green grocer’s on scales that give it something of antiquated charm as they fill brown paper bags full of beans and only serve takeaway coffee in reusable cups that need a £5 deposit (you can, of course, bring your own). With new coffees hitting their counter every month, there’s a slew of brews to choose from but I opt for their standard espresso blend by going for a silky smooth oat latte.

A nutty blend balanced with fruity notes that give off an almond and raisin vibe in a rich concoction of supreme smoothness, I manage to grab a table outside and enjoy the elegance of the moment. It is a soaring joy to be able to sit quietly and sip on a cup of coffee so gently balanced to perfection, just quietly in the moment, me and my latte. It’s a small moment of serenity, imparted upon me by an exquisite creation in a mug.

]]><![CDATA[Deeney’s, Walthamstow]]>Sat, 13 Jun 2026 21:35:22 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/deeneys-walthamstowWilliam Morris Gallery, Lloyd Park House, Forest Rd, London E17 4PP
​https://www.deeneys.com/

At the back of the William Morris Gallery, overlooking Lloyd Park, sits Deeney’s. A modern cafe that serves up Allpress espresso, it is perhaps far too good to be just labelled as a ‘museum cafe’ and draws crowds from its park entrance as well as just those perusing prints of socially minded designers.
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The coffee is very caramely with a slight citrus hint that harps at the tip of the tongue, and when enjoyed through the lens of an oat latte, has some element of a chocolate orange about it. Perfect for taking out back and wandering in the grounds, around the moat and beyond with to ease yourself into the modern living of Walthamstow with a warming cup of something good.

A few roost on the raised platform above the park, and the offerings of food and pastries provide a perfect place to enjoy any fleeting sunshine from, with a cup full of it to greet the day ahead.
]]><![CDATA[Wake The Dead Coffee, Lloyd Park, Walthamstow]]>Sat, 06 Jun 2026 18:03:56 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/wake-the-dead-coffee-lloyd-park-walthamstowLLoyd Park, Walthamstow

I’m not usually one to promote coffee trucks as, so often, they can’t hold a candle to speciality cafes that have the time and space to make a decent brew but I’m big enough to hold my hands up and say “I’m wrong” when I’ve realise I’ve made a mistake.

From 10m to 4pm every Saturday, Lloyd Park hosts a market of food stalls, plant vendors and other local artisans smattered outside the front of the William Morris Gallery. It’s a great place to be on a lazy weekend afternoon, especially if the sun is out, a you can wander around the moat, through the house’s gardens and enjoy an oasis of calm just off the thrum of Blackhorse Road. Here, amongst the hawkers and home bakers, sits Wake the Dead Coffee, a hardcore coffee van that serves up their own roasts.
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The oat lattes ooze sophistication with a chocolatey, caramel coated delight that really complements a sourdough donut from across the way. The nuttiness that rises through can make for a rich, all encompassing mouthfeel and it can put a spring in your step, whatever the weather.
]]><![CDATA[WatchHouse, Covent Garden]]>Sun, 17 May 2026 20:48:32 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/watchhouse-covent-garden28-29 Southampton St, London WC2E 7PG

WatchHouse take their name from their first premises in Bermondsey, that was a former watch house, but Covent Garden is a long way from there, both physically and spiritually.

It’s very clean and sanitised, and you’re greeted at the door. Instantly you become aware this is not your local caffeine dealer but speciality coffee with a capital “S”. Guided to a window seat, I order an oat latter from there and the drink comes with a card all about its origins and tasting notes and I’m blown away by the attention to detail, given that I’m here just for a coffee.

It’s a lovely Peruvian coffee that has a citrusy twist to the caramel-y base that makes it both familiar and yet stands out. I could see people with money quite happily whiling away the hours people watching here, I however understand this is not my place when the bill for my single drink comes to £5.18. With global economics now, I suppose that’s the way coffee is going, I just didn’t expect to get there so soon
]]><![CDATA[Nostos, Battersea Power Station]]>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 20:20:43 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/nests-battersea-power-stationNext to, Battersea Park Railway Station, 10a Battersea Park Rd
​https://nostoscoffee.co.uk/

Nostos coffee has been rapidly making a name for itself, often by appearing on ‘best of’ coffee lists for both London and the UK since it arrived in the scene in 2021.

With a micro roastery in Battersea, and a second spot in Westminster, we headed to the third spot that is also in Battersea but right by the power station.  This particular spit is a small, cosy cubby hole nearby the dog and cat rehoming centre. Modern and chic, it has a boutique offering on one wall whilst cluttered tables surround the rest of the room.

​Small batch roasting and a friendly approach to coffee experiences has pushed it to the forefront of the collective coffee hive mind, but it’s their custom water recipes with each coffee that has really set them apart from the rest.

I had been planning to make a pilgrimage to it for some time but its location South of the river meant I never really made time for it. However, with a lay birthday I thought was better time than to rock up for a brew.

Sadly, five minutes too late for one of the experiential coffees (you have to order at least 30 mins before closing) I settled for an oat flat white tile my partner opted for an Americano.

It was a Colombian coffee with the Americano, a chocolate coated dark cherry sensation that made your tongue tingle with a distinct joy. Not your normal coffee either, both soft yet sweet, devoid of any bitterness whatsoever and strikingly subtle in the way it played across the tastebuds.

The flat white had something creamier to it, almost caramel in its opening ing up, like a Tunnocks bar in its layers of sweetness bursting forth as you crunch through.

I’m so glad I finally managed to make my way here and will be definitely heading back to try the deep dive into coffees further.
]]><![CDATA[Incoming, Walthamstow]]>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:57:38 GMThttps://www.getbeand.com/london/incoming-walthamstow36A St James St, London E17 7PF
A pink palace of caffeinated delight Incoming rather intriguingly doesn’t have its name on the outside of the business but just a white outline logo hanging from the side, which somewhat makes finding it a bit of a nightmare. However, it also lends it an air of exclusivity - you have to uncover the secret yourself or be in the know with the right crowd to be handed the keys to the promised land.

Its soft pastel pink paint job highlights it against the surrounding buildings, and I only stumble in because the coffee shop I had intended to go to was closed. It’s a small space with tidy bar that creates a sort of gentle intimacy one wants from a local coffee shop, and the friendly greeting and small talk about the day add to the overall air of personalised service .

Known for picking up small batch coffees that sell direct to trade, I angle for an oat flat white that is a creamy caramel of a coffee. Rich and gooey, I’m ebullient when walking with it in the sunshine and am only too happy to stop by again when in this part of town
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