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CCR Whitechapel, The Office Group - 133 Whitechapel High St Recently celebrating ten-years in business, Caravan coffee is a well-established name on the London caffeine scene with cafes across the capital pouring out the roastery’s wares. One such spot being their own retail unit in Whitechapel, just opening this September gone underneath some very sleek and shiny offices. A monochromatic vein of style runs through the area, backed up with the substance of their own blends from their North London base. Light wooden bars and a few dotted tables suggest a setup purposely tailored to an open plan working space more than a homely corner café but the modernity is not off-putting, rather encouraging an air of table sharing and cooperation. Everything is very ‘on-brand’, right down to the name of the business being on tea-spoons and the espresso machine. Sweet, caramel body with soft, muted fruity tones runs through the espresso blend as I sit by the front window, with my oat latter and peer at the passers-by on Whitechapel High Street. Carafe if water at the ready for when I need to hydrate after caffeinating. I feel slightly out of place amongst the Mac wielding hipsters and trendy office workers but the city is filled with coffee shops competing for custom and this one sets its stall out as a place to both work and vibe, so it’s unlikely to pick up too many passing tourists. Not that they’ll be disappointed if they do step inside for a beverage and a break.
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The English National Ballet, 41 Hopewell Square, Poplar, London E14 0SY The English National Ballet is the last place on Earth I thought I’d be stopping off every morning on my commute and yet, circumstance would have it that it’s become a highlight of my day. To be clear, dance is not an art form I truly understand and so I’m not dropping in to see the preparations on the latest Tchaikovsky performance but rather because, attached to the foyer is a rather wonderful coffee shop. As fate would have it, this sits bang in the middle of my walk from Canning Town station to Trinity Buoy Wharf (where I work) and it has the good grace to open at 7:30am so that when I drop in at 8.10am, I can still get a morning fix before starting my day. The whole of City Island is supposed to be a mini-modern take on Manhattan Island plonked down in Canning Town, and whilst it looks sleek, shiny and new now; whoever thought they could recreate an iconic area of New York City in the East End of London, may be in for a bit of a surprise when the whole development is done. The point being though, by setting aside space for the English National Ballet with a trendy and well-respected name in third wave coffee, it sets its stall out as an area that wants to be young, trendy and artsy. I’ve had the good fortune to visit the original Espressos Room opposite Great Ormond Street hospital, a tiny, yet immensely cosy cubby hole for passers by, stressed out parents and tired medical professionals to get some decent coffee. So it feels a little weird to see the business inside this shiny, monolith of modern architecture, next to one of the most respected dance companies in the country. Serving Caravan coffee, and also offering the beans by the bag, this lifeline of early morning pick-me-ups is open until 7.30pm in case you need an evening dose of caffeine too. The gorgeous, open design of the foyer makes it feel like a modern and spacious coffee shop, where you might forget you’re attached to a beacon of the arts. I often opt for my usual oat milk and am pleasantly surprised at how many vegan friendly options there are on the menu. I’ve yet to try the sandwiches or salads but the vegan blondies and donuts are to die for and I don’t say that lightly, as someone who enjoys a good sugary snack. For such a large space, there’s something strangely serene about it, and I’ve had occasion where I’ve snuck in on my lunch break to catch up on last minute Spanish homework (lo siento to my Spanish teacher) or just to sit down and relax for a moment. In all honesty, I am tremendously grateful that this is here as there’s no where else particularly nearby that serves a decent latte, and I don’t think I could bear the thought of working in area without some semblance of good coffee in the vicinity.  |
AuthorThe Mean Bean Machine (Vincent Wood) Archives
May 2026
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