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8 Chingford Rd, London E17 4PJ https://www.buhlerandco.com/ Walthamstow is a bizarre place in as much as it doesn’t quite feel like London despite being sandwiched between Tottenham and Hackney. The surrounding marshes give it moat-like protection against the onslaught of city living whilst it almost operates as a town unto itself, with its own little centre and parklands encircling it in a hipster homestead atmosphere. I’ll soon be calling it home, having put the deposit on a flat with my partner, and we’re here to do a bit more reconnaissance on the surrounding area so we can perhaps bed in a little-easier upon arrival. I know it a little, thanks to galleries like the William Morris one and God’s Own Junkyard, as well as its proximity to Chingford, Enfield and Epping, areas I visited from time to time in my youth. As such, after a foray down the High Street, I direct us towards bougee brunch spot Buhler and Co. initially missing it and having to retrace my steps to make sure we end up at the right place. Serving small plates of internationally inspired vegetarian cuisine, I’ve always enjoyed its cobbled together upmarket vibe that sees a sleek front area full of polished stone and shiny countertops, and a back garden that feels a bit cosier with tables assembled upon decking for a more bohemian ambiance. No food today, having had noodles from a street food vendor next to the main shopping centre, but I order a short, sharp, oat flat white and a cold pressed juice to quench my thirst. The coffee is bold and plucky, picking at the tastebuds as it confidently slides over them. It has a rich roast to it that permeates the oat milk well but remains smooth whilst enveloped by its dairy-free companion. It's a great starting point to my future adventures in Walthamstow’s café scene, let’s hope there are more like this to come.
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https://www.cafeoto.co.uk/ 18-22 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL Down a side street just a stone’s throw from Dalston Junction and next to a Woman’s refuge charity and retro football shirt shop sits a strange yet expansive space that swells out into the large hall it lends itself to. A sort of community centre come coffee shop, it sells books and vinyl, hosts events and just acts as the sort of multi-functional venue everyone wishes they could run one day and seems to exclusively exist in places like Hackney. I realise I’ve been to this area before as I notice the Arcola theatre just a few doors down, somewhere I used to frequent when doing my ‘writing for stage’ module when studying Creative Writing at university. That was around a decade and a half ago now and yet I’m still shocked the memory of this place did not emerge from the depths when I turned onto the road. Now I know it more because my partner works nearby. I later discover that this place is a performance venue but people come here during the weekdays for their coffee and a place to rest because of its immaculate vibes and great coffee. The iced oat latte I order is sweet and light, delivering a burst of fruity flavour in a refreshing manner as I step out into the oppressive heat again so I can amble down to the letting agency by Hackney Central. I’m about to throw a ridiculous amount of money at a studio flat and so needed a pick me up to brace myself for the coming pain. Thank goodness I found a good one otherwise things may have become hairy. 202a Northfield Ave, London W13 9SJ https://www.poisonivycoffee.com/ Every day I drive through Ealing at the obligatory 20mph, or slower thanks to traffic, glancing at the businesses I slide by on my way to work in the back end of Brentford. I’m leaving this job soon and regret I’ve never had the chance to try out some of the speciality coffee shops of the area so, thanks to a strangely light amount of traffic on the North Circular, I’m actually running early and decide to use the opportunity to pull up outside the first one I see that seems decent enough and allows me to park nearby. Poison Ivy Coffee is the one that ticks all of these boxes, just a few hundred meters from Northfields tube station. Open at 8am, when I arrive, it seems to be pitching itself at the matcha crowd but does assure me with the notice of speciality coffee on its frontage, so I step into the silence and hope for the best. I resist the temptation to try a vegan croissant or biscuit and just order an oat latte for now, as I stare around the light green interior, the only person in there at this time. I enjoy the moment of reprieve from thinking about work or battling the roads of West London, strangely at peace knowing I’m going to get a coffee that doesn’t come from the dodgy pod machine in the corner of the office. I smile politely and thank the barista when he hands me my coffee and smile after the first sip of proper caffeine. It’s quite an earthy punch through the milk, a strong but not unpleasant coffee, not dark but certainly a heavier roast. Smooth and reassuring, I’m glad I got to try out at least one speciality café before I part ways with West London, unlikely to be heading out this way again anytime soon. It sets me up for a good day and if I was only going to get to one place in the month I’d been trekking out this far, I’m glad it was here. |
AuthorThe Mean Bean Machine (Vincent Wood) Archives
May 2026
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