London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Hilary and Fran told me this place was such a reference for Londoners. You just had to go there and queue if necessary.

I’m more of a tea-lover but today was just one of these days where you just need caffeine to be injected straight into your system… This sounded like the perfect address to me.

Just a step in and any French is already in love – the counter is litterally covered with pastries: danishes, pains au chocolat, almond croissants, brioche with sugar pearls… Mouth-watering from the very start!

Just behind, you can see the different roasts – ask to try them before bying . We’re talking true coffee lovers here, passionate for the taste but also for the origin and production means and they will happily tell you the stories of each variety.

The shop started here in 1978 – they used to roast the coffee in the basement. In 2003, they move the roasting to Bermondsey, then open at Borough Market where success was immediate. If Parisians are ready to cross their capital for an excellent baguette, the Londoners will brave any obstacle to come here.

Not a lot of space at the back. Very… cosy! A lot of charm though, and you feel at ease immediately. You have to be thin to squeeze in though, I struggled to find a space for my huge handbag.

But the coffee is superb! The organic espresso is so worth it and yes, it does have a cacao note to it. Not enough space? Who cares? For this quality of coffee? We’re talking real coffee here, French like, the one that wakes both spirit and body, that does not leave a bitter taste in your mouth but a lovely roasted aftertaste. I’m seduced. I go straight away to a flat white (the term comes from New-Zealand and applies to a double espresso shot with half the frosted milk a cappuccino would have): delicious, amazing. Just what you need for breakfast. You can actually forget about food, you just want to sip your morning away with a newspaper. And this one is wonderfully decorated -  look below: this is the one to advise your friends when you bring them here for the first time. Definetely the dring to impress a girlfriend too.

Monmouth Coffee gets all the stars – from the welcoming staff to the quality of their products. You walk out… happy. Not even the rain can bother you.

Of course, this is not parent friendly:  just order to take away! With Covent Garden a few steps away, the kids will happily watch comedians, singers, etc… (especially if you have bribed them with a croissant) while you close your eyes and savour your drink…

£1.30 for an espresso, £2.30 for a cappuccino or a flat white. Worth every penny!

Monmouth
27 Monmouth Street
Covent Garden
London, WC2H 9EU
(you’ll find them at the Borough Market too)
Beware, they’re closed on Sundays!

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