London: Tea Time in Wonderland

Shoreditch is rather a synonym of street art these days. You have a stroll, you find a gem. The last time I had had a good look at the walls was quite some time ago. As my friend Celine - an expert – was here for the week-end, I took the opportunity to visit with her the best places in town.

One of my favourite breaks in this neighbourhood is no doubt the Albion. Great British classics, reasonably prices, under the shadow of -no less – Terence Conran. Thisis on the brasserie side but still family friendly, wooden notes, comfortable. My love for it is not the lovely food but having my breakfast coffee served in gorgeous red enamel tea pots. So French Sunday mornings.

Crossing the street, I just stop in my tracks in the cutest and yet tiniest cafe. A counter, 4 bar stools, and what looks like amazing machines.

Forget espresso robots, automatic buttons, steam, speed, noise. Here, coffee, my dear is an art. Everything is measured, enjoyed, admired. Manipulations are methodical, precise, yet easy to do at home, should you wish to buy the equipment. The effect is between mesmerizing and mind blowing.

The menu proposes three choices. Each coffee pot serves enough for two. And the price, given the quality, is pretty reasonable.

Our tastebuds have been seduced by…

Tegu Aa, Kenya, £4 for 240ml -  splendid cacao notes, velvety…

Yirgacheffe, Ethiopie, 230ml – floral, almost lemony…

One forgets, with Starbucks and Costas on the go, or those mechanical mugs of Nescafe drunk at work, the sheer pleasure of a real coffee. The kind that just ceases any conversation, that closes your eyes, that just kicks in your system immediately. Here this charm is intensified by the dance of the alchemists in fromt of you, by their passion, their explanations of each single step.

Sadly, the address will close its door on July 30th, 16.00, the adventure was always meant to be temporary. You still have a few days to discover it! Let’s hope the torrefactor Square Mile will soon launch a similar experience…

Penny University
4 Redchurch Street
London E2 7DJ

Open till July 30, 2010
(Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10.00-18.00, Friday 10.00-16.00)

Coffee lover:? Have you tried Monmouth yet? Or Flat White ( for the coming two weeks, you can even get a free coffee there thanks to this operation. I did try on friday, works fine, and what a joy!)?

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