For spring break, I had the chance to go to London to visit family, reminisce about studying abroad there and meet up with some old friends. However, as everyone who has studied abroad can attest, spending $5 every day on a coffee for three months isn’t exactly in the budget. So on this trip, I decided to splurge. I spent more time (and money) than I’m proud of in coffee shops around London, and while exploring the different sights, food and activities London has to offer, I stopped at a couple of shops each day. While there were many, many shops to choose from (including Reformation Coffee, which employs prisoners to roast the beans as a way of preventing repeat incarceration), the one place that stood above the rest was Monmouth Coffee Company, a roaster with a few locations across London. Here’s how it compares to the shops in Colorado Springs.
Oh, and a side note: because my goal with this column is to highlight Colorado Springs coffee shops and hopefully have a winner by the time the semester is over and I graduate, this won’t be included in the current standings. This is also partially because it would have been way too difficult and unfair to give a location rating for a coffee shop that requires a 10-hour flight from Colorado.
Location: 9.5/10
Located in the theater district of London, this coffee shop is ideal if you’re in the heart of the city and doing any sort of sightseeing or shopping. There are hundreds of great restaurants, museums and other activities in all directions, making it a great stop no matter where you’re headed. Plus, the fact that they have lots of locations, including one in Borough Market, means you’re probably never too far away from a location.
Vibe: 10/10
I’ve seen people online mention how some coffee shops are designed to be “social spaces” where people are meant to meet up, talk and enjoy a break from the day. I never fully understood that term until I visited this place. After ordering my coffee, I was shown to a small table where a few other customers were chatting. I met two very nice Scandinavian gentlemen and had a great conversation with them. People in the shop weren’t grinding away on their laptops, but were eager to have conversations with each other and take a break from the busy workday.
Price: 7/10
The exchange rate is not forgiving to Americans right now. But I’m putting that aside, because it feels slightly unfair to ding the coffee shop for poor global political decisions. With that being said, £3.2 for a cortado, or around $4, isn’t unreasonable for a coffee. At the same time, it’s definitely not cheap.
Taste: 10/10
The fact that this place had a very aesthetically pleasing menu of all the different coffees they were serving this month might have biased me, but this coffee was incredible. While the vibe of the place definitely completes the experience, the coffee itself makes this place worth a trip. Bonus points for some cheeky latte art in there, too.
Bottom Line:
If you ever find yourself in London and feel like taking coffee advice from a person with no real qualifications, I highly suggest you stop by Monmouth Coffee Company. The menu alone makes you feel like you’re getting a fine dining experience, but for a fraction of the price. I’ll be back next week to rate some Colorado Springs shops, but London deserved its own moment of recognition.