A Deep-Dive into Coffee

A Coffee Beginner’s Guide to Coffee Near UCL

One thing about me: I am by no means an expert on coffee. I don’t know what a French Press or a pour-over is, and I definitely can’t differentiate between blonde or dark roasts. However, what I can appreciate is the ambiance in a cafe and how jittery I become after a good cup of coffee. I love catching up at cafes with friends, and feel very adult doing so. Recently, I’ve explored a few cafes in the neighbourhoods of Camden, Islington, and Fitzrovia and will be sharing my findings about the ambiance, pastries, coffee, location, study-ability and other details I took notice of. Hopefully this can help you decide where to take your palettes next!

CAMDEN

Hidden Coffee Camden @hiddencoffeecamden

47-49 Camden Road, NW1 9SL

Located under the iconic Camden Road Overground train tracks, Hidden Coffee Roasters is a quintessentially cute Camden cafe. I came here with a friend on a late Wednesday morning. We ended up chatting well into the early afternoon, no doubt spurred on by the calming and comforting atmosphere in the cafe. With generous and beautiful mugs full of tasty drinks, the cafe felt like a warm inviting hug. Houseplants adorn the inside of the cafe, but the exterior really brings home the local feeling of the spot. Going in the morning is a must, as the rising sun basks those sitting in the snug terrace on the east side of the coffee shop. A clean bathroom only elevates the comfort of this lovely Camden coffee destination.

Aside from the ambiance in the cafe, the fare itself lives up to the atmosphere. I ordered a dirty chai latte (like I said, I am not a coffee aficionado). The drink consists of a shot of espresso in black tea infused with warm spices combined with milk (oat milk in my case!) and topped with foam. When I typically order this drink, I’m greeted with a warm, filling drink with a hint of coffee at the end of the sip. But boy oh boy, when I sipped my latte at Hidden Coffee Roasters, the caffeine in the espresso fully introduced itself to my taste buds with a resounding kick of flavour. The drink slapped my fatigue and told it to kick rocks after a sleepless night watching Top Chef. However, I did miss a bit of the classic chai taste in the drink. My friend ordered a flat white and reported that it too was strong. So, you’re definitely getting your money’s worth of coffee coming here.

In addition to the mental Nirvana concert that was my dirty chai latte, I ordered a decadent looking pastry that fully satisfied my sweet tooth. It seemed to call out ‘dip me!!’, and as such, I had to dip it in my drink. However, the snug cafe can feel cramped in terms of study-ability. Small tables make it a slight challenge to spread books. It might be more effective to come here on a morning date or catch-up with a friend instead of a five-hour cramming session. Sidenote: if you’re in a hurry, the cafe offers a Batch Brew, a coffee that takes seconds to be prepared.

ISLINGTON

Vagabond Coffee @vagabond.london

105 Holloway Road, N7 8LT

Be careful, you might miss it! This unassuming cafe is situated on the busy Holloway Road, a street full of colourful facades and food stalls. In contrast, Vagabond has a notably demure entry marked only by a decorative bicycle and not much else. But, like the tent from the Quidditch World Cup (Harry Potter nation rise up), it seems to fit so much more space inside than the outside shows! The till is your stereotypical “hipster” area. The chalkboard menu is on a sparsely decorated slab of wood, while natural tables adorn the space. This space itself may feel cramped but fear not! There is a much larger area with a communal table at the back of the cafe -very similar to a coworking space. As if this weren’t enough, if you turn left before the communal space, you will encounter a lovely garden with gorgeous plants, tables, and energy (think the terrace at the Student Centre meets the Hanging Gardens of Babylon).

In terms of sustenance, the coffee itself wasn’t as strong as I’d like, but the drink was tasty nonetheless. The matcha was a bit bland as well. It was very cute, but lacked punch and substance. This cafe is more for studying than for the coffee itself, but the garden is a romantic spot and lovely for a chat.

FITZROVIA

Happy Bones Coffee @happybonescoffee

114 Tottenham Court Rd, London W1T 5AQ

Happy Bones coffee is one of the closest non-UCL cafes to the main campus. Located on the corner of Midford Place and Tottenham Court Road, this recently opened coffee shop is a great escape for students looking to take a quick break from campus. The pink walls and jungle theme make for an exotic feeling right in the heart of London. The pastel theme extends to the ceramics in the cafe, contributing to a very wholesome experience.

However, the coffee itself was a tad weak for my tastes. Thus, this cafe is best for a wind down after a long day on campus, as opposed to a kick-start to your work day. The atmosphere is great for friendly catch-ups and encourages patrons to keep talking for hours. In terms of studying, there is more than enough room. With tables inside and on Tottenham Court Road, there is plenty of space for meetups. I didn’t spot any outlets though, so come with a fully charged laptop!

Now, as students, I know we can’t afford to go to a different coffee shop every day. Doing so would empty our pockets faster than Fatsoma does. The library is a much more affordable option. However, if you ever feel like settling into a cosy cafe to get some work done, I hope you’ll consider this article when deciding where to go! These three cafes are in areas frequented by UCL students, and all serve different needs!

A Deep-Dive into Coffee

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