Vida e Caffe

After hearing how great this coffee shop was from a South African friend of mine I thought it time that I tried it.

Vida e Caffe, is a place where the warm customer service would make you want to come again and again. There are currently 40 stores in SA, but this is their first foray into London. Msizi, Sele, Sikilela, Thabo and Vuyani have all come over from SA to experience the sights and sounds of London life. They all live as well as work together. There are always two of them in the store, so make sure that you say hi and they will welcome you like an old friend.

Now let's talk coffee. I have to admit that it was too strong for me, I prefer more of a mild bean, however there is no bitterness, instead it is a smooth, creamy, exceptionally well made coffee. If like me you like a mild coffee than ask for a half shot. This is definitely somewhere that I would come again.

The vibe is alive and buzzing, although not somewhere to sit and wile the day away.

Coffee: ☻☻☻☻

16mm, a world away from Oxford Street

16mm is only a block away from the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, but yet it felt like I was transported to another part of the country, somewhere with time to wile away the day.

If I had been blind-folded and taken there I would have never known that I was in the centre of London. It was a slow, friendly relaxed atmosphere, however there was nothing slow about the service or the food.

The cafe serves not just a great salad, but also a darn good coffee. It is run by Brazilians who know how to take the time to make a good coffee. The bean was strong, but not bitter, not to my usual liking, but when a coffee is as well made as this that matters not.

The place: 16mm on D'Arblay Street


Vibe: a haven from the hustle and bustle if Oxford Street
Coffee: top of the line

Great Cappuccino and only £1.10

This place in Soho promised to be coffee heaven, filled with the promise of fresh beans and knowledgable staff able to describe the fine differences between a variety of beans.

This little shop has been trading since 1887, the walls are lined with beans and all type of paraphenialia associated coffee, almost like a coffee library. The staff, busy but approachable made me a cappuccino as good as any found at my favourite Australian cafes. There is no where to sit in this shop, but I would have stood in the street to drink this coffee. The icing on the top was the price, at only £1.10 made this a place I will return to again and again.

The place: Algerian Coffee Store, 52 Old Compton Street, Soho

Coffee: A delight and a treat for the senses.
Vibe: like an old time sweet shop, but instead of sweets, coffee.

Ahh the delightful warmth of consistency

Who would have thought that being back at work was a delightful thing. Ok, so being at work is not the reason I was so excited this morning, instead it was the knowledge that I could have a decent coffee. After the last three days I was starting to wonder if I would ever have a decent coffee again!

My local is Fratelli's at Oxford Circus. I can actually taste the coffee, the bean is smooth, the milk not overpowering and they make a consistently good coffee. I rate it as good solid coffee. The place to go when the world is falling around my ears and I need a pick me up.

Coffee:
Vibe: friendly, but not somewhere to spend daydreaming and solving the problems of the universe (Einstein - no, Paris Hilton - yes)