Kaffeine

The people involved professionally in London’s coffee circuit are a friendly lot. My own observations suggest that the respect and support they provide each other are unprecedented in dog-eat-dog London. Take James for example (if he has a poster of the Queen in his bedroom then he’s due an MBE for his services to the coffee trade); he directed me to the following- Taste of Bitter Love, Climpson and The Farm Collective. In my line of business we thrive on ripping each other to shreds instead. And on the subject of friendly coffee peeps, I came to one of the capital’s newest additions courtesy of Ms Scrambling Eggs. Shelagh, thank you.

Let’s get two negatives out of the way first. I’m not exactly bowled over by the choice of the logo. The bulbous and cursive font used is at odds with the architecturally designed café. The logo in my humblest is more indicative of the rag trade wholesalers that are found in the vicinity. The second quibble involves the mother of all ‘spoilt for choice’ dilemmas; Kaffeine is situated opposite my recent fave that’s the Scandinavian Kitchen. So every time I venture down Great Titchfield Street there’s a likely chance I’ll be over prescribing myself with too many caffeine hits. Paradise is indeed cruel.

I’m not a committed design geek but for reasons that can only be propped by my naivety, I studied architecture at college. Both Nude Espresso and Taste of Bitter Love, whilst differing wildly, represent my favourite kind of café designs. I’m glad to say that Kaffeine joins these two establishments with merit.

The overall concept is fresh, welcoming and thanks to the exposed brick wall on one side; it’s unlike to date that quickly either. Now because the owner hails from Down Under, a degree of apricity is also included in the ambience side of things.

Some of you might gall at the seating, it may not be the cushiest but surely I would be flabbergasted if the intention was to come here to write a novella with the aim of making a weeny latte lasts for hours on end. That is more galling.

This Mr Kaffeine aka Peter.

A tenacious looking fellow but exceedingly cordial.

The prancing horse of coffee machines except that as sacrileges go it’s not Italian made. If you see one of these machines then you can be sure a delicious cup of coffee beckons. The beans come from the ever dependable and by now indomitable Square Mile.

First test of flattie as always the case.
No superlatives required for this superb cup.

Piccolo.
Small packages come with immense tidings of joy. Excellent.

Second visit confirmed that the flat white at Kaffeine is seriously good and the orange and walnut muffin was scrumptious and all.
Kudos also to Peter and Co for offering fresh mint tea on their menu; solution solved for those with a caffeine intolerance.

For a city of over seven million souls, there are never too many good coffee shops in London. Kaffeine like a handful of others exists to provide us with a life-changing cup of coffee. Give the instant or $tarbucks a rest, come here instead and you’ll be delighted. Highly recommended.



66 Great Titchfield Street
London W1W 7QJ

www.kaffeine.co.uk