While for me, coffee in London spells and always will Nero, as this was the very first coffee I had when I arrived there some ten years ago, it's nice to explore new horizons. Don't get me wrong. For a long time, coffee breaks in our (inevitably) packed visits to that beautiful city were always Nero or Costa, since we had such incredibly fond memories of both from earliest visits. It suited us fine - 
On our latest trip last week, however, we felt time was plentiful, and the coffee at our accommodation was instant, so mornings meant searching for the nearest specialty coffee place. Now, we've stayed in Shepherd's Bush many many times, it being one of our favorite areas (still, despite the insane increase in unsavory characters), and I am well-acquainted with the run-of-the-mill coffee stores, but I wanted something a little nicer.
Well, ask and Google shall provide. A brief inquiry led us to Kave, a place for artisan coffee only a few minutes from our borrowed home.
I admit I didn't like the interior at first. Like so much of London, it was cramped and pushed up against the busy street outside. There was no intimacy, no quiet book nook to hide in and waste hours. Then again, I wouldn't tolerate that. Coffee runs are only brief affairs while in London, unless weighed down by too many good books to feasibly continue. Since we're talking mornings, this was (thankfully) not the case.
We went for macchiatos and a host of delicious sweet treats (as you can see), since a day of exploration deserves some fuel, I figured. Now, macchiato wasn't my cup of choice, but I admit I was a tad skeptical that the place didn't fit my idea of an artisan coffee place. Where was the V60, or the barista eager to tell you about the blend they'd just opened? I figured if I don't get nice coffee, I might as well play around a bit, but as it turned out, I needn't have bothered.
While the treats were a tad too sweet even for Hozier, the coffee turned out to be delicious. Fruity, though not too acidic - it tasted great, but didn't leave that added bitterness lingering for ages inside your mouth. Also, it blended really well with the sweets they served, so it sounds like a win-win for me.
And despite my earlier misgivings, the atmosphere was plenty cozy. What I had neglected, of course, was how in awe I am (still) of London. I could press up against a window and just stare at it for hours, so even though it wasn't too intimate of a space, it was just perfect for our needs at the moment.
It suited us. The business of it, the feel that any moment now, you were bound to get up out of your seat and go on with your day. It was very London to me, and I loved it immensely. Well, I guess other people's days were like...work and things. I went to feed the squirrels around St. Paul's. But I'm sure work, too, has its (perhaps less obvious) merits.
It's not nothing. Catching glimpses of where everyone else is going. Though it may certainly feel like that. You may be tempted to shrug it off as people crowding your morning, but really, it's a fantastic source of insight and inspiration. This is what other people's lives look like. You're lucky to get a glimpse, no?
Anyway, we ended up returning the next morning. Even though I'd set out to explore another nearby cafe, it turned out they were all busy, so we settled on old faithful, which also ended up being too busy to sit down. Which meant wandering the little side streets of the area, taking in the morning sun. Not a bad way to start the day.
We got a couple flat whites to go. Again, not my go-to choice, as I usually prefer beverages that don't mask the coffee taste so much. But I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with a mere espresso this time, and the flat white ended up being amazing, too. Definitely not the flavorless one you get in other places. So this place remains bookmarked...for next time. :)
