Monmouth Coffee Company

Well, a coffee company dedicated to all things great and wonderful that can come from the coffee plant. These guys are bang on. They have a roasting site and 2 cafes that are always busy and buzzing with all things yummy and delicious. The roast coffee from single farms and estates and they visit all of the farms to ensure that they know what they are buying and where it is coming from. They roast on Italian manufactured machines that help retain the fruit and bright acidity of their medium roasts and develop the body and sweetness in the dark roasts. What I love about Monmouth is that they recognise that getting the best out of any coffee roaster and the coffee itself is that it is a continual learning process that needs to be profiled with every batch.

They offer a newsletter in the store that you can take with you that details all the information regarding all the individual coffees and allows you to choose what you want. They always feature a different coffee and I really love being able to go and taste something new and try to discover new flavours on my palette.

Today I am indulging in an espresso from India, Balmaadi Estate. This coffee comes from a certified Organic and Biodynamic farm. At high altitudes and favourable growing conditions this is a very distinctive coffee. It is rich in caramel and has a very clean finish on the tongue. I really like this one, and the colour is something I cant describe. Pure delight! I am very happy.

Monmouth in the Borough Markets of London is a cafe with a line at least 30 people long every time I come, and they take your order in line so that by the time you arrive at the counter all you have to do is pay and drink. There is a large communal table full of jams and baguettes to indulge and a large selection of pastries, treats and chocolates. You can purchase any or all of the coffees that they roast and the entire experience of standing in line is wonderful.

I am yet to visit their roasting site but I will go for sure, and soon. I have also been to the smaller store just near Covent Garden which is magnificent also. So small, I am sitting in a booth made just for one and people are in line waiting forever if they have to just to get a taste of this magic liquid gold. The barstia's are right next to me and I can hear them commenting on how good this shot is and how one of them is a little obsessed with perfecting her grind. It is wonderful to hear and very rare in this tea drinking city. Of course, the Australian accent of my barista is hard to miss. Again....

Caffe Vergnano 1882

This place is fantastic.
The whole concept is amazing. I can’t believe I found it without even looking for it. They are serious about their coffee and have been since 1882. Their espresso blend is comprised of seven different single origin beans from around the world including the highly sought after Nicaraguan Maragogype which is more expensive to cultivate than the famous Blue Mountain. It is a joy.

They have an extensive espresso menu alone which I have to include here because it is truly impressive.

Espresso 1882
Espresso 1882 Macchiato
Espresso 1882 Con panne – whipped cream
Espresso 1882 Corretto - amaretto
Espresso 1882 Gianduja – chocolate and whipped cream
Espresso 1882 Gia Cometta – meringue, whipped cream and crushed hazelnut

Honestly!
They also offer a coffee guide on their website for the true coffee veterans such as myself to read and enjoy. You should check it out.
The presentation of every single shot extracted from the stunning Elektra Belle Époque is enough to make me weak at the knees. The taste! Oh the taste, truly perfect espresso is served here and I am in heaven to have it. It is short and strong and served with a small bitter chocolate and shot of water on the side to expand every mouthful of coffee. It is all about complimenting the coffee here. Caffe Vergnano has, for three generations, been working in London and are now winning awards for their signature 1882 blend. They grow, they roast, they brew, they serve and I'm sure they indulge also. They have 2 coffee bars in London. Southbank Centre and in Charring Cross road, which is where I have found them today. Ahh the Italians! Got to love their dedication and passion for the grand things in life.