Podcast: Wake up and Smell the Coffee Culture
Today around one in five people visit a coffee shop on a daily basis in the UK.
Proof – if it was needed – that coffee shops are continuing their ascension to infinite heights. This is partly due to the expansion of global coffee chains, à la Starbucks, Costa and Caffè Nero. However many people are choosing to avoid the generic coffee houses, in favour of independent ones. A poll found that 21 per cent of consumers prefer to get their caffeine fix in a more ‘individual’ environment.
Islington is a prime example of the growing trend; walk down almost any street in the borough and you will stumble upon at least one independent coffee shop – from quirky hipster cafés to artisan coffee specialists.
I went on a hunt around Islington to find the perfect cuppa and spoke to three baristas about the art of coffee-making and why independent coffee shops are best…
Jimmy and the Bee
Caravan
11-13 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QD
Open Monday – Friday; 8 – 11.30am, 12 – 10.30pm, Saturday; 10am – 4pm, 5 – 10.30pm, Sunday; 10am – 4pm
Brill
27 Exmouth Market, London EC1R 4QL
Open Monday – Friday; 7.30am – 6pm, Saturday; 9am – 6pm, Sunday; 10.30am – 5pm
