London Grind
Serving espressos by day and espresso martinis by night, London Grind offers riverside views from its home inside a former bank in London Bridge. No matter what the time, coffee fans can sip on the venue's current blend – sourced from Argentina, Rwanda or Brazil – while tucking into an all-day sharing platter, salad or main dish - options include miso broth cod and slow cooked lamb shank. There are three other Grind branches, too: Soho, Holborn and Shoreditch.
Colonna & Small's
Milk and sugar are frowned upon at Colonna & Small’s, a haven for Bath’s coffee purists. Run by award-winning barista Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood, staff here undertake months of training to master the perfect cup of joe. Tasting notes are chalked up on the wall to steer customers through the day’s menu: three filter coffees and three espressos, which can be brewed in various ways.
Monmouth Coffee
Open since 1978, Monmouth's Covent Garden shop often has queues right around the block, as patrons seek out its signature filter coffee and espresso-based drinks. With a focus on sustainable and ethically-sourced ingredients, the London institution uses only full-fat organic milk and cane sugar that comes all the way from Costa Rica. Monmouth also sells whole and ground beans which are delivered from its roasting site in Bermondsey daily.
East Beach Cafe
At the seaside resort of Littlehampton, the East Beach Cafe serves up coffee and food from inside its stunning cave-like building. Designed by architect Thomas Heatherwick, the café's award-winning rusted steel shell was completed by local welders in 2007. Now, visitors can enjoy hot and iced brews here, plus baby-cinos for the little ones too. These are accompanied by a menu of seasonal produce – including home-made ice cream and (very) local seafood.
Bettys
While famous for its traditional afternoon tea, Bettys Café Tea Room in Harrogate also serves a wide variety of house-blend and single origin coffees. Its shop sells more than 300 types of bread, cake and chocolate and inside its lavish art deco surroundings, visitors can choose from its legendary selection of sweet treats. Adventurous customers can even combine the two: its Latte Latino combines a milky brew with Bettys Swiss Chocolate Sauce and a dash of cinnamon.
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