After all the busy, busy months we’ve seen recently, October has been somewhat quiet. I’ve spent part of it catching up on the superb cafes such as Commune at Goodhood and the Hubbard and Bell that opened in September.

News this month includes the UK launch of A Film About Coffee by Brandon Loper. Screenings in London include showings at the ICA and the Electric Cinema.

Store Street Espresso at Continental Stores have converted the downstairs to a kitchen to house the brilliant Pip of Fynch bakery fame and have launched an impressive new brunch menu. Pip’s pastries are available too of course.

The latte art smackdown competitions at Kaffeine are in good flow. I’m hugely looking forward to judging one of the heats and delighted to have been asked to. Glenn Watson does a great job as the head judge and there have been fifty entrants this year I think.

Square Mile Coffee Roasters held an event I somehow managed to miss that certainly, in retrospect looked a good one indeed. So worth keeping up with all their publicity. They hosted an evening with Marta Dalton of ‘Coffee Bird’ talking about her family farm in Guatemala and coffee production there in Finca Filadelfia.

Of cafe openings there have been a fair few South of the River.

The Gentlemen Baristas opened The Coffee House on Union Street. They are working with a roaster in Bristol and using considerable coffee experience, together with a great deal of charm and wit to build up a regular local following already. The only cafe I know with a wind yp gramaphone. Beans are darker roast than some but the coffee is flavoursome and well made.

The Watch House on Bermondsey Street inhabits a old hexagonal building on Bermondsey Street next to St Mary Magdalen Church. Ozone coffee is made without ceremony or latte art but is enjoyable in a bittersweet, dark chocolate way. Nice sandwiches and pastries and I look forward to the log fire!

I’ve yet to check out Love and Scandal on Lower Marsh Road but plan to soon.

Forthcoming
Dose Aldgate should open soon.

A range of T shirts by Imagine Illustration should be out soon. Don’t miss the exhibition of Tim’s art at the ever-fabulous White Mulberries cafe in St Katherine Docks.

Phil Wain created the original London Coffee googlemap and writes for Caffeine Magazine and London’s Best Coffee App and website. His jazz trio plays regularly at Notes Covent Garden.