Monmouth Coffee Company

laissezfare

The Bean's Knees 13th November 2009

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This is part of a larger review of London coffee houses which can be found here: http://wp.me/pwXBH-or]

Having tried all of their espresso based drinks and their black coffee (Americano), I have settled on ‘dry cappuccino’ as my beverage of choice, although all their drinks are fantastic and they probably do make the best Americano I’ve had in London. Their house espresso blend has a nice intensity, lots of chocolate on the palate and is very smooth, with an almost velvety mouth feel. To me, it has a lovely rich, round flavor that beautifully balances the sweeter fruity notes with a not-too-harsh streak of acidity. Paired with the dense and luxurious yet butterfly-light foam from Monmouth’s organic milk to balance the just slightly bitter tannic undertones of the espresso, it is a very competent, highly enjoyable espresso drink and does the trick for me every time.

The gist of it: Their drinks are consistently good, and I just like the charm of the place and the impressive knowledge and passion of most of the staff. I mean, they have a wooden bench and table for one person – how quirky and great is that? They also sell a wide range of coffee beans that are painstakingly sourced from around the world and can tell you all about the differences between them. There is normally a long queue if you don’t know what times to go, but I like that it’s on a little street in Covent Garden, that remains slightly funky and has a nice vibe and independent streak about it. I don’t really like the one across from Borough Market as it is too large and too busy.

larsrose

Nice little coffee oasis 12th September 2009

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Outstanding, compared to most coffee houses in London. Surprisingly positive attitude and friendly service, even when the place is crowded. Not really a place to bring your laptop, but the perfect place when you are fed up with bad London coffee.

Coffeegeek

3rd February 2009

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The best coffee in London. Everything else there is good or acceptable but the coffee is the beast you'll get in the UK.

mjbryan

One in a million 8th January 2009

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What a great institution! I have been going there since the early 80s and the coffee has always been great. As I moved to decaf I was impressed by the taste and quality of their products. I throw down the gauntlet and say, 'you won't get a better decaf in Britain'. The staff can seem a little disparaging at times but perceiver as it is only one or two, most are very pleasant and helpful.

The pastries and other food are also of a very high standard although a little on the pricey side but you are paying for the best.

The only negative would be the seating. Some people think 4 people on an A3 sized table is quaint. Myself I prefer to relax with my coffee and not be crunched up on a hard pine seat with no where to put your pastry.

greedoe at 24/06/09

Damn I never tried the decaf. As someone who can't drink caf after about 5pm, it would have been ideal!

I always enjoyed one of their massive cookies. Not the best value, but a tasty treat to go alongside the brilliant, reasonably priced java.

I agree about the seating. I think their policy is "a stranger is only a friend you haven't met yet" as they cram two or three groups to a table. in reality, you ignore the other party but eavesdrop intenty about whatever they're talking about.

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bellaphon

Coffee apotheosis 20th December 2008

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This is without doubt the spiritual home of London’s best-known coffee roaster. Monmouth Coffee Company thrives on its coffee being sustainable and is traded both fairly and equally. Its already fine reputation was further enhanced to near hallowed status by the proliferation of antipodean run cafés dotted around the capital that utilised the beans supplied by the former to full effect.

MCC must also be a prime contender for the record of having the most staff members actively working within a given floor area. These guys were certainly busy when I came today, the queues for caffeine hits were already in place, and most certainly unrelenting. Apart from the retail of coffee, the display of delicious looking pastries and chocolates were impossible to ignore to accompany your cup of coffee.

My filter shot was pretty near damn perfect; it ticked all the right boxes to include smooth bodied, fruity and that amazing coffee sweetness. The two young ladies in front of me were however complaining that their cappuccini weren’t up to expectations. This has only led me to assume that being good at roasting coffee doesn’t automatically qualify you as a world class barista.

The purchase of some expensive but limited supply Yiracheffe (Ethiopia) beans proved money well spent. This delicious coffee alone was a good enough reason to go back to MCC for more.

stantoncarlisle

wake up when you smell the coffee 17th December 2008

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Sometimes its hard to get a seat here but its worth hanging in there. This is more than a coffee place its a one stop shop for coffee related needs - they sell little individual coffee filter holders, coffee filters etc. Essential for the urbane kitchen armoury. The small four seater wooden booths are rustic and cosey. Even the floor is wooden, permeated with the intensity the ground-up bean. As for the coffee - its the real McCoy. Shipped in by the sack & freshly roasted on the premises. Its so strong a couple of cups can give you a caffeine migraine and nervous shakes. Small, unpretentious ... good place for a coffee boost and a chat. Or a quick read of the papers - they often have a selection.

gastro1

These people know coffee ! 1st November 2008

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Selecting , Roasting , Blending and preparing coffee is an a great skill. Unfortunateley despite the huge growth in coffee consumption in this country the vast majority of coffee chains and shops serve something tha ranges from tasteless to bitter.

Monmouth is a centre of excellence you get proper espresso , espresso machiato is perfect and a cappucino is what it should be rather than the coffee milkshakes served by the likes of Starbucks .

Niamheen at 01/11/08

Agreed! I adore Monmouth. A gorgeous coffee oasis that shows others how it should be done.

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Alsation

best Arabicas in London 15th September 2008

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The Monmouth Coffee House is another specialist retailer that has made this part of Covent Garden its home for more than 30 years.
If you’re into coffee, it is almost impossible to resist their freshly roasted and freshly ground coffee, especially when freshly brewed in front of you. The brilliant selection of estate coffees has some regulars, like the Kenya AA, which is always in stock. Others are rare and appear from time to time, depending on season or world harvests.
Another one of my favourites here is the Papua New Guinea estate that produces some of the most aromatic coffees I have ever tasted.
As well as sell you raw beans, roasted beans or ground coffee over the counter, they also offer a useful mail-order service, with very keen prices on the large quantities. Many customers prefer to buy raw beans and roast them at home in small quantities.
The shop doubles up as a coffee house, with a small timber-panelled seating area at the rear of the little shop. The coffee is roasted in huge drums on the premises and the smell of the roasting beans is pumped out into the Covent Garden air. That’s an advertisement that doesn’t cost a bean!

greedoe

Best coffee around 20th February 2008

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Monmouth is two beasts in one - they sell really expensive ground coffee and fancy expensive chocolates and apple juices on one hand, but they also do the greatest Americano for only £1!

Add a homemade American-style chocolate biscuit for 50p and you're actually looking at change from £2!

It's a small place and can get busy with only a few customers, but it's hands down the best and cheapest place to get a decent cuppa on the go.

If you want ground coffee, you'll be looking at around £5 for 1/2 pound.

neilgrayshon

Best coffee in town 30th December 2007

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Super coffee that cares and only a quid.