"Open since 1949, still pulling espresso in the Italian style and buzzing past midnight. Order at the counter, drink it standing, and you're exactly where you're supposed to be."
22 Frith St, London W1D 4RF, UK
Peter opened this in 2009, when there were very few places in London taking coffee seriously. He's still there, and so is the standard.
Kiss the Hippo roasts in Richmond and runs this Soho counter on the same terms: rotating single origins, seasonal espresso blends, and a manual brew menu from V60 to Chemex. This isn't a branded spin-off; it's the roaster, in Soho.
A Carnaby bookstore pulling shots from Open Fields Coffee. Order the flat white.