Recently I’ve reflected on two benefits of running a coffee blog (and before you say it – no, it’s not free coffee! I try my hardest to never break my cover – objectivity is key). One is that it sets you off on a mission to purposely get the step count done on a grey autumn day. The other is that it makes for a delicious talking point with colleagues at work – and it’s even better when they suggest new places I haven’t tried yet.

In that vain, I should dedicate this post to Matthew, as otherwise I would have never thought of stopping by Cookie Cut – I am simply not that way inclined. And yet, during one of those mid-morning catch ups at the office coffee machine (a fine unit chosen by yours truly, dare I add), Matthew was insisting I should give it a go, if I don’t mind a take-away.

St Swithin is a familiar street to me and probably many coffee enthusiasts, but the brightly coloured Cookie Cut does not naturally fit into this subtle West End context. So, when I set off on a circuit walk to hit that elusive 10k on Sunday afternoon, I was very much inclined to simply walk past it; but Matthew’s words rang in my mind and – after a vitals check which indicated coffee would not go amiss – I decided to take a leap of faith an bravely walked in.

It was about 90min to closing and the place was empty; there were only a couple of tables to sit at, with a few more outside, but the aura did not encourage outdoor consumption. The decor was definitely cookie sweet and there were still some bakes in the counter to bear testament to this place’s raison d’être, but that sort of sugar bomb was beyond my current threshold, so I settled only for a mocha. There was no choice other than a take-away cup, but the barista had absolutely no objections to me taking one of the seats once my drink was ready shortly after ordering.

You have probably already gathered my expectations were low and seeing the thick foam stuck to the bottom of the lid did not alleviate that, nor did the first sip – it seemed overly sweet. But whether that was just my prejudice or the effect of the surroundings, once my brain really registered the taste, I realised it was absolutely lovely!

The chocolate used must have been of high quality – instantly, that golden standard of Belgian milk chocolate I discovered in Perth came to mind, and I imagine that they may be using this good stuff for their bakes too (now that’s excusable indulgence). This concoction was beautifully balanced – it had the richness but not sickness nor acidity that you can get with certain types of chocolate. The coffee was there but perfectly blended in and the whole thing was simply moreish.

My stay at Cookie Cult was very brief, because I devoured my mocha in a few hugely enjotable sips. I gladly reported these findings back at the office; and I have been reminded the good old adage: never judge a book by its cover! Although, on this occasion I should probably concede: if anyone knows a thing or two about chocolate, it should be the baker.

To learn more about Cookie Cult, visit their website.