Grind Royal Exchange Bar and Cafe

I was still rather hopeful the coffee would save the brand – after all, it has been going strong for over a decade, so my expectations were reasonably high. When I received my cup (again, on the small side, despite the price – but, oh, hello London!) I was not impressed.

The Monocle Café

The coffee was served not long after, and beautifully presented. I loved the attention to detail: from the wooden serving tray to the little branded chocolate served on the side. But of course, it was all about the mocha, which I could tell just by looking at it that it would be a joy to sip on.

Attendant

The wrought-iron caging and narrow staircase decorated in tiles resemble a cross between a tube station and – well, there’s no escaping it – an old-fashioned public toilet; thankfully, the at the end of it the air is full of pleasant aromas of brewed coffee and cheese toasties.

Burr & Co.

I passed the Burr & Co., – it looked like my kind of place. Classy decor, with that upmarket deli/brunchy feel I could loosely compare to Robouchon on London’s Piccadilly (only slightly less busy)…

The Coffee Pot

I had no expectations at all, but when the mug arrived, I felt a pang of ease. There was something about the texture of the drink that didn’t feel me with dread, which was a good sign.