Barachel Cafe – Alexa – Berlin

After going up the TV Tower (well worth going up, even if afraid of heights just suck it up and enjoy the magnificent views) we wanted coffee as the cafe/bar in it was closed the day we visited. Just around the corner and past the World Clock we spotted a tidy looking shopping centre and thought it must have option and we were rewarded with a food court which contained a cafe bang in the middle.

I had a decaf Cappuccino and Zitrone Kuchen (lemon cake) whilst Kerry had a flat white and a slice of Apfel Karamell (apple pie, with caramel), the choice of cakes was excellent and it took me a little while to decide what to go for.

The coffees were very nice, different countries do coffee in different ways but these matched up more to what we have come to expect at home – not that that makes them better, just a bit more comforting. And then there is a the food… my lemon cake was very nice, soft and pretty much melted in the mouth, perfect balance of lemon to sponge and it was a fight to eat it slowly and savour rather than just eating it like a cartoon bear.

I think Kerry enjoyed her apple pie, she went very quiet and focussed and then a few minutes later the plate was empty and she had a smile from ear to ear. After just showing her the picture she smiled again and said it was amazing, the best ever, and also said it had a layer of crumble under the caramel which I hadn’t realised.

The place was clean and not to loud even for being in the middle of a shopping centre, guy who served us was nice and patient (given our very limited German that was appreciated, not all were as forgiving – but that is a for a future post…)

Redemption Roasters – Coal Drops Yard

This area of London is very hip at the moment – we were there for a bike event as we are not hip at all! Tucked slightly away from the main shopping area is a rather nice coffee emporium with a mission – to help ex-prisoners. We were aware of them but didn’t know they had cafes so it was a nice surprise.

Kerry had a flat white and a custard crodough whilst I went for a cappuccino and a slice of chocolate babka. By the time the coffee was ready Kerry had started on her cake as can be seen and she loved it, very soft and not overly sweet. My cake was okay, there were other choices and I just couldn’t decide, maybe with less choice I’d have thought it amazing but I kept think what the others would have been like.

The coffee was lovely, went down very quickly and could easily have had a second but being non-decaf that may not have been a great idea for me! The coffee roasts all have names related to prison, we had The Yard but there is also The Block, The Wing, and then single origin roasts from around the world.

Sure we will be in that area again at some point and will happily visit again, try other cakes. Staff were friendly and it as busy, can’t recall any inside seats, there may have been a few stools but most of the seating was outside, nice in the summer maybe less so in February…

For more detailed information about them just check out the link below, we have no affiliation or link to them just thought it a great idea and want to share.

Our Mission

Madeleines – Blackheath

Well look at the size of that pastry, it was a beast and the slightly bigger than my hand! I was first drawn to the huge almond croissants but then I noticed the shadow being cast by the pain au raisin so the decision was made for me. I also has a cappuccino.

It was a solo trip so I found a table and took on the challenge, when the lady brought my coffee over she asked if I needed cutlery and I though she was a fool – cutlery for a pastry? I am a professional madam! But it would have been handy as as well as it being large it was also rather sticky and I managed to pretty much cover both hands and my face with it.

It was rather nice though, I might have liked it to be a little less sticky which could have made it more flaky but it wasn’t spoiled by not being as flaky as other places. The coffee was very nice too, non decaf, nice size.

Lots of staff for a small place and all friendly, it wasn’t busy luckily as with is being small I could see if being a bit of a crush, there are outside seats too but that area is also small. We have been passed on a hot day and there was a queue out of the door as they also do ice cream, crepes and waffles.

When we are next in the area I will suggest Kerry goes and tries one of the gargantuan pastries too, although she is quite partial to a waffle.

Oree – Old Compton Street

Whilst out on a long ride I needed a coffee and was going through Soho as early on a Sunday morning it is a good place to try without having to go to a big chain. I’d never seen this place before and it may even be on the site of a previously visited coffee shop, one that definitely wasn’t open early no matter what day it was.

I had a flat white and a chocolate chunk cookie, I wanted a croissant but she was just setting up and I couldn’t see any and wasn’t really able to ask for more than what I could see – long ride, tired, desperate for the caffeine!

Coffee was very hot and strong, I should have realised it would be stronger than the usual cappuccino due to less milk of course, but I like a flat white when on bike as it is quicker to drink, I want to enjoy but not spend too long savouring. Once I was used to the strength it was very nice.

Cookie was thick so should have been soft but wasn’t, but also wasn’t crispy, more just hard. A bit strange really, at times i had to try to soften by dunking it. Not a great fan of it but the chocolate chunks were nice and gave me a sugar boost for the rest of the ride.

Girl was friendly enough and place seemed really nice, some very nice looking cakes in the window which may well be explored in the future.

Hermanos Colombian Coffee Roasters – Angel Lane

This place is tucked away just off Walworth Road in Elephant and Castle in a converted railway arch and well worth the effort to get there (the rest of the area is less of a destination at present). They specialise in single source, small batch hand roasted coffee beans from Columbia, so what we had may well not be what you get, which is great really – if you want the same coffee experience every day there are big chains who will cater to that.

I had a cappuccino and Kerry had a flat white, the food options were limited but we both went for croissants – mine almond and her plain. Croissants were nice and fresh and filled the gap. We both really liked the coffee, quite a dark roast but not too bitter as neither of us like coffee with a ‘burnt’ flavour.

The aroma of the coffee being roasted was amazing and it did feel like we were just on break and would be going back to moving sacks of coffee around shortly. Staff were friendly and the place was cool, not in a hipster way – could easily tip over to that with the roasting taking up most of the place, but we did have chairs not sat on sacks.

Not an area we are likely to visit that often, if at all, but they do have a few other places dotted around the city and if out on my bike and fancying a coffee ride I may well plot the route to head towards one.

Naked – Greenwich South Street

On my second bike ride of the morning – first was cut short by a puncture – I spotted what I thought was a chalkboard for coffee, turns out it wasn’t but meant I took a diversion during which I was sure I spotted the word ‘coffee’ lit up so after a quick (and safe) u-turn to check and then it seemed rude not to stop.

It is a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ place as just a window in the corner of a junk shop (it is actually called The Junk Shop I am not being judgmental) and I will be going back there when open as after peering through the window it looks interesting and had a pile of bikes chained up outside too, plus it has a tea room / garden so even more reasons to go.

I asked for a flat white and almond croissant but when it came time to pay my card wouldn’t work as I only had a few coins so had to ditch the pastry and just go with the coffee, £3.40 which feels right for that area. I will make sure I have money that folds rather than jingles in future, and that card works too.

Coffee was very nice, strong but not bitter. When on bike I don’t like it to be too hot as I want to drink and carry on not get settles then not want to start again, so after sitting (couple of small tables) for a minute or 2 I supped and walked until it was gone and I could remount and it gave me a good push for the ride home.

I like Greenwich and will visit again with more money to try the pastries, and will suggest to Kerry a trip to the tea room as well.

Hide Away – Smith’s Court

Just off Brewer Street in Soho is a hidden gem, hidden but in no way secret judging by the amount of people there at a fairly ungodly time on a Saturday morning! Given the time, and that I was birthday present shopping, I was alone. I had a decaf cappuccino and brownie then sat outside as inside it was rather warm. There was a premium for decaf whilst does grate a little in 2023 but I sucked it up.

The coffee was very nice, even though decaf it had a nice strong taste, nearly like ‘proper’ coffee! Brownie was very nice, gooey and crunchy on the top which is the aim for any brownie.

Staff were friendly and given it was quite busy the waiting time wasn’t too long. Will happily go back with Kerry in the future to get her opinion and to try out the other cakes available.

Coffee Couch – o2

We will always avoid the chains so I was happy to stumble across this place when on my bike and we made sure to visit a few days later when we were planning a trip to the area. I had a cappuccino and chocolate croissant whilst Kerry opted for a flat white and plain croissant, the food selection was a little limited, possibly due to the time of day, but there were a few other bits, some a lot posher than we can deal with.

The coffee was good, very hot but happy to sit and take our time. Both croissants good too, not sure how locally made but tasted fresh, I know Kerry would prefer her’s with butter but that wasn’t available so she soldiered on and enjoyed it nonetheless.

Staff were friendly, place is small but not cramped. As it is on a regular cycling route (more regular for me…) we should be visiting more in the future.

Bakers and Baristas – Bexleyheath

A new cafe has popped up in a town centre we often go to so we had to visit at the earliest opportunity. Kerry had a flat white, traditional pasty and an apple and cinnamon muffin. I had a decaf cappuccino, cheese toastie and lemon meringue muffin.

The savoury food was very nice, freshly prepared on the premises which is always a nice bonus. Kerry like her coffee, not bitter and a good size – although a flat white shouldn’t be a ‘good size’ really, but I will put my pedant hat away. I wasn’t keen on the coffee, nothing really to pin down why just not a blend I liked.

The muffins were nice, loads to choose from with some seemingly staples and others to appear for a limited time only.

This post took a while to get around to, and in the meantime we went back again!

Kerry had same coffee and pasty but working through the selection she went for a Strawberries and cream muffin. I went for a non decaf cappuccino and lemon and blueberry muffin.

Nothing to add on her coffee / savoury front but the cake she loved, it was just a posh fairy cake really – plain sponge with the top cut off and the strawberries and cream put in the hole!

I enjoyed the coffee a lot more this time around so clearly just their decaf blend that was the issue last time. The muffin was weird, loads to choose from but it just seemed that bit healthier (they do a triple chocolate that makes you fatter just by looking at it). The lemon curd was very nice, the same as in the lemon meringue cake, and the blueberries were okay – those near the outside of the cake, the inside of the cake was just wet, seemed like too many blueberries and they just overpowered the baking process! No often I leave any cake but I had to leave the soggy centre.

Place is new so clean and tidy, it does feel like a franchise in many ways, the layout, decoration, just all a bit too planned – my issue as a snob not theirs as business owners. Loads of staff and seem friendly enough just really busy, that will die down once things settle down.

We will visit again as we have to go to the area every few months and will want to check out the limited cakes naturally!

Namur – Luxembourg

Before we travel I will usually do a bit of research into coffee establishments to get some ideas, often we don’t go to them as we either don’t go to the exact area or we just stumble over others to try first, this was one I had researched and we were in the right area at the right time to take advantage of me being a bit anal! And this time my organisation was a brilliant thing.

It is divided into 2 sections, to the left a store with loads of choice to take away but also to order to eat in the cafe to the right, there was also a massive seating area upstairs which wasn’t open but was all glass and posh, made me think of a 1920s ballroom.

We both had a 2 x coffee and milk but the coffee was not the focus once we had seen the food on offer. I had a Citron (lemon meringue tart) whilst Kerry went for a Tranche St Honore – puff pastry, cream, choux, whipped cream, caramel and a tiny chocolate disc on top!

The coffee was fine, came with a biscuit too. The Citron was very nice, a nice sharpness to the lemon balanced out with the meringue, pastry just thick enough to hold it all together. The star of the show was clearly the Tranche St Honore though, it looked impressive and tasted better, the soft choux and luxurious cream with the caramel to add more sweetness, it was a slow and methodical eat and very filling as Kerry didn’t really eat anything for the rest of the day.

It is a very nice place, dates back a long time and has a nice traditional feel. Staff were very nice and helpful to the uneducated foreigners who really need to improve their language skills. Well worth a visit should you be in the area – which we may do again in the future as it is a great city and we didn’t manage to see everything we wanted to, plus many more cakes to try.