Monmouth Coffee

I know it's a little trite, but coffee really is one of my favourite things in the world. Although I'll occasionally indulge in a flat white, I feel the taste of coffee can only truly be appreciated when it's served strong and black.

Most coffee connoisseurs know that Monmouth Coffee is the place to get your morning (or afternoon) cup, but I live in a small town in Wales where such a treat isn't so readily available. I had done my research, and I knew Monmouth was going to be good, but I wasn't prepared for just how good until I took a sip of my steamy black filter.

Elly and I managed to nab a seat in the packed out shop, where the person sitting there before left a bag of turkish delight for us to finish. I'm not a fan, but Elly enjoyed it while I unwrapped my giant, face-sized cookie from Maltby St market. I can't remember which stand I got it from, but it was sweet-and-salty delish and I even managed to save some for later.

Elly's cappuccino (which she gulped down faster than I could get my camera out of its bag) was the prettiest we both had ever seen. The milk had been steamed with some kind of magical technique perfected by one of only the best baristas. Honestly, it was like liquid velvet swirled into a shot of freshly-ground-on-premises coffee. 

Mine was, aesthetically, a little less pleasing, but it's what's on the inside that counts.

Monmouth coffee has the most refreshing flavour – it doesn't have any of that bitterness that most other coffee has. It's fresh, dark, rich, earthy and uplifting. Even those of you who are used to the milkiest, barely-even-coffee, lattes that so many high street coffee shops serve would enjoy one of Monmouth's black cups, I'm sure of it. It just has to be tried.

Finishing my coffee to see absolutely no dregs at the bottom of my cup was testament to the fact that Monmouth Coffee serve the world's best cup of coffee. Cue Buddy the elf quote...

Although my teeny cup cost me £2.50, I was happy to pay that much and wouldn't hesitate to go back for another. You get what you pay for, and it felt like a coffee treat after so many rushed and careless attempts from high street chains.

A couple of weeks later, my parents went to London for the weekend and brought back two bags of Monmouth coffee for us to drink:

What's your coffee of choice? I'm keen to try out something a bit different next time – I'm sure whatever Monmouth concoct will be as delicious as what we had on this visit, even, perhaps, a milk and sugar laden offering.

Borough Market & Maltby St Market – London

The Breakfast Club – London Bridge

Up, make up done and on the tube by 8.30am on a Saturday? Not something I would do if it weren't for the promise of breakfast. As you well know, it's my favourite meal – I especially love going out to enjoy it – but I had heard of long queues for The Breakfast Club, and I knew I had to get there early.

I had wanted to go here for so long, and much like my visit to Bone Daddies the night before, it was worth the wait, and the very early start.

 

I met Iesha, my friend from university, just after 9 o'clock when London was still waking up. If you ever want to really see the city, it's early on a Saturday morning when the paths are clear and architecture is unobstructed. 

I found The Breakfast Club – just a short walk from London Bridge tube station – and was seated straight away. I soaked up the rare treat that is a Saturday spent in a new place with an old friend, enjoying good food and coffee.

I have a habit of knowing what I'm going to order before I properly consider everything on the menu, but Iesha took a bit longer deciding. In the end we both ordered the pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, and what came was the biggest stack of pancakes I had seen since I went to New York in 2009.

Four huge fluffy pancakes piled high, drenched in maple syrup and lots of crispy bacon on top with a dusting of icing sugar. The serving was undoubtedly generous, which was welcome considering we paid £8.50 each, and it filled us up, ready for the day.

The only criticism I have is that the maple syrup wasn't served on the side – I like pouring it myself – and that the bacon was a little bit too crispy – hard, almost. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to go back here and try something else on the menu. There is an enormous amount to choose from and that's always a good thing in my books.

Have you been to The Breakfast Club? Where's your favourite place to go for breakfast?