There really isn't any better way to catch up with a friend than by finding a good coffee shop in which you can dump your shopping bags, tie your hair up and relax with a good cup of coffee. This time it was with Iesha in central London at a place called Tapped and Packed – or TAP for short, and it was lovely.
We spent a good while searching for the
perfect place to sit down and catch up on the last nine months(! – post
uni life sucks sometimes). After a few tube journeys and misread routes on our phones, we finally found this little place. I loved it instantaneously. The name especially is one that just sounds so nice in my head. I think of when I used to work in a coffee shop and tapped and packed coffee into shots while making all types of coffee on busy mornings, afternoons and evenings (everyone wants coffee all the time, seemingly). 
The branch we visited was just off Tottenham Court Road on Rathbone Place, and on our way we passed the big Primark, (ahhh), vowing to go back later. I also bumped into one of my lecturers from university as well, and it was such a nice surprise. What are the chances of bumping into anyone in London, especially when neither of you live there?
The choice of sweet and savoury treats in TAP was excellent, and there were a number of things I could have easily devoured – that ham & gruyere mustard mayo baguette for one looked incredible, but I had been craving a pastry all day so I went for an almond croissant – the perfect partner to a cup of coffee.
As both Iesha and I drink black coffee, the waitress recommended the filter coffee. Like when I visited Colonna & Small's in Bath, it is best served black, made to order, and I couldn't wait to try it. We both ordered a cup of the Guatamala, and just like in Colonna & Small's, we were told to take a seat and our food and drink would be brought over to us.
I wish I could come here every day to catch up with friends, or just for some time on my own. I have, in recent years, started to enjoy going out alone – sitting and enjoying where I am, thinking, sometimes writing, mostly watching.
There's a downstairs seating area in TAP which leads to the toilet – where the toilet brush was stored in a Starbucks mug, ha.
Pretty lady Iesha with her ham and cheese croissant and coffee :)
It's a strong statement to make, but this is the best coffee I have ever had. It was served at the perfect temperature, the colour was amber-brown, and the taste was both refreshing and rich. My almond croissant was so custardy as well. I smothered it with apricot Bonne Maman jam that was on the table next to us and it was the best.
This has to be one of my favourite coffee shops to date. Everything about it was spot on and it was so nice to catch up with Iesha – it had been far too long. You can find out more about TAP here. I really recommend that you do. Where is your favourite place to go for a catch up? Are there any other coffee shops I should visit in London?
