Coffee Enquiry L: Two birds down in Spitalfields (Department of Coffee & Social Affairs, and Rapha)

You present an interesting dilemma. Each of you seemingly has a legitimate claim to the bicycle, and yet the bicycle can have only one rightful owner. Quite the conundrum. As a federal employee, I believe the law is all we have. It's all that separates us from the savages who don't deserve even the privilege of the daily mail. Stuffing parcels into mailboxes where they don't belong!

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Seven”)

I love coffee as you know, so the other day while in Spitalfields market couldn’t resist getting a couple macchiatos.

 First stop: Department of Coffee & SocialAffairs

A nice place in one of the corners of the new market. Quite simple and neat place, plenty of seating outside to watch the action in the market.

The place

Beans: Department of Coffee & Social Affairs

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Score: 4/5

Lovely coffee, nice acidity, some fruity notes, good balance with mild bitterness, medium body, and short aftertaste. Latte art top marks.

Small cup

Department of Coffee & Social Affairs

Coffee Shop

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: Spitalfields

Borough: Tower Hamlets

Twitter: DeptOfCoffee

Second stop: Rapha

My second coffee was in the cyclist shop Rapha, you can get yours while watching a video of the latest tour de France.

Rapha

Beans: Alchemy

Espresso Machine: La Marzocco

Score: 5/5

Great balance with long aftertaste, sweet notes coming from chocolate, and decent latte art.

Coffee or treats?

Coffee time

Rapha

T: 020 7426 2000

Cycling Shop

Approx Damage: £5pp

Area: Spitalfields

Borough: Tower Hamlets

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Santa Maria takes Chelsea

How do you solve a problem like Maria?

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Phone Message”)

If you like pizza you have to go to Santa Maria period. It’s by far the best pizzeria in London I have tried. Authentic Neapolitan pizza, ready within 10 minutes of ordering, and great service.

Pizza Time

I had the chance to visit their second place in Chelsea, and I was over the moon to corroborate they have not drop down the quality of their pizzas or the service.

I don’t need to say anything else, other that if you’re around go and try one of their delicious authentic pizzas.

Santa Maria

T: 020 7384 2844

Pizzeria

Approx Damage: £20pp

Area: Chelsea

Borough: Kensington & Chelsea

Twitter: SantaMariaPizza

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Coffee Enquiry XLIX: Tap Coffee

You know, you're going along, you think everything's all right and all of a sudden you get that tap

George Costanza (Seinfeld episode “The Mango”)

The other day while doing some errands I stopped by Tap Coffee in Fitzrovia. Not sure why but their shops are quite appealing to me, all the time I pass by they are inviting me in to indulge with coffee, maybe is the black facade with the huge number (No 114) and no mention of the name.

Coffee Time

3 Locations around London with the same feel and offer, a relax place to share a coffee while catching up with friends.

I got a macchiato and my better half a Flat White. The coffee was a light body with mild bitterness. Modest citrus acidity, some chocolate and tobacco notes.

Abstract Latte Art

Beans: Tap Coffee

Espresso Machine: Nuova Simonelli

Score: 3/5

Decent cup of coffee, lovely cutlery, and inviting place

Tap Coffee

Coffee House

Approx Damage: £5

Area: Fitzrovia

Borough: Camden

Twitter: tapcoffee

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