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

---

---

Coffee Enquiry XXV: Rapha in Soho

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

Newman (Seinfeld episode “The Seven”)

I have seen many things but a cyclist shop and coffee place is a new one. The place Rapha Cycle Club, with stores in New York, Sydney, Osaka, San Francisco, and London. A nice coffee shop surrounded by the retail shop, flat TVs with race screenings so you can enjoy a coffee while watching Tour de France. Sandwiches, salads, even beer and wine in the menu. So if you are in the mood for a coffee and a ride this is the place for you.

The place

The Cycle Club

The Store

I got a Macchiato, nice and strong, good bitterness contrasted by the creamy milk. The beans are divided between Workshop Cult of Done and also single origin from JB Kaffee. Latte art work in progress, but it’s nice to see the effort.

Macchiato

Espresso Machine: Synesso

Beans: Workshop

Score: 4/5

Postcards from a coffee shop

Personalised cups

Nice place for relaxing after completing the stage at Le Grand Boucle.

Rapha Cycle Club

T: 020 7494 9831

Coffee Shop / Cycle Shop

Approx Damage: £3pp

Area: Soho

Borough: City of Westminster

Twitter: rapharacing

---

View Larger Map

---