"Over the past two centuries, the covered market at Borough, not far from London Bridge, has become one of the country’s most famous foodie spots. From Wednesday to Saturday each week hundreds of traders gather to sell homemade breads, hand-reared pork, artisan chocolate and all manner of ingredients—plus excellent coffee, fresh juices and organic wine. Plentiful samples add to the convivial vibe, and restaurants around the market's edge provide additional sustenance for longer stops."

"Birthday Suit Optional The name Nude Espresso might suggest something more racy than you find when you enter this Brick Lane coffee shop. However, if a perfect cup of coffee does it for you, then your pulse may race anyway. And not from the caffeine. Nude takes the creation of a good cup of coffee very seriously so this is the kind of shop for true connoisseurs, not those simply in need of a fix. From the website, "Obtaining the finest coffee is a labour of love. We scour the World hand selecting only the fittest, ripest green beans [...]. We grade them by eye and sort them before putting them through their paces [...]. Only then can they be tasted, blended and packaged, creating the perfect ingredient for a sublime sensory experience." I couldn't have said it better myself. Indeed, a cup of coffee at Nude lives up to the promise of being a sublime sensory experience. Nude really stands for stripping out anything unnecessary from the process of providing a truly excellent cup of coffee, and in simplicity that satisfies, Nude Espresso truly excels."

"M1LK, It Does a Day Good This lovely coffee shop in the mostly-residential area of Balham in South London is really more than a coffee shop. From poached eggs on top of corn bread with marscapone, to fresh soups of the day and fruit-flavored waters that are free of charge, this corner spot with floor-to-ceiling windows is a neighborhood gem. Come for a quickie pick-me-up or stay all day with your laptop and hook into the free Wi-Fi. Oh, and just try to resist having a piece of the carrot cake with coconut cream cheese frosting. I dare you."

"Coffee by the Bay Every once in a while, you happen on a place so lovely and twee, you just want to keep it all for yourself. But since that's not possible, it being a public place and all, you may as well share the joy. And so I introduce to you White Mulberries coffee shop, a sweet spot tucked away on St. Katharine Dock, just nearby Tower Bridge. If you're looking for a place for a quick bite or to refuel with a jolt of java after touring the Tower of London , pass by the nearby Starbucks and head here. Get takeaway or stay awhile to read the papers. Sip Americano after Americano, while watching the water and those walking by it. With croissant sandwichs filled with jam and brie, artwork that says "Money Can't Buy Happiness, But it Can Buy Tea and That's Kinda the Same Thing," you'll never want to leave. And why should you?"

"The people behind the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs don't just love their coffee, they love people too. They've got locations throughout London, as well as Bristol, Manchester, and now Chiacgo—including Carnaby Street and Tonic near Regent Street—but the one near Leather Lane Market is the mothership, and it's a low-fi yet thoroughly pleasant place to hang out. It's a great place to know, halfway between Farringdon and Holborn, and worth visiting early afternoon when the market's still on. Oh, and the custard tarts are great."

"Tina's is a tiny place. In fact, it only has two tables, so be prepared to get chummy with your neighbors. But it's absolutely worth the visit to this trendy Dalston haunt (there's a second location in Stratford). Both for the flat whites—the house coffeemade lovingly by the Kiwi owners—and for the breakfasts, the stuff of a perfect weekend brunch. The breakfast bacon and fried egg on a bagelis a great option if you're battling a hangover; the pancakes are a delicious luxury at any time. Oh, and on the odd occasion, they'll get themselves a liquor license and set up as a temporary cocktail bar."

"Caravan Caravan coffee is some of the strongest you'll try. Even inveterate coffee drinkers come away from Caravan with a slight tremor and a tendency to talk too fast. But if you think you can hack it, then get along to this popular haunt in Kings Cross, one of the first and best to move into the area as part of the area's major redevelopment. There are also locations in Exmouth Market, Bankside, and the City. If I were you, I'd wash it down with a large glass of water and a tamarind and date bun, the perfect thing to take the edge off."