Paper and Cup

 

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The food menu focuses on simple, fresh, and healthy brunch options like avocado toast, soup, and salads. Make sure to browse their shelves of used books and check out the artwork on display from local artists. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming – a great place to relax with a cup of coffee. 

By visiting Paper and Cup cafe in Shoreditch you get an excellent coffee fix while supporting an amazing social enterprise that provides job training and employment opportunities for those who desperately need it. It’s one of the best coffee shops in Shoreditch for ethically sourced coffee beans and delicious food in a quirky, relaxed vibe. It’s kind of cool that each cup of coffee you buy goes to a cause that could effectively change someone’s life.

Great For: Couples, Solo, Takeaway

📍18 Calvert Ave, London E2 7JP, United Kingdom

Trade

Trade roasts their own coffee on-site and you can taste the freshness in every sip. Their espresso drinks are fantastic – try a latte or flat white made with their smooth and flavorful house blend. For drip coffee lovers, the single origin pour-overs showcase the nuances of the rotating coffee beans.

The food menu is full of brunch favorites done exceptionally well. The Reuben sandwich stacked high with pastrami, sauerkraut, cheese and Russian dressing is a standout. Other hits are the shakshuka with perfectly baked eggs and the French toast topped with fresh berries and cream. I’ve always found myself spending hours here just enjoying great coffee and food while taking in the relaxed atmosphere.

Great For: Solo

📍UNIT 4, 160 Old St, London EC1V 9BW, United Kingdom

Kybelle

First off Kybelle should be the go-to place for anyone looking for a good Instagram post. The interior is cute and filled with intricate patterns of shapes and lines. Cool thing is not only are they known as one of the best places to get a great cup of coffee but they also serve other stuff like smoothies and milkshakes and some of their more innovative coffee drinks like the CBD oil-infused coffee.

To top if all off, it’s just a short 2-minute walk from the station! What I like to do is order a cup, take a pic, and then go on my way and explore the rest of Shoreditch’s scenery.

Great For: Solo, Couples, Close Friends

📍62 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3QR, United Kingdom

Allpress Espresso

Allpress is an Australian coffee roaster that opened their first London cafe in Shoreditch in 2012 and 10+ years later here they are cementing themselves as a local favourite. The food menu offers healthy breakfast and lunch options like acai bowls, poached eggs on toast, and grain salads. It’s less hectic than other Shoreditch coffee shops. A great spot for an unhurried brunch or working on your laptop.

This australian-inspired cafe is something that I highly recommend checking out. Their lunch and dinner brunch menu simply taste amazing and is a little roastery that Londoners consider as a great addition to the cafe scene. 

Great For: Takeaway, Groups of Friends

📍58 Redchurch St, London E2 7DP, United Kingdom

Ozone Coffee Roasters

The baristas here are passionate about quality coffee and it absolutely shows. Try one of their single origin espressos or a Chemex pour-over. Food-wise, the pastries, sandwiches, and salads hit the spot. The cafe has a minimalist, hipster vibe with exposed brick and piping. It’s very popular so expect a wait on weekends. But the coffee makes it worth it! They also sell coffee beans and equipment.

One of the many cafés in London that also sell their equipment meaning you could enjoy a good cup of coffee straight from your kitchen! The lines are no joke though so if you’re looking for a quiet spot to relax at before heading back to London, I’d suggest taking their origin coffee to-go and continue exploring the rest of East London! 

Great For: Catching up with Friends

📍11 Leonard St, London EC2A 4AQ, United Kingdom

Climpson & Sons

 

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Climpson & Sons started out as a coffee cart in Broadway Market and now they have several locations including a cafe on Curtain Road in Shoreditch, which is amazing to think about really. Food options include fresh pastries and sandwiches. The atmosphere is relaxed and unfussy. The real kicker is they also offer coffee tasting classes and sell their own roasted beans. 

This spot is a great addition to the coffee scene since they don’t gatekeep their techniques! Many have found barista work in Shoreditch by starting off their career here and now make excellent short coffee. 

Great For: Groups of Friends, Couples

📍Pod 3 Old Spitalfields Market, Commercial St, London E1 6EW, United Kingdom

Nude Espresso

Nude Espresso serves up fantastic coffee in a cozy space on Redchurch Street. The baristas are passionate and talented – the flat whites and cortados are smooth and balanced. Beyond coffee, they offer fresh pastries, sandwiches, and salads sourced locally. The laidback vibe and friendly staff make it a neighborhood favorite. 

If you want somewhere you can work or study in silence, this café also has you covered with free wi-fi and plenty of affordable drinks you can choose from! Whenever I want to hideaway from the busy streets or find my self a little bit short on cash, but still have the audacity to buy coffee from a shop, I always stumble upon this little shop. 

Great For: Groups of Friends, Takeaway, Solo

📍25 Hanbury St, London E1 6QR, United Kingdom

Alchemy Coffee

Alchemy Coffee came highly recommended and it did not disappoint!  I ended up going with a single origin pour over that the barista carefully prepared on a Kalita wave brewer. The fruity, floral notes of the light roasted Ethiopian bean came through beautifully in the cup. It was one of the best pour over coffees I’ve had.

The passionate staff is what really makes Alchemy stand out. They take time to explain the different brew methods and coffees, and will even let you sample different options. You can tell they truly care about the coffee experience.

Great For: Close Friends, Takeaway, Solo

📍32a Paul St, London EC2A 4LF, United Kingdom

Attendant

 

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One spot that caught my eye was Attendant Coffee, located in a converted Victorian public restroom on Great Eastern Street. As odd as the location sounds, the unique space and quality coffee made this a memorable coffee shop visit. Stepping inside, I was surprised by how open and airy the cafe felt despite being in an old underground bathroom.

The coffee was fantastic – Attendant’s custom blend from Square Mile Coffee Roasters was rich, smooth and very packed with flavour. My cappuccino had the perfect espresso to steamed milk ratio. The avocado toast came on thick sliced bread with creamy avocado, juicy tomatoes and a delicious sprinkle of seeds and spices on top. If I were to shorten this list to the 5 best cafes in Shoreditch, then this would most definitely make the cut! 

Great For: Close Friends, Couples

📍74 Great Eastern St, London EC2A 3JL, United Kingdom

Grind