Dose

Located across from the massive Barbican Centre, Dose serves up what Time Out London considers to be the best espresso in central London.  I stumbled upon it one evening shortly after exiting the Barbican tube stop.

What's it like? The inside is deceptively small, with room for maybe four people to sit comfortably.  Although they have free wifi, you wouldn't have room for both your laptop and coffee, so don't go with the intention of camping out with your homework.

Dose prides itself on sourcing all of its milk, sandwiches and pastries from local British suppliers.  The espresso beans are supposedly "fair trade" and roasted in-house.

However, none of that is what makes Dose special.  There are hundreds of coffee shops in London that pride themselves on having "organic" this and "fair trade" that.  What sets Dose apart is their obsessive attention-to-detail.  They simply enjoy crafting the perfect cup of coffee.

The experience was much more personal than that of Starbucks, Cafe Nero or Costa.  Despite the huge line filled with regulars waiting patiently with their frequency cards, the barista took his time to steam the milk, pull the espresso and pour it all into the cup like it was a priceless work of art.  

Don't go to Dose if you're craving a thirst-quenching "venti" (large) like you'd get at Starbucks. I liken the sizes to "tiny" and "really small."  I ordered the largest and it turned out to be smaller than the smallest size you'd get at any chain coffee shop in London.

Prices are equal, if not less expensive than the big name shops.  My "large" latte was £2.20 which seemed like a real bargain.  The espresso was completely different from anything I have ever had.  There wasn't a hint of bitterness, just a really intense coffee flavor. It was like comparing a massive bowl of generic chocolate ice cream to a tiny cup of chocolate gelato.  Both are delicious, but in very different ways.

Overall, it's worth a try if you're ever in the area for a concert.  I wouldn't head all the way to the Barbican tube stop for a cup of coffee, but if you are ever in the mood for something a little more special, give it a try.  The guys that work there really are passionate about their coffee and it shows with every drink they make.


69 Long Lane
London
EC1A 9EJ

Closest Tube Stop: Barbican (Metropolitan/Circle lines)