Espresso Base London

Coffee the Italian way

Madeline from London

<strong>About me</strong> When I moved to London after graduating in 2020, I didn’t plan to stay for long. My dream was to travel the world and moving to the Big Smoke just felt like a way to bide my time until the pandemic ended and international borders reopened. I found a simple job in a frozen yoghurt shop and spent my days off exploring the local sights. The lon...
"Anyone who wishes to indulge their sweet tooth without punishment will have to do so the Italian way, with a cioccolata calda or an amaretto biscuit."

Forget the fancy cafés. London’s best coffee comes from a tiny pop-up tent in Bloomsbury. Positioned at the far end of a churchyard, Espresso Base is easy to miss. However, the observant few who do venture down the bamboo-lined pathway will be richly rewarded.

Here Gennaro De Mattia stands, in rain or shine, pulling shots on his trusty La Marzocco. He’s not a forthright coffee snob, but there are signs: namely a chalkboard warning customers of the additional 10p charge for sugar. Anyone who wishes to indulge their sweet tooth without punishment will have to do so the Italian way, with a cioccolata calda or an amaretto biscuit. Coffee enthusiasts might also be interested in purchasing a bag of beans or a new espresso gadget.

After that, it’s just a case of finding a seat among the plants (preferably under an umbrella – the weather in England is unpredictable), and sipping away to the sound of jazz music and trickling waterfalls.

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London Spotter Madeline

<strong>About me</strong> When I moved to London after graduating in 2020, I didn’t plan to stay for long. My dream was to travel the world and moving to the Big Smoke just felt like a way to bide my time until the pandemic ended and international borders reopened. I found a simple job in a frozen yoghurt shop and spent my days off exploring the local sights. The longer I stayed in London, however, the more attached I became to the people, places and the chaotic but exhilarating way of life. At times, making ends meet was challenging, but I knew this was where I ...

About this spot

12a Bloomsbury Way

Espresso:

£

2.60

Sep 21, 2025

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