Monmouth Coffee Company Borough Market

Monmouth Coffee Company opened its Borough Market shop on Park Street in 1999, and it has been one of the busiest coffee counters in London ever since, with a wait at the counter most of the time. The front of the shop opens straight onto the street, with a bench outside and a room of tables behind the counter, and plenty of people take their cup away to drink around the market.

The company imports single origin beans, roasts them in Bermondsey and serves them as cone filtered coffee and espresso, with whole bean bags sold at the counter. Hours run from half past seven in the morning to six in the evening, Monday to Saturday, and the shop is closed on Sundays, so plan a weekday visit if you want a shorter wait.