London · Marylebone

Special Guests

A brushed steel counter in a calm cream room at Special Guests with a glass pastry case, three grinders and a black espresso machine, two pour over stations with kettles at the back and a menu panel on the wall

Paul Ross, a two time UK Barista Champion, opened Special Guests in 2022 as a roastery built around rare, competition level lots, then followed with this Aybrook Street café in late 2023. Two long counters run the room, one for espresso, one a dedicated pour over bar working through up to twelve single origin coffees at a time.

Every lot is chosen by champion baristas, sourced for scarcity as much as quality, and the online shop regularly shows drops sold out within days of release. Rotating guest roasters fill in around the house selection, and the counter doubles as a retail point for beans, brewing gear and subscriptions for anyone who wants the same coffee at home.