The Espresso Room

The Espresso Room has been a name in London specialty coffee since 2010, and the Great Ormond Street original, opposite the famous children's hospital, is a tiny room with a green painted front, a door and a window. There is hardly space inside beyond the counter, where espresso and batch brew filter are made, and it feels taller than it is wide, giving it a surprising sense of space.

The house espresso is a bespoke blend, with a single origin on filter, and roasted beans are sold at the counter. Seating is three benches outside, which suits a quick break in the Bloomsbury street, and the shop serves only in disposable cups, so bring your own reusable cup. It is open on weekdays only, from half past seven until four, and changed ownership in 2016 when the brand began to expand.