2012-10-27 - Coffee Lovers of LFGSS

this looks like its so much fun!! wished i had came along ...next time!

its loads of fun but gets much more serious with drops on....

Surely that frame is too lairy to be really serious? I'll believe it when I see it...

Fantastic photos HoKe - thanks so much for taking them!

Can't for the life of me remember the name of Mr White Dolan with Black Beanie who heroically sorted out my flat while I pulled out the "I'm so feeble and cold" card. Thank you so much.

Having avoided getting another flat all through the ride, just as I carried my bike through my front door this evening, that oh so familiar hissing started, yet again.

Too tired/wired to fix tonight. New tyre tomorrow.

Photos are done! Enjoy! =)

Surely that frame is too lairy to be really serious? I'll believe it when I see it...

well it was only used on indoor velodromes in the '80s, so I assume it can be serious if it wants to!!!

well it was only used on indoor velodromes in the '80s, so I assume it can be serious if it wants to!!!

Oh wow, It looked minty fresh for a 30 year old frame. Indoor bikes ftw!

loads of exclamation marks at 1am... spot the coffee ride victims.

Moi?!?! I'm not wired!!!! Whooop!!!

Actually, I'm so jittery yet tired that I just whacked my elbow on a door frame. It hurts somewhat more than I expected.

you need some anticoffee

ugh. looks great and gutted to have been away. well done mm and co. drink lots of water.

Nice work there HoKe! Makes up for my own camera spazzing out on me.

Against all the odds (and after 6 black coffees) I actually managed to sleep. Thanks to everyone involved, and especially to missmouse and hats. Great to meet (some) of you and brilliant photos HoKe.

Awesome ride. Brilliant photo's as well.

After yet another flat today (FFS) I now have a new tyre.

Out of curiosity, which place did people rate most highly? For me it was Kaffeine. Such nice people in there too.

Yay for new tires!

I only had 2 coffees, so can't really say - I would rate Balfe's as being the nicest place though, due to their massive kindness in having all of us!

Little discernible difference between Prufrock and Kaffeine, same bean and similar preparation.

Great shot of coffee and Brunswick house but lousy assembly, same milk used for cappuccino and flat white with the milk just thrown in. I would like to eat at Brunswick House, eccles cake was great (but expensive)

Federation gave me a flat white that was too hot to drink but they were incredibly busy.

Did not try the coffee at Balfe's, and the flat white at Bermondsey was just a little too soft but good milk.

So for me it was a tie between the first two venues, who both took care and effort in the preparation of the shot, milk and assembly.

On the way home I stopped at the Rapha cafe, and had just ordered a coffee when the fire alarm went off and so never got my drink there - nice but non existent.

Nice to finally meet and ride with you all.

Thanks to missmouse and hats for the organising but paticularily to Zebra Cyclist for lending me the super cool, pedestrian tripping zebra bike.

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Out of curiosity, which place did people rate most highly? For me it was Kaffeine. Such nice people in there too.

I missed Kaffeine and Prufrock but Federation had the best espresso that I tried.

It would have been a tie for me too DJ but the service with a smile in Kaffeine tipped it for me.

I should say though that the prize for the most effort made for us has to go to Richard Balfe who not only went on a coffee barista course, hired a machine, sourced some excellent local beans, bought in snacks and alternative milks, waited patiently for us as we arrived long after I said we would, offered free bike checks but also painted his shop window in our honour - if only I took a photo of it. Very decent brew too.

I would like to eat at Brunswick House, eccles cake was great (but expensive)

I've eaten there a few times as it was local to my old office and I don't rate the food all that highly. I had a toasted sandwich and the bread/toast was so hard and sharp that it cut the roof of my mouth. Maybe I am just a wuss though.

I found the coffees in Prufrock and Kaffeine too acidic as straight espresso, but reckon they're probably very good in Milk (that's my experience with Square Mile's Red Brick anyway).

Brunswick House did a good Italian style espresso.

Balfe's was really great. Didn't realise they don't usually have the coffee bench set up. Nice foam on my coffee.