New statistics have revealed that the number of independent coffee shops in London has grown by 700% within the last decade.
According to industry research group Allegra, the amount of what it calls “quality independent” coffee shops in the capital has risen from around 50 in 2010, to now more than 400.
The coffee shops featured in the data include one-site independents as well as mini-chains such as Caravan Coffee Roasters, which operates six locations, and Redemption Roasters, which boasts nine sites.
Allegra’s CEO, who also founded the London Coffee Festival, is Jeffrey Young. Speaking about the new data, he said: “Londoners are looking for a more polished but still informal experience. The days of the grungy coffee shop are gone.”
The research also revealed other interesting titbits about coffee habits in the capital, including that Londoner’s favourite coffee order is a latte, with 51.4 % of those surveyed admitting it is their usual order. Thirty five percent of people order a cappuccino, while only one in four opt to order a flat white.
The data also revealed that the trend for alternative milk continues to grow, as more Londoners opt to follow vegan or dairy-free diets. Oat milk has proven to be the most popular alternative, with one in five Londoners requesting oat milk in their coffees, compared to just 9% nationwide.
The London Coffee Festival will take place from 2-5 April and includes the likes of latte-art workshops, coffee cocktails, live music and demonstrations from world-class baristas. The festival first launched at The Old Truman Brewery in 2011 and has since gone on to expand to nine national locations, with festivals taking place in destinations such as Sao Paulo and Paris.
If you want to make it your mission to visit all of London’s coffee independents, check out our favourite coffee shops in the capital.