#flatwhiteworld

[flatwhiteworld]

North Star . Leeds Simply impeccable. North Star is the real deal - go there as soon as you possibly can, if not sooner!!

[flatwhiteworld]

Blueprint . Whitstable . UK A truly excellent flat white in the Kentish coastal gem of Whitstable. This place reminds me of a cross between Duke's in Melbourne and Monocle in London - that's high praise and well deserved!

[flatwhiteworld]

Association Coffee . London EC3

What to say about Association coffee in The City of London? It’s good. The flat white was full of flavour, although the milk was slightly too airy. Bucking the third wave aesthetic trend, there were no squirrel cage bulbs in sight, which was also a bonus in the originality stakes... but exposed brickwork and raw floorboards were in full effect. Overall, Association is a very welcome establishment and great alternative to the coffee chains to keep London’s City workers stimulated (although I'm not certain that’s a good thing…).

[flatwhiteworld]

Mount Zion Coffee . Saint Ives . UK

Signage inside Mount Zion Coffee, based in the crown jewel of the Cornish Riviera, St Ives, provides ample warning of the proprietor’s fastidious approach to making coffee: “We’re not quick”. Indeed! Although this might frustrate those rat-racers who are used to getting everything in an instant, it’s unlikely that this establishment will be catering to rushing commuters, so time shouldn’t be much of a concern here... and with a beautiful view of St Ives bay to feast your eyes on while waiting, punters should relish a short delay.

That said, be prepared to look on as the Square Mile coffee beans are carefully ground, the appropriate quantity is weighed and the espresso shot timed to the second - nothing is left to chance. It’s a very scientific process at Mount Zion with instinct given short shrift.

But is the eventual flat white good? The answer is a resounding yes, but you’d be well advised not to visit when you’re in a hurry!!

[flatwhiteworld]

Noble Espresso . King’s Cross . London

Noble Espresso’s mobile facility outside King’s Cross station is a godsend for coffee enthusiasts using the nearby train terminals - without Noble the coffee options are restricted to the generally poor chain offerings.

This flat white is the one to beat if you’re looking for a quick fix before boarding a train - bravo!

[flatwhiteworld]

Greggs . Blyth Services . A1(M) motorway Ok. A flat white from Greggs. That's right. A flat white from GREGGS, yes, THAT GREGGS! For the benefit of those outside the UK, Greggs is a high street bakery chain that is renowned for cheap cakes and greasy sausage rolls. Apparently, when they introduced their flat white, share prices fell by 8% or so, saying a lot about what the company's shareholders think about change, and about the idea of their favourite cake shop serving such 'soft southern nonsense' as a flat white! The good news is that this flat white wasn't actually terrible and I'd probably choose it over some other UK high street staples, like Costa whose coffee generally tastes burnt and bad. So, Greggs, thanks for taking the leap and getting involved in the flat white game and helping a weary driver to stay focused on a long drive!

[flatwhiteworld]

The Grand Howl . Well Street . London Like many neighbourhoods in the London borough of Hackney, Well Street is undergoing a transformation. New retailers are replacing old with rapid pace as part of the unstoppable march of gentrification. The Grand Howl is one of the relative newcomers - offering the usual brunch and coffee options of the third wave. Good news: The coffee is good, very good in fact! Strong, hot and full of flavour. Great milk prep on this flat white too - a delicious FW.

[flatwhiteworld]

Hopper . London Flat white on the hoof from London newcomer Hopper on Roger Street near Gray's Inn: great flavour and texture, a welcome addition to the area.