I have set myself a new challenge: find the best coffee places in London.

It started well today.  I took a break from work, wandered across Piccadilly Circus and meandered my way onto Brewer Street. At the corner of Brewer Street and Air Street, I spied tables and a shiny espresso machine. It’s a cycle shop really, but it has a coffee shop to the side.  This seemed wholly appropriate as I started to read a new book today: “A Lady Cyclist’s Guide to Kashgar”.  It seemed Rapha CC had summoned me.

Rapha has two other stores come cycling clubs, in Osaka and San Francisco, plus a couple of mobile ones.  The aim is to provide top class cycling goods, plus a meeting place for cyclists.  In addition, they arrange cycle rides in London on Thursday evenings and Saturday morning.

The good news is, the coffee is great. I took their regular espresso, as the guest espresso was off.  It was nutty and slightly sweet. The staff were friendly and informative, and the setting is bright and trendy, with a utilitarian decor and cycling-related memorabilia.  Magazines and newspapers are available and they screen live cycling events.

In addition to the great coffee, there are pastries, fruit and typical cafe fare.

A regular espresso costs £2.

Rapha CC, 85 Brewer Street (corner of Air Street), W1F 9ZN