INSPIRATION • October 2018
The world’s best places to drink coffee
With British Airways now serving Union Hand-Roasted Coffee on board and in lounges, the demand for expert espressos and first-rate flat whites has never been higher. That’s why we’ve asked James Hoffmann, coffee connoisseur and author of The World Atlas of Coffee, to crown the cities, and the cafés, perfect for your next caffeine hit
The West Coast hangout
LA may be the most interesting place to drink coffee in the US right now, and at the heart of it all lies G&B (pictured) inside Downtown’s fantastic Grand Central Market. Belly up to a space at the bar (it’s huge, and wraps around the coffee makers in the centre of the room) and order one of the exceptional brews. They pair very well with a breakfast sandwich from neighbouring institution, Eggslut.
Runner up: Intelligentsia Silver Lake, a pioneering LA bar where the people-watching is almost as good as the floor tiles.
The Danish dynasty
One of Europe’s greatest coffee-roasting companies, The Coffee Collective has a few cafés around Copenhagen, but its roastery makes the pilgrimage worthwhile. You’ll sit in a beautiful space that is pure elegance and Scandinavian design, and whatever you order will be fantastic. If the sun is shining, don’t miss its Coffee Softice – a delicious, espresso-flavoured ice cream.
Runner up: Forloren Espresso, a small but delightful espresso bar.
The San Fran saint
San Francisco has long been one of America’s pioneering cities of modern coffee culture, and many great cafés are helping to retain its reputation. Saint Frank (pictured) stands out as a venue whose design makes a great promise, which the coffee absolutely keeps. The light-filled space is perfect for a little laptop time, or simply people-watching over a beautiful cup of filter coffee.
Runner up: Ritual Coffee Roasters in the heart of the Mission District.
The Melbourne mecca
Melbourne is famous for cafés, and probably the best city on the planet for brunch. There is, however, one café that stands out as being less about the breakfast and all about the coffee: Market Lane (pictured), a place to visit for some of the best coffee Melbourne has to offer. Be sure to take a bag of its specialty beans home with you.
Runner up: The quintessentially Melbourne Seven Seeds.
The Parisian powerhouse
For a city with so many cafés, it’s often surprisingly hard to get a good cup of coffee in Paris, but this is changing. While there are endless bistros that fill you with romance as soon as you walk through the door, La Fontaine De Belleville (pictured) is the best of all – it looks and feels like a quintessential Parisian café, but the coffee is sweet, complex and exceptional. Simply not to be missed.
Runner up: Hollybelly. Go early though – the demand for brunch here is intense, but worth it.
Club members can now enjoy Union Hand-Roasted Coffee at home by sourcing their coffees via the BA eStore, where you can collect five Avios for every £1 spent. Shop now
This article has been tagged Food + Drink, Destination
More from previous issues
Five ways to get the London look
The chic of it: from bespoke bicycles to elegant timepieces and designer gym wear, Londoners’ sense of style knows no bounds
Six unforgettable ski weekends
Whatever your skiing priorities may be, it's time to pull on your winter gear and head to the slopes for some invigorating fun on the pistes
Six reasons to visit Rotterdam
Rotterdam is hot on Amsterdam’s heels when it comes to attracting a new wave of tourists to the Netherlands… here we find out why
The best of BA news
A route launch to the thriving city of Pittsburgh is announced for February 2019, and an all-new Rewards App means keeping track of your Avios has never been easier