Essential Vegan started as a pop-up at All My Friends, the hangout space and music venue in Hackney Wick, and a year later took over the downstairs room, across from the record shop and alongside other food vendors. Everything on the menu is vegan, and its founder, Vanessa Almeida, grew up with the flavours of Brazil and built the menu around them.

Brunch means smashed avocado on Spence Bakery sourdough, a feijoada of slow-cooked black beans with rice, farofa, garlic greens and orange, and a pão de queijo waffle with golden syrup and cream cheese. The sandwiches include a seitan BLT and a jackfruit salpicão, and the sweets are made in house. Smoothies, kombucha and Karma Cola round out the cold drinks.

The coffee is from Caravan Coffee Roasters: espresso, americano, flat white, macchiato, cortado, cappuccino and latte, made with oat milk by default and with soy, coconut or almond on request. Turmeric, beetroot, chai, matcha and mushroom lattes sit beside them. The café doubles as a co-working spot with free Wi-Fi and an unlimited filter coffee and pastry deal, with a record collection and music playing, and tables can be booked. Caravan Coffee Roasters roasts the coffee.

Coffee on the shelf

Photograph: Essential Vegan Cafe