Kaffeine is an independently owned café and espresso bar inspired by the coffee culture of Australia and New Zealand, with two shops in Fitzrovia a few minutes’ walk from Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road. The original opened in August 2009 with two baristas, a chef and one part-time server. A second, larger shop a few streets away followed in March 2015, an updated version of the original.
Each shop has a menu that changes weekly and reflects the kitchen team’s preferences, influences and what the market has. The current one runs from sourdough toast with cultured butter and filled croissants through brunch dishes such as espresso pancakes with Kaffeine’s own espresso syrup, eggs Benedict with espresso maple syrup ham and Eggs Australia with Vegemite, to filled focaccia, salads and a pork belly sausage roll at lunch. Pastries come from Seven Seeded Bakery. The same kitchen caters breakfasts, lunches and baked goods to offices and homes in Fitzrovia and Soho.
Coffee classes have run every fortnight since 2010: a group class on Thursdays, or a private class for one or two people, teaching latte art or working one to one on barista skills. The owner’s blog covers former staff, the London Latte Art Smackdown finals the second shop hosted in 2016 and a conference talk comparing rave culture with specialty coffee.
Photograph: Kaffeine