Venturing out in Clerkenwell during my lunch break some months ago, I discovered Leather Lane, home to a week-day clothes’ market as well as eateries and cafés that are always busy with the local office workers’ crowd.
You might have been there to visit Prufrock Coffee, but you really missed out if you haven’t also tried the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. When in need of coffee and a cool place to hang out during my lunch break, that’s my destination of choice.
Department of Coffee and Social Affairs in Leather Lane
Co-owners Chris McKie and Tim Ridley, who opened DCSA about one year ago, are part of Coffeesmiths, a collective that aims to serve “distinctive, quality coffees to London’s discerning coffee drinkers in a friendly and social environment”. I think so far they definitely nailed it!
What I love about Department of Coffee and Social Affairs are the big smiles and friendly welcome from Chris and the rest of the staff.
The café is housed in a former ironmongers shop, renovated to become not only a coffee house, but also a space for artists and photographers to exhibit.
I have become a regular customer at the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs and try to visit as often as I can (despite it being 10-15′ walk from my office).
I never drink cappuccino or latte at lunch time (I am fairly sure I could be stripped off of my Italian citizenship if I dared drink a cappuccino after a meal!) so my coffee of choice is the espresso. I have always found the espresso at DCSA to be a bit too bitter for my likings and I do need some milk to counter balance that. I have now found the perfect drink for me, the Piccolo. It’s the same thing as a cortado (both names mean the same thing in Italian and Spanish), an espresso served in a shot glass filled with steamed milk. The difference between a piccolo and a macchiato is glass versus cup + the amount of milk used.
The piccolo also allows for “latte art”, which is not a small thing as I always appreciate a little flower or heart to put a smile on my face! :)
At Department of Coffee and Social Affairs you will also find delicious cakes – not to miss the Chocolate Cheese Brownie! I haven’t tried the sandwiches yet, but they do seem to sell fast, so I am sure they are worth trying!
Department of Coffee and Social Affairs
14-16 Leather Lane
EC1N 7SU London
Nice post : )
This café would fit so well in Stockholm! Will definitely stop by on my next visit to London.
London looks like paradise in your posts and my “places-to-visit” list is getting longer and longer…;-)
All those cakes look lovely! Clerkenwell is a long way from home, but my boyfriend works in Barbican so maybe I can convince him to take me for cake on lunchtime :-)
It’s a good destination for a Saturday breakfast! :)
Chocolate cheese brownie? That’s it, this place is on my to-do list!