Electric Coffee Co., Ealing

A flat white in a classic black cup at the Electric Coffee Company in Ealing.When the history of the recent explosion in speciality coffee in London is written, lots of attention will be given to central London and the influence that the Kiwis and Aussies had on the scene. However, I hope a chapter or two is dedicated the London borough of Ealing, so often overlooked, and to the early home-grown pioneers such as Munson’s and today’s Coffee Spot, Electric Coffee Co.

Sat right outside Ealing Broadway station at the end of the District and Central lines and on the mainline into Paddington, there’s really no excuse for not visiting Electric Coffee Co. (although one might ask where I’ve been in the almost three years since I started the Coffee Spot…). Half of the buses to Ealing also seem to terminate outside its doors, spilling out their passengers and almost begging them to go in for coffee.

For the last seven years, Electric Coffee Co., with husband and wife Simon and Oksana at the helm, has been serving fine coffee to commuters and residents alike. In a recent development, it has also begun roasting its own beans (initially under the name Automaton Precision Roasters, but now under the Electric Coffee Co. brand), in a dedicated roastery down in Sussex.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

  • Ealing's Electric Coffee Company, opposite the bus stand and just down from the station.
  • A similar view on a sunny morning in May.
  • You can, if you like, sit on one of the two benches. You'll have a great view of the buses.
  • Stepping inside, a panoramic view from just inside the door...
  • ... and a slightly different view from beside the brew bar.
  • The view from my table on my second visit in May.
  • You can sit at the brew bar if you like, or at the window-bar if you want to watch the buses.
  • The window-bar on a sunny May morning. The buses were out in force.
  • The dedicated brew bar is at the end of the counter (as seen in January).
  • A more detailed of the brew bar as seen in May.
  • You can sit at the brew bar if you like, which has a great view along the counter.
  • There's a row of tables opposite the counter, with more seating towards the back.
  • These tables, along with their padded bench, are along the right-hand wall...
  • ... while these tables and bench are against the left-hand wall.
  • The final seating is in the form of a pair of small bars right at the back on the left.
  • There are plenty of lights, both bare light-bulbs and uplights on the walls.
  • You can't beat a good light bulb. Or a bare brick wall.
  • More light bulbs. These hang above the brew bar at the front...
  • ... while this one hangs at the back.
  • The takeaway station is next to the door as you come in.
  • Truffles! I think they're all gone now though...
  • The counter is well-laid out and, in the mornings, a very efficient operation.
  • First comes the food.
  • There are plenty of savoury options throughout the day...
  • ... including this pepper, courgette and feta quiche.
  • Cookies and brownies! I think that the Scrabble letters have it about right.
  • Most of the cakes are baked on site. Here, from January, a blueberry crumble cake...
  • ... and a delicious carrot cake.
  • We mustn't forget the pastries.
  • After the food, comes the till...
  • ... then the three grinders. Left to right: house-blend, single-origin and decaf.
  • Finally, there's the Kees van der Westen Mirage, a beauitful centrepiece to the counter.
  • The coffee is all roasted by the in-house roasting operation, Automaton Precision Roasters.
  • The tea, meanwhile, is from Merseyside's Brew Tea Company.
  • The coffee (house-blend, Electric on the left, the single-origin on the right).
  • The Kees van der Westen is worth a second look. It was just the third in the country!
  • I visited in May just after the Coffee Stops Awards & there was a note thanking everyone.
  • It forgets to mention that the Electric Coffee Company was also 3rd in the voting for Best Coffee Shop on Social Media. A good showing against stiff competition from the whole UK.
  • Anyway, down to business. The view of the counter from my seat...
  • In January I was there for lunch and had this lovely quiche, plus a really crunchy salad.
  • I also had a flat white, made with the house-blend.
  • Simon, the owner, was keen that I also try the single-origin espresso.
  • It would, of course, have been rude to say no...
  • On my second visit I was there for breakfast, tucking into some crunchy sour-dough toast.
  • I also had another lovely flat white.
Photo Carousel by WOWSlider.com v4.6

The front of Electric Coffee Co. is almost entirely glass, a single window running the full width, interrupted only by the glass door on the left, and stretching from ceiling almost to the floor. There are a pair of benches in front of the window, through which you can see the window-bar, ideal for bus watching and, beyond that, the brew bar, clearly stating Electric Coffee Co.’s credentials for all to see.

Stepping inside, it’s surprisingly peaceful, even when busy, such as during the morning rush, when the queue can reach the door. There’s a sense of space and light, helped by the generous window and high ceiling, although the store, which stretches out in front of you, decreases in both width and height towards the back, where it gets quite narrow.

The store is at its widest at the front. The aforementioned window-bar is immediately to your right, the counter taking up the rest of the right-hand side. The brew bar faces you/the window at the end of the counter. You can perch there to watch your coffee being made, but don’t expect a hand-poured filter during the morning rush!

Opposite the counter, a padded bench against the bare brick wall provides seating for a row of tables. This wall aside, the interior décor is entirely white, with plenty of bare light-bulbs for when it’s grey and miserable outside. The wooden-topped counter has metal grills on its front, which, combined with a concrete floor and bare strip-lighting hanging above the counter, provides an industrial feel in keeping with the name. This is reinforced by the Kees van der Westen Mirage and its three grinders (house-blend, single-origin and decaf), which form a fitting centrepiece to the counter.

Two steel girders act as pillars, holding up the ceiling, and effectively separate the counter and its queue from the tables. Even at the busiest times, if you’re sitting opposite the counter, you don’t feel crowded.

Beyond the counter, the store narrows (by the width of the counter) and the ceiling lowers. Originally the store ended here, but it was extended a few years ago. Now there are two rows of tables against the two walls, each with its own padded bench. Finally, beyond this, the store narrows again, with enough space for two bars against the left-hand wall. Multiple, bare light bulbs, plus more white-painted walls and ceilings make it a bright, welcoming space, even in the winter.

My first visit in January was for lunch, when I had a slice of homemade pepper, courgette and feta quiche, served warm with a crunchy salad which had an excellent, sharp dressing. I also had a flat white with Electric (house) Blend. It was sweet and smooth, the coffee going very well with the milk. I also tried the single-origin espresso, an Ethiopian Ayehu G3 Honey-processed coffee which was also very smooth and sweet, not at all what I was expecting.

I returned in May for breakfast, another flat white and some lovely crunchy, chewy, sourdough toast. Once again, my flat white was smooth and sweet, the perfect start to the day. I didn’t try the single-origin this time (a Kenyan), which changes every two weeks, while the brew bar offers a single choice of bean/method, changing every few days.

December 2015: Electric Coffee Co. won the 2015 Award for Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station.

40 HAVEN GREEN • EALING • LONDON • W5 2NX
www.electriccoffee.co.uk +44 (0) 208 997 8338
Monday 07:00 – 18:00 Roaster Electric Coffee Co. (espresso + filter)
Tuesday 07:00 – 18:00 Seating Tables, Window Bar
Wednesday 07:00 – 18:00 Food Breakfast, Lunch, Cake
Thursday 07:00 – 18:00 Service Order at Counter
Friday 07:00 – 18:00 Payment Cash + Cards
Saturday 08:00 – 18:00 Wifi Free (with code)
Sunday 09:00 – 17:00 Power No
Chain No Visits 6th January, 15th May 2015

If you enjoyed this Coffee Spot, then take a look at the rest of London’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to London. You can also see what I made of Electric Coffee’s latest addition, it’s new coffee shop on Goldhawk Road in Hammersmith.


If you liked this post, please let me know by clicking the “Like” button. If you have a WordPress account and you don’t mind everyone knowing that you liked this post, you can use the “Like this” button right at the bottom instead. [bawlu_buttons]
Don’t forget that you can share this post with your friends using the buttons below.

22 thoughts on “Electric Coffee Co., Ealing

  1. Pingback: Coffee Stops Awards 2015 – The Winners | Brian's Coffee Spot

  2. I’ve only been to the Electric Coffee a couple of times. It reminds me of places in Australia; very stylish, great coffee etc, and yet out in the suburbs, not the middle of the city centre. Not the sort of thing you find everywhere in London.

  3. Pingback: Café Zee | Brian's Coffee Spot

  4. Pingback: Artisan, Ealing | Brian's Coffee Spot

  5. Pingback: Kioskafé | Brian's Coffee Spot

  6. Pingback: 2015 Awards – Best Neighbourhood Coffee Spot | Brian's Coffee Spot

  7. Pingback: 2015 Awards – Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station | Brian's Coffee Spot

  8. Pingback: 2015 Awards – Best Breakfast | Brian's Coffee Spot

  9. Pingback: 2015 Awards – Special Award | Brian's Coffee Spot

  10. Pingback: 2015 Awards – Happiest Staff | Brian's Coffee Spot

  11. Pingback: London Coffee Festival 2016: Round-up | Brian's Coffee Spot

  12. Pingback: London Coffee Festival 2016: Coffee | Brian's Coffee Spot

  13. Pingback: Coffee Spot Awards 2015: Winners | Brian's Coffee Spot

  14. Pingback: Caffeine Magazine | Brian's Coffee Spot

  15. Pingback: Coffee Spot Awards 2016 | Brian's Coffee Spot

  16. Pingback: 2016 Awards – Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station | Brian's Coffee Spot

  17. Pingback: CanDo Coffee, Merchant Square | Brian's Coffee Spot

  18. Pingback: Fade To Black | Brian's Coffee Spot

  19. Pingback: CanDo Coffee, Paddington | Brian's Coffee Spot

  20. Pingback: Electric Coffee Co., Goldhawk Road | Brian's Coffee Spot

  21. Pingback: Electric Coffee Co., Goldhawk Road (COVID-19) – Coffee Demo

Please let me know what you think. Guidelines for comments are in the "Posts" drop-down menu.