It took a while, but speciality coffee has reached Canary Wharf, and, having got here, it’s not going away. There are now two branches of both Taylor Street Baristas (Canary Wharf and South Quay) and coffee shop/roaster, Notes. Although I’ve already written about Notes in Crossrail Place, today’s Coffee Spot, on the concourse of Canary Wharf tube station, was the first I came across when, back in September, I innocently wandered through the ticket barriers and thought “ooh, look, a Notes”.

Sadly I only had my phone, which wasn’t up to adequately photographing somewhere which is entirely underground. It was only last week that I was able to return, proper camera in hand, at a time when there weren’t customers queuing out of the door!

Although small (and with no seats), the Canary Wharf Notes thinks it’s just as big and important as its much larger siblings. While there’s no wine or beer, there are impressive breakfast and lunch menus, a good selection of cake and coffee-kit/beans for sale. The coffee’s what it’s all about though: serving only single-origins, all roasted in-house, there’s espresso plus bulk-brew, and, surprisingly, Canary Wharf consistently serves the best coffee that I’ve had at Notes.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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The first of two (for now?) branches of Notes at Canary Wharf, it’s located on the left-hand side of the station concourse, just before the ticket barriers (unless you’ve arrived by tube, when it’s on the right, just past the ticket barriers). There’s not a lot to Notes, just a counter running along the back of a long, thin unit, which is entirely glass-fronted. This is just as well, since there’s no natural light, other than what spills in down the (very long) escalators and into the soaring concourse, its ceiling high above you.

The doors are at the left, pitching you up next to the first of two espresso machines. Long and narrow, you order at the far end and it can sometimes be a bit of a dance to get past the waiting crowds. Once at the far end, you can also pick up a cake or a sandwich, but then it’s back to the espresso machines to wait for your coffee and shuffle around to let everyone else pass. It could really do with another door (entrance) to the right, leaving the original (on the left) as an exit. It would improve the flow no end.

Although small, this Notes is the most coffee-focused I’ve been in. While I’ve enjoyed my coffee at other Notes, such as King’s Cross and Crossrail Place, it can be a bit hit-and-miss. Canary Wharf, however, has nailed it every time I’ve been there. I’m not sure why this is; perhaps, because it can be so busy, the best baristas get sent there, or maybe it just has the most coffee-obsessed staff (they’re super-friendly by the way). Regardless of the reason, the consistency has been excellent.

As well as espresso (one single-origin, plus a Square Mile decaf), Canary Wharf has a choice of three or four single-origins on the bulk-brewer. While at other Notes I’ve sometimes struggled to work out what coffee is on, at Canary Wharf, the beans are chalked up on a blackboard. The espresso changes every month or so, while the filters are rotated in small batches throughout the day.

On my first visit, I had the perfect flat white, smooth and at just the right temperature. The wonderfully-steamed milk held the amazing latte art to bottom of cup. I also had a traditional cappuccino, although other than being 20p cheaper, I’m not sure what the difference was! The milk might have been slightly foamier, but nevertheless it was very smooth and equally delicious! Both were made with an Ethiopian single-origin. On my return, I had an equally impressive flat white made with a Guatemalan single-origin. If I worked at Canary Wharf I’d be down there every day!

December 2015: Notes won the 2015 Coffee Spot Award for Best Takeaway Coffee and was a runner-up for the 2015 Award for Best Coffee Spot near a Railway Station.

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