It really is a small world. Three weeks ago, I finally returned to Walthamstow to visit Wood St Coffee. Along the way, I popped in to see Froth & Rind, which, it turns out, is on Orford Road, next door to Wood St’s previous location. And then there’s the subject of today’s Coffee Spot, Dudley’s, who I visited at the recommendation of Wood St’s baristas. And where is Dudley’s? On Wood Street, of course, just a little way down from Wood Street Market, the original home of Wood St Coffee. A small world indeed.

Dudley’s only opened in March, but has already established itself as a firm neighbourhood favourite and it’s easy to see why. There’s a friendly welcome from the staff, plus plenty of seating, including a cosy second room. The coffee is from old friends, Assembly, with its seasonal espresso joined by a single-origin on batch brew through the Moccamaster, all served from a concise coffee menu. Dudley’s also has an interesting brunch menu, which is served until 3pm, with everything prepared in the open kitchen behind the counter. Finally, if you want something sweet, a selection of pastries, muffins and banana bread is available all day long.

You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.

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Dudley’s is at the eastern end of Walthamstow, a mere two-minute walk north of Wood Street Station, so easily accessible by train. Except on the Saturday of my visit, when engineering works had suspended the London Overground service, so I went by bus. Except that thanks to Saturday afternoon traffic and the roadworks in the centre of Walthamstow, and despite setting off at 14:30, my journey from St James Street took an hour. So, by the time that I arrived, the kitchen had closed, and I missed out on brunch. And, as you can probably tell, I’m still annoyed about it. And just to rub salt into the wound, I’d have been in time if I’d walked…

However you get there, you’ll find Dudley’s on the eastern side of Wood Street at the junction with Brandon Road, although the door, which is right on the corner, shows no favouritism, being at 45° to both. From the street, Dudley’s looks pretty small, with just a single window on Brandon Road and three more along Wood Street. However, once you step inside, you realise that there’s more to Dudley’s than originally meets the eye, since there’s a cosy sitting room off to the right at the back of the main space.

There’s plenty of seating in the main room too, all arranged around the edges, while the counter is at the back on the right. Immediately to the right of the door is a two-person window-bar with high, wooden stools, where’s it’s joined by a low bench against the short right-hand wall. Ahead of you, four rectangular two-person tables run along a wooden bench under the windows on the left-hand (Wood Street) side.

The counter, a two-part affair, is against the back wall, and extends to the right, making the main room L-shaped. The coffee and till are on the left, with the open kitchen on the right. The espresso machine, a white La Marzocco Linea, faces forward, along with its matching Mythos One and EK43 grinders. The till and cakes, meanwhile, are along the left-hand side, facing Wood Street.

Opposite the counter, against the front wall, is a narrow four-person bar which also doubles as a takeaway station. Rather than sit here, keep going, past the counter and through an open doorway in the right-hand wall, which leads to a similar-sized sitting room.

There’s a broad, wicker seat tucked away on the right, beyond which is a two-person table with chairs. Opposite these, on the left, is an L-shaped bench, with two small, square tables and low stools. Beyond this, the room narrows on the left, which is where you’ll find the toilets, leaving what is in effect an annex at the back, occupied by a five-person table with low stools. It’s not as bright in here as in the main room, with two small windows at the back and another on the left.

Dudley’s is named after the owner’s bulldog, who you’ll meet during the week. Meanwhile, the owner, James, is there pretty much all the time. The coffee is from Assembly, with Dudley’s taking Assembly’s seasonal espresso (currently a Peruvian single-origin) and another single-origin for batch brew, changing the options as and when Assembly change them.

After a day of espresso-based drinks, I went for the offer of a fresh batch brew, a single-origin from Colombia, which turned out to be a lovely, smooth, well-rounded coffee, more than holding its own as it cooled.

If you liked this Coffee Spot, then check out the rest of London’s speciality coffee scene with the Coffee Spot Guide to London.

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