Press Coffee began life as The Fleet Street Press in 2013, although I didn’t visit until 2014. Since then, it has started roasting its own coffee, as well as steadily expanding, first in the neighbourhood around the Inns of Court, then moving further west. It currently has six outlets, including the subject of today’s Saturday Short, its coffee counter in Victoria Market Hall, just opposite Victoria Station, an area now packed with good coffee, although it wasn’t always that way.
Press Coffee is at the far end of the ground floor, although you’re welcome to take your coffee anywhere within the building, including the roof-top terrace. There’s a seasonal single-origin on espresso and another on batch brew, plus tea and a small range of cakes and toasted sandwiches. That said, you do have all 11 of the market’s kitchens at your disposal, plus three bars, so you won’t go hungry!
You can read more of my thoughts after the gallery.
Regular readers will know my love for coffee shops in markets/food halls, so I was predisposed towards Press Coffee’s latest outlet, which opened, along with the market, in November 2018. Located directly opposite the front of Victoria Station, on the other side of the bus station, there’s a second, less obvious, entrance on Victoria Street, which leads, via a short corridor, to the back of the ground floor.
By moving into Victoria, Press Coffee joins a busy coffee scene, with fellow newcomers such as Coffee Addict and Hermanos, more established names in the Nova development (Notes, Sourced Market, Timmy Green and Crosstown Doughnuts) and old hands like Flat Cap and Iris & June.
Victoria Market Hall spreads over three floors, including the roof-top terrace. The Victoria Station entrance is in the middle of the ground floor, which is about three times as wide as it is deep. Communal seating, provided by picnic-style tables with benches/stools, is in front of you and to your left, while a large, open staircase on the right leads to the second floor.
The sides are lined by various food outlets, while off to the left, at the far end, Press Coffee occupies a single, long counter, split in two by a thin, central pillar. The cake and till are to its left, with the drinks menu on a full height door (which gives staff access to the counter) on the left-hand end. To the right, the La Marzocco Strada espresso machine is joined by the batch brewers for the filter coffee.
Pleasingly, Press Coffee has proper cups for those who sit in, so I treated myself to an espresso, made with the Brazilian single-origin. This was a little acidic for my tastes, but beautifully pulled on the Strada. I was there late on a Friday afternoon (17:45), so it was very much a quick coffee before dashing across the road to catch my train, making Press Coffee a very good pre-train (or post-arrival) option.
It was very loud and bustling downstairs, which I’d expect early on a Friday evening, although I didn’t have time to explore, which was a shame. It’s also worth noting that while the market itself stays open until 23:00, Press Coffee stops serving at 18:00.
191 VICTORIA STREET • VICTORIA • LONDON • SW1E 5NE | ||||
https://presscoffee.london | +44 (0) 20 3773 9350 | |||
Monday | 07:00 – 18:30 | Roaster | Press Coffee Roasters (espresso + filter) | |
Tuesday | 07:00 – 18:30 | Seating | Tables, Rooftop Terrace | |
Wednesday | 07:00 – 18:30 | Food | Cake, Toasted Sandwiches | |
Thursday | 07:00 – 18:30 | Service | Counter | |
Friday | 07:00 – 18:30 | Payment | Cards + Cash | |
Saturday | 10:00 – 18:30 | Wifi | N/A | |
Sunday | 10:00 – 18:30 | Power | N/A | |
Chain | Local | Visits | 19th July 2019 | |
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.
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