% ARABICA London Covent Garden

%Arabica Opens London Coffee Shops in Covent Garden and Broadway Market | Eater London

"Located at 5 King Street in Covent Garden, this new outpost pairs a bright, white interior and exterior that makes the brown of its cups and coffee and the black logo pop — an aesthetic clearly primed for Instagram — with carefully made drinks. Early-service offerings include a sweet espresso and a silky flat white that uses a slightly more developed, darker roast than many London speciality cafés to good effect. The café bustles, running two machines to cope with high volume, and uses custom-made Slayer espresso machines from Seattle — equipment that gives baristas highly adjustable controls to 'craft' drinks but can sacrifice speed and reliability at peak times. The brand also sells striking lifestyle merchandise (water bottles, tote bags, backpacks and even sneakers); while Covent Garden's captive tourist audience should help initially, the question is whether the coffee will become part of Londoners' daily routines." - James Hansen