Browns of Brockley makes Time Out's Best Coffee Map
Time Out has just released its exhaustive study of London's coffee outlets, with Browns of Brockley and Exchange Coffee in Lewisham the only listed options further south east than London Bridge. The overall winner for the southern region was Monmouth, in Borough. But here's what they said about Lewisham's champions:
Browns of Brockley
A special treat in the form of espresso brewed from San Francisco-based Bluebottle Company beans is a change from the usual... We would have liked its flat white to have had equal verve – it didn’t discern itself much from a regular latte, lacking slightly in body. We give barista Ross extra points for bringing out the deliciously addictive butterscotch and hazelnut flavours in the blend.
Exchange Coffee
This coffee stall, pitched on Saturdays at Lewisham’s chaotic street market, is the area’s source of gloriously crafted Monmouth coffees (owners Lynsey Harley and Neil Le Bihan both used to work at Monmouth). The espresso is meticulously extracted, with strong malty-chocolatey notes typical of the Monmouth house, and a latte is creamy and topped with a perfect rosetta. These two are fanatical about latte art (Neil recently took first place at the UK Latte Art championships, with Lynsey collecting bronze).
Given south east London's consistently low-profile on London's culinary radar, it's good to see Brockley building a growing reputation for quality food and drink.
The Time Out London Coffee Map:
View in Google Maps
58 comments:
We would have liked its flat white to have had equal verve
what does that mean?!
good to see a down to earth lewisham market coffee stall arguably getting the best review of all south east london - a triumph of substance over form
As I understood it Neil works for Browns aswell so pretty much a clean sweep for them!
I didn't even know Brown's sold coffee.
FANTATIC NEWS!!!!
R
Wow thats great news.....
I was reading about them here the other day...
http://jamfaced.blogspot.com/2010/02/neil-le-bihan-2010-uk-latte-art.html
Well Done.. will have come and visit both to try the coffee.
Off topic, is anyone else finding that when they go to the BC homepage, the screen flips you down to the "Major new housing development proposed for west side" article rather than remaining at the top?
Yes, all very well - but is it free trade organic?
@ Anon. Yes - presumably the Google street scene of Mantle Road has the gravitational effect of a virtual black hole.
And - on topic - really pleased for Browns. Ross deserves it if only for introducing me to the Christmas Pudding Ice Cream that he had in.
Catman - think you forgot to post that anonomously.
Love Detective - you can't really big up the 'down to earth Lewisham market coffee stall' as if it is a working man's caff in a sea of middle class foppishness. Sounds like the only difference between it and Browns are solid walls.
Well done to Browns!
Just finished off a lovely batch of Monmouth espresso I got for Xmas; will have to try Browns next week.
I'm sorry but what utter cock. Ground coffee is all the same once you pay £2.50 a bag or more and use a proper machine to make it.
The same? You must be making your coffee badly to think it all tastes the same.
I like the way the Time Out guy bangs on about milky coffee, probably still searching for that primary school hit.
I thought Browns was meant to be a deli, is it now a coffee shop? Because there's already the Broca next door, and if it's a coffee shop then why is it not open at all in the afternoon?
it sells food and coffee
"Love Detective - you can't really big up the 'down to earth Lewisham market coffee stall' as if it is a working man's caff in a sea of middle class foppishness. Sounds like the only difference between it and Browns are solid walls."
if you'd had read my post you'd have seen I was 'bigging up' a triumph of substance over form
Danja, on the contrary, I must be making it properly.
If you are making it properly and can't even tell the difference between something as basic as, say, a columbian medium roast and a javan dark roast, you must be lacking some taste buds.
...he's lacking something that's for sure..
I've been to the one in Lewisham. They are indeed good. They are by the clock tower if anyone wants to check them out. They sell eco-friendly reusable takeaway coffee mugs too.
James
There's a huge variation in the taste of coffee at different outlets. Hugh, your taste buds are shot.
Hugh has possibly had some sort of training to be a barrister, not a barista.
show me the door please.
AAAARRGH, definitely time to get your coat, Monty. Also the 'pun of the month' award.
Does Time Out have a Best Pizza Map? If so, which pizza place in this area should feature?
Any responses may have very practical implications for me within the next hour or so.
@ Rumbling Tum: Franco Manca in Brixton Market has bee voted Best Pizza repeatedly - and I have been there on a few occasions when they have sold out of pizzas before closing time! Have heard that there is a very good pizza place in Catford, not sure where though. Some friends in Telegraph Hill recommend Firezza but the borders of their delivery zone mean they don't cover much of our area.
We are hoping Lynsey and Neil will be at The Brockley Max on 5 June on Hilly Fields.
Costa Smeralda in Nunhead. Recently opened doing good Italian and pizza delivery.
Being a kiwi (co-inventors of the flat white) I bemoaned the lack of decent flat whites in the UK to Ross one morning shortly before me and the Mrs went on our extended honeymoon. The lovely man then dished me out a superb effort free of charge... We left a couple of days later and I felt a bit guilty I couldn't repay his generosity. Ross, You'll have my daily coffee order when I'm back in May!
PS. The coffee in Chile is rubbish ...
Thanks for the pizza recommendations - I couldn't hang on long enough so went for the old standby - Planet Pizza (which isn't bad compared with the likes of Dominic's). Costa Smerelda certainly sounds like it's worth trying.
Dominic's pizza is very good.
we were waiting for that one!
They should have gone to the Brockley Mess too - coffee there is sublime. The worst? I would rate some of the barristas at M&S in Lewisham for serving some of the worst cappucinos in the world. They don't seem know the difference between a latte and a cappucino at all and I've often had to complain.
"They don't seem know the difference between a latte and a cappucino at all and I've often had to complain."
Hahaha Kate. My Middle Class Hell, part #412. :-)
it's tough out there
Glad to see browns and the exchange getting the praise they deserve! Great coffee, made by talented people, not just the standard shitty bitter coffee that is the norm around the area.
Tried Browns for coffee on Saturday with the other half......Wow!! very impressed. We usually go to Broca but I have to say that I thought the coffee was a cut above in Browns.
Also bought some bacon - not had it yet but looking forward to trying it!
I used to think that coffee was a nasty, gritty and bitter drink that gave me the shakes until I was served an amazing latte in Browns by Neil and was instantly enlightened.
I now go there every day and to The Exchange on Saturdays too.
We are very lucky to have such skilled, dedicated and downright nice people as Ross, Neil and Linsey on our doorsteps.
The Broca heat their soup with the steam wand of their La Marzocco...
yeah i seen that once, put me off for life!
Went to browns today, had an amazing mushroom and cheese muffin, and the coffee, was quite simply sublime!!
Also, went to visit the stall at lewisham last week, the coffee was brilliant, really puts a smile on my face when i get served coffee which is made by skilled people.
i love the broca for many things, but their coffee isn't one of them. Blame me, maybe, for ordering a latte (clue in the name?) but in their hands it really is a bowl of warm brown milk. Will try Browns ASAP.
And you have to ask for it but Ross still has some of the Christmas Pudding Ice Cream...
Hot Gossip: Browns has the signwriter's/stencillers in.
Hi Headhunter! I dropped you an email in response to something you sent me on Bikeradar (about a million years ago), sorry I didn't get back sooner but I'm hoping to get back cycling a lot more this summer. So if you fancy going on any bike rides please let me know.
Pete
somethings going down at Browns....I'm actually a bit ambivalent (or 'meh' in modern txt/Internet speak) about coffee. Perhaps I'll get a cup tomoz and see if I can be enthused.
If it was tea, could you be infused?
Another big up for Browns. Really like their new signage - makes that row od shops look great, and their coffee is miles ahead of anything else in Brockers. Well done to everyone at Brown's.
Well done to all at Brown's. Really like their new signage and their coffee is miles ahead of any other coffee in Brockers. Good job guys.
thanks! there is one more day of varnishing to go before it's complete and i'm very happy with it. it was done by richard ex-jamcircus now royal albert fames' girlfriend, helen. it's the first shop sign she's ever done.
Went in today. Yummy mummy- check, bloke in skinny jeans and jarvis cocker glasses - check, bloke on mac laptop - check. Bought a capuchino, a cream cheese and smoked salmon bagel. Very nice, my scepasism is retreating. Hope Ross succeeds, very small though - will he get the turnover?
(made up the lap top bloke but my story reads better with three examples)
Went to the exchange coffee stall in lewisham today, totally blown away, FANTASTIC!!
The bloke mentioned I should try Browns, which I did afterwards, and had a delicious bagel.
both are such a great example of quality tasty products.
@Monkeyboy, there's almost always a mac user, he must have been on his break when you went.
As Ross, my better half has been painting all week out in the cold - I think the sign is fantastic for a first attempt, hope others like it.
Helped out on the exchangecoffee stall today - chuffed to see how many people knew their coffee and appreciated what they're doing. Learned loads and got very cold toes.
i'm not your better half.
The sign is great.
Ross, you are correct, Helen is, I'm very embarassed. You're something else entirely.
A bromance
Off topic, is anyone else finding that when they go to the BC homepage, the screen flips you down to the "Major new housing development proposed for west side" article rather than remaining at the top?
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