Caffe Vergnano 1882

If you’re looking for a decent independent coffee shop in the heart of central London then look no further.
The Shop As a Whole:
First things first is the location of the coffee shop. Situated on Charing Cross Road and only a moments walk away from Leicester Square tube station and slightly but still accessibly close to Tottenham Court Road tube station this coffee shop could not be located anywhere better. Ideal if you want to have a sit down and a coffee after wandering around town as well as ideal if coffee is your first thought before the real shopping begins.
The shop in general is tiny. Has around about 3 to 4 small square tables that sit 2 people at a time and a tiny cushion area around the back where it can sit 4 to 5 people max, so, you’re always taking a chance when visiting. Although the shop is tiny, the customer count is not the same which shows it’s popularity, but like I mentioned, that all reduces your chances of a seat.
In general there is a calm atmosphere, few photos or inscriptions dotted around but no real ooomph to the design and ambience, however, they do make it up with their coffee as well as customer service.
Coffee and Customer service:
I must say that I’ve been here only twice, but, when I was thinking about a coffee shop in town that was not a chain I thought of this one. Why? Because of the customer service as well as the coffee (more points to the coffee though)
Customer service is a vital aspect in small niche venues as well as large scale ones due to the fact that it keeps visitors coming back and personally although this shop is not gleeming with it, it still has the friendly, smiley and engaging barista… What more could one ask for?
The coffee on the other hand speaks quality. Best tip when trying a new coffee shop is to not add any sugar or sweetness to the coffee (unless included) as you’ll get the full effect and I must say that this coffee shop has great quality coffee. Carefully made with their state of the art machines and well trained batistas you’ll recieve your cappuccino with the signature love heart design, but, they don’t just sprinkle the chocolate on top sporadically, their logo is embedded in your coffee, which I must say is a great idea as it leaves you remembering them after.
**One of my favourite coffee shops due to the good quality coffee. I dare say not that their cakes disappoint as they do look scrumptious but I’m yet to try and review them. Lost a star based on basic design and also the lack of space, but overall, still worth a visit**

Coffee here is great, and it’s one of the nicer places for a chilled afternoon meet-​up in Waterloo. The place goes all the way back under the railway lines, but I find the back feels much more like a restaurant which is a bit of a waste.

I went in because they said it was the best espresso in London. NOT A CHANCE. IN FACT, NOT EVEN CLOSE!
It was normal, to be generous. They pull it from a cool-​looking old fashioned espresso machine, but in the end I get the impression that it’s just a fake-​copper cover on a rather crappy modern machine. Espresso tasted a bit burnt-​bland, if that makes sense, and there’s not much more to the place.
Not worth a longer review. Go to a Café Nero instead and you’ll be MUCH happier.

Another joint off my coffee bucket list crossed off!
I had the cappuccino freddo, which is essentially an iced cappuccino with this lovely, mousse-​y frothed milk topping that made everything brilliant. The coffee is balanced well and the baristas are quite capable — and very efficient.
Only problem is that, like every other coffee chain, they cut corners on iced drinks by giving you a TON of ice. With coffee/​espresso drinks, I understand the need to cool the hot espresso shots immediately, but I don’t particularly like paying for that much ice. That may be more of a corporate strategy thing or what have you, but I do love it when shops give me a proper amount of what I’m asking for, and not frozen water.

Popped in here for a quick coffee stop while waiting for my boyfriend in the bookstore next door. Seemed like a cool coffee place and their sign reads «best espresso in London» so I figured why not.
I asked for a flat white and the barista replied they don’t make that. She then told me I could get a macchiato or a latte instead as they are comparable to a flat white. I personally do not agree with that at all. She was also quite rude about it, like I had offended her by trying to order something they don’t offer on the menu. I’ve been to plenty of coffee shops where they will make you a drink not listed all you need to do is ask.
I also don’t really understand why they wouldn’t make a flat white… because it’s not an italian style of coffee? I guess they are going for strictly italian café, no Aussie/​UK style allowed.
Since it wasnt crowded and I still wanted coffee I just ordered the latte. It was actually very good and enjoyable. But I won’t be back because they don’t offer my favourite drink.

Mind blown. Hands down the best coffee, latte, etc I’ve ever had anywhere. Staff were friendly and quickly put together my order. Ruined any other coffee product for the future however. New benchmark set. Worth it. I’m going tomorrow at least twice… Probably more. Maybe I’ll just hang out in the area all day and get one every hour until my brain explodes due to all the caffeine and awesome.

An Italian friend sent me here for espresso claiming that the coffee was very good.
So a short review to say that she’s right :-) excellent espresso, probably one of the nicest in town.
As for the food, except a small delicious chocolate cake, no clue about the rest so i won’t give any opinion on that :-)

I fancied an espresso as I was walking past this place this morning and went in on the basis of the posted outside ‘best espresso in London’ so I tried it an was not disappointed. Tasted great, under £2 and set me up nicely for the day.

I have *opinions* about coffee. Strong enough opinions that I ought to shell out for a serious espresso machine and make my own. Instead, I often end up going to Nero or Starbucks, where what you’ll get is far from transcendent but at least somewhat consistent, as long as the milk isn’t scalded. I’d always prefer to support a smaller business or a local shop, but have been burned (literally and figuratively) more often than I’ve been rewarded for it.
Enter: Café Vergnano 1882
I had my first sip of this perfect cappuccino, turned to my partner, and stuttered something incoherent, by which I meant «This is the best coffee I’ve had in London». Smooth in flavour and texture, beautifully finished with a rosetta and their signature 1882 stamp in cocoa powder, and steamed to a temperature that brings out the best in the milk. The only problem with the temperature was that the heat didn’t prevent me from downing the whole thing pretty fast!

Vergnano sits in tourist hell, right next to Leicester Square, but it’s not the sort of place you’d see from a distance and pop into like you would a Starbucks or a Nero; I had to have it pointed out to me (by someone from out of town!) before I found out about it. Maybe this is why it usually (not always) has a space free for me and whoever I’m indoctrinating this time around.
Everyone I have ever brought to this place — including super coffee nerds — has said the coffee is amazing. If you want a meal in a mug, have the hot chocolate; it’s practically chewable. They no longer do the square of delicious chocolate, but nonetheless, it’s a great place to have in your pocket when you’re in the area. Dropping by like it’s no biggie is a pro move.

Good for a coffee and nibble, every now and then, but to be honest, a little too dear for a frequent haunt.
I adore the Willy Wonka style coffee machine and the coffee quality is indeed superb, but I find the cost and the lack of atmosphere (it feels a little like a waiting room), off-​putting.
I have to say I like the little chocolate they give you with your coffee, although my waist would disagree.
There are some lovely little coffee shops not that far away, so the reason why I rate this so low is because I’d prefer to go to these, but it’s worth a visit if your close by and need a good cup of coffee in a hurry and not a sit-​down!

I love a place that serves me water when I order an espresso and in a cute tiny glass as well! #win
Coffee is amazing (and not in a ‘yea, starbucks’ way) and I love the people watching potential here as well.
I would give it 5 star but when I want it was so tourist is annoyed me. I know it’s not the venue’s fault (what with it’s location and all) but I want it all to myself!

Absolutely amazing coffee!
I don’t exactly remember what the barista told me to order, but she recommended I get a certain coffee drink. I finished that cup so fast! It was so good; the baristas are sweet; ambiance is lovely and the smell of freshly ground coffee beans lingers around the whole shop.

Not bad, but not nearly as brilliant as the classic chocolate-​written «1882» text atop your latte would suggest. Still, it’s a worth a stop if you’re walking by.
The vintage espresso machine inside is also pretty badass.

As others have mentioned before, the service at Caffe Vergnano is truly awful. At best, expect to be ignored — on a bad day, the staff are outright rude.
That said, the hot chocolate served here is by far the best in town. That, and the convenient (if tourist-​y) location are the reasons for the two stars. For better service, just try anywhere else; for better coffee, try Bar Italia on Frith Street.

Sure, this place is tiny, pricey, and in a crowded and touristy part of town. But it has the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had, hands down. It’s so good, I literally dream about the next time I can have it. It’s thick, rich, and horribly unhealthy. But that doesn’t stop me from ordering a large, sitting by the window, and watching everyone rushing by outside.

They have definitely the most impressing and coolest coffee machine I’ve ever seen. Although I don’t know how practical this silver rocket actually is, it looks interesting!
The coffee was good and the food I had there was also okay. The staff was also friendly and nice. So basically everything is fine. Everything? Not quite … as I can confirm what I read in a review here: the atmosphere feels quite commercial and for that it’s not a place you really enjoy staying for too long.
So, if you’re just after a quick coffee, you can safely go there. If you’re looking for a place to have a nice time, to read something, and also to drink a coffee, there are definitely better places around in London.

I feel naughty going against the trend with this review, but I’ve had better coffee experiences.
The coffee machine is AMAZING, it was cute I guess. Feels strange to call a machine cute but it’s true. The staff articulated a performance which indicated to me that they were going to balls my coffee up, they did not seem particularly motivated to give even the impression of good customer service. However, it all turned out ok and I handed over my £2 for a small cappuccino, complete with 1882 inscribed in chocolate!
The coffee was strong and smooth, probably the best tasting I’ve had. However, it was luke warm which kind of ruined it, I wish I’d complained but I’m British and got scared.
Would I return? Yes, but I wouldn’t bust a gut to get here.

The coffee here is very good, and I visit here a lot, however the atmosphere of the coffee shop seems quite commercial, so you don’t feel inclined to sit there for longer than it takes to finish the coffee.
I’ve been to other branches which are a little better, but still 4 stars overall.

This café was «voted best coffee shop in London 2005». They claim this on the board outside. So I went and I tried. I had a mocha which is the best I’ve tried. Although what I was comparing it to, was those hideous, chain store mochas made with powdered chocolate. They use real chocolate sauce and the coffee is rich but not dominating.
The accompanying toasted Panini was very average, so I guess it’s the coffee that’s the winner. It’s a small shop — not easy to procure a table but cosy if you do. The staff range from sometimes friendly, sometimes not. Artwork on the walls are clippings on why they make the best coffee and reviews. Never a lack of reading material.
They have recently opened a shop with accompanying restaurant at the South Bank. It’s a completely different experience. The mocha I ordered was lukewarm and they gave me some pretentiousness rubbish about «milk should only be 45 degrees».
Think I’ll stick to Charing Cross branch.