I had high hopes for Prufrock coffee. Since it's a staple in almost every "best coffee in London" article I've read, and given its commitment to certified barista training, it couldn't be otherwise. So, without further ado, here's the verdict you're most likely here for: Prufrock's coffee is good. I had a flat white; didn't grimace once while drinking it, and would happily have it again. Mind you: the reviewers who claim Prufrock's coffee isn't piping hot are absolutely right. A blessing in disguise, as it saved my colleagues from the slew of curses that usually follows the moment I burn my palate with a hasty sip of scalding coffee.
We picked Prufrock somewhat at random: none of us had been there before or knew what it looked like, but we were aware of its fame, and needed a meeting point before an event in Chancery Lane. The fear we'd find a cramped box room, with hardly any seats and a takeaway-only policy, haunted us until we walked in, and found a large, airy space with plenty of tables. Our choice of timing made our breakfast all the more enjoyable: I'm ready to bet Prufrock's morning rush hour is around 8 - 8.30am, wedged between people's commutes and the time to clock in at the office. We arrived shortly before 9, just as the frenzy was dying down and turning into a lively, pleasant atmosphere. I'd sign up for starting every Friday morning in a place like that; the weird and wonderful coffee-making props on the shelves sure make for a more interesting scenery than my overcrowded office kitchen.
As well as different types of coffee, tea and soft drinks, Prufrock also offer a selection of small bites, sweet and savoury breakfast options, and lunch fare to cater for all tastes. The most striking dish I've seen is a thick, large slice of toasted brown bread, topped with two avocado halves, chilli flakes and a good glug of oil. Even though the phrase "savoury breakfast" doesn't exist in my books, I felt pangs of envy at my colleague who was having it.
My pick was a white chocolate and pecan cookie; an obvious choice,
as there's no way I can say no to white chocolate cookies when I see them. Not even when dark chocolate and hazelnut cookies lie right by their side - and that's saying something, as I find it hard to resist hazelnut bakes, too. In hindsight, I should have tried both: stunning as my cookie was (a true delight, with a chewy, buttery dough straight from heaven, and a nutty aftertaste that hit me like the most welcome of surprises), it didn't alleviate my hunger one bit. It was far too small: the teaser trailer to a cookie, the alluring yet empty promise of a fuller pleasure. There should be more substance to a treat this fulfilling; expecting anyone to put up with consuming it in a couple bites is just unreasonable.
It's not just the cookies. The sweet bakes at the counter are all bite-sized; you won't feel content with ordering just one, unless you've eaten a more substantial meal before. The hot breakfasts my colleagues had, from avocado on toast to porridge with poached fruit and nuts, looked much more filling. I briefly thought of trying the granola with yoghurt and fruit compote, but found they'd ran out of it; a puzzling fact, given it was a weekday, and not even 9am.
I shall refer to this as Service Snag Number One - Number Two being speed, Number Three efficiency. Hot drinks took ages to arrive, even though there was no queue at the till; my colleague's tea turned up after fifteen minutes, when she'd already lost all hopes of ever seeing it. Staff members seemed to continuously mix up table numbers, and since we were sitting next to the counter, we had to fend off several offers for stuff we hadn't asked for. The whole thing became quite ridiculous, as we began feeling confused about what we had ordered, and worried we were having hot drinks meant for someone else.
Saying that, I'd choose Prufrock over the far too many chain cafes cluttering the area any time. In fact, I might well trust them with an espresso if I visit again. I'm so fussy with it, I rarely order it the first time I visit a new cafe; I prefer to keep that test for the second date.
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