As I powered through the 23 degrees heat in London, frantically looking for a phone charger the sudden need for something overwhelmed me. A desire so strong that it stopped me in my tracks. My body ached for it. Throbbing, too painful to ignore. I just needed it.
A cuppa. I needed a cup of coffee. Damn, that was the worst headache ever.
Okay, so I've lived in London for around 8 months now, and the best thing about it is by far the extortionate amount of one off or unpopular - in which I mean they were simply unknown to me - coffee shops and cafes. After I fulfilled my mission to buy a new phone charger, I then wandered around looking for a cute coffee shop I hadn't been to.
Electric Coffee Co.
Lets be honest; this coffee shop was recommended to me. It's tucked away just to the side of Ealing Broadway tube station and you wouldn't know what it was unless you had a good ol' neb*. Which, despite knowing where to look, I did anyway.From the outside, it's definitely the plain Jane of coffee chains. While there was no typical sign for the shop drawing the public in, there was a subtle logo and name on the corner of the window, which made up pretty much the entire front of the building.
Intrigued by the simplicity of it all, I stepped inside and looked at what was available. The simplified decor was mirrored in the menu. Disappointed in the lack of choice of beverages, I went for my usual - a mocha - and turned my eye to the food. Here however, they had a lot more to offer apposed to the normal cake and sandwich selection you get in bigger chains. The food all looked delicious, however, being a brainwashed drone that I am, I went for the safe option and got a hummus and salad 'homemade' sarnie.
When placing my order, the staff were really friendly and engaged in light conversation, which frankly improved my overall experience as in my opinion, friendly banter with staff really does make all the difference. They were pleasant and polite, handing my over a wooden spoon with a number on it as my table number. I loved this; not once have I gone to a coffee shop and been given a spoon as if I was out for pub grub. It was a memorable characteristic, along side what I think were potato sacks as cushion covers, which were surprisingly comfortable.The whole atmosphere was relaxed and the staff continuously engaged with costumers ensuring all there needs were met. At this point, mine were. The headache was successfully gone and the food was tasty! The home made sandwich actually tasted genuinely freshly home made, it was full of flavour and the bread, oh the bread. One member of staff actually offered a customer, who I assume was a regular, a different coffee as she had tried something new and didn't like it. That's good customer service.
100% recommend if you're looking for some relaxing time to yourself.
"On the whole, it was all very good. I'll go back there again."
*Neb: A lot of people when I use this term have no idea what it means, people out of the North East of course. It simply means being nosey, have a nose, a look around. Y'know?
