Get your caffeine fix: Explore coffee shops close to SOAS

If you need a coffee pick-me-up to get you through a busy day of lectures and studying, MA student Lilly is here to introduce the best coffee spots near the SOAS campus.

The defining lifestyle of any university student, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, can be summed up as follows: stifled yawns, syrup-slow blinks, and, for the most unfortunate of us, headaches made of hammers. But at the risk of sounding particularly swotty (yeah, I’m picking up British lingo!), I must admit, I’ve never been happier to be so tired. 

My chronic exhaustion feels not only justified but almost trivial, thanks to my fantastic classes and genuinely fascinating readings. Nevertheless, sleep deprivation cannot be cured by a lecture or a tutorial, no matter how engaging they may be. So, for those struggling to stay awake, I offer you the water of life: coffee.

The next time you find yourself in the SOAS neighbourhood in Bloomsbury, London, check out one of these local coffee spots to get your fix:

Project 68

If you’re on your way to King’s Cross or St. Pancras, this cute, cosy café is the perfect pit-stop for your commute. The selection of pastries is small but tempting—as a Dane, I can attest that the Blueberry Danish is particularly lovely—and their espresso blend is one of my favourites.

Redemption Roasters 

This coffee shop chain has an unconventional, powerful mission: to reduce reoffending through speciality coffee. In short, they support and train prison leavers by helping them find employment. Their Bloomsbury location was actually the very first Redemption site!

Burr & Co. London

For fans of ambience and aesthetics, Burr & Co. offers a Victorian-inspired coffee house experience. Since it’s connected to a restaurant, a hotel, and smack dab in an academic hub, it attracts students, tourists, and coffee aficionados alike.

Fatty Cat 

Located in The Brunswick Centre, Fatty Cat is an artisan Asian bakery perfect for those looking for a good pastry with their cup of joe. I’m especially fond of their batch brew coffee, though I’m still in the midst of taste-testing their wide range of sweet treats.

Store Street Espresso

I’m always a sucker for a two-story coffee shop, and Store Street Espresso isn’t just a good spot for caffeine, but it’s perfect for study sessions whether you’re working solo or meeting friends. The fact that it’s just a stone’s throw away from the Senate House is also wonderfully convenient.

Now, I’m not trying to promote the sleep-starved lifestyle, but hopefully, these comforting doses of our beloved bean juice will help us keep us energised as mornings grow frostier and afternoons dimmer this winter. Until Spring arrives, may your yawns be few and your days be caffeinated!