Gwilym Davies' Coffee Cart, nr Columbia Road, London

The ever-popular Gwilym Davies won the UK Barista Championship in 2009, then flew to Atlanta and - to the delight of his fans back home - picked up the title of World Barista Champion. 

You might expect to find him behind a swish coffee bar, or running a prestigious roastery (like 2007 World Champion, James Hoffman).  In fact, Gwilym can be found in the corner of a flea market behind Columbia Road, running a nameless coffee cart.

I was delighted to meet Gwilym, despite torrential rain trying persistently to dampen my spirits.  I also had the pleasure of bumping into James of Square Mile (see above).  It was Square Mile coffee in Gwilym's world-beating cups, and the same roastery supplies the beans for Gwilym's cart. 

The coffee was wonderful - even my non-coffee-drinking girlfriend thought so.  It is extracted from the same machine that helped Gwilym to his world title. 

This is the humble setting for the best barista in the world, and a wonderful testament to the quality of coffee in London and the UK.  It was a pleasure to meet those involved.

This isn't a coffee shop, and it's not cosy.  Sometimes there are queues, and it might not be Gwilym pulling the shots.  But it's well worth a visit for those readers who favour great coffee over comfy sofas.

NB: Sundays 8am - 2pm only! 

Gwilym is a hard man to track down.  To find him at other times check out the "Tracking World Barista Champion Gwilym Davies" article at the excellent Young And Foodish blog.

Gwilym Davies' Coffee Cart
7B Ezra Street
nr Columbia Road Flower Market
London
E2 7RH

Sundays 8am - 2pm only!