We often assume that British people drink only tea and know little about coffee.
But anyone who has lived here long enough to explore the city will have come to realize that coffee in London has little to do with that of chains.
Coffee in London is actually taken very seriously, so much so that a festival entirely dedicated to this fine blend famous throughout the world for its scent and its natural properties has been organised.
And if you too are among those who just can't do without this precious drink, you can't miss its biggest celebration in the UK: the London Coffee Festival.
Producers, consumers and coffee lovers meet at this festival, always organised in April, to create a unique event which combines music performances, art exhibitions, coffee tastings and demonstrations by the best baristas in the world.
This is because in recent years British people have begun to look at coffee with a different eye, the market has realized the importance of a certain demand, producers have stopped being satisfied and have begun to look for new formulas with which to create blends with a different scent.
As it has already happened for beer, for example, this country has begun to give space to the pioneers of a new movement that celebrates a new form of craftsmanship.
After all, it is enough to walk the streets of London to realize how much the coffee scene has changed in recent years, increasingly favoring the opening of independent cafés to promote coffee as almost a lifestyle.
They are called coffee-lovers and the reason is soon explained.
Behind the birth of so many activities related to the precious blend, there is a real love that is transformed into extreme care, from the choice of coffee beans to use, to the final result, sometimes small real works of art.
Often associated with sport or perhaps with commercial activities and a healthy lifestyle, the most famous drink in the world is revived in a new splendour.
Going for a coffee is no longer the desire to satisfy a need, going for a coffee has become cool.
There are competitions all over the country to name the best baristas and you'll meet them all here at the London Coffee Festival.
It is a different way to spend the weekend, among hundreds of stands of food, drinks and sweets to taste which will not leave your palate disappointed.
Five years ago, coffee drinkers in London were limited to big chains or cups of instant coffee. Now the capital's independent café scene is thriving and there is no better way than the London Coffee Festival to judge for yourself.
While tea remains the historic national drink, coffee is fast becoming the hot drink of choice in Britain, with London at the center of the blossoming cult of the bitter drink.
The festival consists of four days of a caffeine binge: the London Coffee Festival is divided into eight zones, including tastings, demonstrations by the best baristas from around the world, competitions, music, street food and much more. It's not just about the beloved coffee beans, the festival area is home to some of the best acoustic talent the London music scene has to offer.
An artisan market is dedicated to delicious food for purchase, such as typical cheeses, cured meats and bread, while a street food market serves hot dishes to be consumed immediately. And obviously the favorite cold drink of the English population, the BEER, cannot be missing! Craft beers and typical foods, such as pulled pork and Benedict eggs, are ever-present.
London coffee scene is changing*
