London Life Coffee Shops

46b espresso hut

July 23, 2012

I’ve been rather busy in the past few months. A big project has just come to an end and the sun has decided to play ball in london. What better time than take a well deserved tina afternoon out on the vespa.

I love when i just grab my camera, head out without a particular destination and get totally lost. I’m relaxed, have no deadline and can just indulge in my curious nature.

Today’s post was meant to be about this little adventure but as i headed back home, something else happened (as it often does on my little excursions). I noticed that i hadn’t eaten much or drank enough water so was looking for somewhere to have a little snack.

I passed a few places that just didn’t take my fancy. I’m particular when it comes to food. I’m interested in locally sourced food, in interesting and creative spaces. When in an unexplored area, i trust my instinct and just follow my nose. Bingo, i found the right place.

Let me introduce you to 46b espresso hut, a most charming coffee shop in Homerton, Hackney. Just passing it with my vespa made me put the brakes on, get off and take a look:

Once inside, i knew i hit the jackpot! It was more a feeling than anything else at that moment but once i started talking to the owners, i knew i had found a gem!

Meet eva and dominic.

Eva, a former fashion photographer, of greek origin, has always had a dream to open a coffee shop. During our brief encounter, she forgot to mention that she’s been a barista for 8 years. Yep, that’s eva all over. Humble and kind.

Dominic, from durham, studied art and is currently curating a show at the centre for recent drawings.

46b espresso hut opened its doors at the end of may this year. The attention to detail is superb. Proud to serve square mile coffee, eva and dominic are keen to source and serve fresh and local produce.

I often come across places where the food is well sourced and the interior nice. What is missing for me is the lack of knowledge in food and the inability to creatively change a dish to suit my needs. Today i was in the mood for a small salad but all combinations on the blackboard did not take my fancy for one reason or another. Dominic listened and expertly acknowledged my purist taste buds. ‘I think i know what you want he announced confidently, let me dish it up for you’:

I ask you people, doesn’t that look yummy? Fresh salad leaves grown in Homerton, some shavings of pecorino, rock sea salt and mixed seeds. A bit of extra virgin olive oil, bit of rapeseed oil, some fresh wholegrain bread and a bottle of belu water with some fresh mint stuffed in it. Pronto! This sort of stuff makes my heart and soul sing. Simple, pure, fresh, inexpensive, nutritious and full of flavour. Dominic, you’re a maestro!! Thank you.

Guilty as charged!

On closer inspection i discovered that most of the wonderful decor and furnishings I admired came from sunbury antiques market. I just can’t wait to go there!

Now take a look inside:

The place is small, intimate, perfectly kitted out and full of the owners personality. They used every square inch for storage and kitchen. The seating area is comfy in and out and it’s all very inviting. I will certainly return for some more treats and hope some of you will go and visit when next in the area. I wish eva and dominic all the best of luck with this new venture!

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22 Comments

  • Reply Ingrid Weir July 24, 2012 at 12:09 am

    Tina, what a nice post! Fresh and fun and spontaneous.

    • Reply tina July 26, 2012 at 11:07 pm

      Thank you Ingrid!

  • Reply sue July 24, 2012 at 12:56 am

    what an absolute gem of a find… i LOVE LOVE LOVE places like this… and i love that you scoot around on a vespa (please tell me it’s gelati coloured as i’ve ALWAYS wanted a gelati-coloured vespa!)… swoonage!

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:40 am

      Ha. Not gelati coloured;( Used to have a red one that got knicked. Now have a black one.
      The romance of owning and maintaining great vehicles went out the window years ago. I used to have a garage in my old flat but now, with leaving my scooter on the street, it just gets vandalised by youth;)

      Try and go to this place. No doubt you’ll like it.

  • Reply sue July 24, 2012 at 12:57 am

    oooh, next market on next tuesday! tempting or what!!!

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:40 am

      28th August is in the diary!!! Can’t wait!!!

  • Reply Theresa July 24, 2012 at 1:24 am

    You definitely found a gem, Tina. The place would fit right in to our city’s artist district. As you point out, it’s so full of personality and character. I can’t get over that Dominic whipped up that special order for you – That’s service! It looks delicious…Definitely my kind of meal. Hope you get to that antiques market soon!

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:43 am

      Yes, you would love it. Can you imagine a meet up in there??? We could have the place to ourselves and pig out on all their wonderful stuff. Dominic would prepare the delicious food and Eva would make stellar coffee;)

      Market at the end of August…

  • Reply annie July 24, 2012 at 3:00 pm

    Ah but you won’t find any lichen covered dogs there!

    Lovely place Tina, bet the cofee is good. I could just eat that salt straigh off. I’d like to spend more time in Hackney but it’s so inconvenient to get to from ours.

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:46 am

      Not sure Hackney is your kind of thing. Maybe a little too edgy and bohemian for you.

      Still pining after your lichen covered dog!

  • Reply caroline @trend-daily July 24, 2012 at 11:21 pm

    What a scrumptious looking place lovely-fab photos-and I have the most perfect picture of you riding around town on your vespa! :-)xx

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:53 am

      Ha. Email me the pic of me on Vespa xx

  • Reply noreen July 25, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    the 46b espresso hut – i even love the name! it’s lovely and unique. i’m so happy you found it, and shared it with us. now i am very hungry, n

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:54 am

      Thank you. Yes, I think the name is quite perfect……

  • Reply Holly July 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm

    This really does look like a great spot! The winning combo of knowledge, passion and attention to space and people details is clearly apparent. I can imagine you were grinning the whole way home 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this perfect experience with us!

    Xx.

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:56 am

      You’re so right. Like with many things in life, it’s never an isolated thing but a collective effort. In this case, as you so eloquently remarked, they have a winning formula xx

  • Reply Igor July 25, 2012 at 9:54 pm

    What a great place! And your shots, Tina, perfection as usual!! You better take me there for a coffee when I come to London:-)

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:52 am

      Ta Mr Igor.

      Well, you are now coming to London….. get ready for the Vespa ride;)

  • Reply Catherine Bedson July 26, 2012 at 12:35 am

    I love your free spirit and curious nature Tina it’s inspiring me. Your photos are fantastic you can tell this cafe is run with passion and attention to detail..your lunch looked delicious..my kind of food as well. Hope you all cope with the Olympics there I guess it will be manic but exciting for the city.

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:49 am

      Awww, thanks Catherine x

      Yes, all bloggers who like this kind of food congregate there… One small issue: we are all in different continents!

      No mania in the city. In fact, it’s like a ghost town. Feels quite weird but kind of nice x

  • Reply leah of sang the bird July 26, 2012 at 4:50 am

    Tina, what a gorgeous space. Your photos are beautiful. They capture such a lovely essence. Simple, beautiful aesthetics xx

    • Reply tina August 1, 2012 at 5:50 am

      Thank you Leah:) i feel the same about your photos x

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