London may be chock full of chain food and drink options, but if you look beyond the bustling high streets, you’ll find an independent community café scene that does a lot more than simply serve a great cup of coffee. From vegan social enterprise cafés to cafés donating a percentage of profits to a charity of their choice, here’s where to go for a decent cup of brew where you can give back to the local community at the same time.
Guide to community cafés in London
In this guide
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Community cafés in London
- Root/25 – A coffee house, arts and community space in Bow
- Grow – Middle-Eastern grub along the canal
- Redemption Roasters – The world's first behind-bars coffee company
- Café Van Gogh – Vegan and zero-waste
- Haggerston Perk – Training for people with learning disabilities
- Paper and Cup – Training homeless people and those suffering with addiction
- 215 Hackney – Protecting children affected by war
- Luminary Bakery – Working with disadvantaged women
- Good Company – Sustainable tap café
- The Sound Lounge – Good vibes for all
Community cafés in London
A coffee house, arts and community space in Bow
Root/25 is a non-profit café that doubles as an arts and events space. It's also home to Restless Beings, an international human rights organisation supported by the café’s earnings. The menu is eclectic, featuring everything from quiches and cakes to food inspired by the Islamic world.
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116B Bow Rd, Tower Hamlets
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Website
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Root/25
075-219 201 53 - Read more on Thatsup
Middle-Eastern grub along the canal
You’ll find Grow located along the canal in Hackney Wick featuring pretty views of the canal and surrounding area. They’re independently-run and pride themselves on putting people and the planet over making a profit. The menu is inspired by Middle-Eastern fare and there’s often a host of events taking place, like live music and open mic nights.
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98c Wallis Rd
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Website
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Grow Hackney Wick
020-851 017 57 - Read more on Thatsup
The world's first behind-bars coffee company
Redemption Roasters is a prison-based coffee roaster that aims to help reduce re-offending rates by providing prisoners with coffee industry skills and even going on to help them secure jobs once they’re released. They have a handful of shops but their original two-floor spot in Bloomsbury is a firm favourite to grab espresso or a filter-based speciality coffee.
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84b Lamb's Conduit St, Bloomsbury The Pavilion, 3 Broadgate, The City/City of London 29 Dulwich Village 55 Long Ln, The City/City of London 71 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Holborn 96-98 Islington High St, Islington Lower Stable Street, King's Cross 53 S End Rd, Hampstead 35 Jermyn St, Westminster 40 Drury Ln, Covent Garden 14 Perrin's Ct, Hampstead 119 Muswell Hill Rd, Haringey 56 St Giles High StRedemption Roasters Bloomsbury
84b Lamb's Conduit St, BloomsburyRedemption Roasters Broadgate Circle
The Pavilion, 3 Broadgate, The City/City of LondonRedemption Roasters Dulwich Village
29 Dulwich VillageRedemption Roasters Farringdon
55 Long Ln, The City/City of LondonRedemption Roasters Holborn
71 Lincoln's Inn Fields, HolbornRedemption Roasters Islington High Street
96-98 Islington High St, IslingtonRedemption Roasters King's Cross
Lower Stable Street, King's CrossRedemption Roasters Hampstead Heath
53 S End Rd, HampsteadRedemption Roasters Piccadilly
35 Jermyn St, WestminsterRedemption Roasters Covent Garden
40 Drury Ln, Covent GardenRedemption Roasters Perrin's Court
14 Perrin's Ct, HampsteadRedemption Roasters Muswell Hill
119 Muswell Hill Rd, HaringeyRedemption Roasters St Giles High Street
56 St Giles High St -
Redemption Roasters Bloomsbury
redemptionroasters.com/locations/bloomsburyRedemption Roasters Broadgate Circle
redemptionroasters.com/locations/broadgate-circle/#Redemption Roasters Dulwich Village
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Farringdon
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Holborn
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Islington High Street
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters King's Cross
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Hampstead Heath
redemptionroasters.com/locations/hampstead-heathRedemption Roasters Piccadilly
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Covent Garden
redemptionroasters.com/locations/covent-gardenRedemption Roasters Perrin's Court
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Muswell Hill
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters St Giles High Street
redemptionroasters.comRedemption Roasters Covent Garden
020-452 482 20 -
Redemption Roasters Bloomsbury Redemption Roasters Broadgate Circle Redemption Roasters Dulwich Village Redemption Roasters Farringdon Redemption Roasters Holborn Redemption Roasters Islington High Street Redemption Roasters King's Cross Redemption Roasters Hampstead Heath Redemption Roasters Piccadilly Redemption Roasters Covent Garden Redemption Roasters Perrin's Court Redemption Roasters Muswell Hill Redemption Roasters St Giles High Street
Vegan and zero-waste
Café Van Gogh is a non-profit vegan spot in the heart of Brixton that works in partnership with a charity to provide employment training for adults with mental health problems and learning disabilities. They use compostable coffee cups and takeaway packaging and are consistently working towards being a totally zero-waste café.
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88 Brixton Road, Brixton
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Website
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Café Van Gogh
020-390 392 32 - Read more on Thatsup
Training for people with learning disabilities
This social enterprise café is run by Tower Project and functions to empower and provide training opportunities for people who have a learning disability in Goldsmith Row. They serve a menu of coffee, cakes, baked treats and other lunch-style dishes in a warm and welcoming environment.
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40-44 Goldsmiths Row, Shoreditch/Tower Hamlets
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Website
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Haggerston Perk
020-761 318 99 - Read more on Thatsup
Training homeless people and those suffering with addiction
Paper and Cup is a social enterprise coffee shop that trains homeless people and people in recovery from addiction and preps them to learn new skills and gain work experience to eventually become a barista. They serve a menu of speciality coffee and snacks as well as a range of second-hand items.
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18 Calvert Ave, Shoreditch
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Protecting children affected by war
Aside from selling one of the best croissants in the city, 215 Hackney is certainly doing their bit when it comes to giving back. They donate a whopping 20% of their profits to War Child, a charity that works to ensure a safe future for every child living through war. They also serve an excellent menu of Middle Eastern fare, like traditional Israeli shakshuka and Jerusalem bagels.
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215 Stoke Newington High St, Stoke Newington
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Website
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215 Hackney
020-725 451 99 - Read more on Thatsup
Working with disadvantaged women
Luminary Bakery is a social enterprise bakery that provides opportunities to disadvantaged women in the city. They work with women who have experienced more than one disadvantage, such as domestic abuse, sexual exploitation and trafficking, and equip them with the tools to prepare for employment in a safe and trauma-informed environment. They serve a menu of sweet treats and coffee in a welcoming setting in their London venues.
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47 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden Town 71 Allen Rd, Stoke NewingtonLuminary Bakery Camden
47 Chalk Farm Rd, Camden TownLuminary Bakery Stoke Newington
71 Allen Rd, Stoke Newington -
Luminary Bakery Camden
luminarybakery.comLuminary Bakery Stoke Newington
luminarybakery.comLuminary Bakery Camden
020-768 697 79Luminary Bakery Stoke Newington
020-768 697 79 -
Luminary Bakery Camden Luminary Bakery Stoke Newington
Sustainable tap café
Good Company is a partnership between Change Please, a social enterprise coffee shop concept, and sustainable brewer Toast Ale. The establishment provides a diverse range of food options throughout the day, including breakfast and cakes supplied by Breadwinners, a social enterprise that supports refugees. The lunch and dinner menu offer a selection of sandwiches, salads, and hot pies, complemented by Toast Ale's beer, which uses surplus bread in its brewing, and Change Please's coffee, which puts back 100% of its profits into helping the homeless. Additionally, Good Company regularly hosts events, and customers are encouraged to contribute to the schedule.
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17-19 Triton Street, Camden Town/Fitzrovia
- Read more on Thatsup
Good vibes for all
Having relocated to Sutton from Tooting, The Sound Lounge is a grassroots music venue with a strong emphasis on sustainability and community. Certified carbon neutral and encompassing a café, bar, and stage, the venue serves plant-based food and reinvests its profits back into the community through various projects, workshops, and trainings for those living with disadvantages.
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216-220 High Street, Sutton, Sutton
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Website
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The Sound Lounge
020-877 031 81 - Read more on Thatsup