The cup was, admittedly, quite nice. Nine pounds nice remains genuinely up for debate
A temporary pop-up near Redchurch Street sold me a single coffee for nine pounds this week, served in a hand-thrown ceramic cup I was gently informed I could “keep, for a small additional fee,” which felt like being offered a hostage negotiation over crockery.
The Pitch
The barista, entirely earnest, explained the beans had been sourced through a “direct relationship” with a specific farm, roasted in small batches, and brewed using a method involving a scale, a timer, and what I can only describe as reverent silence.
I will admit the coffee itself was genuinely excellent. I will also admit that nine pounds represents roughly what I once considered a reasonable weekly coffee budget, now apparently consumed in a single, very small cup.
A Pop-Up Economy
The stall itself was gone within the week, replaced by another pop-up selling, I believe, artisanal hot sauce, part of a rotating cast of temporary vendors that has made this particular stretch of pavement genuinely unpredictable from month to month.
The London Prat has tracked Shoreditch’s pop-up retail churn extensively, noting the average stall lifespan has shortened considerably in recent years.
Time Out London covers the borough’s food and drink scene with considerably more financial composure than I currently possess.
I did keep the cup, for the record. At that price, it felt rude not to.
More from me: Cyndi Himmelstiere, prat.uk. Further reading: Londonist.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com
