Little Peculiar

Charming Coffee Spot with Delightful Treats

Stepping out of the tube station and into Tiago's Coffee Stand, I was greeted by the subtle aroma of roasted beans intermingling with a hint of impatience. This pint-sized establishment has ambitions larger than its street-corner perch suggests; it serves a splendid Cortado alongside hilariously tantalizing diversions like pin badges — because why not accessorize while caffeinating? Once hailed as lovely, recent reviews hint at a slide in grace, with coffee that’s more akin to milky homage, served by staff who navigate customer service with all the charm of a porcupine offering hugs. Their menu is small but thoughtful — catering significantly to vegans and the gluten-conscious — all delivered with promptness that occasionally toes the line between brisk efficiency and an unceremonious shove.

The star of the show is, undisputedly, the coffee – "because let's face it" (as one astute patron put it), espresso remains the purist’s choice, and it didn’t disappoint. However, the newfound bluntness among newer staff flavors your visit with an ironic blend of snark. Still, let's look beyond the prickly moments: dogs here are treated with charming ennui, rewarded with cookies as patrons endure Seinfeld-level exchanges over their hot chocolates-turned-milky beverages. There lies beauty in redundancy, I muse, for despite everything, this little stand fights on valiantly after the ravages of a pandemic; there's warmth tucked away somewhere beneath the faltering façade. So I say, do take a detour — but perhaps to practice sipping what you preach in preparation for the verbal joust your order might provoke. — Penelope Savory