North London Food & Culture

Cheeky Coffee: Housepresso revisited

A new Italian machine and a particularly punchy blend of beans improve the offering at Gospel Oak's property cafe

The new La Marzocco machine at Housepresso. Pic: Stephen Emms
The new La Marzocco machine at Housepresso. Pic: Stephen Emms

Coffee, cake and property. That’s the interesting proposition at Gospel Oak’s tiny Housepresso, and it’s one that works rather well. Despite its diminutive size, the corner coffee shop serves a steady stream of Kentishtowners dashing to and from the overground or school.

Owner Gavin finds the laid-back atmosphere perfect for his carefully crafted, more personable approach to the stressful business of buying and selling a home.

Coffee and a copy of Kentishtowner. Lovely.
Coffee and a copy of Kentishtowner. Lovely.

On previous visits we’d always felt the coffee to be fairly good, but not quite great. However a brand new La Marzocco machine really brings out the best in their strikingly strong house coffee. The exact blend of beans is a secret, but Gavin says it’s a roughly 80 per cent robusta. A bold choice and not for those with a dicky ticker, it delivers a powerful taste and kick.

Barista Alana is a Brazilian who trained in New Zealand and she clearly knows her stuff. Both a Macchiato and an Americano were delicious and went well alongside some of the newly stocked cakes and breads.


LOCAL ADVERTISING


The Artisan Baker's chocolate tart
The Artisan Baker’s chocolate tart

The range is all produced by the aptly named Artisan Baker, based in Park Royal (yes, they did try to source things a little more ‘hyperlocally’). A chocolate tart – a snip at only £2 – was beautifully bitter with a perfect pastry base, while a mini baguette proved satisfyingly crusty and dense.

Don’t forget, a new branch of Housepresso is now open on Fortess Road which has the same quirky feel and friendly social vibes of the original. We’re happy to report that, on our visit at least, the dark bean blend brewed there tasted a touch better than up in Gospel Oak.

1a Mansfield Road & 16 Fortess Road


1 thought on “Cheeky Coffee: Housepresso revisited”

  1. Gave this place another go but was served an over extracted espresso (again) – not a surprise considering the barista turned their back on the pull whilst taking my money and giving me change. I truly don’t know how this place gets these kind reviews by The KTer yet other places get seem to get something closer to the truth.

Leave a Comment

1 thought on “Cheeky Coffee: Housepresso revisited”

  1. Gave this place another go but was served an over extracted espresso (again) – not a surprise considering the barista turned their back on the pull whilst taking my money and giving me change. I truly don’t know how this place gets these kind reviews by The KTer yet other places get seem to get something closer to the truth.

Leave a Comment

About Kentishtowner

The award-winning print and online title Kentishtowner was founded in 2010 and is part of London Belongs To Me, a citywide network of travel guides for locals. For more info on what we write about and why, see our About section.