I began my lifestyle blog with something that is pretty central to it; and that is coffee. Being a stimulant, I find that coffee easily becomes a catalyst for conversation, creative thoughts and ideas.
Especially over the past year or two, I’ve had a bit of reawakening for the drink. It’s gone from the necessary morning wake-up routine, to a soothing break midway through an afternoon. But I’m obviously not alone with this thinking – and when you have a city like London, populated with citizens and travellers who all demand a coffee that ticks a number of boxes that other coffeehouses can’t, a problem arises. This is where Blue Crow’s London Speciality Coffee Map comes into play.
Blue Crow’s design is all about clarity, which I imagine is no easy task when pinning one-hundred of London’s speciality coffee shops over the city’s complex mosaic of roads and walkways.
For little under £3, it’s a pretty decent gift as well, whether for resident or day tripper of the city. Blue Crow have a number of other apps and products too, including a larger version of the coffee map which found a nice place on my bedroom wall – so they’re definitely worth checking out.
It’s a seamless experience, and I haven’t yet been able to fault Blue Crow’s judgement. Last weekend’s trip to TAP Coffee, went ahead and validated this. The coffee was delicious, and despite there being a queue that snaked out of the door, I managed to secure a seat and rest before travelling on to the next destination.
For little under £3, it’s a pretty decent gift as well, whether for resident or day tripper of the city. Blue Crow have a number of other apps and products too, including a larger version of the coffee map which found a nice place on my bedroom wall – so they’re definitely worth checking out.
This article originally appeared on benjigershon.com
About Benji Gershon
Benji Gershon is a London-based blogger. He loves all good things lifestyle, music, products, and places – but most importantly, finding out about the people behind them.
Don’t get me wrong — I love printed, paper maps to an obsessive degree and have for eons. But I never got the point of coffee maps.
They prioritize location over quality. That might be helpful if you’re short on time, on foot, or don’t have cab fare, but the emphasis is on convenience above all else. And to address convenience, there are many other apps and GPS-enabled options to scratch that itch.
And while you may be happy with the coffee you had at TAP, they offer nothing to indicate that another place just two city blocks down might be even better — or something even more suited to your tastes or interests. Quality becomes secondary, and everything listed is lumped into one single amorphous blob of “good coffee”.
So while I do enjoy coffee maps, I’ve found them better to mount on a wall and admire from there. Because if I need something to help me find good coffee, I typically turn elsewhere.
I love coffee maps. I love new experiences! I am certainly not the time to go to the same spot over and over again. I love to explore. I want this map!