Camden has long been a destination for exhilarating music and bands, but its coffee scene has lagged behind its sister neighbourhoods like a woebegone groupie trailing after a rock idol. Newly opened Tower 47 is the lovechild of said rock god and the highly-strung queen of caffeine, mixing fat, juicy notes of coffee, rock and jazz.

Occupying a narrow shopfront a drumstick’s throw from the legendary Camden Barfly, the cafe is deceptively spacious. The bright counter and seating area upfront leads to a music equipment shop on a mezzanine level, with art gallery space below. Behind the scenes are a brace of rehearsal rooms where wannabe Dave Grohls can pound away whilst fellow customers sip away serenely, separated by soundproof walls. There’s even a repair workshop should you blow up your amp after one too many double espressos.

The coffee setup is just as impressive. A rotating ensemble of London’s rockstar roasters head the bill, including Workshop, Nude and Volcano. The flat white, made with Workshop’s ‘Cult of Done’ blend, was well poured and punchy for such a light roast. Single origins are also offered on pour over or siphon filter. Pastries, cakes and a self-service yoghurt and granola bar round out the offer, served with smiles and New York style enthusiasm aplenty.

Tower 47 seems to be off to a screamer, and is already hosting free jazz gigs every Sunday evening. Proprietors Sydney and Matt have plans to refurbish a mega backroom area to provide even more music space. Although the cafe is just warming up, you can already sense an undercurrent of energy flowing from the shared love of coffee, music and surrounding streets. It looks like Tower 47 will help put Camden firmly back on the stage for quality coffee in the capital.

@Tower47Camden

Review by The London Coffee Guide team