Coffee artistry in Fitzrovia: newly opened Curators Coffee Gallery

 

Curators owner, Catherine, worked as barista at Kaffeine for several years, helping the shop on its way from antipodean upstart to one of the most awarded cafes in Europe. Three and a half years on, Catherine has returned to Fitzrovia to open her second Curators venue, just skipping distance from Kaffeine.

 

Arranged over two floors, The Curators Coffee Gallery is much larger than the original Callum Street shop. Mercifully, the interior dares to deviate from hackneyed bare brick and distressed furnishings seen in so many London independents. There is dark wood, a pristine white bar and kettles made from blazing copper. Then there is the fabulous purple accent that graces the sugar jars, coffee machine, grinders and branding: a sort of unreal shade of purple oddly reminiscent of alien spacecraft from the video game Halo. As a whole it feels fresh and very welcome.

 

Downstairs there are more seats, and a kitchen which sends up freshly-prepared food. Coffee is roasted by Nude, and in Curators tradition, is also offered as a spectacular signature drink. Right now there’s Iced Cascara or Espresso Punch, the latter concocted from muddled strawberries, mint, espresso and sparkling water. They’re neat additions to an already appealing menu.

 

The Curators Coffee Gallery, as the name suggests, is a place to settle in and escape with coffee and art. With luck you might even pick up a takeout cup generously illustrated by barista/artist Tim Shaw. Whether it’s artistry in the cup, on the walls, or indeed on the cup itself, this is a unique coffee shop with a vitality that goes way beyond just the coffee.

 

51 Margaret Street, W1W 8SG

@Curators_Coffee