Angel, Islington · 2 Minute Walk From Angel Tube Station
Dark Arts through a manual Slayer espresso machine, pulled shot by shot by hand. Square Mile on rotation when we want something brighter. The cafe in Angel for coffee worth walking to.
The house coffee comes from Dark Arts, a Hackney roastery with zero patience for boring coffee and a name people either love or don't. Right now we're pouring Eternal Light, a single origin from Colombia, roasted to order rather than left sitting on a shelf.
We run it through a Slayer espresso machine, the one baristas actually argue about. Most espresso machines push water through the coffee at one fixed pressure and call it done. On a manual Slayer, our barista controls the flow by hand for the whole shot: a slow, gentle start that soaks the grounds evenly, then full flow once they're ready. That slow start draws out more sweetness and body, and less bitterness, and every shot gets shaped to whatever's in the hopper that week. Slower than a button press, on purpose.
Square Mile comes through on rotation too, their single-origin East African beans, when we want something brighter. Most days though, it's Dark Arts through the Slayer. The pairing gets more out of the bean than a push-button espresso machine ever could.
“One of the cheapest but nicest coffees in Angel.”
Google review · 4.8 stars
Yes. Ritual Cafe is a two minute walk from Angel, at 9 White Lion Street. Dark Arts beans pulled through a manual Slayer espresso machine.
We'd say here, obviously. But one Google reviewer called us “one of the cheapest but nicest coffees in Angel,” so you don't have to take our word for it.
We pull Dark Arts through a manual Slayer espresso machine instead of a standard automatic, so the barista shapes each shot by hand rather than letting a fixed program do it. Square Mile rotates in when we want something brighter.
A Slayer is a hand-controlled espresso machine made in Seattle. Most machines push water through the coffee at one fixed pressure. A Slayer lets our barista control the flow for the whole shot, starting slow and gentle, then opening up. That draws more sweetness and body out of the beans, and less bitterness.
From King's Cross, it's an 18 minute walk along Pentonville Road, or one stop on the Northern line to Angel, then a 2 minute walk.
From Clerkenwell, it's a 20 minute walk up St John Street to 9 White Lion Street.
From Highbury & Islington station, it's a 20 minute walk straight down Upper Street.
From Old Street station, it's a 20 minute walk up City Road, or one stop on the Northern line to Angel, then a 2 minute walk.
From the Old Street end of Shoreditch, it's a 20 minute walk up City Road. From deeper into Shoreditch, head to Old Street and take the Northern line one stop to Angel, then a 2 minute walk.
Almond, coconut, oat and soya, at no extra charge.
Yes, free wifi for everyone, no membership needed.
Yes. Free wifi, a giant red couch and handmade wooden tables. Bring your laptop or bring a date. No membership needed.
Everything on the menu is gluten free.
Eternal Light, a single origin from Colombia, roasted to order by Dark Arts in Hackney.
No. The cafe is open to everyone, walk-ins welcome, no membership needed.
Ritual Cafe, inside Blood, Sweat & Tears
4th Floor, 9 White Lion Street, London N1 9PD
Monday 6:45am – 1pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 6am – 1pm
Thursday Closed
Friday 6:45am – 2pm
Saturday 8:45am – 3pm
Sunday 7:45am – 3pm
A 2 minute walk from Angel tube station. From King's Cross, an 18 minute walk along Pentonville Road, or one stop on the Northern line. From Highbury & Islington, a 20 minute walk down Upper Street. From Clerkenwell, a 20 minute walk up St John Street. From Old Street and the edge of Shoreditch, a 20 minute walk up City Road, or one stop on the Northern line.
Get DirectionsOpen to everyone. Walk-ins welcome, no class booking or membership needed.
Look for the big 9 on White Lion Street. We're on the 4th floor.
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