London Blend: Federation Coffee, Brixton Village

Dean Nicholas
By Dean Nicholas Last edited 140 months ago
London Blend: Federation Coffee, Brixton Village


Nestled among the burgeoning middle class foodie enclave of Brixton Village (or Granville Arcade as long-timers still call it), the Antipodean-run Federation Coffee keeps things simple, and the queue of customers healthy, by focusing on the basics: great coffee, friendly service and a relaxed atmosphere.

Having previously relied on Nude Espresso, the cafe now roasts its own beans nearby. The 'contraband' blend made for a macchiato whose taste stayed on the right side of bitter, while the cappuccino and flat white in particular have a thick, velvety quality to them. The service is friendly yet brisk, with a bevy of baristas on hand rattling out drink orders at a rapid pace.

The food is equally good: a familiar arrangement of cakes and pastries is on offer, and if there's a better post-hangover pick-me-up than the bacon muffin, we've yet to see it.

Federation Coffee can be found at Uni 77-78, Brixton Village, SW9 8PS. Find them on Twitter @FederationCoffe

See previous reviews in the series on the London Blend Map.

Last Updated 10 July 2012