FWD:Coffee
Our verdict · The most work-optimised pick — power everywhere, an explicit laptop welcome and the latest close.
Go if
Working is the actual point of the visit or you need to stay past 6pm.
Skip it if
You specifically want an own-roast or roastery experience, or a special-occasion destination.
Plan your visit
FWD:Coffee
Speciality coffee (££)
Indicative price at the time of review.
FWD:Coffee is the most explicitly laptop-optimised pick: an independent mini-group with sites on Curtain Road (Shoreditch), Whitecross Street and Farringdon Road that serves respected Kiss The Hippo coffee. The Infatuation notes its purpose-built work setup — plug-socket extension cords on the tables, 'Laptop Friendly' signage and clearly posted wifi — while its Curtain Road branch runs to 19:00 on weekdays (indicative), the latest close of the shortlist. Hours vary by branch (Farringdon Road, for example, closes earlier and shuts on Sundays), so check the specific site. The trade-off is prestige: FWD serves a well-regarded third-party roaster rather than roasting itself, so it's a reliable, functional work cafe rather than a destination roastery experience.
The good & the bad
Pros
- Purpose-built for working — plug-socket extension cords, laptop signage and posted wifi
- Serves respected Kiss The Hippo coffee — reliable quality without destination-cafe crowds
- Curtain Road branch open to 7pm (indicative), the latest of the shortlist, across multiple sites
Cons
- Serves a third-party roaster rather than roasting its own beans
- A functional work cafe rather than a special-occasion destination
How it compares
| Pick | WATTB Score | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.Prufrock Coffee | 89/100 | Speciality coffee (££) | overall |
| 2.WatchHouse | 88/100 | Speciality coffee (££) | coverage and long hours |
| 3.Ozone Coffee — Shoreditch | 87/100 | Speciality coffee (££) | a long working brunch |
| 4.Catalyst | 86/100 | Speciality coffee (££) | coffee quality |
| 5.FWD:CoffeeThis pick | 84/100 | Speciality coffee (££) | late and laptop-first working |
Good to know
FWD:Coffee has several branches — address, opening hours, phone and ratings vary by location, so check your chosen branch before you go.
- Locations
- Multiple branches
- Price
- Speciality coffee (££)
- Coffee
- Kiss The Hippo (respected third-party roaster)
- Wifi & power
- Plug-socket extension cords, 'Laptop Friendly' signage, posted wifi
- Locations
- Curtain Road (Shoreditch), Whitecross St, Farringdon Rd
Researched by WATTB
- Published
- 21 September 2026
- Updated
- 21 September 2026
- Last verified
- 21 September 2026
- Sources
- 11 sources
We research and rank options from public data, official information and published reviews. How we research →
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