Some mornings you just need a gigantic caffeine kick up the backside. This is when Caffe Nero, the chain of Italian coffee shops, will jump in and deliver said goods with gusto.

The Venue
This branch is typical of Caffe Nero, the vast glass frontage opens to a decor of dark mahogany furnishings. Oversized canvasses bearing images of a sparkling cafe society swoon the walls and its cosy leather sofas nest enticingly in subdued corners. The neat racks of complimentary newspapers and gentle hum of jazz in the background makes the well-honed Caffe Nero experience welcome in this south London suburb.

The Atmosphere
The crank and hiss of the utilitarian coffee machine is a constant reminder of how far coffee shops have come in recent years. Weekdays, the cafe is awash with stern students looking for inspiration at the bottom of their de-caff soya lattes, and lone mothers with sleeping babies seeking comfort in a fat-free blueberry muffin. The weekends however, are handed over to the just-rolled-out-of-bed-for-a-coffee-and-an-hour-with-the-papers brigade.

The Food
Paninis and pastries dominate the offerings, but if you look carefully and get in before the kids do you may just grab that last slice of delectable dark chocolate cake. Muffins are also in abundance and for those watching their weight (or just wanting to eat two) there are fat-free versions. The meatball and mozzarella panini is probably the highlight of the midday snacks, but being mass produced they do lack the individuality of being freshly made.

The Drink
Coffee, coffee and more coffee. If you're not too fussed about coffee, go somewhere else. This is a place purely for lovers of the dark stuff, although saying that the strawberry and ever-so pink frappe is absolutely delicious. A word of warning to those who are sensitive to caffeine, unlike other coffee chains there are two shots of coffee in each cup, which can be a bit of a shock to the system for some coffee-pansies.

The Last Word
Caffe Nero has the Italian coffee experience down to a t (not tea). Excellent coffee served in a nice, albeit slightly packaged environment. But if you long for the feistier buzz of an independent Italian cafe, use Caffe Nero's purely as a takeaway.

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