A.M.T - not winning me over

Out for a walk with the family today, passing through Balham we stopped in at the new commuter coffee shop, A.M.T.

A.M.T is quite a familiar site at train stations around London. It was not a surprise to see them occupy the newly refurbished space in the Balham train station concourse. I'm generally happy to go to an A.M.T for a coffee, they've served me well in the past, particularly when I used to have to commute through East Croydon I was quite a regular visitor.

The Balham branch, like most A.M.T's is very much just a takeaway spot, no seats. There were a few croissants and other snacks but this is very much for the commuter coffee crowd.

Our order was a regular cappuccino and a regular white americano (which they just call 'coffee').

We were quite disappointed.

The cappuccino just had no kick, a fatal failure. It also wasn't that hot.

On the plus side the milk was thick and creamy, in fact if there was some coffee flavour it could have been quite good. But it wasn't.

The white coffee had no kick either, it tasted quite watery.

Not much more to say really, this is a commuter coffee shop with little to offer other than the coffee, so they should make sure the coffee they do is better than what we had today. Maybe they do better on weekdays when they presumably get the bulk of their business.

There are now a number of coffee shops in close proximity to the station, Puccino's inside the rail station, Camden Coffee House, the cart on the corner, Trinity stores, Lavish Habit, all very much on the commuter route to station. My concern is that A.M.T because of their location and brand name, will do well at the expense of other coffee providers. Although, to be honest, most of the others are doing better coffee, so hopefully they hold on to their customers.

Scores

CoffeeHot: 7/13Aroma: 5/13Flavour: 5/13Texture: 10/13Presentation: 9/13 

GeneralService: 9/13Food: n/a/13Atmosphere: 6/13

Overall 6/13 - go to one of the many other alternatives.

Mr As - get down there (not for the coffee though)

Last month was our six year anniversary of living in London, more than five of those years spent in Balham. Somehow we'd gone all that time without visiting Mr A's Brasserie. Not sure why.

Anyway, we had to do our duty to try the coffee. We'd had brekky at home so were really just there for the coffee.

We ended up with a cappuccino, filter coffee and caramel milkshake (I'm always a sucker for a milkshake)

And we couldn't resist some food either, especially as they had hash browns on the menu, we got some beans and toast as well so it didn't look like we were just there for the hash browns.

There are some great things about Mr A's, the service is some of the best in Balham, maybe London. You kind of get used to bad service in London after a while but we were served promptly, got help with fitting in with the buggy and were generally made to feel welcome.

The walls have graffiti style pictures of movie scenes, it's got a good atmosphere.

Another great thing is their extensive milkshake menu.

And of course they've got hash browns which is always a good thing.

Down to business though, the cappuccino was good, not spectacular, what you'd expect of a joint which is probably just marginally above a greasy spoon (don't get me wrong I don't have anything against greasy spoons but I'm supposed to be sussing out coffee).

The coffee was hot, texture of foam was good, flavour was alright, I could have had it stronger and appreciated a slurp of my wife's filter coffee.

There are plenty of very good reasons to go to Mr A's but the coffee is not the big draw card, don't be afraid of having one when you're there though, it'll do the job.

The milkshake was yum.

The hash browns were very good but not to the level of Milk.

It's not a great place if you've got a pram, actually it's a disaster for those with prams. They did have high chairs though.

All in all we're really pleased we went. It is not far from a greasy spoon but in a good way.

I can see why this place is a Balham institution, it will do well and if you haven't been you should definitely go. Especially if you've got a hang over.

Scores

Coffee
Hot: 11/13
Aroma: 7/13
Flavour: 7/13
Texture: 9/13
Presentation: 9/13

General
Service: 11213
Food: 9/13
Atmosphere: 10/13

Overall 8/13 (lots about this place was really good, the coffee wasn't and that's what brings down the overall score).