Workhouse Coffee

Walk into Workhouse and you'll immediately notice they're not messing about. This is the kind of place where the staff know their extraction times and won't apologise for it. Set on Oxford Road in a part of Reading that's quietly become rather good for eating and drinking, Workhouse has built a loyal following by doing one thing well: coffee that tastes like someone gave a damn. You're looking at a straightforward setup—no Instagram-baiting latte art or twee pastry displays—just really good espresso, filter coffee that's actually worth the wait, and the sort of clientele who appreciate the difference. It's become exactly the kind of place where you'll bump into the same regulars, which tells you everything you need to know.