London's Connaught Street has smelled of Markus Coffee since 1957, when Hungarian refugees George and Eva Markus opened shop after fleeing the failed revolution. They'd run a coffee house in Budapest before the communists took over, so they knew their beans. The Regent & Negresco blend became legendary—people commuted for it. Today, Mr Sarwar, who joined in 1976, keeps the standards. They roast on the daily, stocking 34 varieties from 13 countries, plus bespoke blends for hotels, restaurants, and anyone walking through that door. Old-school London specialty coffee, still roasting on the premises. No fuss. Just proper beans.
