I relate to this 100%.
Same background, lived in several places before ending up in London.
You can find good roasted coffee of many types in most of these places.
But if you need an espresso or any other Italian styled coffe. Nothing can beat Italy.
I admit one exception: Portugal.
In a long trip to Lisbon I’ve done I had some of the best coffee there !
Edit: still using my 18yr old Bialetti for most of my coffee here and buying coffee when going back occasionally (ever brought back a trolley full of coffe through airport security checks?). Only reliable way so far to have decent coffee.
It must be different expectations about what is a good coffee.
London is i think the original place from where high end coffe culture spread out to europe and where idea of small independent roasters came from.
I often buy coffee from London when i can get it. Square Mile, Has Bean, Union Coffee, Caravan coffee all mostly highest quality stuff.
Funnily enough i've lived in portugal for a while and coffee was so bad i had hard time finding good beans. Luckily some cafes were importing stuff but no roasters.
You can find good roasted coffee of many types in most of these places.
But if you need an espresso or any other Italian styled coffe. Nothing can beat Italy.
I admit one exception: Portugal. In a long trip to Lisbon I’ve done I had some of the best coffee there !
Edit: still using my 18yr old Bialetti for most of my coffee here and buying coffee when going back occasionally (ever brought back a trolley full of coffe through airport security checks?). Only reliable way so far to have decent coffee.