Meet Alison, Ken, John & Harry

At Merlo Paddington, coffee is never just a drink. It is a ritual, a rhythm to the morning, and a place to return to day after day. For many, it becomes a second home. For some of our longest-standing regulars, it has been exactly that for more than a decade.

Ask John how long he has been visiting Merlo Paddington and he smiles. “Twelve, fifteen, maybe even twenty years,” he says. “I honestly can’t remember. It’s been too long.” Alison nods in agreement. For her, Merlo has been just as constant, woven into the fabric of everyday life.

Ken first found his way in around twelve years ago, simply looking for a reason to step out of the house with his baby. What began as a quiet moment soon became a routine, and over time, a sense of belonging.

Harry has been coming for close to eighteen years, almost since the doors first opened. What keeps him returning is consistency. “You don’t get a bad coffee here. It’s a ninety percent hit rate, every time,” he says. “That, and the friendships, the laughter, the easy moments. It starts my day beautifully.”

“That first sip, you just think, I’m home.”

For these four, Merlo Paddington is often the first stop after returning from a holiday. “You travel and you just can’t find a good coffee,” Harry explains. “You crave it. Then you come home and the first place you go is here. You don’t even go home first. That first sip and you know you’re home.”

The coffee matters, of course. It always has. But what truly sets Merlo apart are the people behind the counter. “The staff know you... They know your order before you even reach the counter.” That familiarity, paired with genuine warmth and consistency, makes every visit feel personal.

It is not only about the staff. Over the years, friendships have formed effortlessly. Conversations begin over morning cups. Dogs greet one another. Regulars become familiar faces and then something closer to family. “We’ve met so many people here,” Alison says.

Orders are as distinctive as the people who place them. A mug of oat flat white. A latte in a cappuccino cup, always the cup, never the glass. Decaf, once approached cautiously and now genuinely loved. A strong almond latte so punctual you could set your watch by it. On especially busy mornings, the team sometimes leaves it waiting out front, a quiet gesture of care. The service, they agree, is exceptional.

When asked why coffee matters so much, the answers are simple. It is social. It is comforting. It smells right. It tastes like home. “It’s coffee first,” Ken says. “Everything else comes later.” Harry smiles. “Why do I like coffee. The same reason I like chocolate. It’s delicious.”

At home, coffee often comes second to the experience of coming in. Some brew Merlo beans at home. Others have espresso machines at work, camping setups or holiday pods. One moment stands out. When John bought his first proper espresso machine and felt completely overwhelmed, the Merlo team came to his home in their own time to show him how to use it. “It turned into a tasting,” he recalls. “We stood around, made coffee and talked about it. It was incredibly generous.”

Hot or iced, most stay loyal to their usual order throughout the year. On the warmest days, an iced coffee may appear, often suggested by the team before it is even asked for.

This is what mornings feel like at Merlo Paddington. Familiar faces. Orders remembered without asking. Dogs waiting patiently for puppuccinos. Conversations that move from the everyday to the delightfully unexpected. It is a place where routines are respected, friendships are nurtured and every cup feels like coming home.

Continue following our Coffee Fanatics series across our socials and upcoming blog features, where we share more stories, memories and daily rituals from the people who make Merlo what it is, one beautiful cup at a time.