Our Story

We are Al and Sonia, a husband-and-wife team who founded Monte Bianco, our specialty coffee shop in 2024. 

Why did we create Monte Bianco?

The simplest reason is that we love coffee shops. We love that they are place to pause, to think to connect. We love seeking out hidden gems and the familiarity of local spots. We love the little comforts, the hiss of the steam, the steady thrum of grinders and the gentle murmur of conversation. Even little imperfections, a wobbly table (we've had a few of those) the smudge of chalk on a specials board. 

We have an Italian name and Italian DNA (with Sonia coming from the South of Italy) but we don't see ourselves as an Italian coffee shop, we see a little bit of all of all of our favourite coffee shops in ourself as we drew inspiration from all the places that we have fallen in love with. 

Our inspirations come from far and wide, from the places with lived and visited but our biggest inspirations come from our favourite coffee spots in London's thriving independent coffee scene which has been our home for a number of years.  Whenever we would visit each of these places we would leave with a spark of inspiration at the thought of one day making a coffee shop of our own.

Our goal for Monte Bianco was simple: to create a warm, inviting space community focused space that serves exceptional coffee. We believe a coffee shop should be more than just a spot for a great drink—it’s a place to feel like you belong, to share a smile, and to enjoy the simple joys of good company and good coffee.  For us, creating a welcoming atmosphere is just as important as serving top-quality coffee.

Since opening our doors in 2024, our coffee lineup has evolved. Our latest addition is the Santa Rosa roast—a smooth, medium blend that we rotate regularly to keep things fresh and flavourful.

We’d love for you to explore more about our coffee—just visit our ‘Our Coffee’ page for all details!