The problem with driving down the motorways of Britain is you're pretty much a captive audience of the motorway service areas. For example, if you're hungry you have a choice of Little Chef, Burger King, the occasional McDonald's, and a scattering of other large chains. And if you need a caffeine fix your options are definitely limited, unless you feel like venturing miles out of your way into the countryside in search of an elusive (and highly unlikely) cafe. Then, of course, you must find your way back onto the motorway heading in the proper direction, a daunting task which has reduced many an able mind to tears. Amazingly enough there is one place where you can get a real espresso, cappuccino, or macchiato. Caffé Primo, located in the M11 services north of London near Stansted Airport, is a godsend. In the midst of styrofoam cups full of dishwater drek, my take-away cappuccino was served in a proper take-away cup -- i.e. paper with a properly fitted plastic commuter lid. My regular cappuccino, not to mention Primo's regular Americano, were both £1.60, the same price as my travelling companions' styrofoam-encased dishwater coffees they purchased at the nearby Granary. If instead of buying and running you enjoy hanging out in motorway service areas you can get your espresso drink in a proper white china cup, along with a pastry or biscuit if you like. Or get something at the Granary and bring it into Caffé Primo; everything's connected and compatible in this Disneyesque foodorama of nepotism. | ![]() |