This post is a review of Spring Valley Coffee shops in terms of coffee quality, drinks, alongside other general things about the cafe.
Ah yes, it’s a peaceful Saturday… just made a mean avocado toast with eggs. Planning to lock in for the weekend and KPLC decides to do that thing, well that one thing they are good at, and no, it’s not keeping our lights on, Sharon.
Faced with the sudden need for an escape plan, and scanning around for where to go for the day (to do productivity stuff) : Spring Valley Coffee was somewhere on my upcoming to review cafes and restaurants, so yours truly decided to head over there.
Since spending in a coffee shop was not the initial plan, you can say this post is proudly sponsored by KPLC.
Hey, hey, KPLC send me my 740 bob back. I was perfectly fine with my 10 bob Nescafè sachet at home.
That said, this isn’t my first rodeo at Spring Valley Coffee. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: best coffee in Nairobi, no contest.
This post is here to back up that claim, plus get into the other meat and potatoes regarding this place, like how good is it for a laptop session?
Spring Valley Coffee has at least 7 branches: Westgate, Gigiri, Karen, Wilson, Spring Valley, and Lavington.
You see that? You are seeing that…right? All their locations are in the nicer places of town, the rest of us are rudely kept away. But hey, middle-class Nairobians, we peasants can also have your fancy coffee…and write blogs about it…so deal with that, hahahaha.
Needless to say, for this review I went to the Westgate branch. Don’t side-eye me, lightning doesn’t strike twice, read a book or something.
Pricing & Value
Value for Money: ★★★★☆(4)
Alright, no sugarcoating—so here goes nothing. This is probably one of the more expensive coffee shops in the city. Not criminally expensive, but just above the average price you will pay for a cup in the city.
The average price is normally 240-ish, but at Spring Valley, it’s 330. So the coffee here better be good. That’s where I tell you—yes, it’s marginally better than almost every other place, but not 40% better than the others, considering they charge 40% extra here.
Good coffee at Spring Valley? Yes! But good value for your money? Now, that is debatable. Personally, I think it’s not the best value. But at the end of the day, it’s still the best coffee in Nairobi.
Barista & Co. may not have better coffee—Spring Valley’s is 10% better—but it’s not worth the 40% price premium. Barista & Co’s pricing is a little more reasonable for me, so mostly, I’ll be heading there. But that’s just the frugal me.
Ambiance
Ambiance Score: ★★★★★(5)
The ambiance? Pretty close to perfection. At Westgate, the café sits in an open space shared with other restaurants—think of it as a fancy food court. Not the usual plastic-chair, noisy mayhem you find in every other mall.
Here, it’s like one massive, well-organized dining room, where each restaurant has its space. Akiira and Onza are here too. The result? A setting that feels spacious, and shockingly quiet despite the crowd. Civilized crowd, I’d say
Spring Valley Coffee is at the far right when you walk in. It’s a small café and not particularly busy, though to be fair, Westgate itself isn’t exactly bustling—which, honestly, is part of its charm.
There’s something oddly satisfying about being the only person on an escalator in a mall on a Saturday mid-morning.
Now, about WiFi. The café doesn’t have its own, but Westgate’s public WiFi is surprisingly good. The only catch? You have to hand over a suspicious amount of personal details—name, email, phone, DOB —before getting access. I just think one name and email will be enough
But once you’re in, it’s one of the better public networks I’ve used. And yes, always use a VPN on public WiFi. No exceptions.
A VPN is crucial on public WiFi because these networks are a hacker’s playground. Without one, your data—passwords, emails, even banking details—is up for grabs by cybercriminals using simple tools to intercept traffic.
I use NordVPN to encrypt myself, and have that peace of mind in public WiFi. So check it out below of interested.
The overall ambiance is well thought out. Subtle, intentional lighting—just dim enough to avoid feeling like an interrogation room but with plenty of natural light thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The walls have that exposed brick pattern, and the entire space leans toward a darker color scheme, which is nicely balanced out by creamy, neutral-toned furniture for a bit of contrast.
Speaking of furniture—solid. Tables are sturdy and at just the right height, so no awkward hunching while working. The chairs? Actually comfortable. They even support your back, unlike Barista & Co.’s torture devices.
You can easily work here for long hours without back issues. (I clocked in 4hrs) That said, Daily Café at Sarit still holds the crown for the most comfortable café seating.
Oh, and if you’re rolling here in Spring Valley Coffee with a group, there are two couches here. And there are power outlets at every table, especially along the wall for laptop bros.
Coffee Review
Coffee Quality: ★★★★★(5)
Walk up to the counter, ready to order. The barista flips the menu leaflet toward me—no Americano. Cue dramatic eye-pop. I ask, she points me to the Long Black by tapping it thrice with her pen, not a word exchanged, she clearly doesn’t love her job.
Of course—just gave a polite nod and went with the Long Black.
Now….Yes, Americano and Long Black are basically the same thing—both are espresso with added water. But they taste different, lemme explain.
Here’s the thing: Americano = espresso first, water second, making it smoother. Long Black = water first, espresso second, which keeps the crema intact but can taste a bit harsher.
That said, I get why some places don’t bother with both—it’s kind of redundant. But still, the choice would have been nice.
Oh, and by the way, this place is cashless—so it’s either M-Pesa or a card. My crumpled-up 500-bob note was turned down, and I had to pull my Visa Platinum 🗿. I’m usually skeptical of using cards on terminals
Subscribe to the blog, and I will send you cute pictures of my card, front and back.
Long Black
If Americanos feel too watery for you, then a Long Black is probably a better fit.
In a Long Black, the espresso and water aren’t meant to fully mix. Ideally, both should have equal amounts of liquid, but if the barista misjudges the water, the Long Black ends up a bit stronger than intended—which, to be honest, happens quite often.
Spring Valley’s Long Black comes in a smaller cup. Not as tiny as an espresso, no, just a reasonable size—though likely smaller than what you’re used to.
Traditionally, a Long Black is meant to be served this way. Both drinks use a double shot, but the Long Black has less water, making it stronger than an Americano.
The first thing I noticed? The coffee oils. The crema gives it a velvety texture with a touch of creaminess. The aftertaste has deep, roasty notes, and the finish is a little rough; isn’t as clean as an Americano.
Considering how rare Long Blacks are in most Nairobi cafés, I don’t have much to compare it to—but I loved this one.
Flat White
The Flat White is hands down the most inconsistent coffee order you can anywhere.
Honestly, half the fun of ordering one is the sheer unpredictability—you never know what random concoction will land in front of you.
Try ordering a Flat White at 50 different cafés, and you’ll get 10 wildly different drinks. Unless, of course, you’re in New Zealand.
Fun fact: The Flat White was originally just a botched cappuccino. Some customer liked it because the foam wasn’t frothy enough—it was, well, flat.
And just like that, milky coffee got a new name. Classic New Zealanders always turning lemons into lemonade.
To put it simply, a Flat White is basically a latte with slightly less foam. Both fall into the same category, but with a Flat White, you don’t pile the foamed milk on top of the steamed milk—hence the flat part. Traditionally, the ratio is 1/3 espresso to 2/3 steamed milk.
Now, Spring Valley Coffee has a handy coffee guide on their Instagram highlights, and they technically define a Flat White correctly.
But what I got? It felt way more like a latte. The thin microfoam layer? Yeah, not so thin. More foam than a Flat White should have—bordering on latte or even cappuccino territory.
But hey, that’s the magic of ordering a Flat White. You never really know what you’re going to get.
Service
Service Score: ★★★★★(5)
Service didn’t exactly start off on the best note—shoutout to Miss Nonchalant with a pen—but things took a turn for the better when I interacted with two other guys.
Super nice, actually cared to ask how I liked each drink, and one of them was a natural yapper like me, so we hit it off. Even gave me a little wave on my way out—solid recovery.
Wait time? Basically nonexistent. My only real complaint? They serve their coffee lukewarm, just like SugarBowl.
Why was every single drink lukewarm? Who hurt them? Anyway, next time, I might just specify that I’d like my coffee hot, assuming that’s even an option.
I know there have been instances where clients got burns from coffee spills and sued the cafes for millions of dollars, and here they might just be playing too careful. Relax, Spring Valley Coffee, this is not America😂
In Conclusion….
Spring Valley Coffee isn’t just a great café—it’s hands down the best in Nairobi if you’re after quality coffee.
Be it you’re sipping on a cup or looking to take some beans home, you’re getting top-shelf stuff since they roast everything in-house.
Also Read: The 8 Coffee Roasters in Kenya Ranked Worst to Best
Beyond the coffee itself, the overall experience is solid—good ambiance, decent service (once you get past the occasional nonchalant barista), and a space that actually works for getting things done.
Plus, they serve niche drinks like cortados and long blacks, the kind of stuff you won’t find at your average café.
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