Hidden Purple & Caffeinated Calm: A Sunday with
[at]lungisalwaysbaking
There are Sunday mornings, and then there are Sunday moments — the kind that feel like they
slipped through the cracks of a busy week to remind you how soft the world can be. This
weekend, I found one tucked inside a former industrial unit, somewhere between a rich purple
doughnut and the hiss of oat milk hitting a steam wand.
Welcome to Unit 3, on Markfield Road in Seven Sisters— a warehouse-turned-community-hub,
just off the main drag and humming with quiet brilliance.
I came for my friends (baker-extraordinaire [at]lungisalwaysbaking), pop up event. Her
creations live somewhere between comfort food and art. I left with sticky fingers, a heart full of
serotonin, and a new favourite North London coffee spot.
🌈 A Hidden Gem with a Big Heart
From the outside, Unit 3 is unassuming — part of a creative corridor filled with artists, designers,
and dreamers. Inside, it opens up: long wooden tables, exposed brick, splashes of colour, and
the kind of music that kisses not shouts.
It’s queer-friendly, community-rooted, and effortlessly cool — but not in the intimidating way. It’s
the kind of space where you can show up with bed hair and still feel welcome, which is exactly
what I did.
Accessibility I noticed:
- Step-free entrance? Yes.
- Toilets? On site, though not fully wheelchair accessible.
- Vegan options? Glorious and plentiful (including almond, oat, and soy milks).
- LGBTQ+ events? While there wasn’t one that day, the space regularly hosts creative
and inclusive community gatherings. You can feel it in the air.🍩 The Pop-Up: Doughnuts That Deserve Sonnets
Let’s talk about the doughnuts.
Lungi's creations are... poetic. Soft, nostalgic, unapologetically flavour-forward. My partner fell
deeply in love with the ube ganache — a swirl of deep purple decadence with just the right
balance of sweetness and earthiness.
There was a spiced brown sugar glaze that tasted like, to be honest, autumn? Yet a zesty
citrus curd hit the back of your throat like a burst of summer. All of it lovingly crafted, and so
clearly baked with heart.
You can tell when someone loves what they do. It’s in the dough.
📝 PS: Subscribe to Lungi’s Substack — it’s filled with recipes, and tender reflections on
food. A gem worth having in your inbox.
☕ The Coffee: Clipson & Sons, Sourced with Soul
Amidst the excitement of seeing my friend thrive, i then thought, okay, what am i actually
drinking? I went into internet deep dive mode, and learnt that my oat cappuccino was brewed
with beans from Clipson & Sons, a UK-based roastery that caught my attention.
The roast is a single origin from Colombia, grown at high altitudes in Huila and processed using
a fully washed method — clean, complex, but totally drinkable. I tasted soft red apple, toffee,
and something slightly floral — like honey?
But what really stood out was their sourcing ethos.
Clipson & Sons prioritise direct trade, working closely with smallholder farmers to ensure better
wages, sustainable practices, and traceable production. Their packaging is fully compostable,
their operations carbon-aware, and their mission clear: better coffee for everyone involved —
not just those of us sipping in North London.
You can read more about their farmers and processes on their website (worth a look if you like
your coffee with a conscience)