Dialogue Express Cafe

Dialogue Express Café in Stratford is one of London’s most inclusive and imaginative coffee spots. Housed inside a restored 1970s train carriage on the Carpenters Estate, the café is run entirely by d/Deaf and hard of hearing baristas, trained by Dialogue Hub founder Hakan Elbir. The interiors are warm and playful, featuring soft lighting, bold colours, and even a miniature train set that travels above head height through tunnels carved into the furniture. It’s a space designed not just for coffee, but for connection, learning, and community.

Customers are invited to order using British Sign Language (BSL), with video tutorials and guides available at the counter. It’s a gentle, joyful way to bridge the gap between hearing and d/Deaf communities, turning a simple coffee run into a shared learning moment. Dialogue Express is run in partnership with Dialogue Hub, which helps to increase opportunities and visibility for the deaf community.