Don’t listen to any of that purist crap above. Milky coffees or lattes are not evil, they do not taste like sick. Some people don’t like them, but that’s ok and many people do.
Some points:
1) Coffee should not be bitter. If it is, it’s been made wrong. Water too hot makes it bitter. Do not use boiling water.
2) Coffee goes off, quite quickly. Beans last maybe 4 weeks, ground coffee maybe 2. It has to be stored well though. Best way is in a bag with all the air squezed out and sealed, and in another sealed container. Not in the fridge. If you don’t drink it fast enough divide into smaller sealed squeezed bags and keep those unopened in the freezer til you need them
Try as many different kinds as you can, both brewing methods and beans. Beans are mainly differentiated by continent. Africa, Indonesia, Central America mainly, but also Hawaii, Carribean and Australia.
Each bean has it’s ideal roast, lighter or darker. African coffees are lighter and they can make a lighter infusion, more tea like.
As for milk, sugar, vanilla etc, to taste! Espresso based drinks like latte and cappuccino are generally better with dark roasted beans or espresso blends.
Alfabus I too am in London in the week with little to do besides work, let me take you out for a coffee 🙂