At the Dialogue Express Café in East London, lattes come with a side of British Sign Language classes.
Run entirely by deaf and hard-of-hearing staff, the café is operated by an organization called Dialogue Hub, which has a mission to increase visibility and inclusion for the deaf community.
Turning the tables for hearing individuals at the takeaway counter is just one way this is achieved.
“We train them and then we invite Londoners to get in touch and communicate with them in their language,” Dialogue Hub founder Hakan Elbir told the BBC.
When customers arrive, they are invited to interact with a touchscreen to learn how to order their drink or pastry of choice. The screen shows various videos with BSL tutorials, which the customer then copies to the barista at the counter.
Want to practice ahead of time? The same tutorials are available via the café’s online menu, too.
But the program isn’t just about teaching the community sign language. It also provides employment opportunities and empowerment to disabled Londoners.
“This opportunity is very exciting for me because it connects deaf people with the community,” Dialogue Express Café trainee Karissa told the BBC.
“It means a lot for me,” another trainee, Victor, said. “It’s more than just a job.”
Elbir founded the organization 12 years ago after he noticed how his disabled relatives were so often excluded from everyday moments in society.
“At Dialogue Café, deaf people not only find a job,” he told content creator Sam Bentley, “but also find a social life … friends and friendships.”
Dialogue Hub also offers a multipurpose space for sensory experiences set in total darkness, where visitors are led by blind tour guides. It’s just one way the organization attempts to bridge the gaps across society and help people stand in each other’s shoes.
By welcoming community members into the café to try something new, Elbir told Secret London, he hopes it will bring people together “over something as simple as coffee.”
The café is located in a renovated train carriage at Stratford Station. In addition to its daily operations, the space also holds more formal BSL classes to anyone wanting to learn more than just their go-to coffee order.
“Some places aren’t just cafés, they’re experiences that stay with you. Dialogue Express Café in Stratford is one of those,” vegan content creator Lauren Karl said after a recent visit.
“It’s not just about coffee or food,” she continued. It’s about connection, inclusivity, and learning from one another. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel hopeful for the future, where everyone is seen, included, and celebrated.”
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