The worst cup of coffee I have ever had—US or UK—was on the 3rd of September 2011. I know the date because it was so bad I took a picture.

It tasted just like it looks, but colder. It was weak, tepid, and terrible. And it was served in a Styrofoam cup because the café’s dishwasher was broken, so they couldn’t wash the china mugs. It was served to me at the Amberly Chalky Pits Museum’s Limeburners Café, something I would usually not reveal—in order to avoid embarrassing the establishmen...