A HIPSTER cafe in one of London’s most expensive areas will make a donation to a drugs charity after being challenged by the Star over a sign “dehumanising” addicts.

Brick Lane Coffee, in London’s up and coming Shoreditch, found itself in hot water after a passer-by tweeted a picture of a sign outdoors reading “please don’t feed the crackies.”

The company has “three shops scattered about the lowbrow areas” of London, according to its website.

When contacted by the Star, Brick Lane Coffee owner Adrian Jones was quick to apologise and said that the sign had been erased. 

According to Mr Jones, he had been out of the country but found the sign to be in “very bad taste.”

He pledged to donate £250 to a local drugs rehabilitation project or to Russell Brand’s new cafe Trew Era in nearby Hackney, which employs local recovering addicts.

But the man who first spotted the sign was unconvinced by Mr Jones’s gesture.

Tim Wells had originally passed by Brick Lane Coffee on his way to Brick Lane’s famous bagel shop when he spotted the offending sign.

He then sent the picture across social media, with a complaint to the cafe describing the stunt as “loathsome.”

When told about Brick Lane Coffee’s redemption Mr Wells only added:

“Words are cheaper than coffee.”

Speaking to the Star about the consequences of trivialising drug addiction, Release charity spokeswoman Niamh Eastwood said: “The vast majority of those we represent suffer from mental health problems or have experienced some kind of trauma including sexual and physical abuse, their drug use is a form of self medication.

“This kind of language dehumanises those who are already stigmatised and who are on the margins of society.

“It is a real pity that this coffee shop’s attempts at humour have contributed to the continued demonisation of a group of people who are socially excluded and who need support and compassion, not vilification.”