GRAB A COFFEE
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Vienna has a long and world-renowned tradition of Kaffeehauskultur. Apart from being an eminent symbol of the city, cafés here are also a hub of culture for locals. Many coffee houses are set in grand old buildings and offer classic Viennese fare of coffee and cake. However, most of the newly opened cafés fall into the category of the so-called 'Third Wave Coffee' shops, which emphasise an artisanal attitude to coffee production. About as far from traditional as you can get, they have instead a rather novel feel to them.
Zåmm Coffee & Art Collective, one of this new crop, presents an inspiring mix of coffee shop, art gallery and boutique magazine store. High quality, environmentally friendly and socially conscious (5% of the profit is donated to good causes), coffee beans from a Berlin roaster are prepared in traditional and innovative ways, such as the AeroPress, siphon and cold drip methods. In this place coffee is king, though art displayed on the walls and yummy cheesecake give you yet another reason to pay a visit to this wonderful place.
Open Tuesday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Nearest underground stop: Neubaugasse U3
Kaffemik boasts an impressive selection of speciality coffee from all over the world and features products from a new guest roaster every month. Consistently excellent, small Kaffemik packs a big coffee hit. There is a hint of the industrial about Kaffemik, and its purist design does not divert your attention from the wonderful espresso, but rather accentuates it. Tasty croissants and tarts are a lovely addition to the delicious beverages.
Open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday Closed. Nearest underground stop: Neubaugasse U3
Kaffemik photo by © Konstantin Reyer
Balthasar Kaffee Bar
It is obvious that a passion for good coffee was the driving force behind former cook Otto Bayer's decision to open a place such as Balthasar Kaffee Bar. There are many types of coffee of different origins and roasting houses, interesting blends of these, as well as a variety of delightful desserts and snacks. Here the preparation and serving of the coffee is brought to a whole new level. Whether espresso, cappuccino, filter or cold brew, all are simply amazing, as is the tea! (It is a real rarity that both tea and coffee of equally high quality are served in one place!) This café flaunts a trendy design with a Scandinavian touch (love the projector lamp and the chairs!) and a vintage coffee machine as a central masterpiece. The atmosphere is very relaxed, service friendly, the menu is small but well chosen and the coffee experience is unforgettable.
Open Monday to Friday 7.30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday Closed. Nearest underground stop: Nestroyplatz U3
Balthasar photo by © Tony Gigov
FÜRTH KAFFEE, managed by barista Charles Fürth, resides in CO. SPACE, where he prepares proper espresso on the technologically advanced, yet very stylish La Marzocco GB/5. The idea behind this café is that here you can find an individual coffee variety, personally tailored to your taste and preferences; coffee made-to-measure, so to speak. The coffee beans, purchased from a single buyer, are personally roasted by Charles Fürth, by-passing a long chain of intermediaries. As the saying goes: “it takes a genius to make things simple”. In addition to the Fürth-roasted blends, his small shop offers snacks, cookies and organic tea varieties from Demmers Teehaus.
Open Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Nearest underground stop: Neubaugasse U3
Café Jonas Reindl
With the wealth of amazing new coffee houses, I have to say I am nearly out of words of praise, but here is yet another place for the coffee connoisseur in you; a comfortable space decorated in the finest industrial design with old lamps, vintage lounge chairs and a socket under almost every seat (workaholics take note!). All types of coffees can be enjoyed either inside, accompanied by a bagel or homemade cake, or as a take away. Top coffee, top service, top atmosphere, mean that I really don’t need a reason to return to this place, and my friend swears by the tastiest banana bread she has ever tried!
Open Monday to Friday: 7.30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Nearest underground stop: Schottentor U2
Jonas Reindl
Let us know what are your favorite coffee places. Post in Comments below.
edited by Anu Turunen