The best coffee in Berlin

Looking out onto a gorgeous park in the north of Berlin’s Mitte district is Oslo Kaffebar. Upon stepping inside from the sunny street, you’re greeted with a beautiful interior that marries the styles of Berlin and Norway, characterised by the exposed concrete ceiling and plenty of natural wood, respectively. As well as producing exceptional coffee, a couple of things make them really stand out. The croissants are made in Paris and driven to Berlin to be baked fresh each morning, and there’s also a record shop in the back of the cafe for vinyl lovers. This is one of the most eco-conscious coffee shops in Berlin. Not only is the coffee (roasted themselves) sustainable, but the vessel you drink it from too. The cups are made in Berlin by Kaffee Form; created from recycled coffee grounds, wood grains, and plant fibres.

As featured in our guide to Berlin, Five Elephant is one of Kreuzberg’s premier locations for coffee. With its own roastery next door, you can be assured of the freshest beans for your brew, yet for many people, the cakes are the biggest draw. If you’re in the area and have a sweet tooth, the vanilla cheesecake is unmissable. In fact, it’s so popular that when you go to indulge in its delicious, velvety goodness, you have to keep your fingers crossed there’s some left, as it’s swiftly hoovered up by locals and visitors alike.

Berlin’s coffee scene was still in its infancy when The Barn arrived in 2010, making it one of the first specialty coffee shops in Berlin. There was much less focus on quality and sustainability compared to today, and as such, they can be considered among the pioneers. Since opening their small coffee shop in Mitte they’ve also opened their own roastery/coffee bar — a large, beautiful space designed to let people enjoy their coffee without distraction. Laptops are limited, there’s an absence of music, and (controversially) prams aren’t permitted. The quality of their coffee is now so established that you can find their roasts across Europe, North America, and Asia.

One of the cosiest coffee shops in Berlin derives its name from the former concierge hut that has been its home for the last three years. It’s so small in fact that there’s no seating inside. Unless Berlin is in the throes of one of its bitter winters, people tend to order through the concierge hut’s window rather than stepping inside, after which they either take their coffee to go or sit in the sun on the benches outside. What Concierge Coffee lacks in size, however, it more than makes up for in the quality of coffee, which is skilfully crafted from their signature Concierge roast.

While exploring the district of Kreuzberg, you may chance upon a sign on the street proudly declaring “Bloody good coffee!”. If so, you’re at 19grams, one of the great little coffee shops in Berlin that came onto the Berlin scene in 2014. Aside from outstanding coffee (they use roasts from Friedrichshain-based Tres Cabezas), there are tasty homemade cakes and the usual assortment of pastries. Seating is limited, but it’s ideal for grabbing a coffee to go and exploring the neighbourhood’s vibrant streets and unique stores.