Copenhagen’s café scene caters to specialty-coffee lovers of every kind.
BY ISABELLE MANI
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photograph by Chris Tonnesen, courtesy of Espresso Collective
The World of Espresso Copenhagen, held June 27-29 in Denmark’s capital metropolis, introduced collectively professionals from each sector of the specialty-coffee trade, from roasters and baristas to merchants, producers, producers, and low lovers. Past working, exploring the occasion, and socializing on the after-parties, my mission was to embark on a tour of Copenhagen’s most famous espresso retailers.
The town is widely known as one among Europe’s most progressive espresso scenes, identified for its minimalist décor, high-quality beans, and a powerful emphasis on sustainability and empowerment of producers. Copenhagen’s cafés will not be pretentious; whereas some characteristic high-end design (taking a look at you, April Espresso Roasters), they don’t preach fundamentalism about how espresso ought to be consumed. As a substitute, they’re purposeful and welcoming to every kind of shoppers, from espresso geeks and vacationers to native households. It’s pure hygge.
Along with the unparalleled Danish pastries, the town is thought for its artisanal bread-baking custom, which is a staple in its cafés. Probably the most distinguished retailers supply their bread from their very own bakery store. “I got here to the espresso retailers for his or her beautiful, high-quality espresso, however I left Copenhagen enchanted by the mixture of bread with whipped butter,” stated my buddy Gonçalo, proprietor of A Sargento Martinho Roaster in Lisbon, Portugal. Certainly, the bread with cheese and whipped butter duo was one among my fundamental meals crushes.
Listed here are the 5 cafés that caught my consideration throughout my week in Copenhagen.
April Espresso Roasters
Opened in 2016 and famend for its beautiful espresso, April Espresso Roasters can also be identified for its luxurious, high-end ambiance and costs. Their accomplice farmers worth the espresso beans, which justifies the premium value.
April is known within the specialty-coffee world for its espresso home equipment and clothes manufacturing. At the moment, their vary of merchandise consists of roasted espresso beans, Nespresso-compatible espresso capsules, filter drip packs, and a complete line of apparatus. Throughout my go to, I attempted a filter espresso meticulously ready by the barista. The presentation was impeccable, with personalised, fantastically designed tableware.
The minimalistic inside showcases uncommon Nineteen Forties items from the Finn Juhl assortment. The surrealist-visionary Danish designer’s Pelican Chair and Pelican Desk mirror the store’s minimalist and avant-garde method with a contemporary gallery vibe.
The setting is designed to be a “sanctuary of tranquility.” The premises are vivid and calming, and I used to be very intrigued by the quiet ambiance, with pre-ground espresso to reduce noise. April doesn’t present its prospects with a Wi-Fi password, reinforcing the notion of a tranquil, distraction-free setting. Regardless of the excessive costs and the absence of meals choices (solely pastries can be found), the general expertise was price it as a result of it felt distinctive, and the espresso was nice.
Prolog Espresso Bar
Prolog Espresso Bar is a standout amongst Copenhagen’s vibrant espresso scene, identified for its high-quality brews and welcoming ambiance. This roastery and coffee-shop chain has 4 shops across the metropolis.
Spending time at Prolog is a pleasant expertise with pleasant and attentive service and a vigorous, welcoming, heat, and comfy ambiance, whether or not you’re in for a fast espresso, a leisurely V60, or a light-weight chunk.
Prolog’s menu is numerous, providing a spread of espresso preparations, together with filtered espresso, espresso, and V60 pourovers. The espresso store additionally provides a wide range of snacks like sandwiches, yogurt, and granola, good for a light-weight breakfast, brunch, or a day deal with.
Throughout hotter months, which is once I visited, out of doors seating enhances the expertise, making it ideally suited for savoring espresso and pastries within the sunshine.
La Cabra
Initially from the town of Aarhus, La Cabra operates a Copenhagen café that’s its solely unit within the metropolis. La Cabra additionally owns department cafes in Oman, New York, and Bangkok.
Sharing an area with a neighborhood clothes retailer, it embraces a Nordic vibe in its design, meals, and repair, and is situated in Copenhagen’s vogue district, Møntergade, which provides the store its distinctive vibe and positively stands out within the native espresso scene. The clear traces and easy decor create a laid-back ambiance that’s good for having fun with a espresso break. They keep on with the Nordic type not simply in appears to be like but in addition in how they serve their meals and drinks, emphasizing freshness and high quality.
Since 2015, La Cabra has been producing its personal naturally leavened breads and pastries. It additionally has its personal chocolate line and provides espresso subscriptions. The employees is aware of their stuff, and the menu has sufficient selection to maintain issues attention-grabbing.
“Having tried La Cabra’s espresso earlier than ordering on-line, I knew what to anticipate, they usually delivered the identical constant high quality in-store,” stated my buddy Massimo Rotunno, from Cafezal Milano, once we had been sharing notes about our La Cabra expertise. In addition they characteristic visitor coffees, including a little bit of selection to their menu.
General, it’s a dependable selection, one of many higher espresso spots within the metropolis, and positively price a go to.
Espresso Collective
Established in 2007 and well-known as one of many pioneers of the Scandinavian espresso type, Espresso Collective Roastery has an nearly omnipresent presence in Copenhagen’s city panorama, with eight espresso retailers in Copenhagen and one in Aarhus.
The unique location is in Kongensgade, and different areas embrace Bernikow, Jægersborggade, Torvehallerne, Carlsberg Byen, Frederiksberg, Sankt Hans Torv, and a kiosk close to Nørreport Station. The corporate and roastery supply programs, espresso subscriptions, and branded merchandise starting from cups and filters to tote baggage.
One in all Espresso Collective’s hallmarks is its nice employees and workflow, that includes well mannered and useful baristas. This dedication to customer support positively enhances the espresso expertise, which was a standard descriptor amongst my associates who visited the Espresso Collective cafes.
Throughout World of Espresso week, Espresso Collective held tastings at their espresso retailers round city at “Meet the Producer” periods and hosted six espresso farmers.
I attended a ”Meet the Producer” session on the Espresso Collective in Copenhagen’s well-known Torvehallerne meals market. The occasion was co-hosted by Casper Engel, one of many Espresso Collective’s house owners, and Ethiopia’s Moata Raya, who represents espresso farmers from the Edo area. They guided the company by cupping samples.
The Espresso Collective community turned a comforting and constant presence throughout my keep in Copenhagen. I visited three of their areas, however my favourite was the Telefonkiosken kiosk close to Nørreport Station, which is ideal for a sunny day.
20 Grams
I spent a few hours right here on my first day in Copenhagen, enjoyable and having fun with a leisurely late lunch. Positioned within the coronary heart of Copenhagen’s Outdated City, 20 Grams is a gem of a espresso store not only for its specialty espresso, but in addition for its ambiance, consolation, and a vibrant meals menu stuffed with choices. The espresso choices are all from Ethiopian producers.
Beginning with the decor, it breaks away from the famously minimalistic type usually related to Danish cafés. As a substitute, it combines a much less Scandinavian type with loads of hygge, creating a singular and comfy ambiance with vintage-inspired decor. And a Princess Leia poster, as a result of why not?
20 Grams is ideal for foodies who respect a much less “espresso nerd” setting with their specialty espresso. The main focus right here is on culinary indulgences like selfmade desserts and waffles paired with glorious espresso. Whether or not for brunch or a day snack, there isn’t any method to not love their cheesecake and melted cheese smørrebrød.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Isabelle Mani (she/her) is a author, journalist, and communicator specializing within the worldwide espresso trade. Since 2017, she has targeted on writing articles and options for varied worldwide espresso information shops. Isabelle has traveled to coffee-producing international locations reminiscent of Colombia, Kenya, Rwanda, China, and Brazil to review and analysis espresso. She holds coaching certifications from the Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) and the Espresso High quality Institute (Arabica Q Grading).
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