30 cafes worth the trip across Germany, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Germany guides.
Five Elephant ★ 4.8 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Reichenberger Strasse 101, 10999 Berlin
Five Elephant in Berlin Kreuzberg has roasted its own beans and pulled the city's reference filter coffee since 2010; the New York-style cheesecake.
Tip: The Reichenberger flagship runs all-day.
Kaffeesaurus ★ 4.8 · Cologne
agnesviertel · Friesenplatz 15, 50672 Koln
Kaffeesaurus at Friesenplatz in Cologne roasts its own beans and serves the T-Rex breakfast burrito alongside specialty espresso in a playful Belgian Quarter.
Salon Schmitz ★ 4.8 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Aachener Str. 28, 50674 Koln
Salon Schmitz on Aachener Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is a 1950s-styled salon serving weekend brunch, Frühstück platters and wine from morning.
The Barn ★ 4.7 · Berlin
mitte · Auguststrasse 58, 10119 Berlin
The Barn on Berlin's Auguststrasse, founded 2010 by Ralf Rueller, runs the city's strict third-wave coffee dogma: no Wi-Fi, no laptops, no milk in espresso.
Tip: No Wi-Fi or laptops by policy. The filter pour-over with the bean of the week is the order.
The Barn (Schoenhauser) ★ 4.7 · Berlin
prenzlauer-berg · Schoenhauser Allee 8, 10119 Berlin
The Barn's Schoenhauser flagship in Berlin Prenzlauer Berg runs the city's strictest third-wave filter dogma; no laptops, no Wi-Fi, no milk-based drinks past.
Tip: Counter seating only, no laptops. The single-origin filter changes every 48 hours; ask the bar staff for today's pour.
Hallmackenreuther ★ 4.7 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Brusseler Platz 9, 50674 Koln
Hallmackenreuther on Brüsseler Platz in Cologne is the iconic Belgian Quarter terrace cafe, open from breakfast to midnight; the best people-watching seat.
Cafe Caprista ★ 4.7 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Flandrische Str. 15, 50674 Koln
Cafe Caprista on Flandrische Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel serves generous brunch plates, afternoon cakes and espresso in a warmly lit room.
Man versus Machine ★ 4.7 · Munich
glockenbachviertel · Müllerstrasse 23, 80469 München
Marco and Cornelia Mehrwald's Man versus Machine in Munich's Glockenbach is the city's most-cited specialty roastery; the Müllerstrasse bar pours their own.
Tip: Bring a laptop early; the central table fills up by 10:30 on weekdays.
Bonanza Coffee Roasters ★ 4.6 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Adalbertstrasse 70, 10999 Berlin
Bonanza Coffee Roasters in Berlin Kreuzberg has helped define the city's third-wave coffee scene since 2006; the Adalbertstrasse roastery-cafe pulls.
Tip: No Wi-Fi by policy; the cafe is for drinking, not working. Ask the barista for a flat white.
Concierge Coffee ★ 4.6 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, 10999 Berlin
Concierge Coffee on Berlin's Paul-Lincke-Ufer pulls espresso from a tiny 8-cover counter built into a hotel lobby; the single-origin filter list runs four.
Tip: 8-cover counter only, no laptop tables. The single-origin filter is the order on a quiet weekday morning.
Balthasar ★ 4.6 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Aachener Str. 18, 50674 Koln
Balthasar on Aachener Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is a cafe-bistro with all-day brunch, cakes and wine; popular with a Belgian Quarter crowd.
vevi Cafe ★ 4.6 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Brusseler Str. 29, 50674 Koln
vevi Cafe on Brüsseler Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is an organic, plant-forward cafe serving breakfast bowls, grain lunches and vegan cakes.
Vits der Kaffee ★ 4.6 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Rumfordstrasse 49, 80469 München
Vits in Munich's Gärtnerplatz-quarter is the city's grandfather of third-wave coffee; the V60 brewbar pours single origins from beans roasted in-house.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the carrot cake at the counter is one of the city's best.
Double Eye ★ 4.5 · Berlin
schoeneberg · Akazienstrasse 22, 10823 Berlin
Double Eye in Berlin Schoeneberg has pulled the city's reference espresso since 2003; the tiny 6-cover counter has a perpetual morning queue from 08:00.
Tip: 6-cover counter only, takeaway is the move. Locals queue daily for the espresso macchiato.
Cafe Sehnsucht ★ 4.5 · Cologne
ehrenfeld · Kornerstr. 67, 50823 Koln
Cafe Sehnsucht on Körnerstrasse in Cologne's Ehrenfeld is an eco-certified neighbourhood cafe serving organic filter coffee and fresh Rührkuchen from 08:00.
Hommage ★ 4.5 · Cologne
agnesviertel · Friesenplatz 10, 50672 Koln
Hommage at Friesenplatz in Cologne serves specialty coffee and French-style pastries in a light-filled room; the croissants and filter coffee draw the crowds.
Elbgold ★ 4.5 · Hamburg
sternschanze · Lagerstrasse 34c, 20357 Hamburg
Elbgold's flagship cafe in the old slaughterhouse on Lagerstrasse in Hamburg's Schanzenviertel has roasted and poured specialty coffee since 2004.
Tip: Open 07:30 weekdays, busiest 09:00-11:00. The mezzanine seats more often have free tables.
Speicherstadt Kaffeeroesterei ★ 4.5 · Hamburg
speicherstadt · Kehrwieder 5, 20457 Hamburg
Speicherstadt Kaffeeroesterei on Kehrwieder in Hamburg's UNESCO Speicherstadt has roasted on traditional drum roasters since 1996, with the cafe pouring.
Tip: Open 10:00 daily. The roaster runs in the back; ask for the tasting tour on weekends.
Standl 20 ★ 4.5 · Munich
schwabing · Elisabethplatz, 80796 München
Standl 20 is the coffee stall at Munich's Elisabethmarkt in Schwabing-West; locals pick up flat whites and cinnamon buns from the wooden hatch.
Tip: Closed Sundays and bank holidays; counter only, no work-from-cafe seating.
Café Frischhut (Schmalznudel) ★ 4.5 · Munich
altstadt-lehel · Prälat-Zistl-Strasse 8, 80331 München
Café Frischhut, known as Schmalznudel, has fried the namesake sugar-dusted Bavarian doughnut just off Munich's Viktualienmarkt since 1973; pair with filter.
Tip: Closed Sundays; the queue is shortest at 09:00 weekday mornings.
Father Carpenter ★ 4.4 · Berlin
mitte · Muenzstrasse 21, 10178 Berlin
Father Carpenter in Berlin Mitte's courtyard runs a small breakfast and brunch carte from 09:00; the flat white and the smashed-avocado toast.
Tip: The courtyard terrace is the seating to ask for in summer; the brunch carte from 09:00 runs until 16:00.
Fjord Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4 · Berlin
kreuzberg · Schoenleinstrasse 9, 10967 Berlin
Fjord Coffee Roasters in Berlin Kreuzberg roasts its own beans at the Schoenleinstrasse cafe and runs an all-day brunch carte; the filter coffee and toasted.
Tip: The Sunday brunch from 10:00 books out by mid-morning; the filter coffee runs until 17:00 daily.
ST LOUIS Breakfast ★ 4.4 · Cologne
neustadt-sued · Zulpicher Str. 25, 50674 Koln
ST LOUIS Breakfast on Zülpicher Strasse in Cologne's Kwartier Latäng is a student-quarter institution serving generous American-style breakfasts from 09:00.
The Coffee Gang ★ 4.4 · Cologne
belgisches-viertel · Maastrichter Str. 47, 50672 Koln
The Coffee Gang on Maastrichter Strasse in Cologne's Belgisches Viertel is a specialty coffee bar serving guest-roaster filter and espresso in a minimal room.
Cafe Reichard ★ 4.4 · Cologne
altstadt · Unter Fettenhennen 11, 50667 Köln
Cafe Reichard on Unter Fettenhennen beneath Cologne's Cathedral towers is the city's most famous Konditorei, serving Kaffee und Kuchen since 1855.
Public Coffee Roasters ★ 4.4 · Hamburg
neustadt · Wexstrasse 28, 20355 Hamburg
Public Coffee Roasters on Wexstrasse in Hamburg's Neustadt is the third-wave roaster's original cafe, pouring filter and espresso behind a sage-green.
Tip: Counter seats fill on weekday mornings; tables in the back are easier from 11:00.
Stockholm Espresso Club ★ 4.4 · Hamburg
winterhude · Peter-Marquard-Strasse 8, 22303 Hamburg
Stockholm Espresso Club on Peter-Marquard-Strasse in Hamburg's Winterhude pours Swedish-roaster Koppi beans across two small rooms in a quiet Winterhude.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The sidewalk seats are the local sit-and-read spot in good weather.
Nord Coast Coffee Roastery Eppendorf ★ 4.4 · Hamburg
eppendorf · Eppendorfer Baum 20, 20249 Hamburg
Nord Coast Coffee Roastery's Eppendorf branch on Eppendorfer Baum pours the Hamburg micro-roaster's beans alongside cinnamon buns, waffles and avocado bread.
Tip: Open daily from 09:00. Cinnamon buns sell out by early afternoon; quieter mid-week mornings.
Strandperle ★ 4.4 · Hamburg
oevelgoenne · Oevelgoenne 60, 22605 Hamburg
Strandperle on the Elbe sand beach at Oevelgoenne in Hamburg has poured pilsner, coffee and Fischbroetchen on the sand since 1979, with deck chairs in summer.
Tip: Open daily Apr to Oct; reduced hours in winter. Bus 112 to Neumuehlen drops you a 10-minute walk from the beach.
Silo Coffee ★ 4.3 · Berlin
friedrichshain · Gabriel-Max-Strasse 4, 10245 Berlin
Silo Coffee in Berlin Friedrichshain pulls a tight Australian-style menu of flat whites and brunch plates, the Five Elephant beans run the filter side.
Tip: Weekend brunch is the busy window; arrive before 11:00 for a table on the front terrace.