Casino Mocca on Hunyadi Janos ut in Ujbuda is Hungary's leading new-wave coffee roastery, supplying most of Budapest's wave-three cafes with single-origin beans.
Must order: The seasonal single-origin filter from the rotating roastery menu.
Tip: Most downtown specialty cafes pour Casino Mocca; the roastery itself runs cuppings.
Address: Hunyadi János út 3, 1117 Budapest
Espresso Embassy on Arany Janos opened in 2012 as Budapest's first wave-three specialty cafe and still roasts and pours a sharp espresso and filter list downtown.
Order: The single-origin espresso, paired with a chocolate chip cookie.
Tip: Weekday mornings the queue is light; the back counter has filter set-ups for tasting.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Kenya, Guatemala, Colombia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Mantra on Veres Palne in Lipotvaros pours light-roast Ethiopian, Brazilian and Honduran filter coffees on AeroPress, Chemex and V60 in a Persian-carpeted downtown room.
Order: The single-origin filter on Chemex, with a slice of cake from the counter.
Tip: The owners run home-barista classes; ask if a class lands during your visit.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Honduras, Costa Rica
How they serve: Espresso, AeroPress, Chemex, V60
Madal on Hollan Erno in Ujlipotvaros pours 13 single origins sourced from English and Austrian roasters, plus its own house blend, with a loose-leaf tea wall.
Order: A V60 filter from the rotating single-origin menu.
Tip: Open weekends from 08:30; the outdoor terrace is calm on summer mornings.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Burundi, Brazil
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
My Little Melbourne on Madach square was Hungary's first specialty coffee shop in April 2012, an Australian flat-white cafe and small roaster near Gozsdu Udvar.
Order: The flat white with the daily filter from the Brew Bar next door.
Tip: The Brew Bar next door is the slow-pour twin; ask for a manual brew there.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail
Kontakt on Karoly korut is a tucked-back specialty cafe in a Pest courtyard near Deak ter, pouring espresso and filter from rotating European and Hungarian roasters.
Order: The flat white and the seasonal aeropress brew.
Tip: Enter via the inner courtyard; the room is small and fills by 10:30 on weekdays.
Sources from: Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya
How they serve: Espresso, Filter, Whole bean retail