Copenhagen’s café scene caters to specialty-coffee fanatics of a wide variety.
BY ISABELLE MANI
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photograph by means of Chris Tonnesen, courtesy of Espresso Collective
The Global of Espresso Copenhagen, held June 27-29 in Denmark’s capital town, introduced in combination execs from each and every sector of the specialty-coffee business, from roasters and baristas to buyers, manufacturers, producers, and low fanatics. Past running, exploring the development, and socializing on the after-parties, my project was once to embark on a excursion of Copenhagen’s most famed espresso retail outlets.
Town is widely known as one among Europe’s maximum leading edge espresso scenes, identified for its minimalist décor, fine quality beans, and a powerful emphasis on sustainability and empowerment of manufacturers. Copenhagen’s cafés aren’t pretentious; whilst some function high-end design (taking a look at you, April Espresso Roasters), they don’t hold forth fundamentalism about how espresso will have to be ate up. As a substitute, they’re practical and alluring to a wide variety of consumers, from espresso geeks and vacationers to native households. It’s natural hygge.
Along with the exceptional Danish pastries, the town is understood for its artisanal bread-baking custom, which is a staple in its cafés. Probably the most outstanding retail outlets supply their bread from their very own bakery store. “I got here to the espresso retail outlets for his or her beautiful, fine quality espresso, however I left Copenhagen enchanted by means of the combo of bread with whipped butter,” mentioned my good friend Gonçalo, proprietor of A Sargento Martinho Roaster in Lisbon, Portugal. Certainly, the bread with cheese and whipped butter duo was once one among my major meals crushes.
Listed below are the 5 cafés that stuck my consideration right through my week in Copenhagen.
April Espresso Roasters
Opened in 2016 and famend for its beautiful espresso, April Espresso Roasters could also be identified for its sumptuous, high-end surroundings and costs. Their spouse farmers value the espresso beans, which justifies the top class price.
April is legendary within the specialty-coffee international for its espresso home equipment and clothes manufacturing. Recently, their vary of goods contains roasted espresso beans, Nespresso-compatible espresso tablets, clear out drip packs, and a complete line of apparatus. Right through my talk over with, I attempted a clear out espresso meticulously ready by means of the barista. The presentation was once impeccable, with customized, superbly designed tableware.
The minimalistic inner showcases uncommon Nineteen Forties items from the Finn Juhl assortment. The surrealist-visionary Danish dressmaker’s Pelican Chair and Pelican Desk replicate the store’s minimalist and avant-garde method with a contemporary gallery vibe.
The surroundings is designed to be a “sanctuary of tranquility.” The premises are vibrant and calming, and I used to be very intrigued by means of the quiet atmosphere, with pre-ground espresso to attenuate noise. April does no longer supply its shoppers with a Wi-Fi password, reinforcing the perception of a tranquil, distraction-free surroundings. Regardless of the excessive costs and the absence of meals choices (most effective pastries are to be had), the full revel in was once value it as it felt distinctive, and the espresso was once nice.
Prolog Espresso Bar
Prolog Espresso Bar is a standout amongst Copenhagen’s colourful espresso scene, identified for its fine quality brews and welcoming surroundings. This roastery and coffee-shop chain has 4 shops across the town.
Spending time at Prolog is a lovely revel in with pleasant and attentive carrier and a full of life, welcoming, heat, and comfortable surroundings, whether or not you’re in for a fast coffee, a leisurely V60, or a gentle chew.
Prolog’s menu is various, providing a spread of espresso arrangements, together with filtered espresso, coffee, and V60 pourovers. The espresso store additionally gives a lot of snacks like sandwiches, yogurt, and granola, easiest for a gentle breakfast, brunch, or a day deal with.
Right through hotter months, which is after I visited, out of doors seating complements the revel in, making it preferrred for savoring espresso and pastries within the sunshine.
L. a. Cabra
In the beginning from the town of Aarhus, L. a. Cabra operates a Copenhagen café this is its most effective unit within the town. L. a. Cabra additionally owns department cafes in Oman, New York, and Bangkok.
Sharing an area with a neighborhood clothes shop, it embraces a Nordic vibe in its design, meals, and repair, and is situated in Copenhagen’s style district, Møntergade, which provides the store its distinctive vibe and no doubt stands proud within the native espresso scene. The blank traces and easy decor create a laid-back surroundings that’s easiest for taking part in a espresso destroy. They persist with the Nordic taste no longer simply in appears to be like but in addition in how they serve their foods and drinks, emphasizing freshness and high quality.
Since 2015, L. a. Cabra has been generating its personal naturally leavened breads and pastries. It additionally has its personal chocolate line and provides espresso subscriptions. The body of workers is aware of their stuff, and the menu has sufficient selection to stay issues attention-grabbing.
“Having attempted L. a. Cabra’s espresso ahead of ordering on-line, I knew what to anticipate, and so they delivered the similar constant high quality in-store,” mentioned my good friend Massimo Rotunno, from Cafezal Milano, once we had been sharing notes about our L. a. Cabra revel in. In addition they function visitor coffees, including just a little of selection to their menu.
Total, it’s a competent selection, one of the vital higher espresso spots within the town, and no doubt value a talk over with.
Espresso Collective
Established in 2007 and well known as one of the vital pioneers of the Scandinavian espresso taste, Espresso Collective Roastery has a virtually omnipresent presence in Copenhagen’s city panorama, with 8 espresso retail outlets in Copenhagen and one in Aarhus.
The unique location is in Kongensgade, and different places come with Bernikow, Jægersborggade, Torvehallerne, Carlsberg Byen, Frederiksberg, Sankt Hans Torv, and a kiosk close to Nørreport Station. The corporate and roastery be offering lessons, espresso subscriptions, and branded merchandise starting from cups and filters to tote luggage.
Certainly one of Espresso Collective’s hallmarks is its nice body of workers and workflow, that includes well mannered and useful baristas. This willpower to customer support no doubt complements the espresso revel in, which was once a not unusual descriptor among my buddies who visited the Espresso Collective cafes.
Right through Global of Espresso week, Espresso Collective held tastings at their espresso retail outlets round the town at “Meet the Manufacturer” classes and hosted six espresso farmers.
I attended a ”Meet the Manufacturer” consultation on the Espresso Collective in Copenhagen’s well known Torvehallerne meals marketplace. The development was once co-hosted by means of Casper Engel, one of the vital Espresso Collective’s house owners, and Ethiopia’s Moata Raya, who represents espresso farmers from the Edo area. They guided the visitors via cupping samples.
The Espresso Collective community become a comforting and constant presence right through my keep in Copenhagen. I visited 3 in their places, however my favourite was once the Telefonkiosken kiosk close to Nørreport Station, which is easiest for a sunny day.
20 Grams
I spent a few hours right here on my first day in Copenhagen, enjoyable and playing a leisurely past due lunch. Situated within the middle of Copenhagen’s Outdated The town, 20 Grams is a gem of a espresso store no longer only for its uniqueness espresso, but in addition for its atmosphere, convenience, and a colourful meals menu filled with choices. The espresso choices are all from Ethiopian manufacturers.
Beginning with the decor, it breaks clear of the famously minimalistic taste continuously related to Danish cafés. As a substitute, it combines a much less Scandinavian taste with a variety of hygge, growing a singular and comfortable surroundings with vintage-inspired decor. And a Princess Leia poster, as a result of why no longer?
20 Grams is easiest for foodies who recognize a much less “espresso nerd” surroundings with their uniqueness espresso. The focal point here’s on culinary indulgences like selfmade truffles and waffles paired with superb espresso. Whether or not for brunch or a day snack, there is not any method to not love their cheesecake and melted cheese smørrebrød.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Isabelle Mani (she/her) is a creator, journalist, and communicator that specialize in the global espresso business. Since 2017, she has inquisitive about writing articles and lines for more than a few global espresso information retailers. Isabelle has traveled to coffee-producing nations comparable to Colombia, Kenya, Rwanda, China, and Brazil to review and analysis espresso. She holds coaching certifications from the Strong point Espresso Affiliation (SCA) and the Espresso High quality Institute (Arabica Q Grading).
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