Visit Munich’s Top Cafes for Specialty Coffee
When I drank myself through Munich’s coffee scene I was particularly impressed with these cafes listed here as they shine with locally roasted beans, carefully crafted concepts and passionate baristas. Overall, the number of specialty coffee shops in Munich cannot be compared to major coffee capitals such as Berlin, but that does not mean the quality isn’t top notch. Let’s start in Munich’s Glockenbachviertel, a neighbourhood that attracts the youngsters and the hipsters for its fashionable bars and funky shops.
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Recommendations for accommodation in Munich
WunderLocke Munich – A stylish yet budget friendly apart hotel hotel with amazing common areas and facilities. —> Booking.com
DO & CO Hotel München – This high-end boutique hotel is featured in the hotel section of the MICHELIN guide. Each room features a coffee machine and chic design, with top Munich landmarks right around the corner. —> Booking.com
BEYOND by Geisel – This hotel is living and breathing luxury. Warm and elegantly designed rooms leave nothing to be desired. —> Booking.com
Please don’t ask for a Latte Macchiato when you enter Man Versus Machine, it’s not on the menu and it never will be. Keep it simple and order a Flat White, Espresso or decide on one of the filter options, for there are plenty. Whether you prefer Aeropress, the Syphon, V60 or Kalita, you can’t go wrong! Man Versus Machine uses only specialty grade coffee beans freshly roasted on site. Conny and Marko are the power couple behind Man Versus Machine and spent years renovating and remodeling their first coffee shop in the Glockenbach district.
Man Versus Machine is partly working with Nordic Approach, a company known for their high quality green beans and transparency. Usually there are four to five different type of beans to choose from. What’s interesting is the fact that Man Versus Machine develop a roasting profile for each coffee that works for both, espresso and filter. Their focus is on light to medium roasts only and the coffee beans are rotated according to their complexity. More complex coffee is rotated quite frequently whereas a less complex one will stay on the menu for a while longer.
Café Blá, nestled between Deutsches Museum and the Isar river, offers a fusion of simplicity and Nordic calmness with delicious tasting experiences on top. It is owned by Stephanie Bjarnason, who combines her French and Icelandic heritage to create a unique coffee experience rooted in the Nordic roasting culture. Enjoy their unique blend that has a fresh and fruity taste with a velvety finish or sample different brewing methods and single origins for a change of flavor.
Suuapinga have been making waves in Munich’s coffee scene with several locations across town. One might take the name to be somewhat of a tongue twister, but it’s actually steeped in local history. What few know is that back in 782, Suuapinga was the original name of the settlement which is now Schwabing. Fast-forwarding to today, three friends — Peter Baumann, Lucas Wiltfang, and Emanuel Etzersdorfer — give new meaning to a forgotten name. The interior of their Herzogstraße location is refreshingly understated. No frills, no fuss – just a clean, minimalist space that lets the coffee take center stage. Suuapinga’s brew is the kind that makes you pause mid-sip and wonder how you ever settled for less. But let’s not forget about the sidekicks. Their cinnamon rolls and butter sandwiches are the perfect partners in crime for your caffeine fix. They complement the coffee without trying to outshine it.
Even though the cafe gangundgäbe has been around since November 2015, it took four years until I finally paid a visit. I am not usually so behind the times when it comes to scouting a city’s best coffee shops, but I am so happy I finally discovered this neighbourhood cafe. Here you can indulge in a variety of coffee blends as well as single origins and pair them with delectable pastries that melt in your mouth. This is the ultimate coffee haven for connoisseurs seeking a sensory escape.
Standl 20 is located in a cabin like building at Elisabethmarkt, a relaxed and authentic market in the heart of Schwabing. Toni Lohde und Johannes Bayer are the creators and coffee experts who opened Standl 20 in May 2015. Johannes is also the beanius behind JB Kaffee coffee roaster, currently based in Dachau. It goes without saying that JB Kaffee is what you’ll be drinking here. Choose between two kinds of espresso beans or a total of 11 coffees for filter. The house blend is a regular for espresso, a light roast with low acidity and a full body that is pleasant even for those who are new to the third wave.
Supremo Coffee Roasters is based in Unterhaching, just a stone’s throw away from Munich, where craft meets global responsibility. The family business practices sustainability across generations in sourcing quality beans by way of direct partnerships with coffee farmers. As you steps inside, the smell of freshly roasted beans envelopes your senses. The interior is minimalistic yet elegant, with natural light flooding the space. Pastel colours and clean lines are characteristic for the design here.