This is the story of a journey. This story begins, as most stories do, with the main character being on an epic quest to bring light against dark evil forces. Our two main characters are coffee lovers Mitsune and Takeshi, and the quest bestowed upon them was to find coffee shops and cafés where to drink great coffee during their European trip, as well as specialty coffee roasters where to buy great coffee to drink it home . The dark evil forces menacing them? Dark-roasted, burnt, bad coffee.
SPOILER: Do you already want to know the most difficult part? The ultimate challenge? The final test of our heroes? The last monster to slay at end of the journey? Well, ITALY of course! And what else, if not the definitive embodiment of dark evil force? đ
Their journey as they travel through Europe in search of the best specialty coffee roasters is a fascinating tale of discovery and passion for coffee. Their adventure takes them to various cities and countries, where they explore the vibrant specialty coffee culture and meet the people behind the craft.
The Passion for Coffee
Mitsune and Takeshi’s journey is not just about discovering the best coffee roasters but also about the people and stories behind them. They highlight the passion and dedication of these roasters, who are driven by a love for coffee and a desire to share that with others. Through their travels, they demonstrate that coffee is not just a drink but a way to connect people and cultures across. Their journey serves as a testament to the thriving specialty coffee culture in Europe, showcasing the diversity and richness of the continent’s coffee scene.
Top 8 European Specialty Coffee Roasters
Europe is the epicenter of coffee culture, where the beverage has evolved and flourished since its introduction from Africa. The continent has played a pivotal role in spreading coffee globally, from cultivation to consumption, and has given rise to diverse and vibrant coffee cultures. These traditional practices have been elevated to new heights through the development of cutting-edge specialty coffee cultures across the entire old continent.
Throughout their European journey, our heroes encounter a variety of exceptional specialty coffee roasters and cafes. Each cafe offers a unique experience, with a focus on specialty coffee and a passion for the craft. They visit various coffee roasters in order to learn about their roasting processes and sourcing methods, as well as cafés for learning about extraction methods and brewing techniques.
Some of the notable mentions found during their European trip (in no particular order) include the following.
Nomad Coffee
Nomad Coffee Roasters is a highly regarded specialty coffee roastery based in Barcelona, Spain, as well as a respected name in the specialty coffee industry, known for its unique roasting style, high-quality beans, and commitment to sustainability and employee well-being. Nomad is recognized for its consistency and quality, with many customers praising their roasting style and the variety of flavors they offer. Nomad’s history began with a coffee cart in London, which eventually moved to Barcelona and expanded into a globally recognized specialty coffee company. They have a strong focus on ethical sourcing and sustainability, working closely with producers and importers to ensure high-quality beans. The roastery is committed to maintaining its quality standards and has invested in data and equipment to ensure consistency in its roasting process. Nomad’s coffees are highly regarded by coffee enthusiasts and have been praised by several reviewers. They offer a range of blends and single-origin coffees, including roasts that are more developed and suitable for filter brewing, but also for espresso extraction. The company is also known for its commitment to employee happiness and has reduced the number of cafes to focus on roasting and improving the quality of its products.
Five Elephant
Five Elephant is a no-frills specialty coffee roastery, artisanal bakery, and small group of neighborhood cafes located in Berlin, Germany. Established in 2010, they have made a significant impact on the Berlin coffee scene as a third-wave roaster. The company is known for its high-quality products and commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The company operates multiple cafes in Berlin, offering a range of specialty coffees, including espresso, filter, and omni roasts. These cafes are also famous for their artisanal bakery products, particularly their cheesecake. Five Elephant’s bakery produces a variety of high-quality cakes and pastries, which are served alongside their specialty coffees in their cafes. The roastery emphasizes transparency in its coffee sourcing, maintaining long-term partnerships with farms and producers. They prioritize environmental sustainability and social responsibility in their operations. Five Elephant offers a diverse range of specialty coffees, including seasonal and fresh options. Their coffee selection includes espresso, filter, and omni roasts suitable for various brewing method
DAK Coffee Roasters
https://www.dakcoffeeroasters.com
DAK Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roastery based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The name “DAK” means “roof” in Dutch, inspired by the moment when Boucher decided to start his own roastery while sitting on the roof of his home in 2019. DAK Coffee Roasters is committed to celebrating quality coffee “from farm to cup.” They believe that every coffee beverage is unique and deserves a dedicated roast that highlights its flavor profile. DAK is known for its creative roasting profiles, continually trying new and innovative methods. They sample-roast new green coffee beans weekly and conduct regular cupping sessions to identify unique flavors and select the best roasting profiles. DAK offers a variety of specialty coffees, including unique and carefully selected roasts suitable for different brewing methods. Overall, DAK Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee company that focuses on quality, sustainability, and ethical sourcing, with a strong commitment to celebrating the complexity of coffee flavors.
Man Met Bril Koffie
https://www.manmetbrilkoffie.nl/
Man Met Bril Koffie is a specialty coffee roastery and cafe based in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The company started roasting coffee under an arch at an old train station. Over time, the business has expanded to occupy three arches, housing an epic coffee bar, production facility, and kitchen where they serve handmade flatbreads and a variety of specialty coffees. Man Met Bril Koffie is known for its high-quality specialty coffee roasts, sourced through direct trade relationships. They have a strong commitment to sustainability, using minimal packaging that minimizes waste. The cafe offers a range of specialty coffees, including pour-over and espresso options. Man Met Bril Koffie is set to open the world’s first coffee hotel in the summer of 2024. The hotel will be a hub for coffee enthusiasts, professionals, and curious minds, featuring a coffee roastery, bar, and restaurant. The company is also launching a residency program for coffee professionals, where they can stay and learn at the coffee hotel. To promote this program, they have embarked on a European road trip, visiting around 20 cities and hosting mini-events with local bars and roasters. Man Met Bril Koffie is deeply involved in the local community, hosting various events and campaigns, such as Easter scavenger hunts and Valentine’s Day speed dating events. Man Met Bril Koffie is known for its commitment to quality and community engagement.
Rum Baba Coffee Roasters
Rum Baba Coffee Roasters is another Dutch specialty coffee roastery based in Amsterdam. The company is known for its high-quality, freshly roasted coffee beans, which are available for purchase online or in-store. Rum Baba also hosts monthly coffee-related workshops and participates in events, where they showcase their beans and host cupping sessions. The roastery emphasizes building strong relationships with farmers across the globe to source the best coffee beans. Their coffee shop in Amsterdam allows customers to witness the roasting process firsthand, reflecting their dedication to craftsmanship and quality. Rum Baba’s journey began with a specialty coffee bar called Coffee Bru. This venture eventually evolved into Rum Baba, which has become a prominent name in Amsterdam’s specialty coffee scene. The roastery is praised for its clean cup profiles, sweetness, and round mouthfeel, making it one of the most exciting roasters in Amsterdam.
Dropshot Coffee Roasters
Dropshot Coffee Roasters is a specialty coffee roastery based in Bucharest, Romania. Founded in 2019, the company evolved from a personal passion for coffee into a top coffee advocate in Romania. Dropshot handcrafts its coffees using high-quality raw materials and offers various roasting methods, including Modern Espresso and Omniroast, which allow for flexibility in brewing methods. Dropshot Coffee Roasters has been recognized for its high-quality products and has been featured in several specialty coffee clubs and guides. Dropshot offers several coffee collections:
- Rare Pearls Collection: The pinnacle of specialty coffee sophistication, featuring rare and unique coffee varieties from top producers with meticulous care and clean processing methods. These coffees are often omniroasts, suitable for both filter and espresso brewing.
- Foundation Collection: Distinctive, balanced, and delicious single-origin coffees that represent the regional terroir of their origin countries. These coffees are available most of the year and are often sourced through direct trade relationships.
- Discovery Collection: Unique, intriguing, and complex single-origin coffees with limited quantities, designed for coffee enthusiasts who appreciate seasonal and high-quality products.
- Revelation Collection: High-quality specialty coffees that showcase the complexity of coffee flavors.
Ojo de Café
Ojo de Café is a specialty coffee roastery and cafe located in Bern, Switzerland. Ojo de Café offers a variety of specialty coffees, including single-origin and blended options. Ojo de Café serves superb specialty coffee from Latin America, selected and roasted with passion, both for mild methods and for espresso. A real delight and lovely surprises with the competition coffees and other special editions. Without a doubt among the very best in Europe.
ArtCafé
ArtcafĂ© is a specialty coffee roastery based in Parma, Italy with multiple cafĂ©s and locations Parma. ArtcafĂ© was born in Parma from an idea that reflects the culture of our past, from a land rich in tradition and art, from a life experience and love for our work. We judged our coffee as careful and strict art critics, and the result is a product that does justice to a city that is as beautiful as it is demanding, and that faces into Europe with taste and sophistication. ArtcafĂ© coffee is a product not only of the highest quality, but also the evolution of a long experience in the world of coffee, an innovative choice in taste and quality, which is also reflected in our packaging and in our our communication. Artcafe offers high-quality specialty coffee products, including their Sofia Specialty Coffee Blend, a blend obtained only from the composition of 100% Arabica coffee of the highest quality, roasted so as to best express the aromatic potential and properly extracted according to well-defined standards. Attention is therefore placed on the origins of the coffee, on the botanical variety grown in a particular production area, but also on each step of the supply chain: a Specialty Coffee has no defects when it is raw, is roasted fresh and, thanks to the professionalism of the barista who extracts it, results in a “unique” coffee in the cup that can amaze.
By far the best espresso you can drink in Italy and also the most consistent coffee cup across their various locations in Parma!
Our Top Picks
1) NOMAD
for its longest dedication & commitment to quality, and for inspiring every other specialty coffee roaster in Europe and globally.
2) OJO DE CAFĂ
for the best quality of the coffee served.
3) ARTCAFE
for the greatest Italian espresso and for excelling and succeeding in the most difficult market for specialty coffee in Europe. Kudos!
And a Joint Honorary Mention:
4) DROPSHOT and MANMETBRIL
for surprising with their excellent coffee, surpassing in quality other more famous and more celebrated specialty coffee roaster chains in their respective countries, and for their fast-growing and innovative approach to the business.
For suggestions or comments, you can contact Takeshi. See you later in the year for an updated guide!
