Kaffee in Berlin series: #12 Röststätte Berlin

Café Name: Röststätte Berlin

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Address: Ackerstrasse 173, 10115 Berlin
(Near Rosenthaler Platz) 

Google Maps: Röststätte Berlin

Transport (BVG): 
U8 (Rosenthaler Platz)
Bus 142 (Torstrasse/Tucholskystr or Rosenthaler Platz)
S1, S2, S25 (Oranienburger Strasse)

Website Link: Facebook

Coffee selection: Filterkaffee, Espresso Macchiato, Americano, Cappuccino, Cortado, Flat White, Latte, Iced Black, Iced Latte

Coffee sampled: Cappuccino

Cost: €2,80

Extra Shot:

Taste: Rich, creamy espresso blend. Very satisfying and fresh.
 
Wait-time: Though the cafe part is quite small, one can usually get a table either inside or out on the street, or occasionally can spill into the espresso machine shop area. (There is also a whole shop area dedicated for coffee lover courses). 

Friendliness of Staff: Very polite, multicultural, and efficient. 

Facilities (Toilets): Possibly one of the smallest toilets that you can find, but stylish and clean nonetheless. 

Ambience and Seating: Very stylish and smart layout. The coffee making area specifically, but for such a small space it is very well designed. Lounges, tables, benches and window seating. Plus outside on the street (a narrow, short street). Daily newspapers for perusal.

Dogs allowed inside: Yes

Leitungswasser (Table water) provided: Yes, from a specific filtered water tap next to the barista machine.

Wifi: Yes, ask at the counter. 

Hint: The Cortado is similar to an antipodean style Café Latté (less milk than a cappuccino, served in a glass). 

General remarks: One of my favourite and regular places. Take-away quite efficient with Keep-A-Cups available for purchase. Their Arabian coffee beans are fair-trade ethical and roasted on site. 

Score: 9.5 / 10

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Kaffee in Berlin series: #8 Barcomi's Deli

Barcomi's Deli

Tucked away in the Sophie-Gips-Hof is a treasured large coffee and cake house. Though not as busy as the Hackescher Höfe, this courtyard has a more local feel and is ideal for a weekend brunch or an afternoon coffee and cake. Directions here:

 

There is an abundance of seating inside for the winter months and outside in the calm courtyard opposite Gestalten.

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I have previously written about the Sophie-Gips-Höfe, that it was originally a factory for bike chains and then sewing machines. The full post can be found here:

Barcomi's Cappuccino (C) MJT

The café itself seems to be based on an Austrian tradition with New York style feel. There is a page worth of coffee beans to choose from, and it has been one of the few coffee houses I have found to serve a condensed milk "cortado" (as they name it).

Cortado at Barcomi's (C) MJT

I can also recommend sharing the three dips lunch, or a bagel. To date I have resisted the temptation to try the cakes, though I'm sure that wont last long and I will follow up this post with a dedicated cake one.

Bagel at Barcomi's (C) MJT

Another great quality or touch that I appreciate is not having to ask for water, as each coffee drink comes with sparkling water to cleanse the palette. 

Espresso at Barcomi's (C) MJT

Overall a very calm, traditional coffee and cake house.

Coffee: ★★★★

Service: ★★★★

Atmosphere: ★★★★☆

Recommended Drink: Cortado (condensed milk)

Price: €2,80 (€3,80 doppel)

Best quality: condensed milk coffee "cortado" or the cakes

Kaffee in Berlin series: #2 The Barn

THE BARN (ORIGINAL)

Situated in the backstreets behind Hackescher Markt in the trendy streets of Koppenplatz and Auguststrasse is the original Barn.
(Directions here) 

Care of http://barn.bigcartel.com

I say the original Barn, because they opened a larger roasting plus tasting shop on Schönhauser Allee, however I deliberately recommend the original.

Care of http://barn.bigcartel.com - Photographer not legible

Only a very small shop, which unfortunately does not allow dogs or prams inside, the footpath accommodates a surprisingly decent number of customers on any given day - however if the sun is shining (a rarity as it is in Berlin), it makes for a very pleasant coffee stop. 

(C) Franklovesellen

A small selection of fresh cakes, biscuits and small lunches are available (at the newer Barn they even make Australian ANZAC Biscuits!!) and as for the coffee, it is very Melbourne style - full flavour but not too strong. 

(C) Franklovesellen

While there are tradition Espresso, Cappucino, etc - my recommendation is for the Cortado - similar to a Melbourne-style Caffee Latte but served in a different glass and slightly smaller. But for €2,20 is stronger than the cappuccino (less milk) and cheaper. 

(C) MJT

(C) MJT

In summary, the Barn comes in at a very high recommendation:
Coffee: ★★★★
Service: ★★★★
Recommended Drink: Cortado
Price: €2,20

(c) Franklovesellen