Kaffee in Berlin series: #13 FILTER

Café Name: FILTER

Address: Rosenthaler Strasse 51, 10178 Berlin

Google Maps: 

 
Transport (BVG): 
U8 (Weinmeisterstrasse)  
Tram M1 (Weinmeisterstrasse)
S5, S7, S75 (Hackescher Markt) 

Website Link: Filer-Berlin

Coffee selection: Filterkaffee

Coffee sampled: Didn't bother

Cost: €3,00 - €3,50

Extra Shot: Any shot...?

Taste: Why waste time. 

Wait-time: None. No customers.

Friendliness of Staff: Polite.

Facilities (Toilets): Yes inside.

Ambience and Seating: Very clean and aesthetically pleasing design, with a nice outdoor courtyard setting to boost enclosed by historically berlin factory brick.

Dogs allowed inside: Yes

Leitungswasser (Table water) provided: Yes, on tables.

Wifi: Yes.

Hint: There are packages offered for business to use the space for hours or days, and in the mornings a coffee and coissant for passers-by. 

General remarks:I should qualify my tone for this review, as I had not actually taken in (or noticed to be more precise) the name of this place. I actually walk past the sign on the street most days, and what led me to follow it into the courtyard was "Bonanza coffee", which I do like. But when I asked for a cappuccino and was very apologetically informed that they only serve filter coffee, I knew that this place was not for me. Equally at €3,50 for filter coffee (I have great disdain for this trend) I'm afraid my own Bialetti Moka Espresso was beckoning me. Everything else had the potential for a great place, but filter coffee.... no.

Score: 3,5 / 10

Care of www.filterkaffee.berlin

 

Kaffee in Berlin series: #12 Röststätte Berlin

Café Name: Röststätte Berlin

Care of pro-macchina.com

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

Care of www.foursquare.com