Third Wave Coffee Hits Berlin

The coffee scene in Berlin is my kind of scene. There are incredible coffee roasters throughout the city focusing on the quality of the bean, becoming expert roasters, and creating beautiful cafes for coffee addicts to enjoy.

As a coffee addict myself, I took full advantage of the number of coffee roasters in Berlin. Each weekend we would try a new roaster with a pour over, cortado or flat white, and cappuccino. Berlin did not disappoint. It became a difficult decision as to which roasters to revisit and how often we could. We bought bag upon bag of freshly roasted beans to ensure we had a great cup of coffee each morning, even when we were staying in to avoid the crisp winter air.

The first roaster we visited was The Barn. When researching Berlin coffee, The Barn is often the first place mentioned. They’re pioneers in the field of third wave coffee in the city and the country of Germany. Their beans are single origin and work with sustainable coffee growers. During one of our many visits here, we watched them roast beans, engulfing the space with the smell of freshly roasted beans. Another time we watched The Barn team do a cupping of over 20 different cups. They discussed each one in depth as they took notes. They’re masters at their craft. My drink of choice, the beetroot flat white. I love beets, so why not add it to coffee! The beetroot makes for a beautiful shade of pink as well as adds an overall earthy flavor.

Another one of my favorites during our month in Berlin was Bonanza Coffee Roasters. We frequented the shop near Mauerpark, which was a nice 20 minute walk from our Airbnb. The staff were so kind and helpful when picking out a bag of beans. Bonanza has been roasting and serving fantastic coffee since 2006 using retro innovation. Their concept is to roast the bean as little as possible, yet fully developed in flavor. Instead of tasting the roast, they aim for a cup of coffee that tastes pure and clean and focuses on the quality of the bean itself. I particularly enjoyed their cortados while visiting the cafe and using the beans for pour-overs at home.

A special roaster in town is Roststatte. What started out as a seller of high-qualitiy espresso makers and accessories became a coffee roaster of their own in 2011. Roststatte hand-roast their beans to ensure the gentle flavors come to life. It is a family-run roaster with the head roaster being a coffee sommolier. What we really enjoyed was being able to pick out the coffee we wanted for that morning. Instead of only having one option for a pour-over, we were able to chose among many of their roasts. The beans were then weighed, freshly ground, and gently brewed in the side room where we could watch the magic. Everything was precise, down to the temperature of the water and continuous use of the scale. It made for the most perfect cup of coffee in which we could taste each note of the bean. We walked over a mile to get here twice in freezing temperatures; it was well worth it.