Our 2026 guide to the specialty-coffee world of Berlin, Germany, featuring both newcomers and long-time local favorites.
BY MICHAELA TOMCHEK
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos by Michaela Tomchek
When planning to visit Germany, many think of Berlin: the bustling, hip capital city teeming with history, culture, art, and, of course, some exceptional coffee. Highly regarded for its nightlife and museums, Berlin has become a true international hub for Germany, and we’ve covered its coffee scene in the past—but today, we’re back for more.
The list of coffee shops in Berlin is endless, with spots like The Barn, Bonanza, and Five Elephant initiating the start of the city’s specialty-coffee scene many years ago. Since then, tons of new spots have opened. That being said, let’s dive in and explore some of these gems.
Albatross Bakery
When wandering through Berlin, there’s a great number of neighborhoods to explore, one of which is Gräfestraße: an artsy area with plenty of clothing shops, bars, and cafés that draw in locals and visitors alike. One special spot here is Albatross Bakery.
When exiting the Schönleinstraße U-Bahn station, a quick trot though the quiet neighborhood will bring you to a storefront with a large white albatross painted on a window, with the sweet aroma of delectable baked goods wafting from within. Once you enter, you’ll see the array of baked treats that consistently attract long lines of customers: flaky croissants, zimtschneckes (cinnamon rolls), cookies, and pretzels. Equally delectable is their coffee selection, featuring a variety of roasters from across Europe.
Albatross Bakery was started back in 2016 by Luke Smetham, who then hired more folks to assist with the business: Jasmin Lünstroth, Anders Alkaersig, and Geoff Stewart. Keep in mind that this spot only offers to-go options, so grab your treat and coffee, sit outside, or head out for a walk to enjoy a true Berlin adventure. I recommend pairing a flat white with their salty vegan peanut butter cookie: the perfect combination to start off your coffee tour in the city.
Kolo Coffee
A new star within Berlin’s specialty-coffee scene is Kolo Coffee, which was founded in 2024 by Vladyslav Demonenko, who ranked as runner-up in the 2022 Coffee in Good Spirits championship and won the 2023 Ukrainian Brewers Cup.
Kolo’s doors officially opened in 2025, and since then, the shop has quickly become a go-to spot for coffee lovers, earning the title of Berlin’s Best Specialty Coffee Shop during the 2025 Berlin Coffee Week. The café’s bright orange outdoor seating beckons outsiders to come in and join the club.
Vladyslav shares that, when first developing the idea for Kolo, he asked himself: “How can I share months of preparation with (a bigger) audience, and not just leave it at a 10-minute stage performance?” Drawing from his experience on competition stages, Vlad decided to open up a storefront to share his passion and expertise with the people of Berlin.
He explains that the word kolo comes the Ukrainian language and means “circle,” reflecting his mission to welcome everyone and bring them together over a shared love of coffee. In other words, Kolo gives all customers a chance to join the “circle.” Vlad also adds that Berlin’s coffee community is incredibly friendly. “It’s not that big… but it so warm and inviting,” he told Barista Magazine.
The menu at Kolo is simple and beautiful. I recommend ordering a pourover of one of their seasonal offerings—seeing the amount of attention the baristas put into each brew is a magical experience, one that is still with me today. The care and craft are truly shown in the cup.
Distrikt Coffee
Operating since 2014, Distrikt Coffee is both a café and a popular brunch spot. Situated in the Mitte borough of Berlin, a quiet area frequented by business people and tourists alike, Distrikt is a cozy place to enjoy a morning snack or an afternoon meal accompanied by a quality brew. Here, they serve coffee from different roasters throughout Europe including Tanat, La Cabra, Nomad, Fjord, and Koppi.
Not only is the coffee worth the journey (and the wait on busy weekends), but the food menu also offers an array of must-try toasts, bowls, and pastries. Keeping in line with their attention to detail, Distrikt bakes all of their cakes in-house and sources their pastries from local bakeries. Order a filter coffee to experience a taste of some of the best roasters in Europe—a lovely way to escape Berlin’s winter cold.
Father Carpenter
One of Berlin’s pioneer specialty-coffee shops, Father Carpenter continues to shine as a leader for high-quality coffee in the city. Founded in 2014 by Kresten Thogersen, who was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, the shop began as a pop-up allowing Kresten and a group of friends to follow their passion for coffee. A year later, the team opened the first Father Carpenter storefront, offering a new experience to clientele.
Since Father Carpenter’s genesis, Kresten shares that he also yearned to open a roastery, and thus, he teamed up with Berlin’s Silo Coffee to launch the now well-known Fjord Coffee Roasters. In 2023, Father Carpenter branched off to open their own roastery in the Mitte borough of Berlin.
Father Carpenter is tucked away inside of a beautiful brick courtyard, just off of the bustling streets lined with shops and restaurants. The coffee shop is quiet, peaceful, and an overall memorable visit. Order a flat white or espresso, and pair it with vegan banana bread or the café’s famous eggs benedict. Here, there is so much to choose from, and, when it comes to what to deciding what to order, you really can’t go wrong.
After over a decade of operation, Father Carpenter continues to shine as one of Berlin’s best spots for a brew.
Michaela Tomchek finds coffee an important part of life and the world. She is an appreciator of the crop, the producer, and the many cafés throughout the world serving beautiful beverages. Currently, she writes about coffee, hoping to spread her joy across the globe.
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