I keep seeing this reel on Instagram where people returning to the USA from a European trip run straight to a coffee shop to order an iced latte. The insinuation is that one can’t find an iced coffee in Europe, or at least not a decent one. Well, I don’t know about all of Europe (the reels tend to make no differentiation between the many countries), but I am here to tell you there are plenty of amazing specialty coffee shops in Hamburg.
I’ve been living here since 2021 and I assure you it could not be easier to find great coffee in Hamburg (hot or iced). If anything, the amount of options to choose from is overwhelming.
The history of coffee in Hamburg goes back as far as the 17th century, when the first coffee house opened in 1677. Not only was it the first coffee shop in Hamburg, but in all of Germany. The fact that the first coffee shop in Vienna was established only 7 years later is proudly mentioned in every article about coffee in the Hanseatic city.
At the time, coffee shops were a meeting spot for merchants to discuss business deals, and women were not allowed to enter.
In the end of the 19th century, it was still unusual to see a woman at a coffee shop without a male companion. However, if you follow my guide for one day in Hamburg, you’ll know there was one exception in the Altstadt — the cafe at Hübner House that opened in 1884. Apparently, the cafe’s clientele was so exclusive that women could meet there alone, which was unheard of at the time. You can visit the building today, it houses offices of medical practitioners.
With the opening of the Speicherstadt in 1888, the coffee industry really boomed in Hamburg. Being one of the largest warehouses in the world, Speicherstadt was a perfect place for storing coffee before it was sold and shipped across Europe.
There was a setback right after the Second World War, as the coffee exchange was heavily bombed. Coffee had become a luxury good for a period of time.
Fast forward to our days and Hamburg remains one of the largest coffee trading centers in Europe. Around 700 000 tons of coffee are handled annually in the port, which constitutes about a third of all European coffee imports. Iconic brands like Darboven and Tchibo were founded here.
There’s an extraordinary amount of great coffee shops in Hamburg. To make this guide structured and easy to follow, I have divided all the spots into several categories.
Roasteries category is for coffee shops that serve exceptional coffee made with beans roasted in-house.
Specialty coffee shops might not have their own roasting facilities, but they source their beans from trusted companies and make third-wave quality coffee.
Not your regular coffee is for those places that serve coffee with a twist in case you are craving something more fun than your daily cup of cappuccino.
Elbgold is arguably the most popular coffee roastery in Hamburg. They currently have 4 cafes in the city. I highly recommend visiting their Schanze location where the roastery and coffee shop coexist inside a huge industrial building. It’s a whole vibe!
But whichever spot you choose, the coffee is consistently great. The founders of Elbgold travel extensively to meet the farmers and ensure fair-trade and sustainable practices are in place. They offer single origin coffee, as well as blends and rare varieties from producers in Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, Brazil, and India.
Elbgold has their own bakery, so expect a great range of freshly baked goods. Their Franzbrötchen, an absolute must-try in Hamburg, is one of the best in the city.
Elbgold — they have 4 locations in the city, check Google Maps (my favorite one is in Schanze)
What started as a small coffee shop in Schanze neighborhood has grown into a roastery and small chain of cafes across Germany. The original location is, unfortunately, no more, but you can find two Codos coffee shops in Hamburg today. You’ll easily recognize Codos by the bulldog in their logo, inspired by the owners’ pet bulldog Snatch.
The cafe in Bahrenfelder Straße is where the roastery is located, and you can watch the roasting process through the glass. It’s my go-to whenever I am in Ottensen neighborhood. The space is large, airy, with floor-to ceiling windows. In summer, sitting outside on the window ledge and people watching is my favorite thing to do. They have a good range of cakes (including vegan and gluten-free options).
Codos — Bahrenfelder Str. 137-139 and Große Bergstraße 247
Nord Coast is a roastery and a small chain of 3 coffee shops in Hamburg. The company pays special attention to selecting green coffee beans that are carefully processed in their country of origin. This way they make sure you can “taste its origins: soil, climate, and altitude”.
They put an emphasis on sustainability by carefully selecting their partners and supporting social projects in the countries where coffee is grown. For example, they donate 50 cents for every kilo of roasted coffee sold.
Not only can you have a great cup of coffee at their cafes, but a filling breakfast or brunch too. They make delicious sandwiches, pancakes and waffles. There are gluten-free versions of bread and waffles, too. On weekends, all their locations get really busy, so you might have to wait in line.
My favorite one is located on Deichstraße. If you get a table near the window, you’ll get a beautiful view of Nikolaifleet canal.
Nord Coast Coffee Roastery — they have 3 coffee shops in Hamburg, check Google Maps.
As explained on the official website, Playground Roastery got its name for being a metaphorical playground for all coffee lovers. A space to learn more about coffee, discover unique flavor profiles, and simply enjoy a cup of coffee. Do I need to mention sustainably and fairly produced coffee beans are a non-negotiable?
Playground has a coffee shop in St. Pauli neighborhood where you can try their exceptional coffee or buy a package of roasted beans. I simply love their packaging design: bright, fun, a tad trippy. The coffee beans make for a great food souvenir to bring from Hamburg.
Playground Coffee & Roastery — Detlev-Bremer-Straße 21
torrefaktum roastery has its facilities in Hamburg’s Ottensen neighborhood, on the premises of the former iron factory. They pay special attention to the craftsmanship of the roasting masters who balance the roasting time, temperature and coffee bean varieties to create unique blends.
The coffee beans are then packed in environmentally friendly and compostable aluminum-free packaging.
torrefaktum has 3 coffee shops in Hamburg. I always go to the one in Ottensen when I am in the neighborhood with my kids — there’s a playground just across the road.
Another cafe is located centrally, in the same building as the headquarters of Die Zeit, a popular German paper. It is appropriately named Zeit Cafe.
The newest location is at Phönixhof, I haven’t checked it out yet.
torrefaktum Kaffeerösterei — 3 locations in Hamburg, check Google Maps.
Public Coffee Roasters is a young company with big ambitions. “Public” in the name stands for the public interest in specialty coffee the founders want to generate, as well as for the transparency of the company’s work ethic and production process.
They have started out with a roastery located on a floating barge in Entenwerder, which quickly became too small for the growing demands of the business. In 2020 the roasting facilities moved to Rahlstedt where they are sharing the space of 800 square meters with Hanseatic Coffee Roasters.
Public Coffee Roasters has 3 coffee shops in Hamburg: the original cafe in Neustadt, a cafe in Eimsbüttel that features a bakery, and one more spot in Mühlenkamp.
Public Coffee Roasters — 3 coffee shops in Hamburg, check Google Maps
Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei is located in the heart of the Speicherstadt historic district. The coffee beans arrive through the port of Hamburg and are roasted steps away, in an iconic red brick building that used to serve as a warehouse.
It’s a perfect spot to grab a coffee and something to eat if you are exploring Hamburg’s most popular tourist attractions. If you get a seat next to the window, you’ll have a beautiful view of the canal and the passing boats.
Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei supports multiple social initiatives. Their Orang-Utan coffee, for example, supports an orangutan sanctuary in Sumatra. In partnership with Demeter, a certification label for biodynamic agriculture, they source organic coffee beans directly from a farm in Honduras.
Speicherstadt Kaffeerösterei — Kehrwieder 5
Coffee Unlimited is a roastery that has been operating in Hamburg since 1999. Many of the blends they create are certified organic and Demeter approved. It is also a member of the German Roasters’ Guild and was awarded 19 gold medals at various tasting competitions organized by the Guild.
Coffee Unlimited has 5 coffee shops in Hamburg, all of which have an extensive collection of coffee beans and every possible type of coffee-related equipment: from cups to moka pots to V60 dripper to Chemex.
I’ve been to their locations in Winterhude and Eppendorf. Neither has any indoor seating. There are however benches outside. I’d say C.U.L.T.D is best on warm summer days or if you need a coffee to-go.
C.U.L.T.D — multiple locations in Hamburg, check Google Maps.
This coffee roaster with the most recognizable name and iconic logo featuring a skull filled to the brim with coffee is located in Schanze neighborhood. Just like Schanze known for its rebellious and non-conformist spirit, Deathpresso feels gritty and provocative as soon as you step inside the coffee shop on Beim Grünen Jäger.
They are open till 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays — longer than any other coffee shop. Which makes it a great option for a late night shot of caffeine if you are partying in Schanze or the nearby St. Pauli.
Deathpresso — Beim Grünen Jäger 24
To try Carroux coffee, you’ll have to venture out to Blankenese neighborhood of Hamburg. The trip is well worth it, though, both for amazing views of Elbe River and high quality beans.
The roastery first opened in 1998 and the Carroux blend has been unchanged ever since. The coffee shop, located in a beautiful two-storied house, has become a neighborhood staple and you’ll often see a line of people out the doors on weekends.
To source raw beans, Carroux works with Gollücke & Rothfos, a Bremen-based coffee trading house, which, in turn, buys green coffee from farmers in Africa, Asia, and South America.
The beans arrive at the roastery in jute bags and, as described on the official website, “smell… of fresh grass, lush hay, ripe bananas, or old wood – just not coffee.” The coffee aroma develops through roasting and brewing processes.
The classic drum roaster is located right in the center of the cafe and this is where small batches of green coffee are gently roasted at lower temperatures (up to 221°C).
Carroux is best to visit when you explore Treppenviertel in Blankenese.
Carroux — Elbchaussee 583
Black Delight roastery has been operating in Hamburg-Altona since 2008. They currently have two locations where you can try a cup of their excellent coffee: one coffee shop is located on the premises of the roastery and another one in Ottensen.
Their roasting process is best described in their own words (translated from German):
“Each green coffee, selected from dozens of samples, is test-roasted and prepared multiple times. We roast in a way that avoids underdevelopment and acidity, as well as bitterness and baking flavors. In short, we’re always looking for the “sweet spot” in every coffee. For quality control, we record all roasts and archive samples of each batch with the date and time.”
The roastery features 3 roasting machines: a small one for samples, one with a capacity of 12 kg per batch, and a large one capable of roasting 150 kg per hour. The beans you buy are always fresh thanks to this flexibility.
The space on Waidmannstraße also features a barista school.
Black Delight — Friedensallee 32 and Waidmannstrasse 12/Haus E
When it comes to third-wave coffee shops in Hamburg, Black Hat definitely makes the top of the list. Opened in 2018 in Eimsbüttel, it has quickly become a neighborhood staple, serving the creamiest flat whites. And while I am definitely a milk coffee girly, I really love their Americano too, which speaks to the quality of the beans.
For me, this is a go-to place when I crave Russian honey cake — they make an excellent one. You’ll also find a great Ruben sandwich (with a shot of caviar on request).
Last, but not least, they offer coffee beans. The blends are created by Black Hat, but roasted by partners. The packaging is extra cute and makes it a wonderful present to bring from Hamburg.
Black Hat — Eppendorfer Weg 66
Opened by a New York local who immigrated to Germany, Lowinsky’s is a popular spot for coffee lovers in Eppendorf. Hillel, the owner and professional barista, makes sure each cup of coffee is of the highest quality.
True to his roots, he also offers classic New York deli food, like bagels, pastrami sandwiches and sweet baked goods, like chocolate chip cookies and tahini brownies. The place has this wonderful vibe of a neighborhood favorite where baristas know regulars by name and are chatting away (in both English and German) the whole time while making your cappuccino.
Lowinsky’s NY Coffee & Tea — Lehmweg 36
Café Blanco offers excellent specialty coffee at 3 locations in Hamburg, my favorite being the one in Schanze. It is located on the busy Bartelsstraße, with many shops and cafes every step of the way. On the outside, it is the beautiful mural of three dancing muses that always draws me in. Once inside, it’s the powder pink details. And then of course, there’s the coffee, some of the best coffee in Hamburg.
Café Blanco — 3 locations in Hamburg, check Google Maps.
Just across the road from Café Blanco on Bartelsstraße is another specialty coffee shop called Trader. If you are deciding between the two, Trader is great when in addition to your cup of coffee you’d also love to see (or buy) a few pieces of art and decorations for your house.
They have a second location in Ottensen called Trader HiFi that offers high quality tunes with your coffee. Check the event schedule for the month on their Instagram page.
Trader — Bartelsstrasse 37 and Große Rainstraße 18
How do I describe Belum? In my head, Belum is the place where cool kids hang out. Late afternoons in summer are perfect for a visit. There’s exceptional coffee, cocktails, and outside seating on a narrow street in Eppendorf.
Belum started out as a lamp design business in 2021, which is why you will find lots of stylish lamps at the coffee shop today. The passion for coffee came about in 2023 and in just a few years Belum has become synonymous with specialty coffee in Hamburg.
The menu is short and sweet, with more variations of black coffee (double shot, daily brew, hand brew, specialty brew and cold drip) than coffee with milk (chose between piccolo latte, flat white, and latte). No cappuccino. I know right? That’s how cool these guys are.
Unlike many popular coffee shops in Hamburg that use La Marzocco coffee machine, at Belum, the sleek Tempesta is the star of the show. The beans are sourced from several European brands, with the main being Friedhats.
They have recently opened a second location called Petit Belum in Ottensen.
Belum Coffee Bar — Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 32 and Königstr. 32
Planten Coffee is located on the ground floor of a beautiful Art-Nouveau building at the end of Colonnaden, a shopping street in Hamburg’s city center. The space is rather small, allowing for a few guests to sit by the window and people-watch.
When the weather allows, I highly recommend taking a cup of coffee to go and walking the gorgeous Colonnaden street. There’s also an option of walking in the opposite direction — Planten und Blomen park is right across the road.
Planten Coffee — Esplanade 23
Jour Fixe is my latest find when it comes to specialty coffee in Hamburg, and boy is this a true gem! Exceptional quality of coffee, beautiful interior design (the countertops are a perfect background to make all your Instagram dreams come true), lots of space both indoors and outdoors.
The term “jour fixe”, in case you didn’t know (I, for one, had to Google it) is French for “fixed day”. It refers to a regularly scheduled meeting, which is a perfect name given that the coffee shop is located right by Hoheluftbrücke where Isemarkt takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays. Jour Fixe can be a great place to stop by for a cup of good coffee before or after shopping at the market.
Jour Fixe — Schlankreye 73
Described on their Instagram page as specialty coffee with an Asian twist, Isioka is one of the newer players on Hamburg’s coffee scene. The cozy coffee shop is located in Winterhude. Apart from classics like cappuccino and flat white, you’ll find special drinks such as yuzu matcha and tapioca milk. When it comes to food, think: mango sticky rice, ube cake, and onigiri.
Isioka Coffee — Poßmoorweg 9
As the name suggests, this coffee shop in Hamburg’s Eimsbüttel neighborhood provides a much needed space that is not your home or workplace. A third room to meet friends, read a book in peace, or work on your projects.
The owner, Tristan Wagenbach, moved to Hamburg from Berlin where he worked as a teacher at Berlin School of Coffee. This alone should tell you how good coffee here is.
In addition to exceptional coffee, they also offer cakes on a daily basis and grilled cheese sandwiches on the weekends.
Third Room — Emilienstraße 22
If you are looking for Australian coffee culture in Hamburg, Marshall Street is it. The founders Tristan and Marie have gained experience working in the coffee industry both in Australia and Germany before opening their own spot in 2020. The name Marshall Street, in fact, is the actual name of the street where Tristan once lived in Sydney.
They have 2 locations in Hamburg. The one in Schopenstehl is a full-on cafe serving some of the best breakfast in Hamburg. The one in Waterloostraße is a smaller place great for a cup of coffee and a pastry. It is also one of the most stylish coffee shops in Hamburg. Whichever place you choose, coffee will be great, that I promise.
Marshall Street — Schopenstehl 30 and Waterloostraße 7
You wouldn’t be able to tell Milch serves some of the best coffee in Hamburg if you were to go through their Instagram page — it features exclusively portraits of dogs. I assume, these are the dogs that visit Milch with their owners, but I’ll have to double check that one.
Located in a former milk shop in the Portuguese Quarter, Milch (“milk” translated from German) offers expertly made coffee and sandwiches for a quick bite. The coffee beans come from small German roasteries, like Five Elephants in Berlin and Machhörndl in Nuremberg. The latter — a personal favorite as I used to live in Nuremberg and grab a coffee at Machhörndl regularly.
On top of that, Milch boasts a small roasting machine right on the premises, so the coffee beans are always fresh.
Dogs are very welcome, but laptops are not.
Milch — Ditmar-Koel-Str 22
I love a word play in the name as much as I love a good cup of coffee. When it comes to Bean There, the word play actually means something. Before opening his first coffee shop in Hamburg, the owner, Maurice, took a year-long trip around the world with the goal of learning more about the coffee industry.
During the trip, he worked at coffee plantations, met local coffee farmers, and became acquainted with the process of growing and processing coffee.
Located in Winterhude, Bean There offers great coffee, cakes, bites, and lots of space both inside and outside. I love coming here with kids, as the cafe doesn’t feel too small and crowded. It’s also a good place to get some work done.
Bean There — Forsmannstrasse 27
Located on the gorgeous Schlüterstraße in Hamburg-Rotherbaum, Moho’s was opened by Mo, an immigrant from Afghanistan. As he fled his country in 2000, it was his dream to open a cafe in his new home. It eventually came true in 2019.
Moho’s serves coffee roasted by Public Coffee Roasters that I mentioned above. I love stopping here for a glass of espresso tonic in the summer, whenever I ride my bike on Schlüterstraße. The street is closed off to cars and features an inordinate amount of beautiful Art Nouveau buildings on both sides. On the ground floor of one such building, Moho’s is situated.
Moho’s Home of Barista — Schlüterstraße 12
Up until now we talked about specialty coffee shops in Hamburg. But if you are looking for a genuinely good Italian-style cup of coffee, then Favorita is the place to go. Apart from coffee, you also get Italian pastries and baked goods here. Think: panini, cornetto, and, of course, pasteis de nata (which are Portuguese, not Italian, but are a must for any self-respecting bakery or cafe in Hamburg).
Most people try to get a table outside. All the chairs are set in a way to face the street — perfect for people-watching. Once you step inside, though, your jaw will drop at the sight of the gorgeous ceiling and the chandelier.
Favorita — Eppendorfer Weg 215
While you can have your cappuccino or latte at Mutterland, the real reason you should come here is their cocoa. My go to is Vattis Kakao, which comes unsweetened — pure cocoa powder and milk, nothing else. They also offer cocoa with lavender, cinnamon, caramel and many more flavors. You can always add a shot of espresso into your cocoa!
Mutterland — Kirchenallee 19 and Lenhartzstraße 1
Café noé is great on those days when you feel fancy and a simple cappuccino just won’t do it. Instead, you can get a coffee cocktail, like Impurity made with milk, a shot of espresso, dark chocolate and raspberries, or Deja Vu that comes with avocado and pumpkin spice, to name a few.
They also offer non-caffeinated cocktails. On the menu, they are divided into fruity (like Daylight Sparkle made of ginger beer, pear, mint and lemon) and milky (like Midnight Dive made with milk, black currant and white chocolate).
Café noé — ABC-Str. 45
This tiny coffee shop in Hamburg’s Winterhude neighborhood is famous for serving their coffee (and baked goods) with pistachio cream. The coffee beans come from Italy and coffee is prepared in a traditional Italian way. Pistachio cream is made in-house and the recipe is kept secret (believe me, I asked).
Ristretto — Himmelstraße 45
Apart from specialty coffee shops, there are plenty of cafes in Hamburg serving breakfast and brunch that offer great coffee too. You can check out this post of mine for my favorite breakfast places in the city. Below is a list of cafes where you can get a good cup of coffee.
Vibes in Winterhude serves great coffee, I especially love it in summer — plenty of outside seating. Cafe Kernig is another good spot in Winterhude for breakfast and coffee.
The Special Connection is great for a cup of coffee after visiting Fischmarkt on Sunday.
ÆNDRÈ serves amazing vegan food and some of the best coffee made with plant-based milk.
Good One Cafe also serves vegan breakfast and brunch, as well as coffee made with milk alternatives.
11:11 serves Asian-inspired breakfast and third-wave coffee in Hamburg’s Eppendorf and Komponistenviertel.
Emilia’s Familien Cafe is an amazing breakfast and brunch place for families with little kids (they have a playroom) that also offers exceptional coffee.
Instinct Coffee is a great spot if you are near Planten und Blomen park.
Copenhagen Coffee Lab is a small chain of Danish bakeries in Hamburg that makes good coffee (sometimes depends on barista, but mostly good).
Eclair is a pastry shop that makes delicious cakes, eclairs, and French-style pastries along with coffee, of course.
I write stories about food, travel, and my life as a mom of two boys. Home is Russia, but somehow also Sri Lanka and Hamburg, Germany. Go figure.
@2025 That’s What She Had - Food and Travel Blog | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
Designed by wpauthors.com
