Coffee holidays – each cup tells its own story.
Let’s talk about coffee…LIFESTYLE
COFFEE HOLIDAYS – Europe’s best coffee shops, A guide for coffee lovers.
Explore unique places where coffee is more than just a drink. It is part of the local culture, daily rituals and history of the city. Rome, Milan and Vienna are the first stops of our coffee adventure.
There are journeys that stay in your memory thanks to smells.
Most of us, when planning a vacation trip, create a list of must-see places. Monuments, viewpoints, local restaurants or hidden beaches. Increasingly, however, cafes are also appearing on this list, not random places that have been creating local culture for years and allowing us to look at the city from a completely different perspective.
Because it’s in the cafe that it’s easiest to feel the real rhythm of the place. This is where residents start their day, meet friends, talk about everyday life and stop for a moment in this daily rush. For the tourist, in turn, it is an excellent opportunity to take a break from sightseeing and discover the taste of the city – literally.
Each country has its own way of celebrating coffee. In Italy, espresso is drunk quickly, most often at a bar. In Vienna, a cup of coffee is an invitation to a longer rest and conversation. In Portugal, it’s hard to imagine a morning without an aromatic „bica’, and in Scandinavian countries, specialty coffee has become part of everyday culture.
Traveling in the footsteps of coffee is not about checking off addresses from a guidebook. It’s a way to experience new places through their flavors, aromas and the people who have created a unique café culture for generations.
In the first part of our guide, we will visit three cities for which coffee is more than just an everyday drink. For years, Rome, Milan and Vienna have attracted not only architecture and art lovers, but also people who can appreciate a perfectly prepared cup of coffee.
ROME the city that wakes up to an espresso.
Morning in Rome starts earlier than you might think. As the first rays of sunlight illuminate the stone facades of the buildings, the small coffee bars are already full of residents. They come in for a few minutes, order an espresso, exchange a few words with the barista, and go back to their daily activities.
For a tourist this may be surprising. In Italy, coffee is not an hour-long event. It is a short, almost daily ceremony, the most important element of which is quality. Espresso is most often drunk at the bar. The cup is small, but it contains an intense aroma, velvety crema and a taste that stays in the memory much longer than the moment of tasting itself.
Walking between the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain, it is worth stepping away from the most crowded streets for a moment. The side alleys are home to places that have been visited by both locals and coffee lovers from around the world for decades.
One of them is Sant’Eustachio il Caffè – a legendary café operating since 1938. Her espresso is shrouded in mystery, and the preparation method remains a closely guarded secret. Many visitors say that this is where they drank the best coffee of their entire stay in Italy.
A few minutes’ walk away is Tazza d’Oro, known for its excellent espresso and coffee granita, which on hot days has become almost a symbol of the Roman summer.
What is worth trying?
Of course, classic espresso – if you like its intense character, see also our Premium Line Espresso. If you order a cappuccino in the afternoon, no one will refuse to prepare it, but the people of Rome usually drink it only in the morning.
MILAN where tradition meets modernity.
Milan is associated with fashion, design and modern architecture. However, behind the elegant boutique windows there is also one of the most interesting coffee scenes in Italy. This city does not forget its roots. You can still find small bars where espresso costs little and counter calls are as important as the coffee itself. At the same time, Milan has boldly opened up to a new wave of specialty coffee, attracting baristas and roasters from around the world.
One place that perfectly demonstrates this change is Orsonero Coffee. The minimalist interior, carefully selected beans and the team’s extensive knowledge ensure that each cup is prepared with extraordinary precision.
Pavè has a slightly different character. It’s a combination of an artisan bakery and a café, where you should start your day with a fresh cornetto and a perfectly prepared cappuccino.
What is worth trying?
Espresso prepared according to Italian tradition, but also coffees brewed using alternative methods, which are increasingly appearing in Milanese cafes.
VIENNA – where the coffee flows slower.
If Rome teaches that espresso can be drunk in a minute, Vienna shows a completely different side of coffee culture.
No one is in a hurry here.
Viennese cafés have been a meeting place for writers, composers, philosophers and artists for over two centuries. It was at the marble tables that the discussions that shaped the history of the city were born. It is therefore not surprising that in 2011 the Viennese café culture was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Entering one of the historic cafes is like traveling back in time. Crystal chandeliers, wooden paneling, waiters in elegant costumes and the smell of freshly ground coffee create an atmosphere that cannot be faked.
One of the most famous places is Cafè Central. This is where artists, writers and politicians used to visit, and to this day the place delights with its monumental interior.
Equally unique are Cafè Lamdtmann and Cafè Sperl, where time seems to pass more slowly and a cup of coffee is an excuse to talk, read or simply relax.
What is worth trying?
Melange – a Viennese classic resembling a delicate cappuccino, often served with a piece of traditional cake. This combination best captures the character of a city that has celebrated the art of leisurely enjoying coffee for generations.
CONTINUED JOURNEY…
This is just the beginning of our coffee journey. In the next part, we will visit Lisbon, Paris, London and Copenhagen – cities that tell the story of coffee in completely different ways and show how many faces one cup can have.
In the meantime, wherever you drink your coffee today, let this be a moment just for you.
Have a good day!☕️
