Café-Guide: Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona right after Athens (in terms of our published coffee guides), that means two popular destinations that are influenced heavily by existing coffee traditions, newly arrived expats and franchises looking to solidify their mark on the city.
As before, our selection here are those cafés I consider interesting and noteworthy, not all that we have visited. It might very well be the case, that there is one of the best cafés in Barcelona, somewhere we didn't manage to go to this time. I was generally surprised that the quality of coffee matches that of the well-known level of food, and that some of the best flavors were found in non-traditional specialty cafés.
Copyright (left): Amiko Gelato
Let us start funky and fun with Amiko. A spot that exceeded expectations, because it is primarily meant for ice cream. Why then is it listed as a specialty coffee place on serious sites like European Coffee Trip? Because it is delicious and worth the experiment. You get your choice of flavor with the ice cream, when ordering the Affogato, which in my case will always be some dark berries, and special roasts from Café De Finca that add chocolate notes (The bright yellow packaging also just fits the aesthetic perfectly).
You can still go for an Espresso or all other kinds of coffee drinks from proper machines. All of that is wrapped by really polished and fancy 1980s mall decor and fitting music. Amiko can be found right off Passeig de Gràcia, with its glorious Gaudi architecture and flagship luxury stores worth visiting.
Next is the ‘big name’ in Barcelona’s specialty coffee scene: Nomad. When we talk about franchise, this is what we mean. They led the charge many years ago and are now known beyond Barcelona. For that, the more exclusive roasts I had as an iced filter at the ‘Frutas Selectas’ location were a bit underwhelming and give you a good idea of the broad appeal of these beans. You can of course say that the under extraction of the cold filter is responsible for that, but beans at almost double the price should have some character come through nonetheless.
The interior however was a real highlight. We specifically went to this location, among renovated industrial sites, that now house start-ups and international companies, for its wooden counter and ‘mid-century’ style metal contrast. Here they also have a more extensive selection of food (as well as fresh fruits at times, which gives it the name), making it a good stop for lunch for the working crowd.
Copyright (left): Roast Club
Conveniently next to our hotel, Roast Club Café delivers a lot of flair. They have multiple locations, aesthetically inspired by 1950s Diners, even featuring an old school take out window. They do offer popular breakfasts and the coffee quality, in my opinion, reflects that. I had a solid Flat White with one of their blends, that could maybe even be better when made slower on a less busy shift. The options for breakfast include a wide selection of sandwiches, but expect to wait for a free spot even on weekdays. Accessible roasts, seasonal specials and a pleasant vibe more than nerdy details, is how I would describe Roast Club.
Copyright (left): La Cherry Coffee Co.
Our — and this time we (Robin and me), despite different perspectives on coffee, agree — highlight and an absolute must-visit if you are into coffee: La Cherry Coffee Co.
Funny enough that this café is in walking distance of Sagrada Família, but far from a touristy destination. Equipment and art fill the small space, and any of the offers with or without milk are bursting with flavor. These are roasts that I am certain would work even at home with less than ideal preparation methods. I had a cold brew which, in contrast to the one at Nomad (which yes was a filter made after my order and not a pre-made cold brew) had tons of raisins in chocolate aromas. Even the branding is beautifully subtle, with only a thin red logo or slogan on everything.
Tradition meets design meets a modern coffee roaster, at Cafés El Magnifico. Right in between crowded streets (and the obligatory queues outside) is a surprisingly sophisticated roaster, with their offices in the same building and a well-designed catalog of beans to browse through. The coffee on offers shows that this is the perfect product for a start-up office coffee machine or catering event.
Again, much like Nomad in terms of its flavor profile, the cold brew was subtle and a crowd pleaser, with just a little more fruitiness. The selection of beans here is pretty large, even if what is on offer in the café is changing daily, and you won’t always get what you are interested in. This is also not a place for comfortable sitting and nerdy conversations, unless maybe you schedule a proper meeting with the roaster to go and sit in the courtyard.
Another pioneer that is now a larger ‘franchise’, remaining a local favorite is Hidden Coffee Roasters. We visited the El Born shop. Much like Nomad, some specialized and limited roasts can deliver outstanding quality, but most are geared towards the working-from-cafes expat crowd and locals who just want a decent iced latte. As seen above, I had a well-balanced Cold Brew. The interior is dark industrial meets Sushi bar (they now also lean more into Matcha and not just coffee), their logo being a stylized cat, something that calls back to their roots, when they were indeed something of an “underground” roaster and popping up in different locations.
An honorable mention goes out to the traditional and historic café Granja M. Viader (where we did not even have coffee but the local brand of cold chocolate milk). A charm that deserves preservation and despite its touristy appeal this café has fair prices and great welcoming service. We felt extremely welcome there and if you are not in the mood for pastries or chocolate, you can buy some treats as souvenirs or gifts and look at the historic photographs going back a hundred years and more.
Let us know about all the obvious places that we missed, and for the next coffee guide we will certainly move away from sunnier coasts.
/jf
