No beards, no flannel, no pretension. La C. is a refreshing return to coffee houses of decades…read morepast. One walks in and sees immediately a row of different roasts and blends displayed neatly along the wall on the left-hand side of the shop. In front of the bean selection runs a counter, separating staff from customers, holding various kinds of sweets. The coffee bar, in the shape of a narrow horse shoe, fills the right half of the small shop. At the back of the store stands a regal-looking, brass-fitted machine from which I was served one of the smoothest espressos I've had in some time. Flanking the entrance are floor-to-ceiling, sort of, bay windows each fitted with a small two-top table. -great perches from which to watch the many passersby. When ordering beans to take home, I was asked the usual questions (likes/dislikes, type of machine used) in order to help La C. help me get exactly what I want. Beans and a damn fine espresso for under 12 franks. Merci, La C.! La C., with the tram 16 stop just outside its door, is directly behind the main train station, so it's painfully easy to get to for both out-of-towners and locals alike! Bonus: one can order beans from La Columbiana's website: http://www.lacolumbiana.ch/

From the owner: Erlebe hervorragenden, frisch gerösteten Kaffee aus unsere eigenen Rösterei, leckeres Frühstück und…read morehausgemachten Kuchen.

Tucked away in a residential 'hood near a large park and a short tram ride from the Basler HB lies…read morethe direct trade coffee roasters of Haenowitz & Page. The shop, recessed slightly from the street, is fairly open, airy and outfitted with a handful of comfy chairs and tables. Nearby stands an espresso machine on a tall table for easy access. We arrived around 11.30 and were promptly greeted by one of the owners. After a few short pleasantries, he gave us the 'low down' on H&P 's fine and varied bean selection neatly displayed along the wall to the right as one enters the shop. Based on my express preferences, we were then asked if we'd care to try a couple of different roasts in espresso form. We were also given super clear instructions on how to make the perfect cup of joe via aeropress. I wish I had thought to have taken notes! I may shoot them an email at help@haenowitzpage.ch just to get clarification. Unlike Globus Basel (only stocks Velvet and Strong varieties) and Cafe Saint Louis, the roasters sell their beans not just in 250 gr increments, but also in 500 gr increments. Their special blend, a small batch production of rotating stock, is only sold here at the source. If you're keen on excellent coffee sourced sustainably and sold with a tremendously knowledgable touch, then do visit H & P. These folks all have 'day jobs' as their opening hours reflect, so shoot them a mail, order online, or make a pilgrimage during the week to Basel in order to grab a bag of beans from Globus. This coffee is worth it!

From the owner: First Direct Trade coffee roasters in Basel. Blends and Single origins directly imported from South…read moreAmerica, Africa, and Indonesia. Freshly roasted on site

The sunny day in fall is great for a lunch break at the Rösterei. It features tables at the sun as…read morewell as inside. The lunch Curry was a choice between vegetarian or meat - served with a salad on great dressing. Yes, they also offer other salad dishes and some deserts. Both the Salat bowl and the passion fruit and youghurt desert were very good. After lunch I took the chance for an update on barista tools and caffee. Since the Rösterei is run by Blaser Cafe, who is a fairly big roasting company in the buildings nearby, I can stock up on cafe (Lilla et Rose blend) when I am here for lunch. And judging the Cappucino served in midst of the lunch rush, it would be worthwhile attending their local Barista training... Always a pleasure to have lunch here, even for lesser coffee lovera...

Great coffee location in Bern! A bit outside of the center though. Easiest way getting there would…read morebe on bus to Güterbahnhof, from there it's a 7' walk. Always busy since they are great in speciality coffee. They roast the beans right in house and are very conscious about the sources. I got a pour over which did not let me down! Prices are pretty low since it's in Bern. There's a little shop aswell, where you can buy all kind of coffee gear, coffee beans.. The staff is very friendly and welcoming, clean space and free wifi. I imagine that it's beautiful in summer, since you can sit outside. One of my to go places while visiting Bern.

Many specialty grocery stores exist, but this is your best option if you're into tea, coffee, dried…read morefruits, or chocolates! The store is roughly divided in half. Facing the building, the right half is dedicated mostly to tea and dried goods with a few other items thrown in. The left half sells specialty chocolate bars and coffee. If you're from the states you'll find those chocolate bars and other items surprisingly cheap. It's worth browsing just to see and smell the selection of this classic shopping choice. Staff is helpful and does speak English.

This charming and detailed store offers a high end assortment of items such as teas, roasted…read morecoffees, salts, spices, nuts, dried fruits, and oh, did I mention chocolates? This feels like it is right out of a store from Harry Potter, classic, old, and chock full of history. Overwhelmed with an assortment of what to buy, we only walked out with a beautiful container of Sea Salt. Somehow when it is offered here versus at Coop, it seems more decadent, even when it is the same product. This establishment stands proudly amongst other alluring businesses in the old part of Zurich. You must step inside the doors of this beautiful store, as it is truly a gem located in the heart of the city. Don't miss it.

Café Tacuba opened its doors very recently, and has no less ambitious goal than letting everyone…read morehave the best coffee possible, whether it be in the public café itself, or at home. And that ambition covers the whole process from sourcing the beans to the way they're put in the cup. Beans are bought directly from selected farms, roasted in small batches in the roaster that stands decoratively in the café itself, and customers don't just buy the coffee, they also get background information and helpful tips on how to best prepare it at home. Co-founder Manolo is a former coffee farmer from El Salvador, and much off the coffee roasted, served and sold at Tacuba is actually purchased from friends and relatives of his. There is a lot of emphasis on the fact that the farms are paid above average prices. Apparently, the few francs a kilo that Tacuba's coffee costs more than supermarket roasts allow them to pay the farmers around double the usual wages. They also explain that they don't only buy when the harvest has been big and successful, which gives a much higher financial security to smaller farms. It's a very worthy cause. Fittingly, all single origin coffee is described in detail, including name and location of the farm, variety of coffee plant, and treatment method. (They also offer some blends at lower prices, though.) From the moment you're greeted in the café, it's obvious how dedicated the staff is to coffee. They are keen on telling you why their coffee is so much different and better, explaining what you're tasting when you take a sip, and why. They also tell you how to best treat the beans you purchase for preparation at home (some coffee-making equipment is for sale.) And the coffee is really absolutely delicious! If you're used to the hereabouts much more common, Italian style of coffee, you might be in for a surprise. It's a much more fruity, "lively" drink, that actually tastes a lot more like what you'd expect from something prepared from a berry. Without trying to start sounding too much like a wine guide, there's sweetness, there's a sourness - not the acidic kind of a lot of espresso, but a citric, fruity kind - and hints of spices. I was very pleasantly surprised at how different this coffee, prepared through a filter - an often unjustly dismissed method - was from what I was used to. Because of the small batches they buy and roast, staff told me that the selection of coffee they offer will be constantly changing. And because they don't roast the beans to death like so many other roasteries do until everything tastes the same, but try to keep as much of the original flavour as possible intact, it's really amazing to taste how coffee can be so much more varied than the usual offers. The café has seating for about a dozen people and, what's very cool, staff gives you the choice on how you want your coffee to be prepared, whether through the espresso machine or one of several filter methods. The common coffee drinks are also offered - yes, you can get your latte or cappuccino here, as well as some pastries to go with it. I would already describe Café Tacuba as a must-visit for anyone who likes coffee, with an open mind to maybe discover new aspects of a drink they thought they knew, and learn something in the process. I'm sure I will be back here many times in the future, drinking coffee and knowledge at the same time :)

Good iced mocha and chicken avocado grilled cheese that was good but not best I've had. I would go…read moreback for sure though and try something else to eat with a delicious coffee bev. Also had matcha which I would try next time.

this place has a smooth (music too), relaxing atmosphere. There are plenty of seating arrangements,…read morecomfy seats, sofas and chairs. If you sit upstairs you can enjoy the view on lake Zürich. They roast their own organic coffees, they serve baked goods and more. It's right next to the train station. Cool place to hang for a while and enjoy a good coffee and atmosphere. Wish it was open early in the morning to later in the day.....perhaps sometimes.

From the owner: Coffee Roastery, Show Roastery, Kaffeeroesterei mit Bistro Betrieb, Coffee Shop, Cafe, Restaurant,…read moreBistro

Really love the concept of this area. You have different food vendors ranging from Mexican, Nepali,…read moreto Thai and so much more. You order from your preferred vendor and then get to sit in the large sitting area in the middle. I have gone to the Nepali and Thai restaurant and would definitely return it was absolutely delicious and pretty big portions! Great for big groups

Gather around all you poor decision makers; put off the dinner selection a few minutes longer. Keep…read morein mind you'll pay for that decision with an even tougher decision among NINE restaurants and a BAR. Why am I yelling. At least you'll have your next nine nights covered. Or nine if bar night isn't every night. Now the only choice is where to start. Tonight for us it was Vietnam. Portions are large enough to share or be very full. Then stop by the bar. The duck at bug a thai is amazing, if you don't get one of the curries, where you can't go wrong. Most popular at afroliciois is the Mixed Menu where you can eat around Africa to avoid a decision there. Yes we're returning eight more times, at least.