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.

We grabbed a coffee here during our stay in Luzern. This is a cozy, charming, and quiet cafe. We…read morewere able to talk to the owner who told us his story, it was a pleasant exchange. The coffee was strong, as coffee should be. They have lots of seating are which is nice.

Charming coffee spot in Lucerne. Coffee was strong and great. They have games where you can use…read morewhile killing time. Nice ceiling lights where they made use of moka pots and coffee jute sacks as part of their motif and decor.

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

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

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/

I was early for an apt. viewing, so I took a little time looking around Kreis 4. Now I know where…read morethe South American 'ladies' and sex clubs are all tucked away. I wasn't too disappointed that the apt. I eventually viewed wasn't up to snuff. In any case, I was strolling down a street close to my appt. when I happened upon an image of an Aztec warrior decorating a store front. Initially, I had hoped it was another Latin American food stuffs store, so I slowed my roll to get a better look at the place. Inside stood a bearded dude behind a table/counter in front of an espresso machine. That was the hook. I had to go in and get a good eye-full. Along one side of the shop hung various roasted beans in both 250 & 500 gram increments along the wall for sale. The table-counter took up the bulk of the shop space where one ostensibly orders both beans from bins tucked away in an adjacent room (wasn't offered those, but saw others purchase that way) or helps himself to a bag from the wall offerings. The beans are roasted in a neighboring city and brought to Zuerich for sale. One could also purchase coffee accouterments in store, and, as it is the 21st century, one may also purchase any and all the shop has to offer from their website. Danny, the dude who helped me, makes one feel very welcomed with a warm personality and an ability to 'shoot the shit' that I so enjoy. I could barely understand his dialect, so he said he'd 'try' to speak Hochdeutsch. I think his response was something like, 'you've got to learn!' He's right. *cash only!

A group of handpicked Elite Yelpers met at the ViCAFE close to Bellevue for a coffee lovers…read moreworkshop. The ViCAFE is indeed a tiny place and consists basically of a counter and a front window, no seating whatsoever. Ramon and Simon of ViCAFE explained that the concept was coffee-to-go and nothing else, but this at the highest quality possible (ok, they sell also some soft drinks and smoothies but that's about it). Roman explained to us that the Vi in ViCAFE comes from Vita but is also a reference to Vivi Kola, the soft drink company they are a part of. It goes without saying that the ViCAFE people source their coffee beans directly from the producers. This means some travelling to remote places but also guarantees that the best qualities can be selected. The beans are shipped to Eglisau where they are roasted in their own roastery. Coffee is a very delicate and complex commodity and can even be spoiled by the barista if not treated correctly. It is very important the the water runs in the exact speed through the ground coffee. If it is too fast or too slow the taste gets either sour or bitter or both at the same time. Simon's demonstration on this was quite impressive. After all the theoretical and practical introductions to the world of coffee we could also try to be a barista ourselves and prepare our own espresso, ristretto and cappucino. Even some latte art appeared magically on the capuccino's foamy milk - with a little help from Simon. Many thanks to Christina for organizing another joyful and informative event!