your friendly film person :)

Quick personal note: as much as I’ve grown very fond of the taste of coffee, I try to drink it in moderation in the hopes of not drinking over two cups per day. If you’re still at the early stages of drinking coffee, consider keeping your caffeine intake fairly low if you can. Helps you savor the coffee AND not need to drink more every few months to have it wake you up.

Also, I will not be talking in detail about the coffee mentioned, you will find no in-depth “fruity, nutty, chocolaty” remarks here. Sorry, I just kind of… can’t tell. Hopefully you choose to sample them all yourself and make up your own mind on how complex the coffee is!

September is upon us – bringer of crispy leaves, leather boots as the everyday shoe of choice, and hot coffee. If you’re anything like me, hot coffee is probably not a seasonal beverage but for most Greeks it is. Frappe was never my thing, I only started drinking coffee at the tender age of 20 years old. I was on set, went up to the continuity/script supervisor who I shared all my frustrations with, and begged her to make me a cup of coffee that doesn’t taste like coffee. It was a move I made purely out of necessity, I never ever liked coffee and did my best to stay far away from it, but alas. It was time.

She made me a filtered coffee with hazelnut, sugar, and condensed milk. I’m sure every coffee drinker reading this threw up in their mouth a little. It was some amalgamation with a hint of watered-down coffee and it saved me that day. The sugary caffeine buzz kept me going the entire 10 hours I needed to be awake and functional. The script supervisor lovingly suggested I acclimate to cappuccinos or french press coffee for when I need it. Nowadays my cup of choice is a cappuccino, medium sugar, with cinnamon on top.

Regardless of me not drinking my coffee black, I have a clear preference in the types of coffee I like. If it’s too bitter, too “fruity”, or too sweet, I can tell and I hate it. I prefer my coffee a little nutty, cozy, not too complicated or “gourmet”. Just… coffee. Highlighted by the other components of the cappuccino.

I’ve compiled a list of my five favorite coffee shops in Athens with what I consider to be quality coffee roasters. My partner who is an avid black coffee drinker has also approved of them in the past. You will notice topographically they’re sort of in close proximity to each other, that’s just what’s most convenient for me. When I wake up I don’t tend to want to travel far and wide for my coffee needs.

1 – behold theman [Stournari 6]

Chaotic, colorful, yet also weirdly peaceful in its crowdedness. The space is small, the seats crammed and limited, but it is always packed and for good reason. Their coffee is your quintessential arabica, presented in a neat Bauhaus-y cup that makes you want to pretend you’re the coolest kid in the room.

It seems to be a popular study spot despite the uncomfortable seating – while bauhaus makes for a great choice visually, the matching furniture was definitely made for Flatlanders. Beyond the coffee, it does also make some fairly good snacks served in an equally pretty plate that kind of looks like a bowl but is mostly a plate.

For the true coffee connoisseurs I should note they do have many different coffee blends, including a cold brew that I’ve heard great things about but not tried myself. Definitely worth a try, plus if you’re visiting Greece and want a souvenir that doesn’t scream “I bought this at the gift shop”, you can get yourself a nice bauhaus-y cup to remind you of the hidden little gem you visited on your trip.

“Oh this? It’s my favorite cup, I picked it up in Athens.”

2 – Williwaw [Kerkiras 69]

I have never actually sat at this place and had a coffee, but they’re in my neighborhood and I’ve ordered breakfast from there on occasion. If you’re staying near the area of Exarcheia, this is a really safe bet in terms of quick and delicious coffee.

Their bites and sandwiches are good, mostly I prefer them out of convenience and not because they’re mindblowing. I’ve ordered enough coffee from them to know that their quality is consistent, frankly some days that’s all one needs. It’s so annoying when you wake up groggy and need to play with your luck in hopes of picking a place that won’t burn your coffee. I can’t be the only one that thinks this way.

Williwaw coffee is cheap and delicious and has never once failed me!

3 – Me Kolonaki [Kapsali 10]

Now let’s talk about the most expensive option on here. This place – much like behold theman – is always packed to the brim with people. If you’re vegan, gluten free, or just looking for a brunch place that has any and all possible foods you can think of, Me is absolutely worth the splurge.

It has what I believe to be the best matcha latte in Athens, their coffee is always perfect, but I’d choose this place if I want a well-rounded breakfast and have tons of time (and 30€ to spend on breakfast). The wait time is long but the quality of the food and drinks in this place is unmatched.

They’ve also really nailed down the duochromatic modern aesthetic. Sunshine yellow accents and angular Times New Roman-but-cooler font everywhere gives the place a real hip look.

4 – Apiliotis [Arachovis 10]

Allow me to be very brief with this one: THIS IS A MUST-VISIT. They make great coffee, and if you’re hungover they have the most amazing sandwiches. Their pastrami sandwich is out of this world, and since they’re also a deli/café hybrid they have some really great cold cuts and cheeses for sale.

This is a hidden gem I discovered one day after taking a different route home from my therapist’s office. It’s practically invisible if you’re going down Ippokratous, family owned and mostly quiet. Since I had some time, I sat at one of the cute little teal metal tables and ordered a coffee and a pastrami sandwich. After finishing my coffee and half the sandwich, I took the other half home to share the magic with my partner. He, too, was heavily impressed.

Admittedly the coffee here is not mind blowing either, but it is good. It is exactly what it needs to be. Coffee + mind blowing sandwich = a good fucking start to your day.

5 – District Coffee [Nikiforou Litra 42]

Finally, this corner café in the heart of Gkyzi has lovely outdoor seating and wonderful coffee. It’s been open for barely a few months now but it’s already been steadily packed with people for much of that time.

It’s one of those cafe-bars you can spend your entire day in: coffee before work, lunchtime hang, exquisite cocktails or trusty beers after work. There really is something for everyone, and it is by far the most cost effective on the list. Their cocktails are also very much worth a try.

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