Copenhagen, Revisited: 5 Local-Approved Cafés

We’re back in the Danish capital—this time, with a focus on local favorites.

BY BENJAMIN SAND
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos by Benjamin Sand

No city on earth is as hyped right now as Copenhagen, Denmark. Home to trend-setting design, world-class dining, and sights to satisfy even the most picky traveller, this Scandinavian city is the epitome of “Nordic cool.”

Last year, we toured a number of specialty shops in the Danish capital, but we’re back now with an updated guide—one that will concentrate more on neighborhood cafés situated outside of the immediate downtown area.

Sneezing Fruits

Attracting attention with its peculiar name alone, Sneezing Fruits is an offshoot of the popular ice-cream café Alice (well worth a visit) and bakery Benji. Nestled within a hidden courtyard, beneath a row of studio spaces, workshops, and offices, this is the kind of gem the locals keep to themselves.

The house coffee is rotated as supplies run out, and they push lighter-roasted filter coffee (roasted by Sweden’s Koppi), milk-based drinks, and espresso. There are also soft drinks, pastries, paninis, and snacks available, perfect for enjoying outside on the long wooden tables. The café itself is tiny, but there are some lovely spots by the window if you find yourself there on a rainy day.

The Artisan

For those residing in Copenhagen, one of the most popular things to do is take a walk along the four lakes that stretch from Vesterbro to Østerbro. Tucked in the corner of the lake by Fredens Park, lies The Artisan.

Owner Jose Antonio, who is originally from Peru, runs this spacious café that spills out onto a large front deck. He regularly travels to his home country to source the best quality beans from micro-lots and small farms—and this is evident in the cup. Regulars flock here for the complex pourover coffees, along with all of the expected menu items. Their matcha is also wildly popular.

Enghave Kaffe

Managed by a local legend from Japan, Nobuaki Matsui—who revolutionized how espresso was brewed in Copenhagen—Enghave Kaffe exudes local charm. All of their coffee is roasted by Norwegian giant, Fuglen, and has that distinctive Nordic flavor profile.

The room is dark and minimalist, with a wall-hugging bench and tables outside. Situated in the trendy area of Vesterbro, if you drop by a few times, you’ll start to see some familiar faces. It’s got that casual atmosphere that neighborhood cafés were built for. The batch brew is very popular here, as are the espresso drinks and kombucha.

Norange

Founded by the 2022 Greek Roasting Champion, Alex Nerantzis, Norange is the new kid on the block. Nørrebro has its fair share of cozy places to grab a cup of coffee, but Norange brings a new, clean, minimalist look that exudes Scandinavian design.

The coffee is light-roast, beautifully complex, and bright. Our suggestion is to order a floral Ethiopian coffee as a pourover and snag one of the window stools looking out onto Sankt Hans Torv.

Coffice

Coffice is the new home of former ROAST employee Elias Egholm, who decided to open a coffee shop inside of a cultural center—and luckily, the locals approved. Business has been booming in the months since the café opened, with pourover enthusiasts enjoying the slightly more full-bodied profile, brewed using an Origami dripper.

Plenty of seating outside means you can enjoy the sun on those rare days when it shines in Denmark, but should the clouds pull in, there are tables galore inside, too. Elias is a ray of sunshine, so regardless of the weather, his passion warms the neighborhood.

Honorable Mentions

If you happen to have extra time, then here are some more excellent neighborhood café to add to the list:

Kaffedepartementet – Opposite the wildly popular pizza spot Flere Fugle, this is your stop for great espresso.

Wild Horses – Check if they’re open, but this coffee shop and art gallery in Sydhavn is truly worth a bus ride.

Nordic Roasting Co. – A roastery and café in one, Nordic Roasting Co. offers clean, complex coffees in a largely undiscovered part of Copenhagen.

Kontra – The perfect stop if you reach the end of the lakes at Østerbro. Their coffee beans are also reasonably priced and of good quality.

Yellow Bird – Grab a to-go coffee here before heading to the beach at Amager Strandpark.

Impact Roasters – For fans of Ethiopian coffee, they have a few branches and are a safe bet.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benjamin Sand is a freelance writer and nomad. His first taste of independent coffee was at the Equator Cafe (RIP) in Pasadena, California, back in the late 90s. Since then his tastes have evolved more towards the Nordic Style, and he is always on the lookout for a light-roast pourover. He also writes extensively about local food on his website The Mouth (www.wearethemouth.com).

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