meinstein coffee — Restaurant in Cologne

We found this wonderful little coffee shop on Google maps while on vacation in Köln from Seattle, USA. I am willing to spend the time to hand make my coffee every morning at home with a Fellows water kettle, an electric burr grinder, and a Chemex coffee pot. So, after a few days of barely passable hotel coffee I was beyond pleased to find Meinstein Coffee. We are not locals. We are not native German speakers (I try, and I learn more every day, but I have a long way to go). Gurken, who I hope will forgive me if I butchered his name, was so helpful, kind, and accommodating. He made us two cups of “hand brew” coffee, let my 4.5 year old son help him run the coffee grinder like he does at home, gave him a milk steamer with coco-power on top, and made us outstanding coffee that was every bit as good as I make for myself at home in Seattle.

In order to make coffee of this quality, that correctly showcases the complexity and favor of the coffee bean, many things must be perfect. The coffee must be roasted correctly (lightly), the water must be filtered with the temperature in the correct range, and the coffee brewer plus filter able to extract the coffee without ruining it, and Gurken executed it all perfectly, while simultaneously serving a dozen other customers in our time there.

The coffee shop is very cozy but he has done a great job in opening the place up and keeping the from feeling as small as it is. There is seating space for several, and a few more outside.

“Hat’s off” to Meinstein Coffee. I’d come 20 minutes out of my way regularly to buy coffee and beans if I didn’t live 8,000km from here. Even more impressive is he knew this from the start and he still gave me and my family of three a more than memorable experience. Be friendly and patient, and I have no doubt that you’ll be rewarded with an outstanding...

Don’t expect any service if you aren’t a German speaker. I had to wait for the barista chatting with and almost prioritising the locals to get both an order and later pay for the order - plus the barista simply didn’t remember what I had and had asked in a very unpleasant tone. The guy looked busy but honestly couldn’t feel any effectiveness. Should’ve read the lower reviews here first as they were so true about the unhygienic part as well - you have the tool to grab the pastries, yet you still use your bare hands which minutes ago just touched notes and coins to touch the food. The coffee itself was alright, but my bad experience surpassed totally. I am a passer-by of the city and one of the - quote the barista “everyone is speaking English”, I had high expectations of this highly reviewed place, now I highly doubt that I would recommend it to anyone or give it...

I came here after all the reviews and the space, the two baristas and the coffee were great! The baristas were passionate coffee lovers and it so showed. After many other reviews and pictures of their cinnamon buns, I came back three hours later to get one and once back at hotel, I could not have been more disappointed! It didn’t look like the pics in the reviews and the only cinnamon was what I sprinkled on top that I travel with. Surely I got a very small piece of the batch that missed being adorned with cinnamon? For the same price of a zimt schnecke at ZeitFürBrot, this was a huge letdown. You are so nice here but if anyone comes for the cinnamon buns yet has ZeitFürBrot as a frame of reference, perhaps try another pastry here. I didn’t go back during the rest of our stay.

Staff and coffee 5...