Warsaw can come across as imposing at first glance. The central downtown is a grid of wide roads, rattling trams, searing socialist-realist architecture, and modern shopping malls. The old town, slightly upstream, hosts the postcard-friendly lanes tucked behind striking churches and squares full of joviality. The mighty Vistula river pierces the heart of Warsaw into two distinct chambers: the right side, Praga, pumps suburbia and neighborhood favorites, and the left, the majority of commerce, culture, and tradition.
Coffee has historically been enjoyed on the darker side in Poland. Most often simply poured into a cup with water and allowed to steep, like tea. The evolution to light roast coffee has not entirely taken root, although there are a few pockets of resistance trying to sway the vote. The shops Filtry and Ministerstwo Kawy are widely considered two of the foundations of the Warsaw specialty coffee scene, who started brewing with new methods, and buying higher quality beans. They are still going strong and worth dropping by if you want to understand the journey of coffee in Warsaw.
The scene today has evolved into a dynamic and forward-thinking community that is truly pushing coffee to the next level. Like many places, the rise of processed coffees such as anaerobic and co-ferments is wildly popular here, so if they are your bread and butter, you’ll be spoiled for options. For purists who prefer their coffee washed and of lighter intentions, I found some passionate baristas and roasters who had sharpened their skills abroad and were keen to start altering the course of coffee in the capital city.
Whether you’re a filter coffee drinker, a person who appreciates neighborhood cafes, somebody who cannot drink a coffee without background music, or an espresso hound, you will find everything and more in this guide.
Blysk
The most recommended place in Warsaw based on feedback from coffee professionals, it took four customers to try and explain the meaning of “Blysk” as I stood drinking a fabulous washed Kenya Inoi Ndimi espresso from local roaster Heresy.
“It means a quick burst of bright light.”
“No, it means a sparkle in your eye.”
“Well, it can also mean squeaky clean.”
This is why I love Blysk. The two-group red La Marzocco machine hisses and screeches constantly during the day. Pet dogs sniff around the corners in the hopes of some stray pastry bits. There is no pretense here. People drop in for a chat about the local news, dog-walkers congregate for a quick espresso before hitting the park nearby, and serious aficionados lean against the back counter and deep-dive on extraction times and puck prep.
Co-owner Michal Ciupinski is the recipient of more awards than their shelves can hold (including three-time Bronze and 2026 Gold for Polish Barista Champion), showing you the true authority Blysk possesses. Espresso is definitely the go-to order here, but they are more than happy to prepare hand-picked filter coffees on the AeroPress. Shots are served in beautiful ceramic cups, and the skill of the barista brings out balanced acidity, juicy bursts and deep sweetness.
This is one of Europe’s best espresso bars.
Teso
Teso is a new kid on the Praga scene, but head roaster Jakub Poręcki has a long history with coffee, having worked at the legendary Koppi in Helsingborg, Sweden, and as head roaster at Lilla Kafferosteriet in Malmö. After honing his skills abroad and working at a few cafes in Warsaw, he decided to open his own shop on a very quiet neighborhood street in Eastern Warsaw. The coffee profile here is lighter than most other places in Warsaw, no doubt harkening back to Poręcki’s training at Nordic roasters. The coffee is clean, floral, and juicy, with pronounced acidity. Though the most popular drinks to order here are definitely espresso-based prepared on a La Marzocco Strada machine, they have a good filter selection, and I had a beautiful Ethiopian Aricha natural coffee that offered tasting notes of peach and milk chocolate.
Roasting is done on a Vietnamese OTL-12 coffee roaster, which Poręcki currently rents from a friend while saving up for his own machine. The interiors borrow from the Scandinavian minimalist expression but are warm in their simplicity. Emerald-wash marble contrasts against Malbec-tiled walls, interspersed by solid wood furniture and mirrors giving the room lungs. Experimental music irons the edges out, creating a wonderful backdrop for coffee musings.
Daily, they serve two espresso choices and a few filter options. The staff are incredibly welcoming, and the overall vibe at Teso shows you that the neighborhood has already adopted it as their own after only a few months.
Klaro
Klaro is hidden in a maze of residential streets. This miniature corner bar has the luxury of full windows on two sides, beautiful red tiles, and a clean, minimalist coffee setup. They roast their own coffee, overseen by owner Maks Volkovytskyi on a 15kg Diedrich machine. He tends to keep his coffees on the lighter side of medium. They have a designated filter coffee section by the front window, with hand-drawn menus written in white marker pen on the burgundy tiles. Espressos are taken care of on the main counter. They change batch brews often, and whilst visiting, my Peruvian cup showed chocolate and plum notes, with a silky mouthfeel.
Klaro is the perfect place to pop in if you live in the neighborhood and you get the feeling everyone knows everyone. It’s also great for sitting by the counter and conversing between orders, because the baristas are super knowledgeable about their coffee and are happy to explain their brew methods. They have a small retail shelf with high-end gear from Weber, Clever, Hario, etc. The filter section has a designated space in the window for pour-overs with a Mahlkönig grinder towering over it like a coffee lighthouse.
Pro Tip: If you fancy trying some of the best ramen in all of Poland (including a phenomenal vegan version), this unassuming shop a ten minute walk from Klaro is dynamite: Ganon Ramen.
Forum
For AeroPress coffee drinkers, Forum is one of the must-visit coffee shops in Warsaw. Owned by Sławek Saran (Polish Barista Champion) and Ilona Przewoźniczek (Polish AeroPress Champion) this cafe has a loyal pool of people who come to taste coffees made on this lightweight, indestructible brewing tool. The counter is a thriving hive of activity where there are AeroPresses going off simultaneously, an espresso machine chugging, and a barista always at hand to talk you through the filter menu. As is the case in much of Europe, the rise of anaerobic or processed coffees has taken a hold in Poland, however, they almost always have at least one washed option.
I was lucky enough to order a Lost Origin Gesha and a well prepared Yuri Montanchez Anaerobic Washed Papayo, both from Standout roasters. Should you be peckish, they serve a varied breakfast menu, including wheat-rye bread baked by local DEJ Bakery.
The herringbone wood floors add an earthy element to the artwork, bright retail shelves, and bohemian vibes at Forum. You can quite comfortably bring a book here, tuck in front of the window, and enjoy a slow coffee during the morning light. Due to the pedigree of the people working here and the history of their involvement in the Polish competition scene, this is a must-do on your Warsaw itinerary.
COR Specialty Coffee
Housed in a building right next to St. Anne’s Church, the limestone cave-like interiors reveal some of the most passionate coffee-people in Warsaw. Though COR also serves a standard coffee menu, this is the place to come for filter coffee if you want to discover new roasters from around the country, prepared using Origami drippers.
The guys working here know their craft and care intently about extractions, drawdown times, grind size, et cetera. Since they are in a constant state of rotation with new roasters, you can plan multiple visits and still try something new each time. There are tables outside with views of the old town, but the best part about this coffee shop is ordering your coffee and sitting at the far end where they prepare the pourovers so you can talk to the barista and give feedback on your coffee, which they seem to really appreciate.
Tekla
Tekla values music and hi-fi equipment as much as they do brewing specialty coffee. This breathtaking venue is run by Association Stacja Muranów, a non-profit organization that aims to revitalize the district of Muranov. Inside is a stylish mix of high ceilings, local art, and a back wall bedecked with vinyl records. The coffee itself is based on rotating roasters and the baristas are happy to explain the roast profiles and flavor notes of the different coffees. There is an oval communal table in the middle for people who want to bring a laptop or a book.
Tekla is one of the more oddly-located coffee shops in Warsaw, so the chances of you randomly stumbling across it are slim. With local art exhibitions, events, pop-ups and more, Tekla truly is the beating heart of this neighborhood, and their coffee program elevates them to a destination for specialist fans.
Rost
Rost take their environmental footprint seriously. They were the first coffee shop in Poland to use an electric Stronghold machine, they deliver B2B orders in reusable buckets, pack their coffee in compostable bags, and even use power from renewable sources for their roast sessions. They push the envelope as far as they can to leave behind a gentle footprint, but not at the expense of quality or consistency.
Head roaster Kuba Paul walked me through their range of coffees before I landed on a washed Ethiopian Guji, floral and sweet. Rost sits cornered by long rows of apartment buildings, so you’ll often see people pop out of their door and in for a take-away coffee. The service is warm, and the coffee was prepared dutifully on a Hario Switch to increase the body. Their roasting style is slightly more pronounced but locals tend to prefer a more developed flavor. The skill here is that it doesn’t mask the terroir or varietal tasting notes, which is impressive.
Warsaw is a city of almost two million residents, and I visited multiple shops for this article, so if you still want more places to try, I can recommend any of the following: Kawiarnia Czytelnia, Na Bank Specialty Coffee, Filtry Cafe, Ministry of Coffee, El Cafetero, Po Drodze, Stor Cafe, Trejd.
Benjamin Sand is a freelance journalist and the creator of The Mouth. Read more Benjamin Sand for Sprudge.
