One gloomy morning in Stockholm last weekend, I started off my day of exploring the city’s vibrant coffee scene with a visit to Pascal Kaffebar, the latest outlet from this Swedish coffee institution. Conveniently, Pascal Kaffebar was located right around the corner from my hotel and I was meeting up there with Arman Seropian, one of the company’s co-owners.
What I didn’t know was that we would also be joined by Håkan Sävlind, who is the shops manager and co-owner, and who recently competed in the Swedish Brewer’s Cup. The last time when I was in Stockholm around ten years ago, I visited the original Pascal coffee bar and met with Arman. Back then, Pascal was still a multi-roaster café. Today, they roast their own coffee and run a bakery in collaboration with the people from Komet, another coffee bar in town.
Pascal Kaffebar is located right on Stureplan, a major going out spot in the capital and a popular shopping area. As I admired the gorgeous interiors with stunning tiles and floor to ceiling mirror elements, Arman told me that the space used to be occupied by a famous jeweler who is also appointed to the Swedish Royal Family.
Consequently, the space is quite small and only offers limited seating along two benches by the entrance but it is one of the city’s finest places to taste extravagant coffees. As a result of Håkan’s recent participation in the Brewer’s Cup and his previous attempts to win the Swedish Barista Championships, Pascal has a fine menu with competition lots including the red Gesha from Finca La Negrita that he used for Håkan’s Brewer’s Cup entry. Needless to say, Arman and I were treated to a fresh serving of this coffee with all the theatrics that you’d expect from a competitor.
The team here is dedicated to showcasing coffee from its most delicious side despite the more take-away nature of the café. Next to its coffee menu there is a fine selection of delicious looking pastries and sandwiches from the in-house bakery and non-coffee drinks like kombuchas and fresh fruit juices. However, for any coffee lover with a desire to explore more exotic flavours and rare lots, THIS is the place.
If you want a more expansive food menu and seating options, you’d need to visit the original Pascal, which is not too far away.
