A recent visit to Berlin revealed a few new corners to me that I had previously either overseen or I simply wasn’t aware of them. Amongst those hidden gems is a street that is so close to Kottbusser Tor that I should have already walked down once or twice but its strange shape on the map meant that I simply didn’t even know it existed.
On said street, which goes by the name Dresdenerstrasse by the way, is a coffee shop called Nano Kaffee. I had first found out about it after owner Ramin started following me on Instagram and that day I declared I’d visit him when next in the German capital. On the morning of my appointment Ramin had offered to open the shop half an hour ahead of schedule so we could sit down and have a chat.
I actually missed Nano Kaffee the first time I walked down Dresdnerstrasse, not because of what the name might suggest, i.e. it being really small, which it’s not but simply because the shutters were still down and the outside branding is very minimalistic.
The inside of the tastefully decorated shop offers very high ceilings, seperate espresso and slow coffee bars, large shelves full off coffee beans as well as equipment and an adjustable cupping table that also functions as a normal day-t0-day café table. Ramin kept the interior dark and classy with the only colours coming from a large yellow painting above the bar and packaging on display.
Ramin was thrilled to have me over and offered to make a flattie, which was my first espresso-based drink that morning. I gladly accepted. Before he found his coffee calling, Ramin worked as a carpenter for many year and was involved in another coffee business when he decided to go on a quest to find a home for his newest project. At Nano Kaffee he wants to give different German roasters a chance to have locals and visitors sample their coffees in the heart of Kreuzberg. Amongst the various names on the shelves I immediately spotted many Coffeevine friends and partners such as Mahlefitz, Playground Coffee and JB Kaffee.
(Did you know these three roasters have been featured in our bespoke coffee subscription? View their profiles and our subscription options)
True to his nature, Ramin built the entire interior himself and once it gets warmer he will be opening his own terrace, which will be another great reason to stop at Nano and take a break from the craziness of the Kotti and Berlin as a whole. Aside from his coffee menu Ramin only wants to offer bite-sized tarts and cookies but no full meals. “This place is about great coffee and anything else you offer distracts,” Ramin said as we shook hands at the end of my visit. True dat! Oh in case you wondered, the coffee was excellent.
