Hamburg and coffee. It’s an interesting relationship that many people don’t know much about. But the truth is that the port of Hamburg is Europe’s number one destination for coffee shipments from all over the world and most of the coffees we enjoy every day will have passed through here at some point in their journey.

The city is regularly listed amongst the world’s most livable and it just keeps getting better every year. I may be a bit biased, after all it’s my hometown, but I am proud of how the city has been quietly going about its business and despite being a bit slower than their colleagues in Berlin, Hamburg-based coffee professionals are finally starting to catch up with the capital’s booming third wave coffee culture. Here’s our selection of 5 coffee places you must visit while there. Updated in June 2023.

Stockholm Espresso Club

Located in a quiet residential street in Winterhude, this fine specialty coffee shop is specialised in coffees from Koppi Roasters from Sweden and make delicious breakfasts and cakes in their small kitchen at the back. There are also regular cuppings held there, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for dates and updates.

Peter-Marquard-Straße 8, 22303 Hamburg – Read our full review here.

Elbgold Coffee Lab

This is one of the newest kids on the block and feels completely different to what Elbgold normally stand for, namely homely cafés with great breakfasts and coffee. This latest addition looks extremely elegant, is excellently equipped and offers only bar-seating and take away.

Schauenburgerstraße 50,20095 Hamburg

Playground Coffee

Probably the closest thing to a local coffee institution, Playground Coffee always represented a different take on specialty coffee right from the get-go. Founders Veljko Tatalovic and Matze Bode wanted to make coffee more fun and less rigid, thereby winning them hundreds of new fans from around the city and further afield.

Detlev-Bremer-Strasse 21, 20359 Hamburg – Read our full review here.

Nord Coast Coffee Roasters

Certainly one of the most elaborate coffee shops and roasteries in town, Nord Coast occupies a former travel agency close to the city’s beautiful Speicherstadt and harbour. Given their surroundings and clientele, Nord Coast is more traditional in its approach but Jörn Gorzolla also offers very tasty single origins aimed at specialty coffee drinkers.

Deichstraße 9, 20459 Hamburg – Read our full review here.

Marshall Street

This friendly Aussie/German owned breakfast spot in the city center is a bright and friendly affair with opulent brunch dishes, really delicious coffee and a nice terrace. While there is no handbrewed filter coffee on offer (yet), they do have their own roasted beans.

Schopenstehl 30, 20095 Hamburg – Read our full review of Marshall Street