Coffee, oh delicious coffee. You love it, I love it, we both probably drink too much of it. Almost 12 years deep into my love affair with Madrid, coffee has saved the relationship more than once by taking the edge off a particularly bad hangover. You haven’t really experienced Madrid until you’ve gulped down a scalding hot café con leche served in a caña glass in a bar de toda la vida. Even Ana Botella pointed out that Madrid is a great place for “a relaxing cup of café con leche” in that horrible speech of hers.
Recently however, I’ve been taking advantage of the hipster coffee places that have sprung up all over the city centre and ordering coffee to go. Why not order in and enjoy a coffee whilst playing a round of hipster-coffee-point-grab? (Marks for each of the following: unfinished walls, stadium seating, Edison lightbulbs, weird plants, funny hair cuts, anything vegan, fixie in the corner, tables that look like a bunch of random boards nailed together).
Well, maybe you’re out early walking your dog. Or perhaps you are, once again, walking directly from the bar to work and need a little pick-me-up. Or, maybe you’re a sleep-deprived parent of a newborn who refuses to sleep unless strapped to you whilst you pound the city streets to the soothing sounds of traffic, jackhammers and circular saws. For example.
Whatever your reasons, the following spots are all set up to serve you as much tasty takeaway coffee as you desire (in a paper cup hand-stamped with their logo, naturally). If you’re reading this, chances are you already know about coffee, so I’m not going to waste your time trying to describe subtle flavour variations – these places all made the list because they serve coffee which is hot, caffeinated and delicious. I ordered a flat white at each to compare prices.
1. Acid Cafe
Best for: Minimalists. With their sleek interior and pared-down menu, these guys are no-nonsense. Also great for indecisive types like myself.
Address: Calle Verónica 9
Flat white: €3
2. Boconó
Best for: People fed up with digital nomads – this place has a no laptops policy.
Address: Calle Embajadores 3
Metro: La Latina/Tirso de Molina
Flat white: €2.50
3. Coffee and Kicks
Best for: Pretending you’re in Brooklyn.
Address: Calle Navas de Tolosa 6
Metro: Callao
Flat white: €2.20
4. Faraday
Best for: Hangover purposes. It doesn’t open until midday – perfect for when you’ve slept in.
Address: Calle San Lucas 9
Metro: Chueca
Flat white: €3
5. Federal Café
Best for: The volumetrically-minded. Not the cheapest on the list but definitely the most bang for your buck.
Address: Plaza Comendadoras 9 and Plaza Conde de Barajas 3
Metros: Noviciado/San Bernardo and Sol/Ópera
Flat white: €2.20
6. HanSo Café
Best for: Funny hair cuts. Plus there’s almost always a queue as the coffee is gooood.
Address: Calle Pez 20
Metro: Noviciado
Flat white: €2.70
7. Hola Coffee
Best for: A scenic stroll afterwards. This café is on one of the coolest streets in Lavapiés.
8. Misión Café
Best for: People who like futuristic coffee machines set into the counters. So future!
Address: Calle Reyes 5
Metros: Plaza de España/Noviciado
Flat white: €2.50
9. Mistura Ice Cream
Best for: If you’re broke. Great ice-cream place that also does great, affordable coffee. Also, they’re in muchos locations.
Addresses: Calle Ciudad Rodrigo 6, Plaza Ángel 2, Cale Toledo 71, Calle Augusto Figueroa 5, Calle Goya 50
Flat white: €2.10
10. Ruda Café
Best for: Cuteness. Small but perfectly formed.
Address: Calle Ruda 11
Metro: La Latina
Flat white: €2.30
11. Toma Café
Best for: The most avant-garde ordering and paying set-up (in the Malasaña branch). Coffee is on point though.
Address: Calle Palma 49 and Calle Santa Feliciana 5
Metros: Tribunal/Noviciado and Iglesia
Flat white: €2.50
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Miki Mullor
“La Colectiva Cafe” (https://www.lacolectivacafe.com/)
Espresso is very good.
Helen Macrae
Thanks for the heads-up! I’ve eaten there but not tried the coffee.
Miki Mullor
Also try “the fix” in arguelles. Self roasting single origin espresso. Excellent
Smsc
What about plantate in Lavapies?
Helen Macrae
Just went there and it was excellent! Thanks for the suggestion