Your go-to guide for hipster coffee to go in Madrid

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.

Instagram, Facebook

Address: Calle Verónica 9

Flat white: €3

2. Boconó

Best for: People fed up with digital nomads – this place has a no laptops policy.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

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.

Instagram, Facebook

Address: Calle Navas de Tolosa 6

Metro: Callao

Flat white: €2.20

4. Faraday

(1)

Best for: Hangover purposes. It doesn’t open until midday – perfect for when you’ve slept in.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

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.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

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.

Instagram, Facebook

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.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

Address: Calle Doctor Forquet 33

Flat white: €2.50

8. Misión Café

(1)

Best for: People who like futuristic coffee machines set into the counters. So future!

Instagram, Facebook

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.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

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.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

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.

Website, Instagram, Facebook

Address: Calle Palma 49 and Calle Santa Feliciana 5

Metros: Tribunal/Noviciado and Iglesia

Flat white: €2.50

*All images are from each establishment’s respective social media accounts. Feature image belongs to Toma Café.
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