BARCELONAS 5 BEST SPECIALTY COFFEE SHOPS
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FILTER COFFEE AND ESPRESSO
BY BENJAMIN SAND
Benjamin Sand is the editor of The Mouth and has tested coffee shops all over the world across years of nomadic travel through Southeast Asia, Europe, and beyond.
INTRODUCTION
Should your coffee paths converge in Barcelona, leaving you wandering with frantic hesitation over where to secure a delicious cup. Fret not!
Options may be bewildering, and famous names scream out at you to try their hallowed hallways, but for us after sampling more than enough, these are the places that tickle our fancy based on service, coffee and overall vibe check.
Before you all scream bloody murder, we did try Nomad Lab, but for the aching romantic, the atmosphere can come off quite clinical and judgy, so we'll leave that to the fawning clan and pitter-patter our feet to smilier shores.
THREE MARKS / CAFE LOCAL
Partnered with the best roaster in town (Three Marks), this charmingly cool cafe opened a few months ago, and serves delicious coffee - and the conversation flows.
The kind of cafe you can rock up, yarn tales about extractions, and leave with a new friend.
Three Marks has its own standalone store in town, well worthy of inquiries. If you're travelling onwards and need a gift for someone, pick up a bag of Three Marks coffee. We highly, highly recommend their La Pila, if it's in stock.
SULA ESPAI
The location keeps at bay the rabid tiktok crowd, so come here for soothing sips of well calculated bags, rotating roasters and incredibly accommodating owners. The play here is V60's as they feature an ever-changing selection so you'll never get bored even on repeat visits.
SLOWMOV
One of the OG's of the Barcelona specialty coffee scene, any visit to the city is disqualified if you didn't at least grab a cup or two here. If it's super busy, grab a batch-brew to go so the baristas have a tiny break, if not then order your favourite milk-based espresso drink and sit in the very cool quarters.
BAR LA CAMILA
With roasts via the female collective in Valencia, Bluebell, this (hip?) cafe serves delicious espresso (if on the more medium roast pronouncements), and is a great place to rest your bones and have a chat with a stranger.
DALSTON
Should your paths be directed to the pursuit of photographic endeavour, scratching the surface of the labyrinth puzzle that is Barcelona, then stop for a moment and order a V60 here. You need time to adjust, digest, and renew your energy for the peril and pleasure that awaits.