Café-Guide #5: Brühmarkt, Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt can be a busy town, consuming, rushed. According to some interviews, the number of orders on the go for coffee are around 75%. We were all the happier to take some time and discover our specialty coffee highlight during our latest tour. Brühmarkt slows down the coffee experience and on top of that delivers outstanding food beyond cookies and cakes.
Starting as 'Kaffeewerk Espressionist' in 2011 there was plenty of time to understand the unsteady nature of Frankfurt’s coffee lovers. With all the travelers and visitors and the ever-changing industries, it can’t be easy to make coffee for every taste. By 2023 two 'Brühmarkt' locations were added, and we visited the one at Gutleutstraße.
A lot of light wood and the orange branding that is also present on their beans for selling as well as their merch welcomes guests with a warm atmosphere. The staff is very capable of understanding the needs of every customer, as they take their time to find the right roast and product. We received a Flat White and an Espresso Tonic respectively, and with that two different coffee experiences. Add to that a cheesecake and a vegetarian tart plus plenty of inside or outside seats and the busy hustle under the office towers is easier to escape. Brühmarkt is thus not only delivering outstanding coffee, but also food that we could consider worth the recommendation alone.
There are roasts for every taste and occasion. Lighter or heavier, sometimes a little sweeter, sometimes more fruity. Even with some Third Wave places, the focus of flavors can be on a certain region or simply the preference of customers. What I like especially is the distinction (even if it is not made visibly on the label) between roasts for commercial clients such as an office and people just wanting to make coffee at home. A lot of roasters find themselves in a spot where they want to make a profit in a tough business, and thus create roasts specifically tailored to larger volumes and broader tastes. It's a valid thing to do, as they can deliver better quality or add local input compared to mass market producers of coffee. These commercial roasts are often less interesting for the individual coffee drinker though, who might be looking for something new, so it is great that Brühmarkt has options for everyone.
Both the Flat White and the Espresso Tonic were based on the same Honduran Honey espresso roast, but it was really the Tonic that brought out the best flavors. Named ‘Tschillaut’, a German phonetic spelling of ‘chill out’, it has a beautiful smooth taste of blossom honey, that intensifies with the dry tonic and carbonation. For the Flat White, it was not able to show its range, but it did add a more nutty note. If you are not yet convinced that they go the extra mile with their product, you can find detailed brewing instructions for their roasts here on Instagram. Out of the three Specialty Cafés we visited in Frankfurt this time, this was my favorite coffee and way of serving. Now keep in mind that Brühmarkt also serves a wide variety of filter roasts, so even if the dark and light espresso roasts are not your taste, there is plenty to explore.
Brühmarkt is an instant recommendation. Top-notch coffee, variety of roasts, good food, space to sit and work, relax or have a conversation and service that makes everyone feel welcomed. Let us know which places for coffee and cocktails we need to put on our map for the next trip to Frankfurt.
/jf
