Vicafe:

Vicafe has several locations in Zurich, such as Zollstrasse, Bellevue, or Bahnhofstrasse. Sustainability is a priority for Vicafe: customers receive their coffee in a reusable clay cup, made from clay, water, and salt, and is plastic-free. With this, the company has created a new category in the takeaway sector, bridging the gap between disposable cups and ceramic mugs.

Vicafe places great importance on personally knowing all their producers. Last month, they visited their partners on-site in Colombia and Brazil. Vicafe's sourcing philosophy is based on empathy, the clever use of available resources, and radical honesty. For this, various criteria have been formulated; for example, the «win-win-win» criterion, which states that everyone involved should benefit from the collaboration with every purchase.

The coffee is roasted daily at the Vicafe roastery in Zurich Altstetten and then processed into «coffees to go» at their espresso bars. The beans are also available in their online shop or selected stores.

Vicafe (Image: zVg)

Café Bar Odeon:

This café bar is a haven for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of modern times – right in the heart of Zurich (Limmatquai 2). It's not just a café but an institution. The Odeon is a magnificent Art Nouveau coffee house that first opened its doors in 1911. Back then, it was a meeting place for famous writers, poets, painters, and musicians. People like Benito Mussolini, Lenin, and Albert Einstein frequented the Odeon.

Since 2019, the Odeon has been a proud member of the exclusive club of Viennese coffee house owners. A real Viennese coffee house offers more than just good coffee, marble tables, and a harmonious atmosphere: it is a place of encounters, relaxation, and enjoyment, offering international newspapers, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between.

Since 1862, the Odeon has partnered with «Julius Meinl Premium Coffee,» the ambassador of Viennese coffee house culture.

Café Bar Odeon (Image: Zürich Tourism)

Manuel's:

Manuel's at Löwenstrasse 12 is three in one: a retail store, a bar, a café, and a haven for connoisseurs. Spread over three floors, the shop offers the finest cigars from the Caribbean, over 650 rums, and one of the most extensive coffee selections in the city. The highlight of the menu is Italian espresso.

Many brands are imported directly from Italy: Costadoro from Turin, Manaresi from Florence, Danesi from Rome, Kimbo from Naples, Mauro from Calabria, and many more. On-site, Manuel's serves espresso from Caffé GM in Tuscany, a small business that roasts in the traditional way over a wood fire.

Guests can also opt for the «Espresso of the Month.» Currently, this option transports guests to Rome. With its Italian coffee selection, Manuel's deliberately sets itself apart from the current coffee zeitgeist. While fruity, modern roasts certainly have their place, who can resist an Italian espresso with its typical chocolate and nutty aromas?

Manuel's serves its espresso short and strong, just like in Italy at the bar. To ensure freshness, the company imports small batches and also sells the roasts online via its webshop.

Espresso of the month (Image: zVg)

Mame:

Mame, located at Josefstrasse 160, has been known as a «Specialty Coffee Café» since 2017. Here, you embark on a journey to find your favorite coffee, with the motto: «The best coffee is the coffee you like.» Mame offers various flavor profiles such as chocolatey, fruity, floral, etc.

The coffees are seasonal and sourced directly from plantations, which the owners visit and taste on-site every year. Since 2015, the co-founders have regularly participated in coffee championships, serving coffees that are unique and rarely available.

 
Mame Café (Image: zVg)

Babu's Bakery & Coffeehouse:

Babu's, located on Löwen-, Theater-, or Zentralstrasse, is a stylish café with creative, light cuisine and espresso specialties.

The coffee comes from the traditional Stoll roastery in Zurich, which has stood for top quality and first-class service since 1936. The coffee is processed «naturally» in the traditional Brazilian way, which gives it its sweetness and richness. The medium roast brings out classic roast aromas without overpowering the coffee's character. Also available online.

The milk is sourced from Bio-Molkerei Höhn in Hirzel, which has been providing fresh, natural milk from the region since 1912. The vegan alternative is the organic oat drink from Minor Figures, without added sugar.

Babu's Bakery & Coffeeshop (Image: zVg)

Café Noir:

Behind Café Noir at Neugasse 13 are two facets: on the one hand, it is a coffee roastery that roasts high-quality coffee from around the world. This is the core of the business. At their roastery, currently located in Zurich (Binz), fresh coffee has been roasted weekly since 2006. An old but highly reliable roasting machine from 1960 is used for this.

The shop now offers around 12 different coffees. Its loyal clientele includes restaurateurs, offices, small retailers, and private customers from across Switzerland, who can also purchase the products via the webshop.

On the other hand, where it all began, there is now a small, cozy café with a shop where you can buy the products directly. The café was originally the apartment of Mischa Gubler, the founder of Café Noir. He had the idea of roasting coffee himself and installed a small roasting machine in his apartment. Over time, Gubler dedicated his apartment entirely to coffee production and opened a shop alongside it. You can still feel that this café was once an apartment, and that gives it its charm.

Café Noir (Image: Cool Cities)

La Stanza:

Café La Stanza is a popular meeting place for Zurich's financial world and at the same time the go-to spot for espresso lovers. Inside, an elegant counter invites guests to exchange thoughts on the day's happenings, Italian-style, while outside, a small garden corner awaits visitors – but you have to be quick or get up very early, as the seats are highly coveted due to the café's popularity.

The espresso, darkly roasted with a pronounced bitter note, follows the southern Italian style and is a must for coffee lovers. But it's not just the espresso that impresses: the iced coffee, served in a simple crystal glass, is a visual delight, especially for those who prefer milder coffee drinks.

Café La Stanza (Image: Creme Guides)