With your flights booked, hotel selected, and luggage packed for your Florence trip, it`s time to iron out the specifics.
Like where to find the best coffee in Florence. Florence, similar to most other cities in Italy, has a proud coffee tradition, consisting of strong espresso made with dark roast beans paired with a pastry at the counter before work (and cappuccinos only in the morning).
I additionally have a proud tradition of cafe that involves taking – and indeed, that`s definitely the right word – Alysha around with me to visit all the cafe stores in locations we`re traveling. On one occasion, in Melbourne, Australia, we invested 45 minutes attempting to find a rear alley cafe shop that I had read about, and it absolutely was solely as we were giving up that we located it.
Fortunately, locating Florence`s coffee shops was straightforward without the risk of getting lost.
Here is my guide to finding the premium coffee in Florence if you appreciate having your choice of single origin beans, meticulously crafted pour over coffee (mostly referred to as “filter coffee” in Italy), and perfectly-frothed milk in your cappuccino.
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Where to Find the Best Coffee in Florence (for Specialty Coffee Lovers)
What is this guide all about? It begins with my journey into the world of specialty coffee.
I recollect the initial period I concept of java as something further than a vehicle for caffeine – it was trying a natural method Ethiopian coffee from Coava Coffee in Portland, Oregon (make for sure to read my guide to coffee in Portland if you’re heading there), and it was a red fruit explosion in my mouthpiece.
Since that time, I’ve exchanged my hand-me-down coffee machine for a complete pour over setup at home, and spend five minutes each morning manually pouring coffee before starting my day.
And there would certainly be outcry if I were to grind the coffee for more than three minutes before brewing it – that would be unthinkable.
I truly enjoy quality coffee – particularly exploring the many forms coffee can take – which makes me ideally suited to assisting you in locating the finest coffee establishments in Florence.
Here`s the core idea. Cafes, bars, and bakeries in Florence generally serve satisfactory espresso, cappuccino, and other basic coffee drinks to casually sip.
The coffeehouses featured here elevate the experience a notch, providing something special not found in most places in Florence.
You should be aware entering this guide: I’m a filter coffee enthusiast.
Coffee is my regular morning beverage and area of specialization, so I believe I can offer an informed take. An autoimmune condition also prompts me to limit dairy as much as feasible anyway.
As a result, most of the coffee I drink to prepare these guides is going to be filtered coffee, which I think is the best way to evaluate a coffee shop regardless.
Not into filtered coffee? Don’t worry – all of the establishments below can prepare you a good cappuccino or pull a perfect shot of espresso, if that’s what you prefer.
The Two Coffee Roasters in Florence
Before delving into Florence`s coffee scene, a word about Italian coffee culture more generally.
While exploring coffee shops in Rome, conversing with a friendly barista at one of the city’s best cafes, she provided some insight matching my own observations about the rising craft coffee movement in Italy.
Generally, the further south you travel, the more traditional the coffee culture becomes.
To demonstrate this point, Milan and Verona are where I discovered the best coffee scenes in Italy, while in Sicily, there was zero specialty coffee – it was all dark, bitter espresso enjoyed standing at the bar, at all times (though the ever-present freshly baked pastries were a high aspect).
Florence, located in the center of the country, leans towards the northern half of Italy in terms of its coffee scene as a result of its vast number of tourists, which brings a diverse crowd from all over Europe.
Before we get into specific coffee shops, let’s talk about two local specialty coffee roasters in Florence, neither actually has their own coffee shop in Florence.
Which is unusual to me from the US, but both have cafes in town that act as their flagship locations, utilizing their beans for espresso and filtered offerings.
The first is a cafe called Gearbox Coffee Roasters. Gearbox is the work of Tommaso Bongini, who comes from a family with experience in the coffee industry (his family also operates Mokarico).
Gearbox offers a more progressive, specialized take on coffee, and their current selection of coffee beans includes experimental lots from Costa Rica subject to “thermal shock” processing, and a Colombian coffee handled with “natural carbonic maceration.”
Fun stuff for us coffee connoisseurs! You can find them at Coffee Mantra near Mercato Sant’Ambrogio (which happens to be my first choice for the best coffee shop in Florence).
The second is D612, which was started in 2016, and was on the leading edge of the specialty coffee revolution in central and northern Italy
The roasts at their establishments have a lighter, more modern style compared to the traditional Italian approach of darker, toastier roasts. The two locations in Florence serving their beans are SimBIOsi and Melaleuca.
Now, onto the coffee shops themselves.
Coffee Mantra
Without question, Coffee Mantra was my preferred coffee shop in Florence. We went there twice since it was located just a few blocks from our apartment, and it was quite exceptional on both occasions, which I will describe in a moment.
Why was it my favorite place to obtain specialty coffee in Florence, you may inquire?
What I enjoy most about specialty coffee is discovering new things – trying different beans and tastes I`ve never had before in coffee, or learning about a new processing technique (recently I`ve seen more anaerobic processing).
Coffee Mantra is the perfect venue for that, because they rotate the single origin coffee offered daily. They use beans from local Gearbox Roasters, and have a seemingly inexhaustible supply of different beans. Their café is located east of Santa Croce, a block away from Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio.
Helpfully, a menu is posted inside the shop as well as outside noting the coffees available on different days, which I think is really clever.
Meaning, theoretically, one could visit daily during their time in Florence and sample distinct single-origin coffees prepared as either espresso or brewed using an Aeropress, Chemex, or V60 (my private favorite method).
As I cited, we halted at this location twice. The initial time, I was served an exquisite filtered coffee crafted from a washed procedure Ethiopian coffee that entirely exhibited the characteristics anticipated from the genesis and handling of the coffee – light physique, slightly tropical, and plenty of acidity.
So, basically, everything Italians traditionally dislike in a cup of coffee. But to me, that’s heaven.
The second time I had coffee there, I was served the best espresso shot I`ve had in a long time.
It was a coffee from Papua New Guinea, which is a bit uncommon as I don’t often encounter that where I live in the United States, and it was naturally processed. The barista (who was the same person attending the first time) stated that it had fruity flavours, and he was absolutely correct in his description.
Drinking that coffee was like tasting a fruit punch, but I had trouble identifying the specific fruits. It was the most unique and incredible espresso I`ve had in a while.
I had many decent cups of espresso in Italy, fitting in with the local culture. However, this was the first that elicited me to literally utter “holy sh*t” after the initial taste.
Café SimBIOsi
This quaint little shop was my second favorite spot in Florence, both because of the quality coffee – which comes from Florence roaster D612 – and because of the ambiance within. I sidled up to the counter on a crisp fall Monday afternoon and asked about the coffees available to filter.
I was pleasantly surprised to notice (or see – the barista pointed me towards the sign that I easily could have read) they offered multiple coffee choices that you could select from – three as an espresso, three as a filter.
I opted for a coffee of Colombian origin, and went outside to our table to wait for brewing using a V60 filtering method.
The spot is a little removed from most of the major attractions in Florence, even though it’s plenty near Mercato Centrale (or San Lorenzo) if you’re headed that direction.
While the streetside setting lacked atmosphere, the quality of the coffee more than made up for the lack of ambiance.
They offer a more extensive food menu at their bistro next door, but they did have some pastries available to enjoy with your coffee.
Melaleuca Bakery + Bistro
The second location of the local roasting company D612, Melaleuca wasn’t quite as remarkable as Café SimBIOsi, but still, I enjoyed the coffee there.
The location on the Arno River provides a relaxing atmosphere, ideal for resting on a warm late fall morning when taking breaks from the cold outdoors was welcome.
Firstly, the ceramics here are gorgeous. I nearly ordered an additional cappuccino just to hold the cup longer, but was already over stimulated and dissuaded from doing so.
The thing to know about this place is that you are far more likely to hear English than Italian being spoken.
We were seated close to a group of American students, and ended up departing a bit earlier than usual as we wanted to get away from their loud conversation. Being aware many tourists visit should allow enjoyment!
And truly, every spot in Florence will be flooded with tourists, but for whatever reason it was distinctly noticeable here.
Once acquainted with the menu, replete with avocado toasts and bagel sandwiches, one might start to comprehend its popularity.
With an atmosphere exuding Australian flair, it did not surprise to learn the proprietors hail partly from that country. Two things I cherished discovering in Australia years past – avocado toast and velvety frothed cappuccinos – are expertly prepared here.
The decor takes on a boho-chic style with Scandinavian influences, with many white walls and greenery present. Large windows allow lots of natural light to enter especially later in the morning and into the early afternoon, when the sun shines directly on the front of the cafe.
I ordered the same coffee from Colombia here as the day before at SimBIOsi, however it lacked vibrancy here (I believe it may have been under extracted based on the watered-down quality, but I`m not entirely certain what I mean specifically).
The staff were also very friendly, offering to practice Italian with me and gracefully accepting my poor attempts at the language. I greatly appreciated their patience and good humor about it.
Ditta Artigianale
On any list of the top spots to get quality coffee in Florence that’s worth considering, you’ll find Ditta Artigianale.
In many ways, they’re the original specialists of specialty coffee in Florence, opening their first shop in 2014, and expanding their empire to the other side of the river with a state-of-the-art, beautiful second location in the past few years.
They`ve built a mini coffee empire in the heart of Tuscany, where they also roast their own coffee beans.
The first place is alongside Via dei Neri, where you’ll find the center of the street food scene in Florence with all kinds of shops selling enormous sandwiches for hungry sightseers.
Ditta Artigianale is a great spot to grab coffee to ward off the food coma sure to follow consuming a sandwich the size of your head. It`s rustic and charming, decorated with stone walls and retro knickknacks.
Their newer location across the river in Oltrarno, however, is an exemplary design. Spacious, replete with flora and stylish furnishings. Plus an agreeable patio in the rear.
Both locations offer a comparable menu, blending traditional Italian coffee with newer specialty coffee trends, like single origin beans used as espresso or filter coffee made with an Aeropress.
Their espresso selections demonstrate this well. A traditional base blend (Mama Mia) leans darker and roastier, a modern option (Jump) showcases brighter, tangier notes, and a single-origin special rotates in.
I visited on a busy Saturday afternoon and positioned myself at the bar to order my filter coffee.
Regrettably, the barista said that it was too busy and it wasn’t possible, so I settled for trying both of their espresso blends instead. Sure enough, I preferred the more modern take on an espresso roast, which was noticeably more fruity and citrusy in the cup.
I appreciate them paying respect to both their Italian heritage with a more traditional roast style, and to the specialty coffee revolution that has swept the world, even if it is yet to fully win over most Italians with its extremely light roasts producing highly acidic coffee.
However, they weren’t my most preferred of the locations I went in search of excellent coffee in Florence.
There was a lot of excitement surrounding the coffee shop, and while the coffee was good, it did not seem particularly exceptional. Additionally, the large number of people there on a Saturday afternoon was rather crowded, which should not come as a surprise since Florence is one of the most visited cities in Italy.
In summary, about Ditta Artigianale: In my opinion, better options exist in the city both for quality coffee and ambiance without as many tourists. As I discovered, more satisfying alternatives were available.
BEN Caffè
This spot, discreetly situated on a tranquil street only one block from the Duomo (though unaware once inside) pleasantly surprised us.
In the early hours of the morning I went to obtain a drink of coffee before taking the train to Lucca, and the friendly barista assisted me in selecting a beverage that he believed I would appreciate.
As he prepared the coffee, he engaged in conversation with the Italians drinking macchiatos at one of the tables in the cozy interior, providing an explanation of the differing coffee beans he was using to make my coffee compared to theirs.
I only caught pieces of it – my Italian is far from great – but I appreciated listening to him enthusiastically discuss artisanal coffee to two individuals who lacked familiarity with the topic.
They sourced beans from Livorno roaster Le Piantagioni del Caffè (who also offer an online coffee school), and the V60 I ordered was clean and crisp with plenty of acidity to my taste. It was a washed Colombian coffee fulfilling what I expect from that origin.
Standard espresso or cappuccino can be obtained here, or you can upgrade to a single origin espresso shot or filter coffee brewed utilizing a V60 (my preferred approach), an Aeropress, or a Chemex (my least preferred).
Planning a trip to Florence? We’ve got some detailed travel guides to help visitors plan an unforgettable trip.
- How to See the Best Florence Has to Offer in 24 Hours
- A 3-day Florence agenda: How to plan an extraordinary Florence schedule
- The Prime Activities to Experience in Florence: A Complete City Guide
- Where to Lodge in Florence: A Complete Guide to Florence’s Best Places to Stay
- Nine spectacular one-day excursions from Florence to incorporate into your travel itinerary
- Gluten Free Florence: A finished Travel Guide for Celiacs
