Freiburg, Germany – A professor descends the red stone steps of Albert-Ludwigs University after reading a lecture to a hall-full of students. Where is she heading? To Kolben Kaffee Akademie of course, for a much-needed pick me up. Located just off Martin’s Tor (across from where a McDonald’s has desecrated this historical structure) is the town’s best spot for a caffeine fix. Students and professors alike stand shoulder to shoulder, reading the daily newspaper or gazing on the cobbled passage below with a cappuccino in hand. The average stay is only several minutes, but long-lasting pleasure can be sipped from these cups of some of the tastiest coffee in Freiburg.
Kolben Kaffee Akademie is a Stehcafe, which can be translated as “standing cafe”, as there are tables but no chairs to be used. This encourages a somewhat shorter stay, while still allowing for a glance at the headlines. Service is quick and efficient. One walks to the back of the cafe to order one of a cafe creme, espresso, cappuccino, Milchcafe (cafe au lait), or macchiato. Most drinks serve up the equivalent of one shot of espresso, the Milchcafe has two.
The espresso drinks are made with Mauro coffee, a traditional Italian espresso. It is full and potent, poured with a nice creamy head, and gives a slightly sweet aftertaste. The cafe creme is made with Kolanda coffee, a Swiss coffee. It has a slightly more complex flavor with a rounded, nutty body and smoother finish. Coffee here is consistently well-poured from one of a couple industrial-sized espresso machines. The art of milk steaming is not given full attention, though little flavor is lost as a result.
This Stehcafe can often be described as “standing room only” and it has won recognition from the German gourmet rating, Feinscmecker in 2005 and 2006. Rather ironically, the town’s first Starbucks recently opened just kitty corner from Kolben. Perhaps in response to this, the cafe added a few more tables at which to stand at the front of the cafe. Also, the front, formerly focused on sales of coffee beans and wares now specializes in it’s nice array of pastries, cakes and sweets.
Kaiser-Joseph-Straße 233
79098 Freiburg
Büro: (07 61) 38 700-0
Telefon: (07 61) 38 700-13 / -24
Fax: (07 61) 33627
Cartographer, skater and caffein addict.