Explore the Evolving Coffee Culture of Athens With Yiannis Taloumis, CEO of Taf Coffee

Yiannis Taloumis opened Taf Coffee as a way of showcasing third-wave coffee and the ‘bean-to-cup’ process. Taf sources its green beans from hand-picked producers worldwide and roasts them to perfection in its Athens roastery – you can buy these speciality coffee beans on-site, under the guidance of expert baristas. Located in the hip Exarcheia area, it is dedicated to the art – even science – of coffee, keeping its interior elegant and understated, so as not to distract from its astounding offerings. Despite its third-wave credentials, Taf has also held a special place for traditional ibrik coffee on the menu.

The brainchild of three baristas who have a love and respect for coffee, LOT51 takes its name from Area 51 Coffee Roasters, the café’s coffee bean provider and the owners’ parallel project. Here, you will find coffee from India, Brazil, Ethiopia, Colombia and Costa Rica, to name a few, all with a high-quality and unique taste in common. The Scandinavian design and architecture – bright, fresh and minimalistic – also adds to the coffee-tasting ritual and experience. LOT51 capitalises on its lively location on Plateia Brazilia, close to Megaro Mousikis, with excellent food and cocktail options also on offer.

Peek A Bloom is the second venue by Nikolaos Geranakis and Nikos Mpelis, founders of Mind the Cup – a well-known name in the local speciality coffee world, whose only drawback for visitors might be its location out in Athens’s western suburbs. Peek A Bloom, on the other hand, couldn’t be more central, right in the busy Syntagma area. With metal, wood and stone accents and a concrete floor, it is in keeping with the third-wave tradition. Its central decor element is a majestic black Giesen roaster, visible through a glass partition – almost like a shrine to coffee.

In the heart of Thissio is The Underdog, a haven of state-of-the-art coffee and beautiful aesthetics in the midst of one of Athens’s busiest, most touristic areas. Housed in a gorgeous Neoclassical building, it has artfully integrated the clean, minimalist and slightly industrial look that third-wave coffee shops are famed for. Its award-winning baristas include owner Tasos Delichristos and the 2016 World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion Michalis Dimitrakopoulos, and the roaster is the 2018 Roasting Champion of Greece. Here, when it comes to coffee, you are no doubt in good hands. Try its espresso tonic for some novelty, or hang out on it lovely patio for brunch.

In Athens’s chic northern suburb of Chalandri, you can find Nomad Coffee. A coffee roastery and brew bar, it offers a varied hand-picked selection of coffee blends and single origins, roasted in-house. Unlike most of its neighbourhood coffee shop counterparts, Nomad does not have a delivery service as nobody seems to mind making the trip here to get some of the best coffee in Athens. Also, the place is so inviting that people rarely take it to go. Sit outside at one of the romantic tables for two on the cobbled pedestrian street, or spread out with a group of friends at the big wooden table inside to enjoy the quirky decor and relaxed atmosphere.

Warehouse Speciality Blends has made – and kept – a good name for itself with Athenians. It’s committed to quality and takes its beverages seriously with blends and single origins from coffee producers around the world, Valrhona cocoa for its chocolate drinks and a total of 500 wines in its cellar! A choice of espressos, milk-based coffees, V60 pour-overs – hot or iced – and ibrik are available. The atmosphere is relaxed, with the decor grungy and industrial (hence the name) but still warm and inviting. Tables spill out onto a typical Exarcheia street on sunny days, complete with graffiti murals in the background.

Tailor Made Micro Roastery and Cocktail Bar is one of Athens’s first speciality coffee shops, located in trendy Agia Irini Square. It stands out for its fine selection of speciality coffees – the freddo cappuccino and flat white freddo are excellent here – and its stylish setting. The name Tailor Made is a play on words – the coffee here is made to order to fit in line with your taste perfectly. It also pays tribute to the area’s history of being Athens’s centre for haberdasheries, fabric shops and tailors.

A quaint little place, Ohh Boy lies in the unpretentious area of Pangrati in downtown Athens. When the weather is good, the coffee shop sets tables out onto the busy street side. The decor is bright and simple, the crowds hip and trendy, and the service extra friendly. Its coffee supplier is Taf – meaning quality is high – and its baristas are also trained by them (great latte art for your Instagram). Meanwhile, the food is home-made, with vegan options available. Pro tip: Try the banoffee pie.

Oraia Ellas follows the kafeneio tradition: simple, traditional and all about socialising. This café takes tradition one step further, though. It is jam-packed with dark and heavy furniture, historical artefacts and stories of Greek history adorning its walls. It has two floors, and the upstairs has a terrace with sweeping views of Athens’s historical centre. Greek coffee comes traditionally served in its hammered copper briki, with a side of loukoumi (Turkish delight). You can also order a slice of its karidopita (walnut pie) as the perfect accompaniment to your coffee.

Dexameni, a small outdoor café in Kolonaki, opened in the early 1900s. A simple kafeneio from the start, it was a favourite of the literati, frequented by the likes of novelist and poet Alexandros Papadiamanti and poet Kostas Varnalis. When the recent economic crisis hit, hard times and exorbitant rent forced Dexameni to close down for a while. However, it reopened under new management in 2012 and more determined than ever to recapture the essence of this historic social institution that has once again become a prime spot to enjoy an al fresco coffee or meze dishes.

Panellinion is an institution when it comes to Athens’s kafeneio culture. Established in 1885 and located in Exarcheia since the late ’60s, it has been witness to Athens’s changing political, social and cultural landscape. Here, coffee – or the local spirit tsipouro – is sipped alongside endless games of chess or tavli (backgammon), a central attraction here. Some even say that in times of unrest when Molotov cocktails were flying outside, chess players at Panellinion never even looked up from their games! Black-and-white photos hang on the walls, acting as a reminder of the kafeneio’s longevity.

Located on one of Plaka’s narrow pedestrian streets, To Kafeneio lies inside a beautiful building over 400 years old and serves coffee and simple traditional Greek meals. When the weather is warm, sit outside at one of the tables to soak up Plaka’s village-like atmosphere. On a cold winter’s day, head inside to warm up with a cup of thick, dark Greek coffee by the fireplace. Traditional wooden furniture, old stone walls and delicate handmade lace curtains all contribute to this place’s traditional charm and simplicity.