Florence
Florence
Florence is an interesting coffee city. One that straddles the old way of doing things and the third-wave of specialty coffee sweeping through most of the world. Italians are a bit stubborn about their coffee. They want it the way it has always been done, where you spend a buck and get a small dark roasted espresso, dump some sugar in to make it palatable, and be on your way. This is the majority of cafes in not only Florence, but Italy as a whole.
The younger generation of forward thinkers that prize quality over quantity are doing their best to shake things up, but it seems to be a bit like sailing into the wind. The shops I went to did make me optimistic because it wasn’t just tourists and expats at these places. I saw locals that were regulars at some of the shops below. Maybe, just maybe, the mindset is beginning to be more open to change, or at the very least, a different way of doing things. Time will tell.
Best Coffees in Florence
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Coffee Mantra (Santa Croce)
A no-frills coffee shop that may be small in size but big in quality.
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Fluid Specialty (Santa Croce)
A strong newcomer aiming at being a place to chill, work or socialize.
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Melaleuca (Santa Croce)
A brunch reference in Florence with decadent pastries and solid coffee.
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Ditta Artigianale (4 locations)
The OG of specialty coffee in Florence will please both the most serious coffee drinkers and the more adventurous ones
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SimBIOsi (San Marco)
A cute café that offers organic food and a nice selection of high-end coffee beans
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La Marzocco Accademia (Fiesole)
A one-of-a-kind experience to learn more about THE coffee machine expert and try of course!
Coffee Mantra (Santa Croce)
Pros: Beans change frequently
Cons: No wi-fi
There is one shop I found that is God-tier and it’s Coffee Mantra. They usually rotate their beans each day and always have a good variety on hand. I’ve had some amazingly fragrant cappuccinos here, in addition to V60’s and plain old espresso. Everything is great.
They have a small selection of pastries that are pretty decent, but look out for when they partner up with Wild Buns, a Scandinavian bakery that pops in once in a while and might have the best pastries in the city. A great bakery to go try.
The place is no frills, so don’t bother asking for a wi-fi password, or even for sugar in your coffee. These guys are purists and don’t have time for that nonsense. I say this in jest, because the two guys who run the shop are very cool. If you only go to one cafe in Florence, this is the one.
Coffee Mantra, Via della Mattonaia, 24r, 50121 Florence
Fluid Specialty (Santa Croce)
Pros: Nice filter coffee options, lot of outdoor space to sit
Cons: Filter coffee tends to be better than the milk-based drinks
A newcomer to the scene having just opened in May 2022, Fluid is a good place to come if you want to try a filter coffee and have a table outside and work. The interior feels a bit like a children’s playhouse so I usually sit outside. They have a full lunch menu here also. Usually, they have 3 or 4 different beans to choose from for filter coffee that has the cupping score and flavor notes on the bag.
The biggest problem with Fluid is they have the misfortune of being located right next to Coffee Mantra. Whoops! If you’re looking for a place with wi-fi and perhaps a bigger food menu, then Fluid is a great alternative.
Fluid Specialty, Borgo la Croce, 59/R, 50121 Florence
Melaleuca (Santa Croce)
Pros: Location right on the river, awesome brunch
Cons: Coffee is not first priority
Melaleuca is a place you should definitely go to if you like an Aussie style brunch and a robust pastry selection. Not to mention, the location being right next to the famous Arno River. The most popular pastry is the cinnamon bun, that looks like it’s going to be sweeter than it is, but in the end, is just right. I also fancy the cardamom bun. Thank you to the city of Copenhagen for getting me hooked on these.
The coffee is good here. They do all the espresso based drinks and pour overs. Perfect for a smooth cappuccino in the morning, but if you’re looking for a V60 with a lot of complexity, the shops I named above would be better options.
Melaleuca, Lungarno delle Grazie, 18, 50122 Florence
Ditta Artigianale (4 locations)
Pros: Secondary drinks are worth trying
Cons: Outdoor seating can be hard to get
Ditta Artigianale is the most well known caffe in Florence in part because they were probably the first third wave shop to open in Florence. The first shop and flagship in Santa Croce opened in 2014 and they have kept growing ever since. It’s the only coffee shop on this list that sources and roasts their own beans, always a noble endeavor. They also let you pick your bean for an espresso or pour over. This is also something I covet. And they even offer classes to learn more about various aspects of the coffee world.
This is a popular spot that you will probably walk by after spending a day or two in Florence. The cafes are always filled with locals eating Italian classic pastries and some light bites. My first time here I had a Coffeemisu, an espresso tiramisu hybrid, that was pretty good. They like to mess around with some interesting secondary drinks, that I found very cool. In the evening, this turns into a cafe/bar and it doesn’t close until 8pm.
I found the coffee overall to be very good, but couldn’t quite touch the heights that Mantra has, in my opinion.
Coffee Collective, multiple locations. Our favorite: Via Giosuè Carducci, 2/4r, 50121 Florence
SimBIOsi (San Marco)
Pros: Nice selection of high end beans, cool interior
Cons: Food is hit and miss
The bio in SimBIOsi is capitalized because everything is organic and natural here, and that’s always a plus. It has a very cool, old world rustic interior. One of those places where it looks like the walls have seen some things, but in a very charming way. The coffee changes frequently and the selection is diverse. Some of the most knowledgeable baristas in the city, no doubt.
I didn’t order it, but I’ve seen the avocado toast. If you’re American, stay away from this. I think most countries still haven’t figured out the best way to do it. The banana bread is worth trying, however. And of course the coffee. Order any coffee here with confidence and you won’t be disappointed.
Side note: this place is connected to a pizzeria that it also owns. I didn’t try the pies, but they sure looked good.
SimBIOsi Organic Café, Via de' Ginori 23r, 50123 Florence
La Marzocco Accademia (Fiesole)
Now this is a unique experience. The La Marzocco Academy is just outside Florence. You can get there in less than an hour by bus. It’s located on a street called via Bolognese which is both funny and makes me hungry. For 15 euro, you get a guided tour of their headquarters. Learning about the history of the company is very cool, especially for a company so well-ingrained in coffee society. Their machines are state of the art and they actually invented the espresso machine so you know the history is rich. Coffee nerds will love this.
After the tour, you do have a chance to have some coffee at the cafe/restaurant on site as well as some homemade cantucci (similar to a biscotti). The setting is really nice, with a giant sky light in the ceiling and an actual coffee tree that they are growing inside the building. I tried a cappuccino and a V60 and they are both excellent. We even had lunch here, and evidently, they are great at that also. There are many different classes you can do here. If you have the time in Florence to make a trip, this half day is worth it.
Accademia del Caffè Espresso,Via Bolognese 68, Pian di San Bartolo, 50014 Fiesole
