Not far from Kollwitzplatz there is a cafe turned wine bar turned…well let’s just say it’s a nice place with lots of potential. Material is its name, and you might already know it as somewhere where you can buy Spanish natural wine from a guy called Carlos. Both the natural wines – filling one of the walls – and Carlos remain but since April 2023 they have been joined by Ebrahim who has helped turn the space into a haven of natural wine and coffee. The quality of the drinks is so good that Material works both as a cafe and as a wine bar. Ebrahim and Carlos couldn’t be more different in their ways, but encountered together they make the most wonderful and harmonious company. Carlos talks about his natural Spanish wines and their makers – all of whom he has met personally over the years – in just the kind of subtle, serene way you’d want in this environment. Ebrahim, meanwhile, is brimming with ideas, thoughts and stories. His love of experimentation is reflected in the interior: a colorful mix of vintage furniture, exposed brick walls, bright tiles and small details. The design somewhat resembles Kajumi, Ebrahim’s first cafe which he opened in Helmholtzkiez in 2020.
As with Kajumi, Ebrahim and Carlos created a lot of the furniture at Material themselves. There’s the large wooden table in the middle of the room that the pair transformed into a centerpiece using leftover tiles from the kitchen. Then there are the funnel-shaped cups and plates with playful illustrations by Ebrahim’s girlfriend Anchi Bub. As for the coffee, the Farben Kaffee served comes from Ebrahim’s own roastery in Brandenburg. You order it according to color: the brown coffee has chocolate and hazelnut notes, the yellow brew is sweet and sour, while the blue brims with floral flavors. The pastries are made by the 11-strong team working in an open kitchen. The philosophy is all about breaking the rules: the team experiment with different textures and techniques to create their multi-layered laminated doughs and in-house sourdough. “Making it simple” is the motto, but the baked goods are anything but ordinary. The cafe (well, cafe-bar) is set to open on 01.05.2023 with a selection of four comfort food dishes, including croquetas made with leftover sourdough and whipped ricotta with aubergine, oysters on the side and roasted nuts. Whether you come with company or alone, for a morning coffee or a post-work wine, Material offers the perfect place to unwind, discover and – most importantly – savor…
Text & Photos: Robyn Steffen
Material, Schönhauser Allee 156, 10435 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Daily 8–1h
