Coffee, coffee, coffee. First, second, third wave. Stop it already. Coffee is overrated. If I meet people for a coffee, the cup is empty two minutes later. Should I then have to go straight back for a second one, or what? The whole “let’s go for coffee” thing is nothing more than an excuse to blab on at agency interns anyway. Even worse are these digital nomads, who spend the whole day sipping a large cappuccino. I’m much fonder tearooms in general, and especially Tee·Salon·Iki. Alright, word games should remain the domain of hairdressers only. In every other regard, this place comes absolutely recommended. In a nutshell: Tea expertise, including extensive consultations on request, and a wide selection of healthy tea ingredients and herbs. This salon is understated and anything but pretentious. The staff are sensationally friendly and extremely well-versed in what helps when against what (mostly tea from the Macedonia region). The house recommendation is Greek mountain tea, which helps to prevent Alzheimer’s, ADHD and other degenerative disorders. The best thing about tea, however, is that it can be replenished with water almost as often as you want (as the frugal laptop cohort knows well.) (Text: Tito Fritzi / Photos: Pamina Aichhorn)

Tee·Salon·Iki, Böckhstr.50, 10967 Berlin-Kreuzberg; map

Tue-Sun 11-19h

Tito Fritzi edits the weekly newsletter Dingsi-Dongsi, a source for all things interesting and entertaining. He lives right next to the tearoom, and that’s worth its weight in gold.

Bathed in sunlight, Home Coffee & Food may be one of the brightest additions to Berlin’s growing specialty coffee scene in recent years. Established by New Zealand native Sarah Flanagan, the sunlit café on Jonasstraße is known for its friendly neighborhood feel. Inside, lush plants accent the polished concrete floors and high white walls, and a variety of freshly baked treats and cakes sit temptingly along the counter. The coffee is the true star though, with Home rotating a variety of international coffee beans, such as Entre Rios beans from Costa Rica, supplied by Barcelona’s Nomad Coffee, and Gatare beans from Rwanda, supplied by Bratislava’s Goriffee. The menu matches the refinement of the coffee selection, with a small, seasonal brunch menu of beautifully presented items. The majority of the menu is made up from local, ethically sourced ingredients, with a focus on zero wastage and minimal environmental impact. “Home”-made batches of marmalades, cakes, and fermented vegetables are for sale, and their kimchi makes a welcome appearance on the menu. Through the meticulous presentation and care that goes into each coffee and meal, it is clear that Sarah Flanagan and her staff share a great love for the space, and this effortless warmth is imparted on each customer who visits. (Text: Laura Box / Photos: Laura Box, c/o Home Coffee & Food)

Home Coffee & Food, Jonasstr.23, 12053 Berlin-Neukölln; map
Mon-Fri 9-18h, Sat-Sun 10-18h

Laura Box is a Neukölln resident who recently relocated from Sydney, Australia. A freelance writer and content creator, she is interested in great coffee, art, and design.