Coffee Mantra

Giovanni and Laura Benini were nightclub bartenders before a chance pour from Tommaso Bongini of local roaster Gearbox Coffee changed their direction entirely, and they opened Coffee Mantra in the Sant'Ambrogio neighborhood in 2018. A daily chalkboard lists whichever single origin lot from Gearbox is currently being poured, alongside V60, Chemex, and AeroPress sitting next to the espresso bar in a small, Nordic leaning wood room.

The shop has settled into a genuine neighborhood identity, pulling university students and Sant'Ambrogio market regulars rather than a passing tourist crowd, with a couple of outdoor benches along Borgo La Croce for people watching. The Beninis describe their own approach simply as exploring the world through a cup.