Elbgold

Annika Taschinski, a former PR agent, and Thomas Kliefoth, a former architect, founded Elbgold in December 2004 and built it into the largest and most established third wave roaster in the city, the one whose beans turn up behind the counter at other Hamburg cafes, Instinct Coffee among them. Barista Osama Shammo has taken the operation to the podium at the German Barista Championships two years running, 2023 and 2024.

The Sternschanze flagship runs cafe and roastery out of the same former meat packing house, the roaster visible from the tables, retail bags of both espresso and filter roasts stacked on open shelving next to rows of Chemex carafes. Direct trade sits at the center of the sourcing story here, beans bought straight from origin rather than through importers, sold both by the cup and to take home. Dogs are welcome throughout.