The Coffee Collective: Jægersborggade, Copenhagen

Coffee makes its own legends.

Copenhagen is a colorful, almost fairytale city, despite its location up north. (It’s not as northern as the rest of the Scandinavian countries, so maybe that helps.) Everyone looks for Hans Christian Andersen’s Little Mermaid, but don’t forget to hunt down a local café to enjoy a freshly brewed cuppa.

The Danish love their coffee and at The Coffee Collective, they take it more seriously than most. The founding team include head barista trainer Klaus Thomsen, the World Barista Champion 2006 and twice Danish Barista Champion, and roast master Casper E. Rasmussen, the World Cup Tasting Champion 2008. Like I said—serious.

There are three coffee shops run by The Coffee Collective, including the roastery and head office at Godthåbsvej and the centrally located Torvehallerne café. But if this is your first visit to The Coffee Collective, do head to their original coffee shop and Copenhagen’s first open roastery at Jægersborggade.

The ambiance is casual and decidedly (coffee) geeky: our kind of place. What’s more, The Coffee Collective gets their beans via Direct Trade, which means coffee farmers are paid at least 25% more than typical Fair Trade prices, and The Coffee Collective team visits these farmers every year. (Again: very serious about their coffee.)

Take the Panama Geisha Hacienda La Esmeralda here for example. Floral with a bright acidity, clean and sweet, its notes and flavors change as the temperature shifts: it’s like sipping a cup of magic. This is how coffee should taste like.

趁著在荷蘭工作之便，在某個週五晚上，我搭乘夜班飛機到哥本哈根，
在這充滿童話色彩的城市呆了一個週末。
除了尋找安徒生的小美人魚外，也不忘到當地的咖啡館坐坐。
綜合了網上資料和朋友的推薦，我列了幾家咖啡館。
其中最不能錯過的要數The Coffee Collective。
這家得獎無數的咖啡館堅信一杯好的咖啡有三個要素，
那就是咖啡農，豆子的烘焙和咖啡師。
因此他們選擇與咖啡農直接交易，除了豆子的品質有保證外，
也確保咖啡農不會受到中間商的剝削。

The Coffee Collective共有三家店面，我第一間到訪的是他們的老店。
踏入店裡，先看到的是咖啡機，咖啡師們就背對著，忙碌的煮著咖啡。
好不容易等咖啡師忙完了，便請他們介紹有什麼手沖豆子咖啡。
咖啡師列了幾樣，不過我只聽了第一種豆子眼睛就亮了起來，
因為他們剛好有一批來自翡翠莊園的巴拿馬藝妓豆子。
濃郁的花香、明亮的果酸、乾淨而甜美，口感隨著溫度的變化而改變，
喝完了忍不住買了兩包，而且價錢也不貴。
喝完黑咖啡，再來一杯卡布，奶泡順滑，溫度也對，
不過玉珠在前，剛才的杯藝妓實在太棒了，
這杯卡布我喝得心不在焉。
在臨走前，咖啡師還想我推薦了他們家的其他分店和一家糕餅店。
分店我都一一拜訪了，不過由於時間有限，
糕餅屋只好留待下次了。