The Best Cafes in Milan
Sure, sure, don’t mess with the trusty Italian formulae of the stand-up espresso bar. It’s a perfect system, they said. Don’t change it, they said. How wrong they are. While the Italian coffee scene is usually stuck languishing in tradition, there are a few places in Milan that are holding the torch for specialty coffee. Don’t visit town without checking these guys out first.
ORsonero coffee
WHERE: Via Giuseppe Broggi, 15, 20129, Zona Buenos Aires
WHY: Range of excellent speciality coffee, ranging from the standard espresso + cappucino fare, to a truly delectable pour over.
THE BACKSTORY: Run by a Canadian ex-pat, Orsonero brings a high level of quality to coffee scene in Milan. While the prices here are slightly above the standard rate for Italy, the quality of the coffee is considerably higher. Would compare the quality of the coffee to what you can expect in Australia. Check their website here
taglio cafe
WHERE: Via Vigevano, 10, 20144 Milano Zona Porta Genova
WHY: High quality coffee, great location, knowledgeable staff.
THE BACKSTORY: Part cafe, part espresso bar, part bottle shop. Taglio is the spot you go if you want to luxuriate over some excellent poached eggs, or pick up a bottle of vins naturale to sip on at home. The staff here are awesome, accomodating, and the quality of the coffee is pretty damn good. Also, they serve filter coffee - an absolute rarity in Italy. Check their website here
Looking for some other things to do in Milan? read our guide to Vintage Shopping in Milan here.
COFFICINA
WHERE: Corso di Porta Ticinese, 58, 20123 Milano
WHY: Professional coffee makers, perfect location, excellent food.
THE BACKSTORY: Located in between the Duomo and Navigli, Cofficina takes coffee seriously. Very seriously. However, for the drinker, that’s a good thing. Opened in 2017 as the storefront for the local Cofficina roastery, this cafe provides excellent milk-based coffee and some very tasty pastries. Check their website here
MOLESKINE CAFE
WHERE: Corso Garibaldi, 65, 20121 Milano, MI.
WHY: Atmosphere, decent coffee.
THE BACKSTORY: This one is the wildcard. To an Australian, a design company opening a branded specialty coffee story makes no sense. Literally none. However, in Italy, it rings true as a good idea, and the Moleskine cafe will provide a high quality coffee worth lingering over. The space here is beautiful, and is worth stopping at. Check their website here
Forgotten any of your favourites? let us know how wrong we are down below. Any questions, fire away!
You’ve got a day in town, this is how to spend it.