The strawberry sundae at Reismühle in Krottelbach, Germany, was the highlight of a recent visit for lunch. The dessert included strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, slices of fresh strawberries, strawberry sauce and shaved almonds. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

It takes some effort to find Reismühle — and a bit of patience once you get there — but it’s not hard to see why people keep coming back.

I first learned of Reismühle at a festival in Ramstein, where its staff had a coffee stand. It was a memorable cup of joe, and I made a mental note to venture out there sometime.

“Out there” is a wooded area near fields and a small stream outside Krottelbach, tucked in the rolling hills between Ramstein Air Base and Baumholder.

A farm shop, coffee roastery and café are housed inside a renovated and restored rice mill dating back more than 400 years. Wolfgang Lutz, a certified coffee sommelier and his wife, Nadine, a barista, fulfilled a lifelong dream and opened Reismühle in 2011.

Much of the business is still dedicated to coffee roasting. The farm shop offers Reismühle’s own selection of coffee beans as well as tea, chocolate and coffee-themed gifts such as cherry espresso spread and coffee soap. There’s also a coffee bar serving cake, ice cream and sandwiches.

For a heartier meal, visit on the weekend and plan ahead. Using the easy online process, I made a Sunday reservation for two on a Friday afternoon.

It was raining when my 14-year-old son and I arrived, so we sat inside. We ended up in what looked like a loft above the main dining area — part of a beautifully restored barn with high ceilings and exposed beams.

The place was nearly full and my son’s attitude soured quickly. He wasn’t thrilled about being among other humans when he could have been home playing video games.

Quiche Lorraine with a side of greens at Reismühle, a country cafe, coffee bar and farm shop located in a village between Ramstein Air Base and Baumholder in Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Asparagus cream soup, with pieces of white asparagus and wild garlic oil, was among several lunch appetizers available during a recent visit to Reismühle, located in a village between Ramstein Air Base and Baumholder in Germany. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

On first glance of the menu, I worried his groans might continue. The theme was asparagus, which is a German seasonal obsession.

That suited me but not my teenager. I ordered an asparagus cream soup with garlic oil that had small pieces of white asparagus. My son tried the quiche Lorraine with a wild herb salad, which he devoured minus the greens.

With the arrival of appetizers and drinks, the mood from across the table began to lighten.

My cappuccino was a 10 out of 10, with a velvety milk foam and rich, well-balanced espresso.

We also enjoyed a drink from the restaurant’s “aperitif recommendations.” The Crodino is a nonalcoholic spritz from Italy with a mix of herbs, spices and botanicals. It was aptly described as “spicy with a bittersweet aftertaste,” something we both enjoyed.  

For the main course, my son settled on one of the few asparagus-free entrees: classic flammkuchen, with fresh cream, bacon, onions and cheese.

Several varieties of flammkuchen are on the lunch menu at Reismühle in Krottelbach, Germany. The options include an Italian style with vegetables and tomato pesto, and a classic version with onions, bacon and cheese. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Reismühle's “depresso” wasn’t depressing at all. A cup of hot espresso cooled by a scoop of hazelnut ice cream and topped with a homemade cookie had the opposite effect implied by the dessert’s name. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

He also wanted to try the Italian version, which came with tasty dollops of tomato pesto, vegetables, mozzarella and arugula. I ordered that, and we split the two. The classic edged the Italian, both of us decided.

We should have stopped there, but the dessert menu was persuasive. An agreement to share something didn’t last long and we each ordered our own.

I chose the “depresso,” a hot espresso poured over hazelnut ice cream with a homemade cookie — a superb mix of hot, cold, creamy and crisp.

My son ordered a strawberry sundae, a dreamy concoction of strawberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream and sliced fresh strawberries, topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce and shaved almonds.

My dessert came out first. Then we waited — and waited — for the sundae. 

From our loft perch, we watched servers carrying trays of mostly coffee.  Finally, our waitress noticed my son’s sad eyes and returned with his dessert.

Those mopey eyes sparkled a bit when the sundae appeared.

The food was a bit pricey and we ended up being there for over two hours because of the slow service. But everything tasted fresh and the outing provided a nice change from the predictable Kaiserslautern food circuit.

The courtyard at Reismühle in Krottelbach, Germany, is a welcome retreat for hikers and others who want to enjoy coffee and dessert after exploring the nearby countryside. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

Reismühle coffee comes from beans roasted on site at low temperatures for about 20 minutes, a process that breaks down unpleasant acids that can be found in some coffee drinks, according to the cafe’s website. (Jennifer H. Svan/Stars and Stripes)

The sun was peeking out by the time we left, and some hikers from the nearby trails were sitting outside in the shaded courtyard enjoying coffee and cake. Next time, we’ll do the same, because sometimes all you really need is a good cup of coffee and a slice of dessert.

Reismühle

Address: Reismühle 1, Krottelbach, Germany

Hours: Coffee bar and farm shop, Thursday to Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; country cafe, Saturday and Sunday, 9-11 a.m. for breakfast, and Sunday, noon-2 p.m. for lunch; reservations required.

Prices: 20-30 euros per person for an entree and drink, not including dessert.

Information: +49 6384 925771, www.reismuehle.info, @reismuehle kaffeemanufaktur on Instagram