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The vegan breakfast at Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern includes muesli with fruit and almond milk; salad; hummus; eggplant spread; and two pieces each of baguette and whole grain bread. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
A walk to Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern after a stop at the downtown market has long been a Saturday morning tradition for me.
I normally bring my reusable cup to the counter to order a milchkaffee, a 50/50 blend of coffee and hot milk, and sip it as I pull my rolling shopping trolley home.
I knew the coffee menu never misses, but this time, I decided to make a weekday visit to eat in the café, which is inevitably hopping during my usual stops.
Kaffeerösterei offers four breakfast options, which are served well into brunch time, as well as a rotating selection of cakes available all day. There are always vegan options plus a short sandwich menu.
I opted for the vegan breakfast: muesli with fruit and almond milk; cucumber, tomatoes and lettuce; hummus; eggplant spread; and two slices each of baguette and whole wheat bread.
Everything was fresh and delicious. I was tempted to ask the staff where they bought their wonderfully flavorful tomatoes.
A gingerbread latte is among the seasonal drinks on the Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern menu. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
Sacher torte was one of the desserts available at Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
I followed that up with the signature Austrian dessert known as Sacher torte. Between the layers of decadent chocolate cake were jam and chocolate glaze, and the baked treat had a consistency that begged for a hot drink on the side.
So did the marble and apple-walnut cakes. I especially enjoyed the apple pieces in the latter.
Luckily, Kaffeerösterei serves a variety of coffee drinks, tea, three kinds of hot chocolate — white, milk and dark — and more. If you’re looking for alternatives to regular dairy, you can order drinks with soy, almond, oat and lactose-free milks.
I sometimes find flavored coffee drinks cloying but decided to try the seasonal gingerbread latte. It was pleasantly spiced, although fans of supersweet American-style lattes might want to add sugar.
Large burlap sacks full of coffee and plants add to the ambience at Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
The vibe is much more a brunch hangout geared toward chatting with friends than a laptop-centric solo coffee spot. Huge picture windows light the space, and during my visit, the establishment was mostly full.
Vases on each table, a couple of large plants and huge burlap bags of coffee add to the cozy ambience.
Stephanie and Christian Bebensee, who used to work as engineers, have run the bustling café since 2012. Coffee is roasted in the back room, and you might spot their coffee at some stores around town.
If you’re interested in learning more about coffee, Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern offers barista courses and brewing workshops, including the occasional English session.
There’s also a selection of coffee and coffee-making supplies near the counter in case you want to bring the experience home.
Coffee-making supplies and coffee beans are among the wares near the front entrance of Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
Chocolate bars are among the items available to purchase near the register at Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern. (Ann Pinson/Stars and Stripes)
Kaffeerösterei Kaiserslautern
Location: Steinstrasse 27, Kaiserslautern, Germany. Located in the downtown pedestrian zone near the Altstadt parking garage.
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., with breakfast and sandwiches served 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and cakes from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Sundays and holidays.
Prices: Drinks, 2.90 to 6.70 euros; breakfasts, 6.90 to 16.20 euros; sandwiches, 8.90 euros; cakes, 3.20 to 4.30 euros.
Information: kaffeeroesterei-kaiserslautern.de
