Did you know that September 29th is National Coffee Day? As the second most consumed beverage in the world (only behind water) it’s not surprising this drink has its own day of celebration. People have been enjoying coffee’s distinctive flavor and aroma for over a thousand years. The first domesticated coffee plant, Coffea Arabica, originated in Ethiopia, where to this day it is still produced.
There are a number of legends surrounding the conception of this wonderful dark elixir, but one popular account involves Kaldi, a 9th century goatherd. He noticed the energizing effect the little red berries had on his flock after they ate them, so he decided to chew them himself. His resulting exhilaration prompted him to bring the berries to a nearby monastery. The monks initially scoffed at Kaldi and threw the berries onto the fire, but when an enticing aroma billowed from the flames, the roasted beans were rescued, ground up, dissolved in hot water, and voila, the rest is history.
Whether or not this tale is true, one thing is certain, coffee has an exhilarating effect on people (and goats) across the globe. This is why the concept of a “coffee shop” has grown to the point where you can find one on any corner in most cities. Though many of the mom-and-pop shops have been muscled out by corporations and their generic, cookie-cutter style, some newer coffee proprietors are taking a much more original, and artistic, approach.
We’ve found some of the most breathtaking coffee shops from around the world. Places that break the mold so much, the label “coffee shop” doesn’t quite fit. So sit back with a cup o’ joe and enjoy some of the world’s most stunning coffee destinations.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Don Café House
Don Café House first opened in Pristina and plans to open more shops throughout Kosovo. The design inspiration for this incredible space is a coffee sack filled with coffee beans. Each color, texture, and shape is well-planned work of art, it’s hard to believe it’s going to be a chain! (Watch out Starbucks.)
Double Overhead @ Roast Coffee Co.
This Milwaukee coffee bar boasts an eclectic mix of 1950’s modernist features with mass-customized components. Its name, “Double Overhead”, is a surfing reference for an imposing wave. Using reclaimed wood and a parametrically-designed light feature, the water theme flows throughout its impressive interior design.
Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank
I’m not entirely sure what a Coffee Tank is, but Yellow Submarine must be one, because it’s definitely not a “coffee shop”. With an art-gallery meets park-space design, the unique ambiance will likely have patrons staying long after they’ve finished their beverage.
Coffee Bar San Francisco
This airy, light-drenched coffee house started out as a loading dock in San Francisco’s Media Gulch. Customers have a bevy of options for socializing, surfing, or sipping with an atmosphere that encourages “interaction, theatricality, observation, and community.”
Brick Spris Coffee
Next on the list of I-can’t-believe-it’s-a-coffee-shop’s, Brick Spris Coffee in Tehran looks more like a luxury restaurant with a year-long waiting list. The incredible geometric interior paired with sophisticated color and lighting designs create a truly awe inspiring experience.
F-Coffee
The design concept for Vietnam’s F-Coffee is minimalism, but it has so much more than your average coffee house. Sitting among brick archways and reflection pools, listening to the wind in the trees and the lapping of the waterfall, one could almost imagine they were at a meditation retreat. Hopefully they have free refills because you’ll want to stay all day.
Coffee House
Located in Slovakia’s Hurbanové Sady Park, this coffee house literally looks like a house. A Japanese teahouse, that is. The simple, sleek design draws focus to the green space outside. Surrounded by nature and free from distractions, the Coffee House offers customers a Zen-like experience.
There are a number of legends surrounding the conception of this wonderful dark elixir, but one popular account involves Kaldi, a 9th century goatherd. He noticed the energizing effect the little red berries had on his flock after they ate them, so he decided to chew them himself. His resulting exhilaration prompted him to bring the berries to a nearby monastery. The monks initially scoffed at Kaldi and threw the berries onto the fire, but when an enticing aroma billowed from the flames, the roasted beans were rescued, ground up, dissolved in hot water, and voila, the rest is history.
Whether or not this tale is true, one thing is certain, coffee has an exhilarating effect on people (and goats) across the globe. This is why the concept of a “coffee shop” has grown to the point where you can find one on any corner in most cities. Though many of the mom-and-pop shops have been muscled out by corporations and their generic, cookie-cutter style, some newer coffee proprietors are taking a much more original, and artistic, approach.
We’ve found some of the most breathtaking coffee shops from around the world. Places that break the mold so much, the label “coffee shop” doesn’t quite fit. So sit back with a cup o’ joe and enjoy some of the world’s most stunning coffee destinations.
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Don Café House
Don Café House first opened in Pristina and plans to open more shops throughout Kosovo. The design inspiration for this incredible space is a coffee sack filled with coffee beans. Each color, texture, and shape is well-planned work of art, it’s hard to believe it’s going to be a chain! (Watch out Starbucks.)
Double Overhead @ Roast Coffee Co.
This Milwaukee coffee bar boasts an eclectic mix of 1950’s modernist features with mass-customized components. Its name, “Double Overhead”, is a surfing reference for an imposing wave. Using reclaimed wood and a parametrically-designed light feature, the water theme flows throughout its impressive interior design.
Yellow Submarine Coffee Tank
I’m not entirely sure what a Coffee Tank is, but Yellow Submarine must be one, because it’s definitely not a “coffee shop”. With an art-gallery meets park-space design, the unique ambiance will likely have patrons staying long after they’ve finished their beverage.
Coffee Bar San Francisco
This airy, light-drenched coffee house started out as a loading dock in San Francisco’s Media Gulch. Customers have a bevy of options for socializing, surfing, or sipping with an atmosphere that encourages “interaction, theatricality, observation, and community.”
Brick Spris Coffee
Next on the list of I-can’t-believe-it’s-a-coffee-shop’s, Brick Spris Coffee in Tehran looks more like a luxury restaurant with a year-long waiting list. The incredible geometric interior paired with sophisticated color and lighting designs create a truly awe inspiring experience.
F-Coffee
The design concept for Vietnam’s F-Coffee is minimalism, but it has so much more than your average coffee house. Sitting among brick archways and reflection pools, listening to the wind in the trees and the lapping of the waterfall, one could almost imagine they were at a meditation retreat. Hopefully they have free refills because you’ll want to stay all day.
Coffee House
Located in Slovakia’s Hurbanové Sady Park, this coffee house literally looks like a house. A Japanese teahouse, that is. The simple, sleek design draws focus to the green space outside. Surrounded by nature and free from distractions, the Coffee House offers customers a Zen-like experience.
