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  • Coffee tours
  • Iceland and coffee
  • About
  • Get in touch
  • Coffee tours
  • Coffee pictures
  • Coffee tours

The Gray Cat coffee house in Reykjavik

13/10/2015

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​A seriously charming little place on Hverfisgata opposite the National Theater near Arnarhóll, where the statue of Ingólfur Arnarson looks over the harbour and the Concert Hall, Harpa. It is a small place, no wifi to distract from the experience of coffee and the close space environment.

Bought my standard Americano, and the barman offered me a single or a double. Double of course.  I sit in the corner and I see red benches, old looking tables and books. There are bookshelves and nice art on the walls. A perfect place to sit and enjoy a book or a quiet converstion. No music, just breakfast eating couple, a lone latin looking girl reading a book, and me. Large size cup and a decent but well roasted coffee with a taste that lingers slowly in the calm atmosphere. Cars hiss silently by the window and people in raincoats walk by, slowly and silently. Feels good in here.

The only upset was the menu prices, a bagle for almost 2000 isk. The breakfast and pastries are on the expensive side for me at least. I have been here before, a long time ago, and the interiour reminds me of Kaffa Mokka, the grand old coffee establishment on Skólavörðustígur, just a few minutes away.  I dont come here often but I like this place. Despite the price, but then again, I know I live in a tourist city and it is just how things are.

I use coffee houses as meeting places, as an office and a place to clear my head. This is a good place to take it easy and plan the journey ahead, reflect over a cup of dark roast.
Great for a morning cup.  The mood there reminds me of an old Tom Waits song or a slow Nick Cave.
That‘s not bad at all. 
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Cafe Dix In Kópavogur

7/10/2015

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A great coincincence brought me to this place. My mom told me to go there and try it out only yesterday. It is a place in the town center of the neighbouring town of Kópavogur. By chance I talked to a friend of mine that just bought a house very close to this place and we decided a cup of coffee was a must in order to catch up for me to see his new house and the renovation project it is gonna be.
He by a coincincence asks me to meet up for breakfast at his local cafe. Cafe Dix.  It seems I was destined to go.
the location is great, good view over parts of my old stomping grounds in Reykjavík and the urban landacape of high rises, shops and carparks. Something that was frowned upon a few years ago, but people are now linking to urban living and the look and feel of the modern city life of today. I like it.
The area is called Hamraborg in Kópavogur and is the old town center. Many shops and restaurants are popping up in the area and there is a slight buzz around it.
As a good blogger I must snap a few pictures outside and inside the place before my friend arrives. When ordering my standard poison, a strong Americano, the barista and owner starts to inquire why I was taking all those pictures. I explain that I want coffee and I have this blogsite. She goes on to tell me that this is a popular place with the locals, both working professionals and the school kids who buy day old pastries at a discount price. They have some food at lunch time and the coffee is Chaqwa espresso beans. 
It is a family place where the woman is the barista and her husband who bakes and makes the food is a trained cook. 
The coffee is well brewed and tastes good. The only thing I don't like are the handles on the cup, they are too small to put one finger through. A non issue, but still. I liked the interior, metallic tables long benches under the arching windows and lots of pillows and cottage style decorations. A nice place with freshly baked baguette style bread, veggie pies and cakes. 
I will go again to see if they are any good again and if the standards are good.
It is a bit different to go there when one is looking and thinking like a critic.
​So next time I will go just to enjoy.
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Dunkin Donuts coffee in Reykjavik

6/10/2015

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I usually go to the "better establishments"in Reykjavik when I get my coffee. This time I went to a place that servers just regular coffee, not the gourmet stuff I usually crave. I went to Laugarvegur, then main shopping street, and at almost the end of the street I found the newly opened Dunkin Donuts (opened in the summer of 2015). I was very lucky, got a parking space directly in front of the show. In the summertime this is a pedestrian street, but this late in the year, we can drive there. 
Went in got me a special offer, two donuts and a mid size coffee for 799 isk. According the the google currency coverter is about 6,30 usd or 5,61 euros. Got me a Boston Creme donut and some chocolate thingy donut. 
The coffee was pretty large, roughly 2,5 times what I usually drink, so I felt the effects when I got home after drinking it on the go. Donuts pretty good, but the competition is not that tough in the donut business in Reykjavik. Getting more intense on that level though, with many of the bakeries and Deli's going for the donut crowd.  The coffee was surprisingly good. Americano that tasted strong and nice. I can see myself go there for the odd take away if I happen to pass by the place. I had a bagel at Dunkin Donuts the other day, and that was good. A mass producing chain like this did actually deliver a decent cup of coffee.
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Coffee at the Reykjavik Roasters

22/9/2015

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The first coffee place I went to after starting this blog was The Reykjavik Roasters in downtown Reykjavik, close the iconic tower of the church on the hill, Hallgrímskirkja. The place was half full, A Kind of Blue by Miles Davis was playing at 9 in the morning on this mid September day.

Was greeted by a new member of staff I had not seen before. Ask for an Americano and had to mention that they keep the creme of the coffee in the cup. After Reykjavik Roasters changed their name from Kaffismiðjan, the new owner wants the coffee to be smooth and with a nice follow through and an even taste. So the bitter creme was the main change to the place since the now owner bought out her partner and founder of that coffeehouse. 

Policy of the place was kept similar but the issue with the creme on top. It has to be a good sign when the only difference of opinion is a small change in texture and taste of one drink. I like the new approach to their own gourmet coffee and I understand it. A bitter cup is an acquired taste it seems.

Most people do not give this any thought and just accept the coffee as it comes. But this change has made a huge impact on me. I have to remember and ask for the creme to the the bitterness I seek from only this place, there is just something about the flavor when it changes and mellows into a great coffee. 

As usual the music is good there, but if you don't like it, then your simply change the vinyl album yourself and take charge of the place. I also like the fact that one can influence the mood of the place. The seats are not many, and it is common to share a table with strangers there. I have met all kinds of people there, both tourists and locals. It is the only coffee house I know of at this time that you can loose your personal space and might need to share a table and a conversation with people one has never met. 
The regulars are all types of people and full of knowledge about everything. Find one.. chat to him.

​ps... The coffee was awesome as usual.

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    Snorri Kristjánsson

    A coffee enthusiast who likes to search for, and enjoy the best coffee experience Iceland has to offer. 

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