A Guide to the Best Coffee in Helsinki

Since the first café opened to the public some quarter-millennium ago in Suomenlinna, the Sea Fortress lying off the coast of Helsinki, Finns have been hooked on the dark, steaming beverage. Now, it’s enjoyed solitarily or used to break the ice in social gatherings – Finns tend to be more talkative over a cup of coffee.

With your average Finn consuming 12 kilograms of coffee a year, the nation scores high on the list of world’s heaviest coffee drinkers. Perhaps it’s the secret to what keeps Finns going through the long winters? For Helsinkians, the local coffee culture in its various expressions offers a daily ritual, elevated to a simple luxury.

But the question remains: what to drink and where?

Here is your guide to the best coffee and cafes in Helsinki:

Andante

Andante brings you joy through flowers and top-notch coffee. This plants & coffee shop is sustainable and happy-making, with more than a hint of Nordic minimalism. Whether you are in a mood for a steamy cup of third wave coffee or a cute addition to your cactus collection, Andante will not disappoint. The coffee is prepared by hand and is almost ritualistic, which is extremely soothing to watch. Andante’s baristas really know what they are doing and are happy to chat about the nuanced flavors of the beans, brews, and drinks until you too are convinced.

Artisan Café

If you tend to prefer your drink on the go, this is your spot. At Artisan Café, craftsmanship is nurtured to the point where you can almost taste it. The minimalist décor adds to the no-hassle-vibe. They also sell equipment for making the perfect brew at home (every purchase comes with pro tips as well!). If you prefer your drink on the go, this is your spot: located next to Helsinki University, we suggest visiting its library Kaisa while your takeaway coffee is still hot. Inhale the smell of books, make your way to the top floor, and check out the views from the balcony.

Cafe Pequeño

This bohemian café, located in the edgy neighborhood of Sörnäinen, is a mecca for seriously impressive latte art. They also offer handmade Argentinian empanadas and sweet treats, all freshly baked on-site, and have urban honey available to sweeten your tea, made from pollen collected around Helsinki area.
The space is shared with a salon, so you can get a coffee fix and haircut in one go, though their selection of craft beers and natural wines will keep you around after the final snip.

Café Regatta

You probably wouldn’t expect to see a tiny country cottage in the middle of Helsinki, but there it is: Café Regatta with its red wooden house, outdoor fireplace, and a constant queue of eager customers.

This slightly kitsch cafe is charming in its own way. Once belonging to the esteemed coffeehouse owners, the Paulig family, it is only fitting that the 19th-century shed is turned into a bustling cafe. Truth to be told, if it wasn’t for the nation’s unquenched thirst for coffee, the building might still be full of fishermen’s nets. On top of a large range of baked goods, you will find hot drinks for every taste: coffee with couple of roasts, hot berry juices, cocoa with whipped cream – the list goes on.

The key to Café Regatta’s popularity is its accessibility. The seaside location draws in walkers, cyclists, boaters, and sightseers straight from the famous Sibelius monument. Luckily there is plenty of room to sit outside – after a wintery walk, you can warm your toes by the fire grilling sausages. In the summer you can rent canoes, kayaks, or a rowing boat. Pets are more than welcome!

Café Succès

Nestled in an elegant neighborhood known for great antique shopping, Café Succès has been thriving since 1957. The traditional bakery and roastery is mostly known for its HUGE cinnamon rolls (size of your face, no kidding), but they make very decent coffee as well. You can choose between light and dark roast filter coffee or espresso-based specialty coffees. The savoury fish soup is a good option for lunch and seasonal baked goods such as the mushroom pie will give you a taste of Finland.

Cafetoria

This one is for the coffee nerds! Truly the best coffee in town, and with the equipment to back it up. They roast their own beans and are focused on developing relationships with their supplying farms, as well as organic growers.

El Fant Coffee & Wine

El Fant is a neat little café under the same roof as the Helsinki City Museum. Here, in one of the city’s oldest buildings, you will find specialty coffees and single-vineyard wines. The coffee comes from a hyped Helsinkian roastery called Good Life Coffee, whereas El Fant’s own bakery keeps the bread and pastries coming. The café also serves healthy breakfast and Poke Bowls for lunch, built on raw food basics.

On a summer’s day, you can sneak into El Fant’s tranquil courtyard and, after your jolt of caffeine, take in the historical surroundings of the Senate Square and Helsinki Cathedral.

Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo, Päiväkahvibaari

Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo is a small, independent roastery located in a former slaughterhouse in the Teurastamo meatpacking district. Nowadays, fortunately, the smell of reindeer meat has been replaced by the smell of freshly ground coffee beans waiting to be roasted. With ethical supply chains and methods, the roastery vows to support healthier ecosystems globally.

Helsingin Kahvipaahtimo has two coffee shops, one by the roastery and one in Vallila – renowned for its pretty pastel-hued wooden houses.

Ipi Kulmakuppila

IPI Kulmakuppila could only be described as a communal living room where you receive a cheerful welcome and solid service. It has a pretty straightforward formula – filter coffee made from a medium roast – but it works. They also have nicely brewed tea, as well as fizzy drinks; organic porridge for breakfast, salads for lunch and sandwiches, bagels, pies, cakes, and cinnamon rolls (baked just around the corner) at all times.

Thanks to the wide windows and multi-storey layout, the space is airy and the perfect spot for some reading. Its proximity to Kallio Library is another compelling reason.

Johan & Nyström

In marine Katajannokka, rough red-bricked buildings that once served as warehouses, house what might well be the mecca of Scandinavian coffee culture.

Originating from Sweden, Johan & Nyström bring coffee trends and fine flavors to Helsinki for professionals and consumers alike. The coffee menu is lengthy, ranging from filter coffee to coffee-based cocktails. They also cover an extensive variety of teas such as matcha and limited releases.

Kaffa Roastery

Finland’s ruling Best Coffee Place, as voted at the Helsinki Coffee Festival 2019, definitely earned its title! Here you can find specialty coffees, latte art, workshops, tastings, and now even merch!

The roastery and café are separated by glass, offering you a glimpse of the controlled steps that go into the roasting process. Order a cup, watch, and learn – these baristas have mad skills. Try the light ’Nordic roast’ underlying the typical regional aromas of the beans.

Kahvila Sävy

Based in Kallio, Kahvila Sävy is super casual with mismatched chairs and tables. If you prefer takeaway, note that all coffee and food come in biodegradable packages – products that go hand in hand with Sävy’s sustainability objectives. Fair is the new black.

Maja Coffee Roastery

In the suburban area of Lehtisaari you enter the part of Helsinki where nature, especially hardwood, forms a prominent feature. Here, surrounded by beauty and interiors that strike the balance between Japanese design and Nordic minimalism, Maja offers complex coffee prepared with skill.

Rams Roasters

Rams Roasters is a new business started by two passionate hobbyists turned professionals. Following high-grade specialty coffee principles, they roast their own coffee and brew it manually. The small, kid-friendly café has plenty of lunch options for sweet and salty cravings. Enjoy their wide selection of salads and soups, then fill up on their daily selection of clafoutis, buns, cheesecakes, cookies, and more.

Relove

Relove shows that both clothes and coffee can come with a reasonable carbon footprint, as the sustainable coffee shop also sells second hand and vintage pieces. Our two greatest loves, together at last. The café has Papu Roastery’s organic filter coffee, among with specialty coffees and teas. Coffee, as life itself, does not need to be complicated to be gratifying.

Roasberg

With a central location, sunny summer terrace, and conveniently long opening hours, Roasberg is an inevitable visit. Start with a lunch soup or salad buffet and continue with a slice of raw cake to go with your Italian coffee. Special diets are no limitation here as many options are vegan and gluten-free by default. As a bonus, Roasberg can slake your thirst for culture with its on-going exhibitions. The café features a new emerging artist each month, showcasing anything from neon graffiti to abstract paintings to calming landscapes. If you long for classical art, take the two-minute walk to Ateneum, one of the most prestigious museums in Helsinki.

Roots

At Roots you can get your morning dose of energy in the form of caffeine and a yoga class! A combination that captures the essence of a well-rounded urban life. Their latte options may sound weird – matcha, spruce spout, activated charcoal, liquorice, and turmeric all feature – but they’re still delicious.

We Got This

We Got This has teamed up with Loud Coffee, one of the latest additions in the string of small independent coffee roasters. The coffee menu changes roughly every other week, sometimes even daily, but the filter coffee made with their seasonal blend is a tried and tested non-mover. Coffee and Karelian pies are soundtracked to old school hip-hop, and the nearby design district promises to be an excellent setting for a takeaway cup and stroll.