If you do any research about coffee places in Zagreb, Eliscaffe will probably be one of the first things you hear about. Sometimes you hear about their pioneering effort as importers and small roasters. At other times you hear about their obsession with perfection. A random comment shows up about people having the best coffee of their lives over there...
Being close to the center of Zagreb, next to the Britanski trg, or British Square it was a bit out of my way - considering I travel by car, and city center is very unfriendly to cars - but I knew I had to make my pilgrimage to the holy site sooner or later. And so I did.
It was dark when I arrived, and I wore a pea coat. Noticing all the details, taking photos of everything etc. I got a pretty cold reception, because with the way I acted (checking out everything) they thought I was financial inspection or something.
Before sipping the drink, I expected the best coffee in my life - and I've had good coffee before, and even excellent coffee in specialist coffee places. My expectations... were way surpassed.
They're not just better than any coffee I ever had. They're so far ahead of everyone else that there's this huge gap and nothing comes even close. Their featured coffee might change (so your experience might vary), but this was just... a perfect flavor. I was speechless. I would suggest not using the sugar, this coffee doesn't really need any.
Eliscaffe coffee is more expensive than you'll find elsewhere, but it's immediately apparent why. They also sell their coffee blends, in a bean or pre-ground - prices are quite expensive (34 kn / 125 grams, 64 kn / 250 grams), but they're still cheaper than some commercial manufacturers such as Illy.
After I paid, and the barista assured me that the receipt was legal and tax authorization numbers were there, I finally managed to convince her I'm not in fact a financial inspector. The atmosphere got much better then, and we had a friendly and open chat about coffee.
The cafe is rather small, but well decorated - with a clean industrial design, and the large blackboard which features the menu. A few Chemex brewers and Hario Buono gooseneck kettles are visible in the back, however the La Marzocco machine dominates the view. Seating is a bit limited - there's some room at the bar, and at the long shelf at the wall which runs parallel to the bar. There's no regular tables - which are a must-have item in most of Croatian cafes. The rear part contains a roasting machine and a tiny bathroom. It's a non-smoking place, and has been so since it was founded.
The menu features only a few basic coffee drinks (and a 2-person Chemex brew). The focus is on coffee. And if you like coffee, you should visit Eliscaffe. Unfortunately I didn't get to meet the owner (Nik), but there's time for that next time...
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