On my last pre-move trip to Zurich, one of the things that caught my eye is the number of Starbucks that are dotted around the place.

That's fine if you like Starbucks, not so good if you're waiting around for Phase Two to complete.

So, can anyone recommend any decent, non-Starbucks coffee places around Zurich where I might be able to get a decent latte (and possibly a muffin, if I'm having a bad day).

You were doing so well until you mentioned a "decent latte".

If you like milk, Switzerland's the place to be.



Perhaps you were referring to a latte macchiato?



OK, Smart-assisms aside, virtually all non-Butts cafes serve decent coffee. Cafe Noir http://www.cafe-noir.ch/ near Langstrasse is superb.

In fact, any cafe near Langstrasse is good.

I'd also be interested to hear some recommendations. My definition of a good cafe latte would be large mug/cup (essential - really prefer a mug to a glass), lack of foam (ie, proper hot milk rather than all that froth), and not the extra cost that seems to go with a cafe macchiato just because it looks pretty.

kfc.

I know its not a recommendation for a coffee shop but if you get one of the coffee makers (Jura etc) then you can have great coffee at the touch of a button - once you've got one though you'll never be able to have instant coffee again! The machines here heat the water, grind the beans and then you can set how strong you want the coffee. I'm from the UK so used to be a big tea drinker - I'm now addicted to coffee...

...but that's what a latte macchiato is! Warm milk / espresso / foam. Coffee with hot milk is, er, just that Macchiato's (Macchiati???) are tricky to get right, hence the higher price than say, a cappuccino.

Don't be distracted by the coffee shop, sofas, lounge music etc. Test the coffee, then see if you can put up with the decor. Often times the best coffee is found in less-obvious places.

However, Cafe Giro between Kronenstrasse and Schaffhauserplatz tram stops (11 & 14) in Zurich is the cafe with the best Espresso - hence coffee of any description - in town. Not the coolest bar / restaurant, but who cares? Butts is up the road at Schaffhauserplatz: taste the difference.

Following link - if you speak German - may be useful for the locals comments on Zurich cafes:

http://cityblog-zuerich.kaywa.ch/zue...sso/index.html

Oh dear, I don't really want to be so petty, but Macchiatos (ti?) are slightly different from caffe lattes, because in a cafe latte the espresso doesn't sit in the middle and the macchiato has more foam (which I don't like). And M's always come in glasses, whereas a cafe latte can come in a mug (although too often here in a tiny cup which just isn't enough) and if a cafe latte is in a glass, it isn't layered like a macchiato (and hence should be cheaper because they are less effort). Having said all that, I am happy to drink a macchiato, but would prefer a cheaper latte. And cafe lattes differ from Milchkaffee (coffee with milk), I think (not sure, but from the taste, I would say), because the Milchkaffee is made with filter coffee and hot milk.

But that is all probably me failing to adapt to my new surroundings! Thank you for the link to the thread and for the suggested coffee place. I will try it out!

kfc.

Rest. Bohemia, Kreuzplatz (Tram 11, 15, Bus 31). - am not affiliated in any way - just love the coffe there. www.bohemia.ch

Hi guys...

My partner has just jumped on a train to Zurich and is waiting for a friend to arrive at the station -- she urgently needs to find a GOOD (italian style not french!) coffee to pass some time...

Hints?

During economic downturn it is quite expensive to drink coffee in Zurich downtown ... and the Starbucks beats it all.... http://www.coffeehouse.com/coffeehou...+Zurich_IL.htm

Thanks for that wonderfully unhelpful insight...others willing to help out please note that Starbucks should never be put in a thread titled best coffee and that acting like a smart towards forum newcomers is not an endearing characteristic and certainly doesn't make you cool.

maybe she would consider a Zurich classic, like Sprungli? Lots of entertainment provided at all times...

il baretto. i think you can tell right by the name of the cafe whats on the menu, right? its opposite platform 16/17 ZH HB.

I thought Nespresso was nice but it is about a 10 minute walk from the station - I haven't tried too many different places though.

You did ask about coffee in the downturn. Take what you get

I for one would never rate Nespresso as good coffee. A convenient method of making drinkable instant coffee, yes.

But. There's a really good coffee bar on the Munsterhof, between the old town and the Fraumunster. Its name escapes me however.

.... and your response should be considered endearing?

Marche in ShopVille next to track 1 will do the job.

What's "French coffee"?

wait, downturn or downtown zurich?...

This is just a blatant advert for Starbucks.... do you work there, ? get commisions on sales ? ... or what ???

I interpreted it as Starbucks is the place to go for lousy, expensive coffee.

Before you ask me this silly question maybe look at my avatar.

The first part of the post has just indicated on typo which I intended to show in a form of the joke and no hard feelings.

The second one it was just to give my answer to OP's question. The fact that she doesn't share the same sentiment on the above suggestion of coffee house with me it is her own choice and opinion.

Will I also advertise any type of products saying that in my opinion "Rivella beats Coke???" or "KFC beats McDonald??"