If I had to sum up Freese Coffee Co in one word, it’d be ‘craftsmanship’. Usually espresso making seems little more than a matter of a few thwacks of a doser on the grinder, a rough twist of the portafilter into the espresso machine, an absent-minded stare whilst the espresso machine does its stuff, before investing a little more attention into the foaming of the milk and dishing out the coffee. The approach here is less casual, more Heston Blummenthal. The coffee beans are carefully measured out, and a keen eye oversees every part of the process. At one point I saw the owner discard some espresso after some thought as it didn’t meet his exact standards. My girlfriend’s cappuccino was the best either of us had ever tasted. My espresso was strong, powerful and complex — easily one of the best I’ve had. More generally, the shop has a relaxed Finnish air: white walls, a stylish lightly shaded bookcase. The owner is really friendly, the brownies great and the wifi free. It’s only open on weekends, but is definitely worth a visit if you love coffee.
Anna N.
Place rating: 5 Prague, Czech Republic
Absolutely great coffee! here today, I tasted a Norwegian specialty coffee roasters that have had the grinder. The interior minimalist yet cozy, simply beautiful. Barista was very friendly and nice. At the same time there are great desserts and you can buy the magazines as Kinofolk, or Cereal. So for me definitely worth a stop if you are in Helsinki.
Noxy D.
Place rating: 5 Milwaukee, WI
The owner of this place is the 2013 national barista champion. And it shows. I had the best espresso I’ve ever tasted here and I’d like to think I know what a good espresso tastes like! The guy goes so far as to weigh out individual sealed jars of coffee beans every morning so he gets the exact precise dose every time. The result is a very generous pull of the most tangy, smooth, life-changing espresso. This man has some PASSION for his coffee! I cannot recommend this place highly enough.
Mathias H.
Place rating: 5 Stockholm, Sweden
Freese coffee could not have been located at a more perfect place at Freesenkatu(i.e. Freese street) and the owner shares the name Freese as well(from what I understood the street is named after one of his forefathers). The café is run by the Finnish barista champion so no surprise that the focus is on serving great coffee. There is a rotating selection of roasters represented at the café. There is a focus on the Nordic scene but one can also find others such as Square Mile. The coffees are expertly prepared and served in nice glass decanters. There is also a limited selection of food(nice mini brunch) and pastries as well as some chocolate. As with the coffee this is also with focus on quality. There is also always some tea available. The coffee served here is probably the best in Helsinki and it has overtaken Good Life as my favorite spot. Partly that is due to the fact that the location is perfect for me as I am often in Töölö when I am in Helsinki and the opening hours(only Saturday and Sunday) firs me perfect as I usually visit on weekends. The space is fairly small but efficiently used and it is possible to seat approx 15 people if people squeeze in. Well worth a visit for anyone who appreciates quality coffee and to make things better the service is always friendly.
Julia R.
Place rating: 5 Helsinki, Finland
Great little weekend-only coffee spot for real coffee lovers. Their speciality, a coffee pulled through an espresso machine, comes in three ever-changing varieties, and is always smooth and flavorful. They have different treats every weekend to accompany their delightful coffee beverages, but my favorite was homemade Korvapuusti, supplied by the proprietors mother-in-law. In fact the space itself has a homey, convivial atmosphere, helped along by the barista champion owner, a friendly young guy who is passionate about the coffee he makes and sells. This place could be a bit smug in less capable hands, but the fabulous customer service really takes it over the top. I’ve started coming here every weekend, and the owner remembers me and it always kind and conversational, a breathe of fresh air in sometimes chilly Helsinki.