Coffee Pirates is a quirky, ambitious café and coffee roasters next to the University of Vienna campus (‘altes AKH’). It has been reported by Falstaff Austria to be Vienna’s only certified “organic” 3rd wave coffee shop (meaning that it treats coffee as a high-end item like wine instead of a freeze-dried powder).

I admit, I cannot speak to such elegant designations, but the coffee is really ahead of the game. The quality is readily apparent and the consistency is impressive. The owners are often present and ready to explain the methods and will ensure that you get the right grind for your French press (which in my case means repeating the description every time I come in as I can never remember such important information).

I really appreciate the atmosphere as well, which is that of a college coffee spot and a hipster espresso bar rolled into one. Happily, they seem to be going from success to success and even briefly opened a pilot secondary location close to Schottentor. For my part I wish them well and would recommend not only their coffee, but definitely their cakes and pastries as well.