Collection by Megan Hamaker

Coffee Break: Dwell's Guide to 7 Great Coffee Shops

In our series, Coffee Break, Dwell editors travel far and wide to cover some of the most well designed coffee shops in the land. Follow along on Dwell's caffeine fueled tour of seven great coffee shops.

Here's the cafe space, which is set off to the side of the building. The kiln (currently under construction) will be behind the bank of windows in the background. We love how the building hosts a multitude of uses: a social space for the neighborhood, retail, and manufacturing. It's also two local businesses supporting each other—a customer might come in for a coffee and come out with a new place setting, and vice versa.
Here's the cafe space, which is set off to the side of the building. The kiln (currently under construction) will be behind the bank of windows in the background. We love how the building hosts a multitude of uses: a social space for the neighborhood, retail, and manufacturing. It's also two local businesses supporting each other—a customer might come in for a coffee and come out with a new place setting, and vice versa.
The space was originally a 500-square-foot storage room with concrete floors and a high ceiling. The main element jones | haydu added is a sculptural wooden ceiling that drapes over the space in a dramatic arch. "The owners had high expectations for the space, but a relatively low budget," says Jones. By keeping the original floors and using inexpensive plywood in a standard maple finish for the cabinetry and ceiling, the designers accomplished a striking design with a minimum of resources.
The space was originally a 500-square-foot storage room with concrete floors and a high ceiling. The main element jones | haydu added is a sculptural wooden ceiling that drapes over the space in a dramatic arch. "The owners had high expectations for the space, but a relatively low budget," says Jones. By keeping the original floors and using inexpensive plywood in a standard maple finish for the cabinetry and ceiling, the designers accomplished a striking design with a minimum of resources.
The cafe is located at 125 N 6th St in Brooklyn in what was once a market. The space tapers toward the back to emphasize the "stage" aspect of the design.
The cafe is located at 125 N 6th St in Brooklyn in what was once a market. The space tapers toward the back to emphasize the "stage" aspect of the design.
Local 123 and Flowerland is the East Bay's version of S.F. favorite Flora Grubb.
Local 123 and Flowerland is the East Bay's version of S.F. favorite Flora Grubb.
Located in the Östermalm neighborhood of Stockholm, Cafe Foam channels "Spanish temperament with Scandinavian cool," according to its designers, local firm Note. Indeed, the interior features the prototypical Scandinavian blonde wood and spare detailing with splashes of magenta that evoke a more fiery feeling—an unexpected mashup as the latitudes (not to mention the design sensibilities) of Spain and Sweden are about as far flung as one can get in Europe.
Located in the Östermalm neighborhood of Stockholm, Cafe Foam channels "Spanish temperament with Scandinavian cool," according to its designers, local firm Note. Indeed, the interior features the prototypical Scandinavian blonde wood and spare detailing with splashes of magenta that evoke a more fiery feeling—an unexpected mashup as the latitudes (not to mention the design sensibilities) of Spain and Sweden are about as far flung as one can get in Europe.
COFFEE BREAK: SAN FRANCISCO'S THE MILL

Although we usually focus on completed projects, it is equally interesting to check in during construction to see how a space develops. Things that our memories smooth over post-construction, like frustrations and changes in plans, are still rampant. That never-ending argument over where to put the couch just isn’t funny yet. To capture this oft-forgotten phase, we checked in with San Francisco coffee company, Four Barrel, a few months before opening The Mill, their second cafe.
COFFEE BREAK: SAN FRANCISCO'S THE MILL Although we usually focus on completed projects, it is equally interesting to check in during construction to see how a space develops. Things that our memories smooth over post-construction, like frustrations and changes in plans, are still rampant. That never-ending argument over where to put the couch just isn’t funny yet. To capture this oft-forgotten phase, we checked in with San Francisco coffee company, Four Barrel, a few months before opening The Mill, their second cafe.