STOR

STOR is a speciality-coffee bar in Warsaw with several outposts around the city. It has become a favourite of the local coffee crowd, which is a good sign in a city that takes its coffee seriously. Having more than one branch makes it easy to work into a day of sightseeing. For the wider city, see the Warsaw guide.

This is speciality coffee aimed at people who care about the cup. The draw is the quality of the brew rather than a large food menu, with espresso and milk drinks at the core and filter for those who want it. It works as a quick, dependable stop between sights. Because there is more than one branch, check the venue's own channels for the outpost nearest you and what it serves.

The outposts are small and design-led, set up around the coffee rather than long lingering. Seating can be tight at peak times, so it suits a good cup on the move more than a drawn-out sit. With branches dotted around the centre, there is usually one within reach of the main sights.

STOR suits coffee drinkers who want a reliable speciality brew and the convenience of several locations across the city. If you are comparing Warsaw's roasters, pair it with Relaks, an early third-wave spot in Srodmiescie, or with the French bakery Charlotte Menora for a slower morning. A speciality coffee also sits well after a walk down the Krakowskie Przedmiescie boulevard on the Royal Route.

STOR was set up by Krzysiek Rzyman and the photographer Michal Janica, and is cited as one of Warsaw's first speciality coffee shops, which explains its standing with the local crowd. The two branches sit at Tamka 33 in Powisle and Bracka 18 in Srodmiescie, so it is easy to fold into a day near the river or the centre.

On the cup, espresso comes off a La Marzocco GS3 with filter also available, and the beans rotate through roasters such as London's Square Mile, Berlin's Bonanza and Krakow's Karma. If you want something to eat with it, the jagodzianki, large blueberry buns under a crumble topping, are a documented house pastry. The cafes also make a point of their sustainability practices, composting grounds and giving a discount for reusable cups, and they publicly back LGBT rights. Check current hours and which roasters are on through STOR's own channels.