I recently stumbled upon a photo of this homey spot in Kypseli on my map and wanted to check it in real life. As I said to the owners upon taking a seat once I got there “It’s even better in real life!“. And if you like specialty coffee and have a thing about aesthetics, you should check it out yourself too.
Mellem is located on the northern part of Kypseli so it goes without saying that finding a parking spot around here is much easier than anywhere else in the area. The place occupies a beautiful, leafy corner of a downhill road that ultimately leads to Kypseli square. Vasilis and Nikos are no first-timers on good coffee or the area, as the former was previously working at KICK and the latter used to work for Cafeistas, the roaster they use for the coffee they serve.
As I take a seat, I start noticing all the little details and thought that has been put into the making of this beautiful interiors. There are plenty of different chairs, tables and lamps, all custom-made from what Nikos tells me with some having been commissioned to a carpenter in Monastiraki. There’s even an old 70s table with a formica countertop that they were lucky to get on Marketplace from a granny that used to own it way back when.
Anna Rizou was responsible for conceptualising the interiors and judging from the homey vibe that emanates this place, she got everything right! A small, yet bright space with earth-toned colors and nice materials.
Immediately as I take a seat and compliment them on the place, the guys offer me a sip of filter coffee “We got a perfect Ethiopia blend today, you should try it!“. Smooth and citrusy, the blend is perfect; and alongside it I order my usual freddo espresso, also from Ethiopia today. Both equally tasty!
As I peruse the glass countertop filled with today’s baked goods, I notice some tasty sweet treats. Pavlos Tsiolekas, a renown pastry chef that made it through Instagram, caters this lovely joint with tasty pastries freshly made every day (they’re served just after 08:30) – think cinnamon rolls, cardamom buns and pastafrola . They vary every day which is great, but Nikos tells me on the weekend they’ll be serving a nice and fluffy babka so I’ll definitely come back.
Patrons from the neighbourhood stop by and wish them for the new opening and even an old lady in her 80s visits to get a cappuccino that her son prompted her. Others bring their laptop in search of a quiet, cosy place with a homey vibe. Meanwhile, I order one of the sandwiches on display with ham, cream cheese, pomodorini tomatoes and rocket leaves. They source their bread daily from Flake bakery nearby which is top notch; and as is the sandwich truth be told.
At night, they also serve a curated list of natural wine as well craft beers from microbreweries until 22:30.
