Five Elephant's Mitte café is on Alte Schönhauser Straße, a short walk north of Hackescher Markt. The narrow, pale room has a beige terrazzo counter and low-profile espresso machine. Order an espresso or filter coffee with cheesecake, and browse the beans to take home.
Coffee
Five Elephant serves its own roasted coffee as espresso and milk drinks. Retail beans offer a wider selection than the coffees currently on the bar; ask staff about the flavours before choosing.
At Mitte, the low-profile equipment keeps the counter open to view, with cake served alongside coffee. It is a central spot for a short break; the roasting operation is at a separate address on Glogauer Straße.
Filter
The café serves filter coffee alongside its cheesecake. Brewing options vary between Five Elephant locations; the Schwedter café specialises in pour-overs and guided tastings.
Pastry
Cheesecake is a signature, with a pale topping and crumb base. Other cakes and pastries change; choose from the counter.
The business makes both the coffee and the baked goods. Plan a larger meal elsewhere, as Mitte is not a brunch café.
Service & Room
The small café has a terrazzo counter and pale surfaces. Seating is limited, so takeaway is useful when the room is full.
The compact Mitte café is better suited to coffee and cake than a long laptop session. Five Elephant has three other Berlin cafés. Kreuzberg is the flagship and the pickup spot for a whole cheesecake, while Kollwitz and Schwedter are alternatives in Prenzlauer Berg.
Why Filter Notes shortlisted Five Elephant
Five Elephant brings its own roasting and baking together in a small central Berlin café. Choose Mitte for the terrazzo counter, house-roasted coffee and cheesecake within an easy central walk. Seats are limited; if comparing hand brews is the day's main purpose, the Schwedter café offers guided tastings.