Maja Coffee Roastery now sits at Hakaniemenranta 17, on the waterfront edge of Merihaka just north-east of Helsinki's central market-and-harbour axis. The address matters because this is no longer the old Lehtisaari hideaway many guides still remember. The current stop is tied to Kulttuurisauna: a small, quiet room with water nearby, a restrained counter, beans close at hand, and a visit rhythm that feels closer to a planned pause than a casual city-centre drop-in.
Come with the hours checked and the expectation set small. Maja is a nano roastery first, a cafe second, and that scale is the point: short opening windows, limited seating, a pared-back menu, and coffee that asks for slower attention than a commuter flat white.
Coffee
Maja's strongest case is filter coffee from its own roasting. The coffee line leans toward African beans from Kenya, Rwanda and Ethiopia, with natural Ethiopias, washed Kenyans, light-roast fruit, and coffee brewed for clarity rather than speed. This is the Helsinki stop to choose when you want the roaster's hand in the cup and a bag to take home after tasting.
Food
A small selection of sweet baking can accompany the coffee, but the range changes. Choose Maja for the roast and the waterfront setting; make separate plans if you need a substantial breakfast or lunch.
Service & Room
Maja now operates at Hakaniemenranta 17, in the north wing of Kulttuurisauna on the Merihaka waterfront. Older photographs and descriptions of its Lehtisaari café describe a different location. Plan this as a small, quiet stop for coffee and beans, with a walk along the water before or after. Check the roaster’s current Instagram announcement before travelling: opening days are limited and can change.
The café asks guests to remove shoes on entry and does not permit laptops or photography. This is a café visit inside the sauna premises; the bathing areas are separate.
Getting there
Use Hakaniemenranta 17 and look for the Maja signage at Kulttuurisauna. The roaster’s move was announced in March 2024. Older Lehtisaari directions should be ignored; the current waterfront address and the week’s opening announcement are the useful details for planning a visit.
Why Filter Notes shortlisted Maja Coffee Roastery
Maja is shortlisted because Helsinki's best coffee guide needs one place that feels handmade at roastery scale. Cross town for house-roasted filter, fresh beans, a calm waterfront room, and a small sweet thing on the side; know before going that the hours are short, seating is limited, and the reward is in the deliberate visit.