Madrid's specialty scene is now dense and competitive, but Toma still sits in the group of shops that helped set the tone early: quality-first coffee, clear standards, and neighbourhood rooms people actually linger in. Café 1 in Malasaña still feels like the flagship expression of that. I visited this branch at C. de la Palma, 49 on a weekday afternoon, and the room had an easy rhythm: a few locals, a table of business people, and steady walk-ins.
One thing you notice immediately is the coffee equipment layout. The machines sit on an island in the middle of the room, so you can walk around and watch the barista work from almost any angle. In most coffee shops, you stand opposite the machine and see only the front. Here, the process is visible and social.
No laptops, no rush, no noise: it nudges the room back toward conversation.
Coffee
The espresso was clean and balanced, and milk texture on flatter drinks was spot on. Toma also operates as a specialty coffee roaster, and that origin-focused approach shows up in-cup rather than as marketing fluff. It is a place where the bar team treats each drink as something to be tuned, not just served.
Filter
If you are into filter, Toma stays true to its roots as one of the earlier Madrid shops to push specialty coffee seriously. The menu rotates and the baristas are happy to point you to something by flavour profile. The whole setup rewards curiosity because you can see exactly how your cup is being built from grind to pour.
Food
Timing helped: a tray of cookies had just come out of the oven when I arrived, and I had one still warm. Exactly what you want with a mid-afternoon coffee. Beyond bakery and sweets, food varies by branch: Café 1 tends to keep it lighter, while Toma 2 is generally the branch with more substantial toast/brunch-style plates.
Service & Room
The no-laptop rule really changes the room. People look up, talk, and actually pay attention to what's happening around them. Staff were warm and efficient, and there is also solid merch if you like taking a piece of a café home: tees, tote bags, and coffee gear. Café 1 sits on a quieter stretch of La Palma too, so stepping outside still feels calm compared with busier Madrid routes.
Why It Matters
What did I love about Toma? It proves a coffee shop can be both high-standard and unpretentious. The brand now spans multiple Madrid addresses, but Café 1 remains the one to visit if you want the full experience: technical bar work in plain sight, a social room, and genuinely strong coffee served without theatre. In a city now full of strong options, it still reads as a reference point.