Man versus Machine opened on Müllerstraße on September 6. Michèle had given me a heads up a few days before the launch, but the autumnal Bavarian weekends have been filled with sunshine, and I have spent my free time in the mountains, at the lakes or in beer gardens. The weather was simply too good to be sat inside with a coffee.
Finally, after a flying visit to Stijl at the Praterinsel, I managed to enjoy an excellent cappuccino at Man versus Machine a visit this past Saturday, spurred on after a coffee fanatic friend of mine told me that it’s one of the two best places for coffee in Munich (the other being Schiffmacher at Viktualienmarkt).
The whole cafe shows delightful attention to detail. Scandinavian design dominates, with benches and tables from Finland’s Ilmari Tapiovaara and industrial lamps from Alvar Aalto. The sleek and ergonomic coffee cups are from NotNeutral, and the stained white pine stools are from Eero Aarnio. The art on the walls is, in juxtaposition, very bold and very American – alongside a Bruce Lee skateboard, there are signed prints from graphic artist Shepard Fairey, New Yorker Dan Witz, and California-based Sage Vaughn.
Man versus Machine roast their coffee on site, and blends vary dependent on harvest and availability. They are wonderfully exact with their preparation – temperatures are measured to 0.1 of a degree, coffee and water are measured to a tenth of a gram and extraction time is monitored to the second.
Besides having superb coffee and being a great place to while away a couple of hours with friends, what makes Man versus Machine so appealing is their passion. Whether you’re after the perfect cappuccino or a cup of tea and a slice of banana bread, quality is at the fore of their business model, and the team is more than happy to advise and accommodate. They also sell packets of tea and home-roasted coffee, if you’re after a gift or need to restock those cupboards.
They’re open weekdays from 8am – 6pm and Saturdays from 9am – 7pm.
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