Milky Way Coffee & Bar

I decided that I wanted to do more than just the weekly observation post about my time in Barcelona, so I decided on doing a feature of either a new coffee shop, spot in Barcelona, restaurant, or store each week. Soooooo meet Milk Way Coffee & Bar!

So let me start with saying that I was not looking forward to the coffee situation in Europe. Every day for the past three years, I have started my morning with two brewed cups of coffee in the Keurig in a big mug heated up with piping hot milk. I like my coffee strong and really hot. Basically to the point where I burn my tongue each morning. I think it's the concept of just a hot beverage in the morning wakes me up...I don't know...I think it's psychological.  I also love iced coffee, but I can't make it at home (or haven't tried to) so I normally have to go out and get it which means getting in the car and spending money

Cappuccino at Milk Way 

Milk Way is a coffee shop and local restaurant across from the Hospital Clinic metro shop. Liz and I first saw it our first couple days in Barcelona and knew that we wanted to try it. If you don't know us, we are obsessed with coffee, specifically iced coffee. In Spain, it is called "café con hielo" which means coffee with ice. They give you a glass with ice in it and you are supposed to pour your coffee over it. Definitely not the same effect. So one day last week, we ventured out in search of finding it. 

Inside, you feel the trendy atmosphere of a local coffee shop with donuts, pastries, mini sandwiches, and cakes but not the overwhelming feel of a try-hard, hipster caf  that is normally found in the U.S. Your order at the bar and the owner (yes, he's always working) delivers it straight to your table. Not only do they have a coffee menu, but it's a wine bar and restaurant. So during lunch and dinner, they serve different pastas and sandwiches accompanied with wine. I definitely want to try that next time. 

Liz had heard the carrot cake was amazing, so we split a piece and ordered coffee as well. (Yeah it was incredible, thank you Yelpers). Liz and I talked there for about an hour observing the different Spanish students who came in for a snack or coffee around 5:30pm. For Americans, coffee is normally on the go and is rarely a time in the morning where people can relax and not feel rushed. The people in Spain, however, enjoy sitting down for a cup of coffee and talking with people, reading the newspaper or just observing. Hardly anyone carries coffee cups in the street or has one in class. This concept is a refreshing change of pace and something that allows you to be in the moment which I can really appreciate and value as I try to do that abroad. 

For us, finding the best coffee place in Barcelona is definitely on our list. We have seen a couple of Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks shops but refuse to go in (so far) because we are trying to embrace the Barcelona coffee experience as much as we can. Of course I can’t order my grande triple shot latte with two pumps of the sugar-free vanilla syrup extra hot like I normally do, but for now this coffee is perfecto.