Enjoy a Bergische coffee table

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Bergische Kaffeetafel

Pastry tarts and cakes - fresh every day -, Bergische waffles in different varieties and the Bergische Kaffeetafel - "drinking coffee with all the bells and whistles" - are presented on a slate in Nordrhein-Westfalen advertised. It becomes difficult when we want to enter the café, because three doors lead into this extraordinary café. Thank God the middle one opens and the older man who steps out points to the right door: "Here we go."

 

The Nostalgia Cafe at Christmas time
A Bergische Kaffeetafel goes well with the Christmas season

 

Our Bergische Kaffeetafel is full of nostalgia

We feel like Alice in Wonderland when we enter the café: not an inch of space is empty. Pictures, posters, musical instruments, old clocks, carved figures cover the walls. Books, flower pots, vases, coffee pots, cups, gravy boats, old coffee grinders and some things that don't make sense to me at first glance stand on the window sills. A life-size figure with a top hat, glasses and a camera around his neck has its place next to our table. Chandeliers, rustic cottage lamps and old gas lamps with enamel decoration hang from the ceiling. Several round tables are distributed in the room, lovingly set with tablecloths in different colors, which contribute to the colorful variety. In one corner there are several sofas in a seating group together in front of a wall with an open fire for comfort.

 

Here's the nostalgia cafe
Here it goes

 

A cafe like the living room at home

The guests obviously feel comfortable in this ambience. Two middle-aged couples sit at the tables next to us, conversing in hushed tones. A few minutes after us, a group of older women who are clearly regulars at the café enter the room. They steer purposefully to one of the larger tables and order their waffles without even looking at the menu. You know what the café has to offer. The sofas in the corner of the room are the retreat of several gentlemen quietly chatting by the fire. We almost have the impression that everyone sees the café as a living room, the environment is so familiar to them.

 

Various things in the Nostalgia Cafe
Colorful all sorts

 

There is a reason for that

There is a good reason for this, as the owner of the café tells us a few minutes later: "Many guests have contributed something to this café and keep bringing things that they no longer need at home." This has to do with the history of the café's origins, because it was not actually planned that way. The owner lived in Portugal for many years, but then returned to his home town in North Rhine-Westphalia. "I like drinking coffee," he says. "When I came here, there was no café in town. The only hotel had closed and I had to drive a long way to get coffee and cake." He promptly asked the owners of the empty house if he could use the ground floor.


“I got an old table and a couple of chairs from the neighbor and sat down at the table with the door open at 15.00 p.m. every day with home-made coffee and a piece of cake that I got from the bakery. The people who knew me from before came in to say hello. Word got around that I had coffee, so I soon got more tables from the neighbors and asked my visitors to contribute. That's how it started,” he laughs.

 

Tourist at the Nostalgia Cafe
Tourist in cafe

 

We want to get to know the Bergische Kaffeetafel with him.

 

Bergische Kaffeetafel
Bergische Kaffeetafel

 

The Bergische Kaffeetafel

The Bergische Kaffeetafel is only available to order, as a slate in the café confirms. From six people you can enjoy this culinary experience. Traditionally, it was intended for several people. "The Bergische Kaffeetafel is a social event, not a culinary specialty," explains the café owner.

“In the past, people in the Bergisches Land were at work during the week and didn't have time to meet for talks. Therefore, they visited each other on Sunday. Even business meetings then took place because everyone knew that the business partner could be reached that day. They sat down between two and six o'clock. What came on the table was what was there: fresh bread, rice porridge, fruit, jam, sausage and more. ”

 

Jam bread with rice porridge
Jam bread with rice porridge

 

What is a drum mina?

"Coffee used to be served in a dröppelmina, a three-legged coffee pot from which the coffee was tapped," reports our waitress. These were placed on a warmer to keep the coffee warm. "Dröppelmina" is the name that is common in the Bergisches Land. In North German they are written with "nn".

"The pot originally comes from the Arab world, from where the Dutch brought it with them," the café owner tells us. One of these crane pots stands on our invitingly set coffee table as a souvenir, the coffee is served in the café from a pretty coffee pot with a blue and white decor.

 

Bergische waffle with cherries and cream
Bergische waffle with cherries and cream
Rye bread with ham and cheese
Rye bread with ham and cheese

 

One should have hunger

A Bergisches Kaffeetafel is definitely one. Delicious, sumptuous, and very extensive! You have to bring time, if you want to experience it yourself. You need three to four hours if you want to enjoy the four courses of such a feast.

The first course consists of slices of white bread, which we spread with butter and plum jam "to the brim", as the waitress advises us. This is followed by a layer of rice pudding, which is sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. This is followed by a Bergische waffle sprinkled with sugar. With hot cherries and a thick dollop of cream, this ensures that we are already full after the second course.

The third course is savory and consists of rye bread with a ham and cheese plate with lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers. Finally there is black pudding with onions and rye bread. It is best to avoid lunch and dinner - then you can create a Bergische Kaffeetafel. We did well!

 

Rye bread with black pudding and onion
Rye bread with black pudding and onion

 


Reservations are usually necessary for a Bergische Kaffeetafel

However, if you want to experience a Bergisches Kaffeetafel for yourself, you can rarely do so without a reservation.

However, the café where we enjoyed our Bergische Kaffeetafel no longer exists. Instead, you can try them at one of these cafes:

 


 

Do you know this?

 

Food Travel You can also find more information here. Restaurants and cafesthat we recommend.

Source: On-site research. We would like to thank you in any case The Neanderland and North Rhine Westphalia Tourism for inviting me to this trip. However, as always, our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline

Enjoy a Bergische coffee table

Monika Fuchs

Monika Fuchs and Petar Fuchs are the authors and publishers of the Slow Travel and Enjoyment travel blog TravelWorldOnline Traveller. You have been publishing this blog since 2005. TravelWorldOnline has been online since 2001. Your topics are Trips to Savor and wine tourism worldwide and Slow Travel. During her studies, Monika Fuchs spent some time in North America, where she traveled to the USA and Canada - sometimes together with Petar Fuchs - and spent a research year in British Columbia. This strengthened her thirst for knowledge, which she pursued for 6 years Adventure Guide for Rotel Tours and then for 11 years as Study tour guide for Studiosus Reisen tried to breastfeed all over the world. She constantly expanded her travel regions, but curiosity still gnawed at her: “What is beyond the horizon? What else is there to discover in this city? Which people are interesting here? What do you eat in this region?” These are the questions she is now trying to answer as a freelance travel journalist (her articles have appeared in DIE ZEIT, 360° Canada, 360° USA, etc.), among others. travel writer and travel blogger answers in many countries around the world. Petar Fuchs produces the videos on this blog as well as on YouTube. Monika Fuchs from TravelWorldOnline is below Germany's top 50 bloggers in 2021 Other Information about Monika and Petar Fuchs. Recommendations on LinkedIn from tourism experts Further recommendations from cooperation partners and tourism experts Professional experience Monika on LinkedIn

6 thoughts too "Enjoy a Bergische coffee table"

  1. Somehow looks like from a fairy tale. Or Harry Potter or something. :) If I am around, I will definitely drop by. A visit seems worthwhile and the waffles look fantastic!

    1. Hi Tom,

      I had not thought about Harry Potter while I was there. But you're right, it looks a bit like the stores where Harry is so traveling in the movies. The food was great. Only a lot of hungry you should bring.

      Best regards,
      Monika

  2. Unfortunately, the Bergische Kaffeetafel is only available for six people or more, because it would be "otherwise too much". There were three of us there last Wednesday and could not reserve any in advance. Pity! :-( we would have liked to face the challenge! :-)

    1. I'm sorry that it did not work, Susi. Thank you for the information. I have the same right in the text.

  3. Dear Monika,
    dear Petar,
    ah, now i know what a drummelina is. I had already heard the word but completely differently interpreted. I like so nostalgic cafes. Everything looks delicious.
    Merry Christmas and greetings
    Renate

    1. Liebe Renate,

      Unfortunately, the Dröppelmina was not used in our Bergisches Kaffeetafel. She was just on the table for decoration. The food was great! And the café alone is worth a visit.

      Merry Christmas and greetings,
      Monika and Petar

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