15+ Best Specialty Coffee Shops in Tbilisi

Update Disclosure: This post has been refreshed to include establishments that are open as of August 2024.

The time has come, Tbilisi is now a popular cosmopolitan city with a booming modern gastronomy scene. In recent years, the city has experienced a surge of specialty coffee shops offering third-wave coffee. This guide is your essential resource for finding the best specialty coffee shops in Tbilisi.

You are guaranteed find the perfect place to enjoy a cup of coffee, work, relax or simply spend time with friends in this curated list! Let's jump right into it so you can get to drinking that oat milk flat white you need in order to operate for the day!

Jump to:

• What Can I Find in These Coffee Shops?
• Is Vegan Milk Available in Tbilisi Coffee Shops?
• Where Can I Work?
• What Brewing Methods Are Available?
• Where to Buy Coffee Beans in Tbilisi
• Coffee Shops Map
• Tbilisi Specialty Coffee Shop Guide
• Coffee Shops by Neighborhood
• Even More Coffee Shops
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Other Guides for Tbilisi

What Can I Find in These Coffee Shops?

These shops offer the best coffee in Tbilisi made with fresh, roasted beans by skilled baristas. Some shops process their own beans, while others source them from local or international roasters. But most of all, you will find a combination of black coffee (coffee extracted with water) and coffee with milk on all of their menus.

I list some notable options under both categories for each coffee shop. However, the options may be incomplete or menus may change.

Is Vegan Milk Available in Tbilisi Coffee Shops?

In Tbilisi, the more common milk alternatives you'll find are oat, almond, and soy. But lately I've seen coconut as well. All the cafes in this post have a variety of vegan milk available (sometimes at an additional price) so check with the barista for what's available that day. For a strictly vegan option, Coffee Place in Sololaki is the place for you!

Where Can I Work?

For the most part, many of the coffee shops have marked areas for remote workers. This is done to help customer turn-over and give non-remote workers a chance to enjoy their coffee at each location. Recently, the majority of them have transitioned to the co-working area system. So places that are currently listed as "open-seating" may change soon.

What Brewing Methods Are Available?

Below are some commonly-found methods I've seen around the city:

• Batch Brew: It's a term for coffee made in large batches through a machine that's similar to an industrial-style coffee maker. Sometimes you'll see them as "filter" on menus.
  
  
• Espresso: This most widely known style involves pushing hot water through compacted ground beans using pressure to get as much coffee with a bit of water.
  
  
• Pour-Over: The pour-over is a general umbrella term for a variety of coffee brewing methods that involve pouring hot water over ground coffee beans in a filter. There are many different pour-over devices available, but the most common are the V60, Chemex, and Origami. These devices all work in a similar way, but they have different features and benefits.
  
  
• AeroPress: Ground coffee beans and hot water are combined in one end of a hollow cylinder that resembles a handheld balloon pump. Then the liquid is literally forced by hand into a cup by pushing one end of the pump into the other end to filter out the coffee grinds, making the coffee.
  
  
• French Press: This utilizes a special coffee pitcher where you steep the ground coffee beans and hot water for a few minutes. After steeping, you press the coffee grinds to the bottom of the pitcher using a large meshed tamper.
  
  
• Syphon: In my opinion, the fanciest and most dramatic process! It involves a glass contraption with two chambers (top and bottom) connected by a hollow straw. The bottom section is filled with water that's heated over an open flame, creating a vacuum so the top piece draws the water from its bottom counterpart through the glass straw. You add the ground coffee in the top piece and steep for a couple of minutes. Then you turn off the heat and allow the cooling process to bring down the coffee to the bottom chamber without the grounds.

There may be more than these methods available per shop.

Where to Buy Coffee Beans in Tbilisi

Prefer to make your own coffee at home? There are a variety of local roasters to choose from!

• Specialty - 250 grams of beans will run you about 25 - 45 GEL
  • Coffee Lab
  • Shavi Roasters
  • Groovy Roasters
  • BNKR
  • Kuro
    
• Budget - 250 grams of beans will cost about 10 - 30 GEL
  • Sisauri Grinders
    • Sisauri has a variety of grind size options such as french press, espresso, and paper filter.
    • They have several locations throughout the city and you can also buy coffee drinks there!
  • Dezerter Bazaar (less than 15 GEL!)
    • You'll find a number of coffee bean stores throughout Dezerter Bazaar.
    • You can request to combine coffee beans at a specific weight and they will also grind your beans for you.

Coffee Shops Map

Check out this map of Tbilisi specialty coffee shops and their locations.

Tbilisi Specialty Coffee Shop Guide

Coffee Lab

The list of specialty coffee in Tbilisi cannot be complete with its fiercest pioneer in the city - and my favorite - Coffee Lab. They started with one location in Saburtalo and gradually increased their shops throughout the city due to their popularity. They specialize in fruity cups of pour-overs and their beans are served across a number of restaurants, cafes, and hotels throughout Georgia. Their Juan Martin beans is worth a try with its premium price tag.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes
• Brewing Methods: espresso, AeroPress, pour-over, french press, syphon
• Coffee With Milk: flat white, lattes (long white & short white)
• Food Menu: pastries, salads, soups, full entrees
  • every location runs their own experimental kitchen
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

Shavi Roasters

Shavi provides beans to many other local cafes throughout the city so even though they have smaller storefronts, their impact is large. At their specialty coffee shops, they use specific beans based on the type of coffee you want to drink. They make a creamy, fruity, and well-balanced cortado. They also serve black coffee in witty mugs of coffee.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch
• Coffee With Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf, cortado
• Food Menu: sweet pastries, savory quiches
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; designated area

Groovy Roasters

A block from the ever-popular Fabrika hostel, Groovy Roasters is constantly filled with remote workers buried in their laptops throughout the day. The inside is filled with stacked sacks of coffee beans and an open-air prep kitchen, an fitting design concept for a place that roasts its own beans. They serve a variety of flavored rafs; a popular choice is their lavender raf.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over
• Coffee With Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads, soup, full entrees
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

pulp

Pulp crosses off a lot of things on my list. They are a specialty coffee shop that serves some of the best baked goods I tasted, and they also serve natural local wine! Not to mention the cafe is laid-back and the perfect place to work. I had the best cup of Ethiopian beans here - floral and earthy!

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - choose from international roasters
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch
• Coffee With Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads, soup, full entrees
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; designated area

Baho

This Ukrainian-owned cafe in Saburtalo roasts their own beans. It's a cozy and brightly lit cafe with a house cat that acknowledges every customer. The vibe is calm and comforting with table space for working. Baho offers a delicious pumpkin spiced latte that rivals a particular American coffee chain! 

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, AeroPress, batch
• Coffee With Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte
• Food Menu: pastries, quiches
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

BNKR Specialty Coffee

BNKR looks intimidatingly cool, but the baristas are friendly and you'll quickly relax in their aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. The coffee shop off Atoneli street may be easy to miss but it's part of the charm. It faces a quiet courtyard where you can sit under a tree. Something unique at BNKR is called a WOOD N'BREW, a V-shaped pour-over device made of wood.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; but limited space

kanary

This specialty coffee shop is hard to miss with its bright yellow door and matching outdoor furniture. Because of its limited seating, kanary is not suitable for working. But it's a cute place to stop for a few minutes, and drink coffee leisurely street side. I would consider this one of the most Instagrammable cafes on this list!

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - choose from international roasters
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; but limited space

Erti Kava

This coffee house had a couple of locations in the city. One has closed as of 2024. The remaining cafe is located in downtown Tbilisi with a designated long table in the back for laptops. The smaller tables in the front are purely for coffee drinkers. You can order a number of food options from their menu and they have a creative coffee menu as well - try their iced lychee filter.

• Roast Their Own Beans: No
  • choose from European roasters
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch, AeroPress, Turkish
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads, soup, full entrees
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; designated area

Chernyi Cooperative Coffee Roasters

When I visited this coffee shop (from Moscow), I arrived in the middle of fundraising brunch event for Ukraine. Their building is spacious, airy, and minimal with lots of space for seating. This shop is a serious operation roasting their own beans and they are highly selective with their guest featured beans. The latter also comes with a heftier price tag.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes - plus rotation of international roasters
• Brewing Methods: espresso, pour-over, batch brew
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads, soup, full entrees
• Coffee Recommendation: Gesha V60 (if it's still available)
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; designated area

Stories Tbilisi Coffee & Tea

Stories is an established cafe in one of the busiest parts of Old Town close to Liberty Square so it's not difficult to find it. The airy coffee shop showcases a modern atmosphere with comfortable seating all around that invites you to work on your laptop or spent time catching up with friends.

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - mainly Coffee Lab
• Brewing Methods: espresso, batch, AeroPress, pour-over
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads
• Coffee Recommendation: V60
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

Ch'ika

Ch'ika means "cup" in Georgian, an appropriate name for a specialty coffee shop! You can escape the crowds by ducking into their quaint flagship cafe right on Rustaveli Avenue. They serve local and international coffee beans on a rotational basis.

• Roast Their Own Beans: Yes - Mamuli is their in-house coffee beans
• Brewing Methods: espresso, batch, AeroPress, pour-over
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries, sandwiches, salads, soup, full entrees
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; designated area

Coffee Place

Coffee Place sets itself apart because they are the only vegan coffee shop in this list! Their strictly plant-based milk options include soy, oat, almond, and banana milk! Cozy up in their revived traditional space inside a historical building. The V60 is a true coffee tasting experience where the barista primes the mug by washing it with hot water before you pour coffee in it.

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - local and international beans (prices vary)
• Brewing Methods: espresso, batch, pour-over, cold-brew
• Coffee with (plant-base only) Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte
• Food Menu: vegan pastries, vegan quiches
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

Kutkhe

Open, bright, and charming are my choice words to describe Kutkhe's coffee shop in Sololaki (they have more than one location). The shop is separated into two spaces - a cocktail bar and a cafe. They have a straightforward menu of coffee and food. This peaceful Tbilisi cafe is a great place to work for a couple of hours.

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - mainly Coffee Lab
• Brewing Methods: espresso, batch, pour-over, AeroPress
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries, open-faced sandwiches, egg dishes
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; open-seating

Unity Kava

On a nice a day, this is where you want to be! This specialty coffee is small but they have a great set of outdoor seating that encourage you to socialize. It's also the perfect place for grab and go specialty coffee in Sololaki. They brew a selection of local and international beans on rotation and their menu is simple.

• Roast Their Own Beans: No - local and international roasters
• Brewing Methods: espresso, batch, pour-over, cold brew
• Coffee with Milk: flat white, cappuccino, latte, raf
• Food Menu: pastries
• Laptop Friendly: Yes; but limited space

Coffee Shops by Neighborhood

If you are staying in a specific neighborhood in Tbilisi, here is a quick guide to see what's near you!

Old Town/Sololaki

• Stories
• Coffee Place
• Unity Kava
• Kutkhe

Vera

• Shavi Roasters
• pulp
• Ch'ika
• BNKR

Lower Rustaveli | Mtatsminda

• BNKR
• Sheni

Chugureti/Marjanishvili Area

• Groovy Roasters

Vake

• Chernyi Cooperative Coffee Roasters
• Coffee Lab
• Erti Kava
• kanary
• Kutkhe

Saburtalo

• Coffee Lab
• Baho

Even More Coffee Shops

These specialty coffee shops are places I haven't visited yet or visited enough. However, that shouldn't stop you from trying them yourselves!

• Red Man
• Kuro
• asters
• Daily Grind
• eleven window

Other Guides for Tbilisi

One of the main reasons to visit Tbilisi, Georgia is the food! Here are some food guides to help you navigate the world of Georgian cuisine after you've had your fill of coffee:

• Georgian Main Dishes
• 10+ Georgian Appetizers and Snacks
• 12+ Types of Georgian Bread
• 10+ Georgian Soups and Stews
• Two Types of Wine Tastings in Telavi, Georgia
• Where to Eat the Best Khinkali in Tbilisi: 10+ Local Restaurants
• Where to Eat the Best Breakfast or Brunch in Tbilisi: 10+ Must-Try Places

Tried Some of These Places?