Located in the heart of Leipzig’s old town on Kleine Fleischergasse, the refurbishment of Germany's oldest continuously operated coffee house Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum (To the Arabian Coffee Tree) has been completed and the city is celebrating the traditional coffee house's grand re-opening. Guests may experience a revival of the honored traditions on three floors. The accompanying museum on Leipzig's coffee culture will be open on July 1, 2025.

Photo: Andreas Schmidt

More than 400 years old, the Coffe Baum has been attracting famous visitors with its delicious coffee and pastries since its beginning in 1711. Leipzigers and Saxonians, including music critic and composer Robert Schumann, who met regularly with his Davidsbündler friends, and Augustus the Strong, founder of the Dresden State Art Collections and ruler of Saxony, delighted in the drink at the Coffe Baum. Composer Johann Sebastian Bach visited regularly, as did national poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Even the leader of the French Republic, Napolean Bonaparte was known to enjoy a hot coffee and Saxon specialties at the Coffe Baum despite the fact that he was defeated at the famous Battle of Leipzig in October 1813. You can visit the enormous Monument to the Battle of the Nations while touring Leipzig.

The Coffe Baum was so popular and prevalent that it inspired Bach to compose one of his famous cantatas – the Coffee Cantata – which is still being performed at the annual Bachfest Leipzig in June.

Photo: Philipp Kirschner

Photo: Philipp Kirschner

In addition to classic coffee specialties and cakes, delicious German cuisine is prepared with seasonal products from the region. Specialties such as Leipziger Allerlei (a pasta with local vegetables), Gose beer (a very old beer with coriander and salt and additional lactic acid fermentation), and an exquisite selection of Saxonian wines and regional beers can be found on the menu, which also includes popular local classics and savory dishes, such as braised beef roulade or confit cod. If you rather prefer something sweet with your coffee, a Leipziger Lerchen (Leipzig skylark) is recommended.

Leipziger Lerchen were skylarks caught in the meadows of Leipzig and they made their debut in the kitchen in the 18th century and were cooked and prepared. Baked with herbs and eggs, and served with traditional Sauerkraut or wrapped in bacon, the dish became popular. In fact, the dish became too popular, so that the survival of the songbirds was endangered.

As a result of protests by citizens, the King of Saxony banned lark hunting in 1876. Resourceful master bakers immediately found a replacement by creating a delicious short-crust pastry, with almonds and nuts as well as strawberry jam and marzipan. To this day, the Leipziger Lerchen are made by hand in seven steps and are more popular than ever before as a sweet treat.

You can try all of this and more at the Coffe Baum and indulge not only in the sweets and coffee, but also in the history and traditions of Leipzig.

Photo: Maja Küssner
 
https://coffebaum.de/
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