Man Versus Machine Coffee Roasters

Man Versus Machine is one of the best-known specialty coffee names in Munich. The independent roaster was founded in 2014 and now supplies cafés across the city with its beans, as well as running its own coffee bars in the Glockenbachviertel, Maxvorstadt, Schwabing and on Marienplatz. The café on Müllerstraße in the Glockenbach quarter is a good place to try its coffee.

The roaster works only with Arabica coffees and offers a core range alongside seasonal and special-edition lots. Single origins from countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Guatemala, Peru and Brazil appear on the menu as they come into season, together with house espresso blends and a decaf. Espresso drinks and filter coffee are made from the current roasts, and there is nitro cold brew for warmer days. If you like what you drink, bags of beans, drip bags, brewing equipment, tea, matcha and chocolate are sold to take away, and the company also runs coffee classes.

The Glockenbach café opens Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:00 and at weekends and on public holidays from 9:00 to 19:00, so it works for an early coffee or an afternoon break. The other branches have their own hours: the Marienplatz bar is closed on Sundays, and the Schwabing branch closes in the afternoon. At weekends there may be a short queue.

Man Versus Machine suits coffee enthusiasts, solo travellers and anyone who prefers a lighter, fruitier style of coffee to a traditional Bavarian café. It is not the place for a long sit-down lunch, but it pairs well with a walk through the neighbourhood. Prices are in line with specialty coffee elsewhere in Europe.

The Glockenbachviertel, south of the old town, is one of Munich's liveliest districts, known for independent shops, bars and restaurants and for being at the centre of the city's LGBTQ+ scene. Müllerstraße is a few minutes' walk from Sendlinger Tor station on the U1, U2, U3 and U6 and close to the Gärtnerplatz. From here it is a short stroll down to the Isar riverbanks. If you are visiting the Pinakotheken, the Maxvorstadt branch on Schellingstraße is more convenient, and the Marienplatz bar is handy in the old town.