Café: Parlor Coffee

Thanks to Parlor Coffee, the Charleroisesteenweg/Chaussée de Charleroi is a little less sad these days. Dedicated to coffee, this place is as good for morale as it is to your stomach.

How did we fail to notice this little gem? Quite honestly, we have no idea. All the same, it’s been four years since Yumi and Bram opened this friendly spot. Parlor Coffee is to Sint-Gillis/Saint-Gilles what “Central Perk” is to Friends, a place where regulars come together over a double espresso (€3), which the couple who run the place prepare the second loyal customers walk through the door.

This is especially true upstairs, which is a sort of cosy little mezzanine. The ground floor, simple and slightly more austere but covered in wood, is mainly occupied by those whose screen is their best friend.

The capital is currently being flooded with places whose main attraction is coffee. So, what makes Parlor Coffee special? Aside from the immense friendliness of the owners, it’s the emphasis that this dual-origin couple (Bram is Flemish, Yumi is Japanese) place on single-origin coffees (Ethiopia, Guatemala, Brazil, Kenya, etc.) rather than the usual blends.

Furthermore, the owners work from scratch using raw beans that are roasted onsite by an enormous machine made by Probat, which is located at the back of the establishment. Surprisingly, the raw ingredients are provided by a Scandinavian supplier, the preferred choice of the proprietors, who are full of praise for its quality.

Another strong point of the place is the snacks on offer. As well as a selection of bagels (€11), a variety of homemade and often gluten-free baked goods is available – banana bread (€3.50), matcha brownie (€3.50), carrot cake (€5) – as well as “bibimpaps” (€15). Updated and improved by Yumi, bibimpaps are Korean snacks, fresh and full of flavour, the “veggie” version combining rice, beansprouts, cabbage, courgette, carrot, sesame seeds, avocado, rocket, and sweet-and-sour sauce. Pouring some of the excellent “hot ginger” (€4) over the dish is recommended.

Happiness is just a trip to “Parlor Coffee” away.

di/ma/Tu > vr/ve/Fr: 08.00 > 18.00
week-end: 09.00 > 18.00