Cappuccino Showdown in Brno: Comparing Cafes for Your Perfect Cup
Living Journalism
Are you a cappuccino lover? If so, you've come to the right place. Cappuccino is a delicious hot beverage made from espresso and steamed milk, originating from Italy and being the most popular coffee with milk worldwide. However, the price and value of a cappuccino may vary depending on the cafe. In this article, we will compare the quality, atmosphere, and overall experience of drinking cappuccinos in three popular Brno cafes: the global corporation Starbucks, the trendy local cafe Skog, and the family-owned confectionery and cafe Bukovsky.
We selected these cafes because of their significant economic differences. Starbucks is a global corporation with a ubiquitous presence in the coffee industry, while Skog is a trendy local cafe with many customers rolling in, making it a profitable cafe in a competitive market. Bukovsky is a small family owned business that relies on loyal customers.
Apart from their economic differences, sourcing ingredients also distinguishes these coffee shops. Starbucks sources coffee from large plantations, which has been criticised for being unethical and environmentally damaging. The company occasionally sources milk locally but also from large corporations that may not prioritise animal welfare or environmental sustainability.
In contrast, Skog roasts their coffee and sources milk from local Moravian farmers, supporting the local economy and ensuring responsible ingredient sourcing. Meanwhile, Bukovsky also sources their coffee and milk from large corporations.
Whether you are a die-hard Starbucks fan, prefer cool insta-friendly spots like Skog or the traditional small cafe vibe of Bukovsky, read on to discover which coffee shop serves the best cappuccinos in Brno.
Starbucks
Our first coffee shop of choice was Starbucks, one of the world's largest coffee chains known for its claim of excellent coffee. However, Starbucks is also known for its cup labeling system, introduced in 1992. We wanted to compare this corporate giant with smaller local businesses to see how their prices, cappuccino size, and quality differ and to examine demand and price changes over time.
History
If you do not know Starbucks, where have you been? Starbucks started as a small coffee bean shop in Seattle in 1971 and has since expanded to around 35 000 cafes worldwide. The chain offers a variety of coffee drinks, teas, iced drinks, pastries, sweets, snacks, and other refreshments, with product ranges that vary depending on the country and location. For example, in some countries, they may also offer alcoholic drinks or food such as sandwiches, salads and soups. They also sell coffee machines for home use and offer their products through an online store.
Ingredients
Starbucks proclaims to buy environmentally friendly fair-trade coffee, but in 2017, only 1.1% of their total purchases were fair-trade. The rest mainly came from farms in Cuba that sprayed their fields with pesticides for higher yields. Starbucks claims all their coffee is now fair-trade. Starbucks gets its coffee by sourcing it from over 30 countries. The key growing regions are Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America.
In taste tests, the coffee has ranked lower than some supermarket coffees, which cannot be very good for business. Additionally, Starbucks coffee contains twice as much caffeine as competing coffee shops, as suggested by research done on the matter.
Starbucks sells its brand of coffee called Starbucks Roast, which is 100% Arabica. Their coffees are classified according to three roast profiles - blonde, medium, and dark roasts. Of course, there are additional subcategories. The coffee sold in their stores or under their name is also used to make coffee for customers.
Price
Starbucks offers three different cappuccino sizes:
tall (350ml): 99 crowns
grande (500ml): 109 crowns
and venti (600ml): 119 crowns.
The price has risen by four crowns in the last six months due to inflation, with a tall cappuccino costing 95 crowns half a year ago.
Milk and toppings
Customers can choose how many shots of espresso they want, whether they want it wet (less foam) or dry (more foam), and from various syrups, such as vanilla, caramel, and hazelnut, as well as the amount of sugar and caffeine. Starbucks offers many plant-based milk options at no additional cost, which is interesting considering its reputation for being more expensive than other coffee shops. In most cafes, customers have to pay extra for plant-based milk.
SKØG
The Skøg Café is situated in the heart of Brno and was established by two Slovakian entrepreneurs during their university days. They started their roastery, which is now known as Rusty Nails. Skøg Cafe has been in operation since 2014 and has built a loyal customer base due to its Scandinavian-inspired design and quality menu, which caters to vegetarians and vegans.
Ingredients
Skøg's cappuccino is 150 millilitres, consisting of 25 millilitres of espresso and 125 millilitres of frothed milk. Their coffee is sourced from their in-house roastery, Rusty Nails. A 200-gram bag of roasted espresso beans typically costs around 280 Czech crowns.
The café sources its milk from Farma Struhy, a Czech company specialising in cattle breeding and the production of dairy products using traditional methods. Their products are free from preservatives, colourings, starches, stabilisers or artificial sweeteners. They also provide barista milk, which contains more fat, making it easier to foam into the coffee. In addition to cow's milk, plant-based milk alternatives are also available. We discovered that the baristas at Skøg Café prepare cappuccino using the traditional Italian recipe.
Price
The ingredients used in Skøg's cappuccino are of first-class quality and locally sourced. Customers pay 69 Czech crowns for a 150-milliliter cup of the beverage. The price has gone up by four crowns in the past six months, as it was previously priced at 65 Czech crowns
Bukovský
Bukovský is a family-owned confectionery and café located in Brno, Czech Republic. The business is run by a father and his two sons, and prides itself on traditional, high-quality pastries. To ensure they stay inspired, Mr. Bukovský occasionally travels to Italy to attend world fairs. The café has two branches in Brno - in Žabovřesky and Řečkovice - with the latter being situated slightly outside the city center. Despite this, hundreds of visitors flock to the café daily, including an older age group who appreciate the adapted menu offerings. In addition to fresh daily desserts, Bukovský also offers classic Czech bread and, of course, cappuccinos.
Ingredients
When it comes to their cappuccinos, Bukovský uses Filicori Zecchini Italian coffee beans, which are renowned for their family tradition and craftsmanship. Very similar to Bukovský, is it not? Filicori Zecchini’s “Brazilian” coffee beans weighing 340 g cost 320 Czech crowns. The coffee is slightly bitter to sour, typical of Italian coffees, but this is lost in the cappuccino. Experienced baristas prepare the cappuccinos with a shot of espresso and whipped whole milk from Moravia, a high-quality fresh whole milk from the Vysočina region with a fat content of 3.6%. The cappuccinos are served in 180-milliliter cups on a silver tray, accompanied by a glass of water and two sugars.
Price
The price for one cup of cappuccino at Bukovsky café is 75 Czech crowns, which is higher than Skøg café's price, but it may be due to the larger serving size or the traditional service.
Quality over quantity?
In conclusion, when it comes to finding the best cappuccino in Brno, each coffee shop offers a unique experience. Starbucks may be a safe option for those seeking large, customised coffee, but its sourcing practices and pricing may not align with ethical and environmentally responsible standards. Skøg offers locally sourced ingredients and a trendy atmosphere, but its higher prices may not be accessible to everyone. While Bukovský could improve its sourcing practices to better align with ethical and environmentally responsible standards, it is a small family-owned business that prioritizes tradition and quality. Ultimately, the best cappuccino in Brno depends on individual preferences and priorities. Whether one seeks a familiar chain, a trendy café, or a traditional Italian-style café, Brno offers plenty of options to explore.