A course for vivacity: Moscow coffee map

Our productivity and vigor often depend on coffee. Everyone is familiar with the situation when he runs to the nearest coffee shop before work, but when he comes out of there, he is disappointed both by the price tag and the taste of his favorite drink. That is why the production company “Team +1” created the Coffee Map of Moscow. Denis Kargaev, the author of the idea of the map, told us how the favorite site of the capital’s coffee drinkers was created.

From idea to realization

On the first Coffee Map, released in 2015, only 41 coffee shops were mapped. By 2018, the number of coffee shops on the map increased to 213.

Denis Kargaev, author of the Coffee Map of Moscow: “Initially the idea came to mind when we cooperated with the Caffe Del Parco coffee chain – their visitors often asked where else they could drink “good coffee like yours”. We decided to gather all the key coffee outlets in the capital in one place – we made a printed version, and then launched the online version ourselves. In the first version, in 2015, there were 41 such places, and just two years later the number of our residents is approaching three hundred. We collected the first hundred coffee shops ourselves, and then we were literally flooded with applications from coffee shops, mini-chains and coffee enthusiasts. We still get dozens of requests a month – we take the time to find, test and map out the worthy locations.”

Online or print? Take your pick!

The online version of the Coffee Map is free. You can also buy a printed version, which will serve as a great guide and a nice gift for all coffee lovers. The printed version of the Coffee Card can be purchased in many coffee shops, including Kofemania, UDC-cafe, Doubleby and others. A full list of coffee shops can be found on the website.

“The printed version is a great souvenir, you can hang it on the wall and put places on it yourself. The online version is constantly being added to; we’ve put more than 50 residents on it since last December.”

“In the beginning it was difficult for us to decide to go crowdfunding – it wasn’t clear if anyone else needed it but us. But when we decided, everything became simple and interesting, we found both the designer of the printed version and the cameraman with whom we shot the promo video. And, of course, the guys from Boomstarter, who gave us a real crowdfunding tutorial, were of great help.

During the implementation of the project I realized that there are a huge number of amazing people in this world – both in large networks and in underground coffee shops. And a lot of people are willing to help you.

“Now we’re thinking about how to implement testing coffee shops across the country so that Coffee Cards can appear in other cities.”

Top 4 coffee shops from the creator of Coffee Card Moscow

● “Progress” on Mayakovskaya: Denis recommends trying Flat White;

● Skuratov coffee roasters on Prospekt Mira: Air Latte is recommended;

● “One Bucks Coffee” on Novy Arbat: “Cappuccino and cottage cheese casserole is a great combo”;

● “Wake up Boris” on Chekhovskaya Street: “A coffee shop in an unexpected place with an amazingly charming barista”.

Can you do it?

We offer you a little challenge:

● Use the coffee card to find the coolest coffee shop near your home and work and enjoy your favorite coffee every day!

● Give a printed version of the Coffee Map of Moscow to a coffee-loving friend (its recommended cost is 100 rubles) and mark together with him/her the visited coffee houses of the city!