Aksum

Really great coffee. Ethiopian. We only learned now that is the birth place of coffee. Before we never really could tell the differences between coffees, or good ones and bad ones. But this is really the best one.

The place itself was really small and crowded, it was not good for work or reading. And they only open after 10 so a morning coffee was not possible.

But all these complains couldn't stop us for craving for a coffee here, within the crowd and uncomfortably small table, and ready to move to coffee capital nearby for a working environment.

An absolute paradise for lovers of Ethiopian coffee.

If hearing the words "Harar," "Sidamo," "Yirgacheffe," and/or "Limu" sets off an imaginary Pavlovian bell in your subconscious mind, then Aksum Coffee House should definitely be a destination for you during your stay in Brussels.

Aksum roasts their own beans every week, rotating between different varieties, and the coffee here is served in any manner befitting all strati of coffee enthusiast: espresso, drip, and even through a miniature moka pot.

After getting rained on for a majority of the afternoon I stopped by for a quick doppio of their fresh roasted Limu, and it was quite possibly by far the most flavorful cup of espresso I'd had in my life. YMMV, but dark chocolate, raisins, plums, stone fruit with an abundance of toffee and caramel... it may have been raining outside, but it was definitely sunshine and fresh cut grass in my head for the thirty minutes I was inside this sanctuary to black gold.

Aksum does also sell their (whole) beans to go, and I believe they have a few baked goods you can purchase to enjoy with your coffee as well -- the barista that served me was really chatty and nice; not at all shy about giving me recommendations and pointers about when to come back to pick up the freshest beans they had in stock.

I also remember the price being very reasonable for the quality being offered -- I think I paid just over 5 EUR for my doppio and my hand-dripped Limu, either of which I'd probably end up paying at least 6-8 dollars for each back home; I've said it once and I'll say it again, Europe probably has the entire world beat when it comes to cost performance on coffee.

A great little coffee shop-- I know it is African inspired, but to me it felt like the kind of European coffee shop in books set at the turn of the century (or really any time before Starbucks and clones started being the norm). It's absolutely charming, very small with a few seats outside.

We ended up coming here three times in a weekend, my companion was very happy with the quality of the coffee, and even had an espresso (which is a compliment as he wouldn't trust them many places.) I had an excellent hot chocolate.

I would recommend this place for your caffeine needs as well as to pause and let the world go by. It's about a 5 minute walk from the main square but is on a quiet side street, so really pleasant. Free wifi with a code.

You've got to love a good coffee joint and this certainly is one! Wherever I am in the world I am always on the look out for great coffee so I was really happy to find this place.

They specialise in Ethiopian coffee, rich and strong - just how I like my men (jokes). As it was a hot day, my partner opted for an iced coffee which was delicious! I had a latte and a mini espresso shot type thing with a boozy liqueur in it too. It was incredible but I definitely had coffee envy over what my partner had.

There were plug sockets to charge our phones and free wifi too, along with outdoor seating for anyone wanting to lap up the sunshine. Really friendly guys in here, I would love to come back if I'm in the area again.

- Price/Quality: Coffees and teas, both exquisite and exotic. Maybe a little bit expensive but to me definitely worth the price.
- Health: As far as green tea cake can be called healthy...
- Pleasure: Great atmosphere, great tastes.
- Quantity: The usual quantities.
- Variety: Teas and coffees from far away places plus a couple of cakes to choose from.

Being from Seattle, finding a really good coffee in Europe is not as easy as you think. Mostly it's mediocre. So we were very happy to find this gem, not 250 meters from the grand place but much further removed than that from the hordes who are searching for that mannekin thang.

Our macchiatos were perfect. Rich. Lovely crema. Robust. Well worth the twenty minute walk from the flat in ixelles where we were staying.

The perfect place to get a great cup of coffee.... They are in a new location rue chapeliers 17

Excellent Ethiopian coffee for a reasonable price (€3 for a double espresso I think - and they bring you a free glass of water, which is rare in Brussels). Also, the shop smells extremely good :)

2 downsides: Only one coffee available, and the waiters don't try to explain a bit the story of this coffee and what it tastes like.

Sympathetic coffee place that specialises in Ethiopian coffee. The chai tea latte was great. The espresso is creamy and its taste lingers on your tongue long after the last sip.

Mmm. I had my first Belgian hot chocolate in Aksum, and what a wonderful choice it was. The drink is made from Ghana fair trade dark chocolate, with a hint of nutmeg and steamed milk. Although the hot chocolate comes in milk and dark flavors, I would definitely recommend the dark chocolate, since it's rich and chocolatey without being too sweet.