September 13, 2016

Grant and I both love coffee. And before we left Hawai`i, to get in the traveling spirit, we looked up a bunch of travel videos online of Switzerland and other places in Europe. That’s when Grant introduced me to the Travel Channel series Passport To Europe with host Samantha Brown. This show features a more posh way to travel than those presented in Globe Trekker or Rick Steves’ Europe. Which is the way I dream of traveling someday. So when I saw the episode in which Samantha visits Conditorei Schober located in the Old Town section of Zürich, and orders a hot chocolate with a mountain of whipped cream on top, I thought, ‘we will have to go there!’ .

Conditorei Schober Tea Room is located in a section of Old Town known as the “sweet corner” on Napfgasse 4 across from a 19th-century coffee roaster. I reckon the reason it’s called the “sweet corner” is because it’s located in its own little niche next to the main cobblestone alley.

It definitely feels like you are going back in time when you step into this cafe. There is a confection counter selling handmade sweets, cakes, and other delicacies. This store has been around since the mid-19th century, and now they serve coffee as well.

On this lovely Tuesday afternoon, we decided to sit at a table outside. Grant ordered a doppio, which is a double espresso coffee, and I ordered the house special mocha with whipped cream. This mocha is brewed with house-made chocolate.

It came out piping hot, and the mountain of whip cream did not disappoint. The whipped cream was delectable, and not sweet from sugar but just pure, rich cream.  But, I have to say, it was the best mocha I’ve ever had. The richness of the chocolate was thick and tangible and the coffee gave a bitter depth to the taste. It was totally worth the 8 franc ($8) price tag.

Grant’s doppio was flavorful, strong, and perfect for keeping him awake for the rest of the afternoon.

We’ve gone back and I have tried the house special hot chocolate but the mocha is by far the best drink out of the two. If you are in town, this cafe is a good treat, despite the fact that it is mentioned in all of the tourist books. The servers were really nice and they are used to serving foreigners, they all speak english.

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