Contact Us
Our Location
10A Philip Gunawardena Mawatha, Colombo 07 00700
About Us
Our story begins at a Viennese Coffee House – the air is buzzing with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, literature, political debate, and shared perspectives.
“…Where time and space are consumed, but only the coffee is found on the bill."
The cafes of old Vienna have been a melting pot of ideas since the late 17th century. Personified by its loud chatter, Thonet chairs, cozy alcoves, newspaper tables, and fast-moving specialty coffee, these coffee houses have been the stage upon which authors were built, society was furthered, and history was made.
Where ideas come to life .
Founded in 2021, more than 300 years later, the Department of Coffee brings to life old Vienna in the bustling city of Colombo. A space built for a cross section of people to meet, ideate, and enjoy a true coffee house experience, we are a hub that connects people to a variety of coffees from around the world.
What's so special about us...
Coffee is an evolving obsession with a multitude of nuances
As is coffee, our customers are ever-evolving in the face of globalization, innovation, and curiosity. That’s why at Department of Coffee, we take the time to truly understand our craft. Unlike anywhere else in the country, we offer coffee enthusiasts the privilege of choosing from a variety of beans, origins, and brewing methods. Every day, we strive to source our coffee from a variety of roasters, giving you the opportunity to savor specialty coffee from all around the world.
With us, Specialty Coffee is a novel experience, every single time.
At Department of Coffee, we pride ourselves on our ability to bring you a novel experience each time you stop by. Using ethically sourced beans from local farmers and international roasters, our brewing methods are constantly evolving, leaving us in search of a new way to tickle your taste buds each day.
Coffee is half art, half science
Coffee is a delicate commodity. One that requires skill and precision to perfect. When you visit us, rest assured, your cup is in good hands. Our baristas come with a wealth of training and experience in handling our variety of brewing techniques. Eager and excited, they are fully equipped to serve you with a perfectly balanced cup of coffee, every single time.
Our Signature Roasts House Blend
The Bureaucrat: Signature House Blend
The best of Fazenda Santa Lúcia (Brazil) and Finca Filadelfia (Antigua, Guatemala), The Bureaucrat Department Blend is our carefully administered espresso blend, great on its own or au lait.
With hints of chocolate, caramel, and orange, The Bureaucrat, which is excessively rich as an espresso and has complex, long lasting notes au lait, is a combination of old school espresso-blending principles and new-age tributes to traceability.
With hints of chocolate, caramel, and orange, The Bureaucrat, which is excessively rich as an espresso and has complex, long lasting notes au lait, is a combination of old school espresso-blending principles and new-age tributes to traceability.
The Diplomat: Blend of Imported and Sri Lankan Beans
single origin beans from Brazil and Colombia, combined with the home-grown Lakparakum, The Diplomat is our take on a more traditional high-quality Italian-style espresso.
A fairly forgiving roast style, this blend is easy to work with and is developed especially for espresso extraction. Though somewhat similar to The Bureaucrat, The Diplomat roast is longer, highlighting a lower acidity and more chocolate notes that are significant, even in an 8oz latte. Use a 1:2 brew ratio for 26 – 30 seconds to yield the best results for espresso.
A fairly forgiving roast style, this blend is easy to work with and is developed especially for espresso extraction. Though somewhat similar to The Bureaucrat, The Diplomat roast is longer, highlighting a lower acidity and more chocolate notes that are significant, even in an 8oz latte. Use a 1:2 brew ratio for 26 – 30 seconds to yield the best results for espresso.
The Local: Sri Lankan Beans for Espresso and Filters
Fast growing in popularity, the Lakrapakum bean is endemic to Sri Lanka and grown in a complex terrain nestled along the Mahaweli River. Combining the region’s rich soil and high altitude, The Local brews a superior cup.
Savour the notes of Sri Lankan specialty coffee in a Falak Roast, for a bright, juicy espresso, or an Ocean Roast if you prefer a filter.
Savour the notes of Sri Lankan specialty coffee in a Falak Roast, for a bright, juicy espresso, or an Ocean Roast if you prefer a filter.
The Dark Horse: Premium Dark Roast Sri Lankan Beans
A traditional Italian-style medium roast espresso that brews a bright, juicy, well-balanced cup, this blend is roasted a touch darker than The Diplomat or The Bureaucrat.
The beans used in this blend are a direct result of our growing relationship with local farmers from across the island. These home-grown coffees help us promote consistency, enabling us to provide a reliable and dependable taste profile all year around.
The beans used in this blend are a direct result of our growing relationship with local farmers from across the island. These home-grown coffees help us promote consistency, enabling us to provide a reliable and dependable taste profile all year around.
Meet our featured staff
Dinesh
Sous Chef
Aman
Head Barista
Umar
Senior Barista
Tilak
Floor Manager
Ishara
Chef De Partie
Bandara
Executive Chef
What a lovely place to eat and relax or even work, we stopped by for breakfast and their menu had a great variety to chose from. We picked some brunch items and stayed for a while with coffee and tea to top It off. The service was super, efficient and attentive. The view to the roadside was nice but the sun set In after awhile which made it warmer. The place or quite spacious and seating a little close knit but not too worrisome. They have some space for office meetings as well. Thanks !
Great food. We had the crispy burger, chocolate chip milkshake, cafe latte and the shrimp burger. All were absolute best 😍 The taste was amazing! We reached around 11.30am and all tables were already occupied. The window site seating is the best 👍 The staff were very friendly and attended to us politely. Great brunch spot!
Nice cozy Coffee House, tucked away in front of Race Course. The Vietnamese Phin (Coffee & condensed milk) was very nice & I had it for the first time.Very friendly & caring staff. Very decently priced menu as well.
Great coffee, good food, super service! What more do you want? This place checks all the boxes. It’s a new addition to Colombo’s coffee scene and is already doing an impeccable job at it. Definitely looking forward to my next visit already. Hope they continue to keep up the great standards!
Located opposite the racecourse building. The coffee was excellent and the food was also quite good. Very nice spot for brunch/breakfast. It would have been nice if there was some sort of outdoor seating due to Covid but otherwise no complaints. They also have a selection of deserts
