Baked, Brewed, and Beautiful: Andersen & Maillard

There are those who want to roast great coffee, and those who want to bake wonderful pastries — and then there are those who dream of combining the two successfully. Andersen & Maillard belong firmly to the latter group, being a coffee roastery and bakery all in one.

Although they’ve been around since 2018, I didn’t get to know them — or experience what they had to offer — until I came back to Denmark in 2023. By then, they had expanded from their original branch in Nørrebro to two other locations: one in Nordhavn and another in Copenhagen’s city center.

Andersen & Maillard was founded by two men, each a master in his own field. Hans Kristian Andersen (not to be confused with the famous Danish author Hans Christian Andersen) is a coffee roast master and the brains behind HANS Coffee. His partner in crime, Milton Abel, a pastry chef who has worked at renowned places such as Noma. Together, they set out to create Copenhagen’s ultimate coffee experience.

The Nørrebro branch sits on the neighborhood’s main street (Nørrebrogade), not far from Assistens cemetery, in a space that once housed a local bank. There’s plenty of indoor sitting — though you might still struggle to find a vacant spot! Perched on the corner of Møllegade, it also offers outdoor seating a bit removed from the bustling main street, perfect for sunny days. The lines maybe long (especially on weekends), but it’s worth the wait. Whether i’m entertaining visiting friends and family, or leading a tour group through Nørrebro, this is always a must-stop-spot.

Their Nordhavn location, opened in 2019, houses their main production facility. Here you can enjoy the same great coffee and pastries — plus a peek behind the scenes. If you’re wandering around the architectural playground that is Nordhavn, or stopping by for a deep in the harbor, the experience is only enhanced by sinking your teeth into a warm pastry and sipping a high-quality cup of coffee.

Their third location in the city center might be small, but it certainly packs a punch. Just a few steps from the main pedestrian street (Strøget), it is a great spot to recharge with  delicious treats - though sitting is limited. On a sunny day, grab some pastries and coffee to go and head to nearby Kongens Have for a lovely picnic.

Here are a few of my top picks for what to try:

• Cardamom Bun

  Like many bakeries in Copenhagen, their cardamom bun is superb. It might not be as complicated or novel like some of their other pastries, but a simple, well-made cardamom bun is nothing to scoff at.
  

  

  

  
  
  

• The Espresso Croissant

  What if you could combine coffee and pastry into one? I’m not sure that was the original idea, but it might well have been the inspiration for this espresso-glazed croissant.

  It might look like a regular butter croissant at first, but then the gentle espresso glaze delivers a subtle punch of flavor.

  
  

• The Chocolate Croissant

  Sounds plain, right? This one is anything but. Made from the same laminated dough as their other croissants, it features an extra chocolatey layer, twisted into a knot and filled with rich chocolate cream that will have you licking your fingers.

  
  

• The Croissant Cube with pistachio filling

  Giving new meaning to the phrase “thinking outside of the box” — while literally using one — this square-shaped pastry is made from layers of laminated dough baked in a rectangular tin,  resulting in a cube-like shape filled with silky pistachio cream.

• BMO Sourdough Buns

  As I wrote in a previous post, the BMO (Bolle Med Ost, in Danish) is a bakery’s way to prove its worth. Andersen & Maillard offer several options — from plain sourdough, to versions topped with sesame, seeds or salt and pepper — ready to be slathered with butter and paired with delicious Danish cheese.

  
  

• Soft-serve Coffee Ice Cream

  The Danish summers maybe short and mild, but that doesn’t stop the Danes from enjoying ice cream! During the warmer months, Andersen & Maillard serve coffee-flavored soft-serve — the perfect companion to your coffee, pastry, or both.

Check out Andersen & Maillard’s website for addresses and opening hours — and make sure to visit at least one of their locations during your stay.