Hey there!

Grab your passport and prep your taste buds, because this week on The Red Eye we're taking you on a journey to the vibrant streets of Prague.

We're ditching the tourist traps and taking you off the beaten path to explore 5 hidden gems that locals recommend on a first trip. We’ll prowl the markets, ascend 300 feet above the city for a breathtaking view, and grab a pint of Pilsner along the meandering Vltava river. As we explore the cobblestone alleys, we’ll sip some of the best coffee in the city’s revolutionary coffee bars, and wrap up with a lesson on how Prague-style roasts are made.

So, brew up a hot cup of your favorite roast, and let’s hit the back streets of Bohemia!

Prague's hidden stimulants:
offbeat adventures, revolutionary cafés. 

The heart of Europe, caffeinated and buzzing.

Ever since Jarda Tuček ignited Prague’s caffeinated revolution in 2010 with the iconic doubleshot roastery, the Pražáci (pronounced "prah-ZHAH-tsee," the word for Prague locals) have been religiously savoring their daily cups of specialty coffee. As you meander through the cobblestone streets and squares, you'll encounter a buzzing coffee scene, complete with inviting cafes and roasteries waiting to recharge your spirit.

Ready to elevate your grand Czech adventure with a caffeine kick?

Let’s get off the beaten path.

Ah, Prague - the city of a hundred spires and 6 million tourists.

But why limit yourself to the same Instagram-soaked spots as the masses? Your time is valuable, let's deviate from the postcard path and venture into the lesser-known corners of this enchanting city. The unforgettable memories you'll create come from the hidden squares, parks, and cafés just waiting to be discovered.

Here are 5 gems to add to your itinerary for a first trip (or a refresher visit):

1. LETNÁ BEER GARDEN: Why settle for a blasé bar when you can grab a tasty local Pilsner while gazing upon the picturesque Vltava River? This beer garden offers an unbeatable view of the city, and its relaxed atmosphere is a haven for both locals and savvy travelers alike.
   
   ☕ COFFEE BREAK — closest coffee nearby is Cafe Letka, with it's beautiful space. Even better coffee is a little further away at format coffee.
   

2. VYŠEHRAD: Bored of Prague Castle? Seek solace at Vyšehrad, a historic fort perched atop a hill overlooking the Vltava. Steeped in legends and with breathtaking panoramas, it's the perfect spot for history buffs and selfie connoisseurs alike.
   
   ☕ COFFEE BREAK — check out tiny Kafesha bar for a quick dose of caffeine. If you need cake with that (yes please!), then bee-line to Coffee Break and Cake.
   

3. KAMPA ISLAND: Nestled snugly beneath Charles Bridge, Kampa Island in the city center feels like a secret hideaway. Prowl its idyllic streets, admire the whimsical sculptures, and soak up the serenity of its parks—bonus points if you stumble upon the nearby Lennon Wall, a vibrant homage to peace and love (IG-worthy).
   
   ☕ COFFEE BREAK — we go to Café Club Míšeňská with its chic garden space and delicious coffee.

Got a Prague question, travel tip, or recommendation? 🤔

Awesome! Click here to ask a question or leave a comment (or click the button below). We promise we'll answer it faster than your barista can say "affogato al caffè" three times fast! ☕️

What is a Prague-style roast?

We believe that Prague's specialty coffee scene is nothing short of revolutionary.

In the past, traditional Prague-style coffee tended to be over-roasted and bulk-drip brewed, with coffee taking a back seat to the true stars of the café show - cakes and sweets. This often led to gallons of coffee being brewed and saved in thermoses for hours on end.

But thanks to Prague's progressive specialty roasters, coffee is finally taking center stage, with precision roasting and brewing techniques that put the focus on the coffee itself.

Do as the masters do.

To truly honor the Prague roasting masters, we must follow in their footsteps.

• We've learned that the key to a great cup of coffee is sourcing the freshest green beans, grown organically and traded fairly.

• It's crucial to control the roast for a medium toast, allowing the beans to develop just after the first crack.

• And the roasted coffee should be left to rest for a few days, then ground properly and brewed as a pour-over for the ideal cup.

That is the recipe for roasting and brewing like the Prague masters.

And so we dü.

We follow in the footsteps of the masters, with some tweaks that make our Prague roast uniquely ours:

• We source our green coffee beans from women-owned farms in the Huehuetenango area of Guatemala. It’s part of the ELLA initiative of Onyx coffee importers, partnering up with women growers who have forged their own paths for their families through their coffee farms.

• We roast our coffee at the collaborative roasting office of CoRo in Berkeley, California. We precisely control our roast for Prague perfection using a Loring S35 Kestrel roaster, one of the most efficient modern roasters with the lowest carbon footprint.

• We go easier on the environment by using only fully compostable packaging and shipping materials. No plastics or yucky things ending up in a landfill. We believe that matters.

The result: Our Prague is roasted medium, with a brown sugary sweetness, a creamy body with pleasing nuttiness, and with a touch of orange and berries that make it so uniquely Dü Coffee.

Taste Prague for yourself.

You can brew up our Prague roast for yourself, delivered right to your mailbox or front door. We’d love to hear your feedback on how our Prague roast tastes and smells!

You can pick up a bag of Prague roast, and we’ll save you $5 on your first bag (that makes it just $13). Just go to our Prague page, select your preferred bag size, then use discount code PRAGUE-5 at check-out.

It’s time for this week’s Lucky Draw! How does it work?

• Share your answer in the poll below, and you’ll be entered into the Lucky Draw for a FREE Trial Roast Taster of fresh-roasted coffee.

• We’re shipping out free bags of coffee this week to 5 Lucky Draw winners! 🔥

• Winners get to pick their favorite roast style from world cities Stockholm (light roast Ethiopia Yirgacheffe), Prague (medium Guatemala), Milan (medium+ blend), and Istanbul (dark blend).

Ok, here’s this week’s poll:

Share The Red Eye, win coffee.

Tell your friends and family about The Red Eye, and let's grow this community of coffee-loving travelers together!

Share your personal referral link anywhere your friends hang out. When you share and your friends sign-up, we’ll send you free coffee! ☕

Here's your personal link:

https://newsletter.du.coffee/subscribe?ref=PLACEHOLDER

Right now you're just 2 referrals away from free coffee! 👍