Why go
Own roasting, competition lots, laboratory framing
The coffee is roasted in house and handled like lab work: Meet LAB Coffee talks about examining every stage “laboratuvar hassasiyetinde”, at laboratory precision, from bean selection through to the brew. The business started in Istanbul in 2016 and now runs six branches and one roastery, with this Caddebostan room among them. The shelf shows what that precision is for: Competition Series Yemen Al-Ofairi XI KENT, Finca Soledad Gesha, Finca Soledad Sydra XDT, Finca Soledad Typica Mejorado, Competition Series Colombia Rio Bamisa Gesha, Brazil Amora, and the house Bigten lot from Jose & Pepe J, which runs fresh and fruity with honey, lemonade, mint and pineapple. Filter, espresso and omni roasts are all catered for, in the cup and in bags to carry out.
A warm, minimal room in a wider network
The rooms are warm and minimal rather than clinical, which is a useful counterweight to all the laboratory language. The Istanbul network takes in Campus, Bağdat Caddesi, Moda, Yalıkavak, Caddebostan and Suadiye, so this is a distributed brand rather than a single independent bar, and the roastery sits behind all of them. It was ranked 47th on The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops, which picked out the scientific approach alongside waste repurposing and eco-friendly ceramics, and the Specialty Coffee Association featured the brand's packaging design in 2025. Food and pastry are the thinnest part of the picture here; the coffee is what the operation is built to do.
Order the Bigten, then look at the competition lots
Start with the Bigten lot, the house coffee and the easiest read on what the roastery is aiming for: fresh, fruity and balanced, with honey, lemonade, mint and pineapple. From there the competition series is the interesting move, whether that is the Yemen Al-Ofairi or the Colombia Rio Bamisa Gesha, and the Finca Soledad coffees cover gesha, sydra and typica mejorado if varietal comparison is the point of the visit. Ask for filter if you want origin clarity and espresso if you want weight; the omni roasts are built to take either. The brand also runs brewing guides, quizzes, events and SCA courses in barista work, roasting, sensory and Q grading, so a cup here can turn into a subscription, a bag or a course.
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Frequently asked questions
What should I order at Meet LAB Coffee?
The Bigten lot is the house coffee and the clearest read on the roastery: fresh, fruity and balanced, with honey, lemonade, mint and pineapple. From there, the competition series is the interesting move, either the Yemen Al-Ofairi or the Colombia Rio Bamisa Gesha. Take it as filter for clarity, espresso for weight.
Does Meet LAB Coffee roast its own coffee?
Yes. The business runs one roastery behind six Istanbul branches and frames its work as examining every stage at laboratory precision, from bean selection to brewing. That extends past the bar into subscriptions, bagged coffee, brewing guides and SCA courses in barista work, roasting, sensory and Q grading.
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