In 1956 after the failed Hungarian Revolution, Holocaust survivors Mr George Markus and Mrs Eva Markus fled Hungary to settle in London, England. They envisaged to provide the city with coffee beans of unparalleled quality and freshness. The beans were to be both roasted and blended on the premises - a process in which Mr Markus had great experience, having run the ‘Mokka’ coffee bean shop located in the heart of Budapest prior to the Communist takeover.
Having sourced the finest coffee beans from around the world, they opened the doors to Markus Coffee at 13 Connaught Street in 1957, where the shop still stands today. Markus Coffee quickly became a household name, supplying leading hotels and restaurants as well as crowds of private customers, many commuting long distances to purchase the famous Regent & Negresco blend.
As the age of retirement approached, they channeled their expertise to Mr Sarwar - a close friend who began working for them in 1976. Today, over 50 years since the shop’s opening, Mr Sarwar has maintained these impeccable standards and continues to find the very best coffee beans from around the world. The store boasts a selection of 34 varieties of coffee beans from 13 different countries. The staff at Markus Coffee take great pride in roasting on the premises daily; the rich and awakening aroma often luring in passers-by.