When Luxembourger Caroline from Echternach decided to open her own café, she had the perfect location in mind: the former corner shop and bakery that her grandparents ran in the centre of Echternach up until 1969. And that’s exactly where you will now find Carli’s Coffee.
A contemporary café for Echternach
After working in tourism for eight years, Caroline was tempted by the idea of setting up her own business, although she wasn’t too sure about venturing into catering. “I’d always had a passion for baking, but it had never crossed my mind to make a career out of it. Finally, just before turning thirty, I decided to take the plunge, just like my family before me.”
It was while on holiday in Malta that Caroline’s café project began to take shape in her mind. “I fell in love with a little pancake café over there. There wasn’t anything like it in Echternach, so I thought why not open one? A contemporary place for locals and a foodie destination to help boost tourism in the west of the country.”
In July 2022, following months of renovation work, overhauling the premises from floor to ceiling, Carli’s Coffeeopened its doors: a warm and welcoming café in trendy tones of blue, green and grey. The café has been welcoming a loyal clientele of locals and passing tourist trade ever since.
Very little, if anything, remains from her grandparents’ time in this new bright and airy establishment. “But I still have one or two of my grandmother’s cake tins, and the majority of the cakes I make are family recipes, like the plum tart and orange cake,” says Caroline with a smile.
A limited menu to prevent food waste
From 9 a.m., customers can take a seat by one of the large glass windows or in the dining room and enjoy a delicious breakfast of granola, porridge, pancakes or savoury toast. “Salmon toast with blueberry jam and salmon and egg pancakes have just been added to the menu,” says Caroline, who has opted for a limited menu to allow dishes to be made to order, using as much fresh, local produce as possible. Some menu options are also available as half portions, to avoid food waste and “to enable customers to sample several dishes”. A real hit with foodies!
At lunchtime, Carli’s lunch menu draws in people working in the town. “We offer hot dishes, such as quiches, curries, soups and Buddha bowls, which are popular with customers who don’t want pancakes or toast.”
A brilliant brunch
On Sundays, brunch lovers flock to Carli’s for its special pancake and bagel menu. Caroline also likes to regularly put on themed brunches in celebration of festivals and traditions.
In the kitchen, two chefs work alongside Caroline, who moves between kitchen and front of house. “I love chatting to my customers, but I also love preparing orders in the kitchen with my team, so at the moment I split my time between the two.” The advantage of being your own boss.
A friendly, family ambiance
Carli’s Coffee has become a firm favourite on Echternach’s culinary scene, thanks in particular to its close-knit team. “We’re a small team, almost like a family. Although I’m delighted with how the café’s taken off, I don’t want to grow too fast and risk losing the great bond that we have.”
Today, with a café that’s constantly buzzing with customers, Caroline tells us she has no regrets about her change in career: “It is extremely hard work, but I can’t think of anything more rewarding than seeing my customers happy!”
While in Echternach, Caroline recommends visiting the town’s abbey or admiring the architecture of the ‘Denzelt’ – the former Palace of Justice – on the market square. Doing so will, though, require you to extract yourself from the comforting embrace of Carli’s Coffee!
This café portrait was originally published in our Spring Edition 2025 of Kachen Magazine.
