The Ugly American Coffee House in Dusseldorf, Germany

West Coast Vibes in an Urban German Landscape

Whether you are just passing through or making Düsseldorf home, the Ugly American Coffee House offers a familiar sanctuary for the American abroad.

Just nine months young, the Ugly American Coffee House in Düsseldorf is carving out its own unique caffeinated niche by serving creative caffeine and delicious munchies in a cozy café.

When San Francisco native Maha Shamiyeh moved to Düsseldorf, she kept her eyes open for the perfect place for her west coast style coffee house vision. She found it at Bagelstraße 130, a glass front shop with the just the right vibe.

While searching, she was teased by her German brother-in-law that she was the epitome of an ugly American. She cast aside the offense and grabbed the brilliant name for her ultra-hip coffee spot.

The Ugly American claims the "most interesting alcohol-free drinks in Germany" with good cause. In addition to a delectable array of macchiato, espresso and cappuccino, Ms. Shamiyeh has gifted the drink menu with tastes from all over the globe little found elsewhere in Düsseldorf.

The Kaffee Americano is espresso with ice water while the Rocket Fuel (aka Hangover Help) is coffee with a shot of espresso. The Edel Kaffee offers a taste of Ethiopia or Nicaragua, the Cubanischer is espresso with sugar and milk and bringing home the caffeine is The Ugly, a latte with Kahlua flavor topped with a marshmallow. Syrup flavors come in 21 varieties including amaretto, caramel, gingerbread and almond as well as sugar free choices in chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla.

The teas get ever more extraordinary from the classic bottomless pot of English Breakfast Tea to Chai Lattes to Fresh Peppermint. The Matcha Green Tea Latte with sugar and hot milk is the Ugly American's version of a Japanese traditional tea ceremony tea.

A rarity in Germany, the Ugly American offers rich hot chocolate with milk and cream and a spicier version in the Mexicanische Heise Schokolade. The Steamer is another tasty treat made of hot milk with once of the house syrups or wild honey.