There are places where it becomes immediately clear from the moment you walk in that you are not meant to simply grab your morning coffee and leave. DÓZIS Fine Pastries & Specialty Coffee is exactly that kind of place. The bright, light-filled Budapest café, renovated this summer, is filled with speciality coffees, freshly delivered pastries, sweet and savoury laminated treats, and constantly changing desserts. The selection is not only impressive to look at, either. Behind it is an artisanal approach where the quality of the ingredients and the time dedicated to preparation are equally important.
The story of DÓZIS, which began in Gödöllő
The story of DÓZIS began during the COVID period. The founders dreamed of creating a place where their passion for coffee, pastry-making, baked goods and high-quality ingredients could all come together. The first major chapter of the story is connected to Gödöllő, where the ice cream shop opened in 2020, followed that same year by the Kútház Manufaktúra pastry workshop and, in October, the Kútház Újhullámos Kávékortyoló.
Over the following years, the story continued to grow. Their own coffee roasting operation launched in 2023, and in July of the same year they took over the Grumpy Monkey bakery in Mogyoród and its Budapest café. This Budapest location later became DÓZIS, while in 2024 they continued building their background in Gödöllő with their own micro-roastery.
Despite all this growth, one thing has remained unchanged throughout. Only products that they themselves would be happy to serve make it out of the workshop. This philosophy is easy to recognise when standing in front of the counter, too.
They don’t rush the pastries
One of DÓZIS’s most important characteristics is that the pastries are made in an artisanal setting. Rather than following the logic of an industrial production line, they give the dough the time it needs to develop properly. Resting the laminated doughs and allowing for longer fermentation are all part of the process, resulting in pastries where not only the filling but the pastry itself is part of the experience.
The pastries arrive fresh from the Mogyoród bakery every day, so the selection is constantly refreshed. At DÓZIS, the focus is primarily on pastries and confectionery treats, with classic bread and baguettes not part of the selection. That is hardly a drawback, though, as there is already plenty to choose from among the laminated pastries alone.
They don’t compromise on the quality of the butter, either. Both the pastry and bakery products are made with 82% fat butter, which is particularly important when it comes to laminated doughs. The right ingredients and carefully executed lamination are visible at first glance: the pastry forms beautiful layers, bakes to a golden brown, and remains light and airy inside.
Savoury pastries, from classics to bolder combinations
The savoury selection naturally includes one of the simplest and best versions of the croissant. If all we want is a freshly baked, buttery pastry alongside our morning coffee, the classic croissant is a great choice. Those looking for more distinctive flavours, however, have plenty more options. The ham and cheese croissant delivers the familiar combination, while the Dutch cheese version takes the classic laminated pastry in a slightly more intense direction. These are the kind of pastries that require little thought: we know exactly what to expect, and that is precisely why they are so difficult to go wrong with.
Among the bolder choices, there is a mushroom and thyme triangle as well as a bacon pillow, but one of the most interesting combinations is the dill and cottage cheese danish, topped with jalapeño. Dill is well known for working beautifully with the creaminess of cottage cheese, while the jalapeño adds a subtle kick to the whole thing.
What makes the savoury pastries particularly enjoyable is that they do not rely solely on the fillings to make things interesting. The pastry itself is an important part of the final result every time. The layers created by the lamination are beautifully defined, with a pleasantly crisp exterior and a light, airy texture inside.
Two favourites in one pastry
One of the most eye-catching treats in the sweet selection is the cruffin. The name comes from combining the words croissant and muffin, and the pastry itself brings these two worlds together. A croissant-style laminated dough is baked in the characteristic tall shape of a muffin, then made even more exciting with different creams and fillings.
At DÓZIS, we can choose from several varieties, making it easy to find our own favourite among the cruffins. The coffee cream version is a particularly good match for the café’s specialty coffee focus, while the blueberry one brings a fruitier, fresher character. The pistachio and vanilla versions, meanwhile, are ideal for those looking for more classic, creamy flavours.
A sweet DÓZIS to start the day, from classics to new favourites
Among the sweet croissants, we can find both pistachio and almond versions, alongside classics such as pain au chocolat and túrós batyu (sweet cottage cheese buns). The selection also includes cinnamon, walnut and chocolate peak pastries, giving us plenty to choose from, from the simplest morning sweet treat to richer, filled pastries.
One of our favourites was the fruit danish. A rich, creamy vanilla custard is layered onto beautifully laminated, buttery pastry, then complemented by fresh fruit. The result is both creamy and refreshing, while the danish pastry provides that buttery, slightly crisp base that makes this type of pastry so difficult to tire of.
With pastries like these, balance is particularly important. If there is too much cream, the pastry gets lost; if the filling is too sweet, the freshness of the fruit disappears. At DÓZIS, these elements complement each other beautifully, resulting in something rich without becoming too heavy.
There’s always something new in the display fridge
If you are not necessarily in the mood for a pastry, it is worth taking a good look at the display fridge, too. The selection here changes constantly, so a return visit can easily bring a different dessert from the one we chose last time. At the moment, the selection may include mango cheesecake, a vegan slice, filled cocoa brioche, tapioca pudding and banana bread. This section is particularly appealing to those who like returning to the same place, as we are not necessarily greeted by the same desserts every time.
Seasonal treats are also an important part of the selection. The end of the year is all about bejgli, while at Easter, kalács naturally takes its place at the counter as well. DÓZIS therefore does not rely on one fixed selection, but also welcomes guests with desserts that evolve alongside the seasons.
Among the more classic sweets, the brownie and isler are also firm favourites. The brownie delivers exactly what we want from this kind of dessert: a thin, slightly crisp crust on the outside, with a moist, soft and richly chocolatey texture inside.
The isler is a slightly more distinctive story. The white chocolate version includes pumpkin seeds in the pastry, while the more classic chocolate version gets extra character from nuts. Getting the right balance of butter and flour is particularly important here, as this is what gives the isler its crumbly texture rather than making it dry or hard.
These pastries show that DÓZIS does not necessarily try to stand out by completely reinventing everything. Often, a good ingredient, a more interesting addition and careful preparation are enough to turn a familiar pastry into an entirely different experience.
DÓZIS Specialty Coffee, roasted in-house
Another important pillar of DÓZIS is, of course, coffee. The beans are roasted in Gödöllő according to their own recipes, and the selection is constantly changing. When we visit, we can typically choose between two different coffees, each offering a distinct character. One usually has fresher, more citrus-forward notes and works particularly well as everything from an espresso to a flat white. Larger milk-based drinks, such as a latte, are paired with a coffee with a deeper, more chocolatey character. This means we can choose not only how our coffee is prepared, but also what kind of flavour profile we want in our cup.
The beans are changed regularly, and the origin of the current coffee can also be found next to the coffee machine. It is a small but important detail, as it gives us an idea of what kind of coffee we are about to drink even before ordering, and if we are interested in the world of specialty coffee, it allows us to make a more informed choice. Decaf coffee is also part of the selection, so those who prefer their drink without caffeine do not have to compromise either.
Alongside coffee, matcha also features on the drinks menu, served in a pleasantly creamy form. The iced mango matcha latte is particularly appealing to those who are looking for something fruitier alongside the classic matcha flavour.
Among the lemonades, we can also find something a little more unusual, such as the butterfly pea lemonade. It is hard to miss thanks to its colour alone, but it is not simply a visually striking drink. It offers something beyond the usual lemonades and fits perfectly with the lighter, more modern side of DÓZIS.
At DÓZIS, everything essentially points in the same direction. They give the dough time to develop in their pastries, roast their own coffee, and constantly evolve the selection. All of this comes together in a bright Budapest café renovated this summer, where it is easy to sit down for a coffee, choose a freshly baked pastry to go with it, and then give ourselves some time to simply enjoy the flavours.
And perhaps that is exactly why the name is so fitting. A DÓZIS can be a morning coffee, a crisp croissant, a creamy cruffin or an afternoon pastry. A little dose of whatever we happen to be craving, but one that we will probably find ourselves needing again the next time around.
DÓZIS Fine Pastries & Specialty Coffee
Address: 1134, Budapest, Taksony u. 7.
Photos: Lepsik Norbert – Brunch Budapest