Olympic Swimmers Serve Specialty Coffee: Inside Csupor Budapest

From Olympic Gold to Golden Roasts: The Swimmers Who Traded Lanes for Lattes

There’s a peculiar kind of trust involved in taking coffee recommendations from professional swimmers. Athletes whose entire careers depended on shaving milliseconds off their times, whose bodies are temples of precision and discipline. And yet here I am, standing in a tiny café on Galamb utca, watching two Olympic medalists foam milk with the kind of focus they probably used to reserve for 200-meter backstroke finals.

The Origin Story: When Swimming’s Power Couple Caught the Coffee Bug

Boglárka Kapás and Ádám Telegdy aren’t exactly strangers to the Hungarian public. She’s a world champion swimmer with Olympic medals; he’s represented Hungary at the highest levels of the sport. They met in Rome—appropriately, given Italian coffee culture—and spent years as competitive swimmers before Bogi officially retired in December 2024.

But here’s the thing: this isn’t a celebrity vanity project. Telegdy has been deep in the coffee rabbit hole for years, watching YouTube tutorials, experimenting with brewing methods at home, and making his wife taste filter coffees until she finally graduated from her strict cappuccino-only phase. The obsession became so consuming that opening a café felt less like a business decision and more like an inevitability.

The name “Csupor” came from Bogi’s sister and stuck immediately. It’s an old Hungarian word meaning a small cup or mug—simple, warm, and unpretentious. Which, as it turns out, describes the entire place perfectly.

The Space: Minimalist Done Right

Galamb utca sits just off the tourist madness of Váci utca, but it feels like a different world. The café itself is compact—maybe 20 seats at most—but that’s entirely by design. The interior was built from scratch according to their personal vision, and it shows. Think clean lines, natural materials, and an aesthetic that feels like walking into someone’s thoughtfully decorated living room.

The ceramic cups are custom-made by Hungarian ceramicist Ábel Lakatos. There are actual coffee plants in the space—not decorative fake ones, but real Coffea arabica plants from Ferenc Iglódi’s exotic plant farm, complete with coffee cherries ripening on the branches. They struggled during the move but are recovering nicely, much like my faith in celebrity business ventures.

The couple themselves are often behind the counter, especially in the early months. They’re building something they want to work in, not just own. And there’s something genuinely refreshing about world-class athletes serving you a flat white with the same precision they brought to the pool.

The Coffee: Into the Good Stuff

Csupor works exclusively with Into Coffee, a Hungarian roaster that you won’t find on every corner—yet. Telegdy did extensive research before settling on a supplier, visiting roasteries and tasting obsessively. The partnership felt right from the start: a young, quality-focused brand that matches Csupor’s philosophy of being approachable without dumbing things down.

The menu keeps five coffees in rotation at any given time—four from Into and one guest roast (currently from Röast). These change every two to three months, keeping regulars on their toes and giving casual visitors something interesting to try regardless of when they drop in.

Here’s what you’ll pay:

• Espresso: ~800 HUF ($2.15)
• Americano: ~950 HUF ($2.55)
• Flat White: ~1,200 HUF ($3.20)
• Filter coffee: ~1,100 HUF ($2.95)
• Matcha Latte: ~1,400 HUF ($3.75)

No syrups. No sugar on the tables (honey is available if you ask). No whipped cream on anything. The philosophy is “natural ingredients only,” which sounds pretentious until you realize how much better the coffee tastes when it’s not competing with hazelnut-vanilla-caramel nonsense.

The Food: Simple but Spot-On

Csupor isn’t trying to be a brunch destination. The food menu is intentionally focused: sourdough sandwiches made fresh, pastries from Termelő bakery, cookies, and a selection of four different “mindenmentes” (everything-free) cake slices—vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free options that actually taste good.

The sandwiches use vadkovászos zsemle (sourdough rolls) and come with quality fillings that change based on what’s fresh. Think elevated versions of your standard café fare, priced reasonably and prepared quickly.

This restraint is intentional. The couple wanted a place where the coffee is the star, with food that supports rather than competes. If you’re after a full meal, there are plenty of options on nearby Váci utca—but if you want a perfect flat white and a well-made sandwich, Csupor delivers.

The Vibe: Your New Favorite Regular Spot

What makes Csupor work is the balance it strikes. It’s a specialty coffee shop that takes quality seriously without being intimidating. The baristas know their craft, but they’re not going to lecture you about extraction times unless you want them to. Whether you’re a coffee nerd who wants to discuss terroir or someone who just needs caffeine before walking to the Chain Bridge, you’ll feel welcome.

The space attracts a mix of locals from neighboring offices, tourists who stumbled upon it, and a growing community of regulars who’ve found their new morning ritual. There’s no pretense of being a coworking space—the tables are meant for drinking coffee and conversation, not three-hour laptop sessions.

Getting There and Logistics

Csupor sits on Galamb utca, a small street running parallel to the Danube between Vigadó tér and Ferenciek tere. If you’re coming from the M1 metro (Vörösmarty tér), it’s a three-minute walk toward the river. From the M3 (Ferenciek tere), walk toward the Danube and turn left.

The street itself doesn’t allow car traffic, which keeps things quiet despite being in the heart of downtown. You’ll pass by the chaos of Váci utca’s souvenir shops and emerge into a calmer pocket of the city.

Why Csupor Matters for Budapest’s Coffee Scene

Budapest’s specialty coffee culture has exploded over the past decade, building on the city’s historic café tradition. Places like Tamp & Pull, Kaffeine, and Meron have established the city as a legitimate coffee destination. But the scene can sometimes feel intimidating to newcomers—all that talk of single-origin beans and brewing ratios can scare off casual drinkers.

Csupor slots into a needed niche: genuinely excellent coffee served without attitude. The fact that it’s run by public figures who could have leveraged their fame for something flashy—but chose not to—gives the place an authenticity that’s hard to fake.

Telegdy learned much of what he knows from YouTube and hands-on practice, not formal barista school. The staff aren’t hired for certifications but for attitude and passion. The message is clear: coffee should be accessible to everyone, even if the beans themselves are specialty grade.

FAQ: Everything You Need to Know About Csupor

Is Csupor just a celebrity cash grab?

No. Telegdy has been obsessed with coffee for years, and the couple designed everything themselves—from the interior to the supplier relationships. They’re frequently working behind the counter. This is clearly a passion project, not a brand extension.

Do they speak English?

Yes. The staff handles English-speaking visitors without issues, and the menu is straightforward enough that language barriers rarely matter.

Is there Wi-Fi and laptop seating?

There’s Wi-Fi, but the space is small and designed for enjoying coffee rather than extended work sessions. If you need a laptop-friendly café, consider Tamp & Pull on Pozsonyi út instead.

Can I buy their coffee beans?

Yes! They sell packaged Into Coffee beans—the same ones they brew in-house. Custom Csupor-branded bags are available on the shelf.

What are the best things to order?

The flat white is excellent. If you’re adventurous, ask about the current filter coffee selection—they rotate interesting single-origins regularly.

The Verdict: Worth the Detour

Csupor isn’t trying to be Budapest’s biggest or trendiest coffee shop. It’s trying to be a really good one—a place where quality matters, where the owners actually care, and where you can grab a flat white without feeling like you’re being judged for not knowing what “natural process” means.

The Olympic connection is a fun backstory, but it’s not what makes the café work. What makes it work is two people who found something they love and built a space that reflects their taste without compromise. In a city full of performative specialty cafés and tourist-trap coffeehouses, that kind of authenticity stands out.

Whether you’re killing time before a Danube cruise during your Budapest itinerary or hunting for the city’s best coffee, Csupor deserves a spot on your list. Just don’t be surprised if your barista has more medals than you have Instagram followers.

Prices verified: February 2026