One double espresso at 6:30 a.m. in Terminal 2
In Munich Airport’s Terminal 2, Illy Caffè is the default stop for Lufthansa regulars who want Italian-style espresso instead of generic filter coffee. Prices sit in the mid-range for the airport ($$), but per Google reviews many people comment that a single shot feels small for the price. Think quick stand-up bar, Illy branding everywhere, and a menu focused on shots, macchiatos, cappuccinos, and a few small pastries.
Expect the usual Illy lineup: espresso, doppio, macchiato, cappuccino, latte, plus a short list of croissants and sweet bites that work as a 10-minute breakfast. Size runs European, not US-chain: a standard espresso is a small cup, and reviewers regularly mention the high price-per-shot. If you want something filling before a long Lufthansa sector, this isn’t a full meal stop; plan on grabbing a sandwich elsewhere in Terminal 2.
Morning departure banks out of T2 (around 06:00–09:00) create real queues here, and several travellers mention waiting in line long enough to stress a 30–40 minute connection. Lines thin out noticeably after the first wave of European departures, roughly after 09:30. Service is geared to quick drink-and-go: staff pull shots fast, but milk-heavy drinks slow the flow and are what usually back things up.
Regulars keep it simple: one espresso or macchiato, drunk at the bar, then back to the Lufthansa gate. That move saves both time and a euro or two versus the larger milk drinks. The pastry case usually has basic options like a croissant or chocolate croissant, fine as a snack but not the thing you plan your stop around.
Tip: On a tight connection under 45 minutes in Terminal 2, skip the cappuccino queue and order a single espresso at the counter, drink it on the spot, and you’ll be back en route to your gate in under five minutes.