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Latin American Coffee Guide
#1

Latin American Coffee Guide

Ok gents, so I've been putting this together slowly over the past several months and wanted to eventually share a compendium of the best places to get high quality brewed coffee in Latin America, based on my personal experience. Typically, places that make the cut for me all: (1) present an expertly prepared coffee that may be enjoyed without the addition of milk, sugar, nor flavorings; (2) the coffee itself is of good quality (specialty grade or close to it); (3) not overly-roasted; (4) may be enjoyed black as a properly pulled and balanced espresso; or (5) may be enjoyed simply as a manual brew like Aeropress, V60, French Press, etc. These places may also double as a nice place to bring a young lady who also shares your love of tasty coffee.

I invite you other coffee snobs to add your favorite's to this list. These suggestions are valid as of 2015 as I'm currently still traveling (in Ecuador at the moment).


MEXICO

MEXICO CITY

Café Avellaneda - Higuera 40-A, Coyoacán - This place is a little hole-in-the-wall situated in the neighborhood of Coyoacán, and the people here take coffee quite seriously. The espresso is good, and they do pour overs and other manual brewing methods as well. There is a rotating set of beans from several different parts of Mexico, like Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, etc. which they roast regularly. They also sell bags of their freshly roasted beans roasted for espresso or drip methods.

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS

Frontera Artisan Food and Coffee - Avenida Belisario Domínguez 35 - This is a small place serving good pourovers with a selection of several different beans as well. There is a sweet courtyard and free wifi and they offer many other tasty snacks to enjoy along with your expertly brewed caffeinated beverage. Good date place.

Carajillo Slow Coffee - Real de Guadalupe 24 - While I wasn't a big fan of their brewed coffee options (their brewing skills in my opinion left something to be desired), their bags of roasted beans are actually quite respectable and fresh. I picked up a bag of their beans here for a reasonable price and it was roasted within 2 days of purchase.


GUATEMALA

ANTIGUA

Cafe Refuge - Can't remember the exact address, but I believe it is on Avenida Septima between Calle 3 and 4. Sadly, for a country known for legendary coffee, it is surprisingly difficult to find excellent coffee here in my opinion (most of the good stuff is exported, I assume). In my opinion, best coffee in Antigua with coffee roasted regularly and of good quality (aka not roasted to "char" Starbucks style). I would buy 12 oz bags of their beans here for 65Q and brew every morning at my crib. They generally source their beans from the Antigua and Lago de Atitlan area...good small date place also.


NICARAGUA

MATAGALPA

Seleccíon Nicaraguense - There are two locations, one near the cathedral and one at the Parque Dario. You can pick up freshly roasted single origin Nicaraguan beans and you can order a delicious espresso (I prefer the Parque Dario location as they have more adept baristas here in my experience). Good date place also with free wifi.


COSTA RICA

SAN JOSE

Cafeoteca - located inside Restaurante Kalú, just east of Parque de Francia - This place is one of the top places to score a delicious, expertly crafted coffees in Latin America with attention to detail and stellar customer service. They have very high quality beans (albeit expensive), but worth every penny. If they have one of the honey-processed beans, give it a try. You can have an espresso, pour-over coffee, or buy one of their bags of expertly roasted beans to take home. The barista even made me a true espresso with an aeropress which I've never actually seen done before.


PANAMA

PANAMA CITY

Café Unido - 3 locations: Ground floor of Le Mare Building in Coco del Mar; in the American Trade Hotel in Casco Viejo; and the first floor of the MMG building in Costa del Este - They have some very nice, specialty grade coffee here. Great espressos and also great pourovers. I specifically liked their Elida Estate natural process coffee on the pourover. You can also find the famous (and pricy) geisha varietal from Esmeralda Estate as well. You can buy bags of their beans, eat some tasty treats there, and there's free wifi. Also a good date place.


COLOMBIA

BOGOTA

Devotion Café - located in the ground floor of the Hilton Hotel on Carrera 7 b/w Calle 72 and 73. I believe there is another location but this is the most convenient one. The coffee is pricy but they serve perhaps the best coffee that I tasted in Bogotá. As the location referenced is part of the hotel, it isn't the most interesting place, but the area is safe and the it is easily accessible. I recommend the pourovers here, ask for a V60 or something similar. You can also buy their beans, also pricy.

Amor Perfecto - Carrera 4 #66-46 - Perhaps home of my second favorite coffee in Bogota. These guys have a brewing/tasting lab on site and are home of some barista champions. They have several blends as well as single origin options. Very good espresso as well as manual brewing methods. It is a nice date spot with a good, though cozy fitout and some limited food options as well. It is also located in a nice neighborhood of Zona G which is a great area for gastronomy in general.

Azahar - Carrera 14 #9348 - My third-favorite Bogotá coffee shop. Located in the Parque 93 area, this is basically a small outdoorsy cafe that utilizes a shipping container as a housing for the cafe building itself. They have very good coffees from around the famous coffee-producing regions of Colombia like Huila, Nariño, Quindió, etc. and have some tasty baked treats as well. Good for espresso and pour-over options as well. I recommend the V60 Nariño. Ok date spot but highly dependent on the very sketchy Bogotá weather as this place is open-air.

Café Cultor - Calle 69 #6-20 - Last but not least is this place. Also a converted shipping container fitout and also located in the Zona G. I recommend their single-origin pourover options as they were very good as well.

CALI

Macondo - Carrera 6 #3-03 San Antonio - This is probably the only good coffee in all of Cali that I can remember. They use coffee from Azahar from Bogota, which is very tasty. Their espresso drinks here are nice and they have other drinks and food items as well. Last I was here, they weren't doing pour overs but I believe by now that should have changed. I took a hot Cali girl here, so I'd say ok for a date spot, although it is a very small and cozy space. Good place to get your coffee fix overall though and escape the hot Cali days.


MEDELLIN

El Laboritorio de Café - at least 3 locations. The most convenient location is probably in the centro. They are located directly to the left of the front entrance to the Museo de Antioquia in Botero Plaza. They have my favorite coffee in Medellín and are probably top three for me in all of Colombia. Great date place, the girls all loved their granizado here which is cheap and admittedly delicious like 4000 COP for a cup.

*Pro-tip: if you are waiting for a flight out at the Enrique Olaya Herrera airport or the Terminal del Sur bus station, be sure to walk check out their location in the airport. From the Terminal del Sur it is literally a 2-3 minute walk. You can buy 20,000 COP +/- 1lb bags of their whole bean coffee and for my money they have some of the best coffee in Colombia.

Pergamino Cafe - Cra. 37 #8-37 Poblado - While not my favorite coffee in Medellín it is maybe 2nd favorite. Also well-priced. You can get a fresh pourover here from a selection of three of their freshly roasted coffees for around 4000 COP. Can buy bags of pretty good coffee for less than 20,000 COP for around 12 oz or 350 grams. They have super nice espresso machines here but never tried their espresso, though I assume it's good.

SALENTO

Café Jesús Martín - Carrera 6 No 6 - 14 - Small café with very tasty coffee. The owner is a Q Grader which is a highly sought-after (and difficult to attain) certification in specialty coffee. The equivalent of a sommelier in wine. Anyway, the coffee here is very tasty, specialty-grade. Highly recommend their single origin pour over options from Quindío department. You can also buy their beans to take home. Attracts many gringos, but then again this whole town is a gringo fest.

Café Bernabé Gourmet - Calle 3 #6-3 - Never made it to this place because it was strangely closed the day I visited but my connections in coffee in Colombia tell me this place is very good also.

BUCARAMANGA

San Fernando - Cra. 29 #41-40 - Easily the best coffee in Bucaramanga and they use beans grown in Santander. They roast on-site a few times a week right in the cafe. They had three types of coffees available while I was there, a natural process, honey process, and washed. If they have the natural, order it in a V60, it's very nice. The barista there is named Ferney and he's got skills. It is cheap but delicious and the place is small and intimate with a seating area facing the street.

PEREIRA

El Barista Cafe - Carrera 15 #4-17 - Located about two blocks from Kolibri hostel. Great date spot with best coffee roasted a few times every week. Has ok food but the coffee is the main draw. The pourovers are pretty good. Only open past 2PM until midnight or later.


ECUADOR

QUITO

Isveglio - Francisco Salazar # E 10-37 y José Tamayo - A bit tricky to find, but once you do, you know you came to the right place. They have a selection of roughly 3 rotating coffees, all from Ecuador. I believe they have some barista champions here. Excellent espresso, I recommend their honey processed coffee if it's available. Great date place too with offers of some interesting iced drinks and sweet treats.

CUENCA

Puro Café - located just behind/around the Todos Santos church off Calle Larga - Small hole in the wall place with some decent espresso and nice pour overs when I was here. It's tiny, with a nice view looking south of the city. Small sweet treats, nice date spot.

So, that's all I've got. I will continue to add to this as the travels continue but if you have anything to add, feel free to share your coffee secrets...and happy caffeinating.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#2

Latin American Coffee Guide

Very nice thread.

Would like to add Soho Mall in Panama city to the list, there is a place in middle of the ground floor( sorry I don't know the name). They have a huge selection , anything from Colombian to Kenyan. Plus its a very good place for eye candy, a lot of well off panamian chicks visit this cafe. Its in a very high scale mall, if you're good at daygame it will be perfect. Great way to start the day with a quality cup of coffee. Budget at least $4-5 per cup , it's not cheap.
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#3

Latin American Coffee Guide

@bootyhuntah

Excellent thread. Gave Amor perfecto a go this morning. Real good coffee. Though I still like my milk and sugar.
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#4

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-05-2015 09:21 AM)godzilla Wrote:  

@bootyhuntah

Excellent thread. Gave Amor perfecto a go this morning. Real good coffee. Though I still like my milk and sugar.

For someone looking to wean themselves off milk/sugar (not saying you are specifically) in their coffee, I would suggest a freshly brewed pour over coffee. Try it black, and if absolutely needed, just a bit of milk. You'd be surprised how easy it is to appreciate the raw flavor of black coffee, but it takes a bit of time for your taste buds to adjust. Take a sip and chase it with a bite of shortbread cookie, as an example. Better yet, go for the dunk.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#5

Latin American Coffee Guide

Thanks for the advice. So kinda of like getting used to sipping whiskey or tequila? (Not exactly) but you need time to enjoy the taste.
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#6

Latin American Coffee Guide

Exactly, and make sure you're not buying shitty coffee. Because bad black coffee can be very offensive. It's the same with single malt scotches, which are very similar to single origin coffees in their complexities and subtleties. Or certain wines, tequilas, mezcals, etc. Coffee is simply more complex than all of these things so it takes a bit of time to fine-tune your palate and recognize the differences.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#7

Latin American Coffee Guide

Unfortunately I have been ruined by Starbux and have come to enjoy flavored coffees - I buy Arabica medium roast or light roast beans - grind them in an adjustable grinder and brew it in a stove top traditional Italian espresso brewer that you unscrew pour in water put in the coffee basket - scoop in the coffee and screw on the top and brew - takes some getting used to because the coffee is brewed under pressure and you have to watch it brew or you can burn the coffee and the maker.

I then tend to flavor with real spices, Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla, Saigon Cinnamon, Indonesian Cinnamon, Cloves and sometimes Nutmeg or Cacao finished off with coffee mate or half and half or some combination thereof - I am clearly flavor challenged.

Time to brew another right now.
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#8

Latin American Coffee Guide

Bootyhuntah, thanks for this compilation. In case you're in Lima, give Arabica Espresso Bar a try. I visited their location in Larcomar Mall. It's a bit difficult to find but the entrance looks like this: [Image: 6394440.jpg]

I never brought girls here. This was the one place in Lima I would go to escape all things female-related and enjoy a quality V60.

Staff are real cool too so you can just sit at the bar and chat away.
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#9

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-05-2015 08:59 PM)Papi Rico Wrote:  

Bootyhuntah, thanks for this compilation. In case you're in Lima, give Arabica Espresso Bar a try. I visited their location in Larcomar Mall. It's a bit difficult to find but the entrance looks like this: [Image: 6394440.jpg]

I never brought girls here. This was the one place in Lima I would go to escape all things female-related and enjoy a quality V60.

Staff are real cool too so you can just sit at the bar and chat away.

Fantastic timing, Papi Rico. Will be in Lima in about 36 hours. Will be sure to hit that place up as it is on my list. Thanks for the recommendation.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#10

Latin American Coffee Guide

You are a magnificent bastard. Thanks for starting this thread.

Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people.
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#11

Latin American Coffee Guide

I must add for their award-winning baristas and smart use of local beans the following two:

Cuatro Sombras in San Juan, PR (Viejo San Juan)
Viva Espresso in San Salvador (San Salvador - Plaza Futura Mall)

Looking forward to see if anyone comes up with recs for spots in Brazil.
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#12

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-06-2015 09:27 AM)Papi Rico Wrote:  

I must add for their award-winning baristas and smart use of local beans the following two:

Cuatro Sombras in San Juan, PR (Viejo San Juan)
Viva Espresso in San Salvador (San Salvador - Plaza Futura Mall)

Looking forward to see if anyone comes up with recs for spots in Brazil.

I wanted to love Viva Espresso, but can't say it lived up to my expectations. However, I tried Arabica today and while I wasn't impressed with the espresso, the pour overs are the real deal. Will be adding more Lima suggestions after a few more days of recon...

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#13

Latin American Coffee Guide

PERU

LIMA

Café Verde - Av Santa Cruz 1305, Miraflores - Solid little café serving excellent espresso from various regions of Peru. They have a rotating blend for espressos without milk and a designated blend for espresso with milk drinks, plus single origin pour over options. Didn't try the food, but these guys do know coffee and it's very good. Also sell 250g bags of freshly roasted (in shop) beans for between 30 - 35 soles. They also use the only Synesso espresso machine in the country. These are high quality machines handmade in Seattle. Good date place.

Origenes Tostadores - 2 locations - Avenida Bolivar 1199, Pueblo Libre; Calle Las Tiendas 295, Surquillo - Another great place with arguably better coffee than the first suggestion, with good baristas also. They roast in the Calle Las Tiendas location. Also, they have two selections of beans for espresso and several like 3 or 4 single origin selections for manual methods like mocha pot, french press, pour over, etc. They sell their coffee for 25 soles a bag. A bonus for going to their Calle Las Tiendas location is that a lady slinging churros just outside the shop in front of the Metro supermarket is there during the middle hours of the day during the week.

11 11 Cafe - Calle Colina 108, Barranco - This is a tiny little hole in the wall coffee shop serving biodynamic coffee, which is actually quite delicious and well-balanced. As far as I know, they serve espresso drinks, Aeropress, and pour over methods. It is also affiliated with the organic tienda next door over selling all sorts of organic products. The dudes running the show here are pretty solid and this could be a good place to bring a more spiritual chick to show her you are more in tune with the universe and where your coffee comes from.

The Coffee Road - Avenida Guillermo Prescott 378, San Isidro- Great little cafe serving excellent coffee, both espresso and pour over methods. They roast in-shop. Their cookies are money as well. When I was here, I had both an espresso and a pour over with a single origin honey processed coffee which was rock solid. Bonus - there is also a STD clinic a few blocks away in case you need to get a checkup because you messed around with a questionable girl the night before.

Peru Pa'Ti - Armendariz 546, Miraflores - This is more like a specialty grocer/restaurant, but you can find some pretty damn good coffee here as well. Nice date option as you can get beer and food also. Their pourovers and espressos are all money, using exclusively coffees from various regions of Peru.

Honorable mentions:

Tostaduria Bisetti - Pedro de Osma 116 in Barranco, which is an impressive place in terms of its equipment, fitout, and size. The problem is, I don't love their espresso, it's a bit bitter for me (more suits the Italian palate, which is accustomed to a more bitter coffee), but I haven't tried their manual brewing options yet.

True Artisan Café at Calle Bolivar 153 in Miraflores - I also don't like their espresso as it is more Italian style...they use blends one with 20% robusta and another with 15% for their espresso which is just not my cup of...coffee. I will got back to try their manual methods as I'm sure they are better.

El Pan de La Chola - Avenida Mariscal La Mar 918, Miraflores - While I'm not a big fan of their espresso (they use Café Verde coffee) because they use a specific blend designed to be drank with milk only, I have to mention their bread which is boner inducing. Seriously some of the best bread I've had anywhere, which is shocking actually considering this is Latin America after all. Their crispy, airy, yet moist toasted bread served with a perfectly ripe and generously seasoned with sea salt half an avocado, and a dish of extra virgin olive oil was so good I could barely think. This is one of those great morning-after spots to take a lady so she doesn't feel like such a huge slut after doing some nasty things in your apartment the night before...

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#14

Latin American Coffee Guide

Damn son. Now that's solid intel.

Let's keep this little corner strong. I'm delighted that some us realize that while Tinder hoes are constant the world over, good coffee is not. Our scarce resources must be adapted accordingly.

When these Limenas give you some free time, can you share with us your thought process in deciding which manual brew to order? Are there objective factors based on the bean variety or device used?

For some of us long-term travelers, would you recommend any particular portable or mobile device/instrument?

Given my current access to Turkish coffee, I'm travelling with something like this at the moment:
[Image: HOT_2012_NEW_Turkish_Coffee_Maker.jpg]

Beats the hell out of instant coffee, but not ideal..
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#15

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-12-2015 11:35 AM)Papi Rico Wrote:  

Damn son. Now that's solid intel.

Let's keep this little corner strong. I'm delighted that some us realize that while Tinder hoes are constant the world over, good coffee is not. Our scarce resources must be adapted accordingly.

When these Limenas give you some free time, can you share with us your thought process in deciding which manual brew to order? Are there objective factors based on the bean variety or device used?

For some of us long-term travelers, would you recommend any particular portable or mobile device/instrument?

Given my current access to Turkish coffee, I'm travelling with something like this at the moment:
[Image: HOT_2012_NEW_Turkish_Coffee_Maker.jpg]

Beats the hell out of instant coffee, but not ideal..

Papi Rico, my current setup is this:

Aeropress

with

Porlex mini hand grinder

with

Metal coffee mug similar to this

The beauty of this setup is how compactable it is. The grinder fits inside the aeropress after you remove the rubber sleeve, and the metal cup is of course indestructible. The only thing you then need are coffee beans and hot water.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#16

Latin American Coffee Guide

PERU

LIMA (cont'd)

Cafeculto - Pasaje Tello 163, Miraflores - Another little hole-in-the-wall shop. Just off Parque Kennedy, these guys serve very tasty Peruvian coffee roasted in house. Espresso is very nice, with a balanced acidity and sweet finish. It's a little tricky to find, because it is located in the northern part of what is essentially an alley. You can buy bags of their beans here for 25 soles / 250g.

Puku Puku - Not sure of the correct address as I believe Google's location is incorrect, but they are about a block away from Larcomar (away from ocean) on Avenida Jose Larco. Another hole-in-the-wall with very nice Peruvian espresso. Had a quad espresso here for 7 soles. Thought what I had ordered was a double, but it was really two doubles, which was insane in terms of caffeine content...yet still delicious.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#17

Latin American Coffee Guide

This should be a sticky thread..

I'll start poking around online to try some of these a guide to that would help but a big +1
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#18

Latin American Coffee Guide

MEXICO

MEXICO CITY (cont'd)

Cafe Passmar - Mercado Lazaro Cardenas, Calle Adolfo Prieto S/N Local 237 - Wow, can't believe I forgot about this little gem. Tricky to find as it's in the middle of a mercado, but once you're there ask around and people will direct you to where you need to go. Another solid player, this place has a more classic/traditional feel with a very local clientele. They had beans from around Mexico as well, roasted to a nice degree (city roast or so). Can't comment on the espresso here, but the barista made me a V60 pour over at my table with beans from Veracruz if I remember correctly. I think the prices are pretty cheap and the coffee was very tasty as well and you can buy beans to take with you. Though I still prefer Cafe Avellaneda in Coyoacán in all aspects, this is still very much worth the trip.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#19

Latin American Coffee Guide

I've learned some new things about coffee here, thank you.

Could you possibly go in to some detail about the actual coffee itself?

I live in the UK and often buy coffee(beans) called Colombian Supremo. I particularly like it, and it has a kind of a chocolate taste if that makes sense.

I would find it very helpful if you or others with proper knowledge could educate us on the coffee.

Thanks in advance.
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#20

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-23-2015 05:13 AM)Lizard King Wrote:  

I've learned some new things about coffee here, thank you.

Could you possibly go in to some detail about the actual coffee itself?

I live in the UK and often buy coffee(beans) called Colombian Supremo. I particularly like it, and it has a kind of a chocolate taste if that makes sense.

I would find it very helpful if you or others with proper knowledge could educate us on the coffee.

Thanks in advance.

No worries. Have a look here in this thread. I explain a little bit about the basics of your coffee beans and a few things you should look for if you are interested in buying beans and brewing yourself. There is a lot of complexity in coffee. Various regions of the world have certain coffee flavors and characteristics. Guatemalan coffees are generally known to be more sweet and chocolately, for example. Whereas the Ethiopian varieties can tend to me more fruity and acidic and can have flavors of lemon or blueberry.

In the beginning, I thought the "third-wave" coffee culture was all a bit haughty. But then you are exposed to that one coffee that just blows you away and inspires you so deeply that eventually a lingering curiosity builds, which can sometimes lead to an all-out addiction or obsession (in my case).

Also, here are a few resources for finding coffee. If you happen to be in London, Beanhunter has a good listing here. Also, there is this blog which lists a bunch of the best places to score coffee if you happen to be in the greater UK area.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#21

Latin American Coffee Guide

Thanks!

You should link to this thread in your signature.
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#22

Latin American Coffee Guide

Hey Bootyhuntah,

What are your thoughts on Velvet cafe in Medellin? It's literally across the street from Pergamino Cafe. It's SLIGHTLY pricier but I think it has better atmosphere/service/coffee quality.
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#23

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-23-2015 04:07 PM)CH-Toronto Wrote:  

Hey Bootyhuntah,

What are your thoughts on Velvet cafe in Medellin? It's literally across the street from Pergamino Cafe. It's SLIGHTLY pricier but I think it has better atmosphere/service/coffee quality.

Hey man, gotta disagree with you on Velvet Café. I thought their espresso was pretty meh and quite bitter. Could have been a one-off experience as I only gave them one chance. If I remember correctly, their prices were nearly triple (like 10-12k COP) the price of a pour over at Pergamino (which is 4k COP I believe) for a Chemex (which I also ordered), for no real appreciable difference in quality IMO. Besides, I thought the women who hang out at Pergamino were generally hotter...especially on say a Saturday morning.

Velvet's chocolate, on the other hand, was quite good IMO. I believe the owner is Belgian so that would explain that. As far as service goes, I was actually very impressed with the responsiveness of the service at Pergamino, even though they are usually packed to the gills. Atmosphere, I would say it's a draw. Velvet did of course seem way more laid back...would be a better place to get some work done, no?

Now that you reminded me about sweet sweet Medellín, there was actually another good place for coffee in Laureles on Carrera 70 a block or two south of Estadio metro station. Can't remember the name now but it's right on the corner and they had a great espresso blend at the time and pourovers via Chemex there. Tried googling them but it's not showing up on Google maps...I think it was a relatively new place at the time.

Latin American Coffee Guide
-What other people think of you is none of your business.
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#24

Latin American Coffee Guide

Quote: (10-23-2015 05:35 PM)bootyhuntah Wrote:  

Quote: (10-23-2015 04:07 PM)CH-Toronto Wrote:  

Hey Bootyhuntah,

What are your thoughts on Velvet cafe in Medellin? It's literally across the street from Pergamino Cafe. It's SLIGHTLY pricier but I think it has better atmosphere/service/coffee quality.

Hey man, gotta disagree with you on Velvet Café. I thought their espresso was pretty meh and quite bitter. Could have been a one-off experience as I only gave them one chance. If I remember correctly, their prices were nearly triple (like 10-12k COP) the price of a pour over at Pergamino (which is 4k COP I believe) for a Chemex (which I also ordered), for no real appreciable difference in quality IMO. Besides, I thought the women who hang out at Pergamino were generally hotter...especially on say a Saturday morning.

Velvet's chocolate, on the other hand, was quite good IMO. I believe the owner is Belgian so that would explain that. As far as service goes, I was actually very impressed with the responsiveness of the service at Pergamino, even though they are usually packed to the gills. Atmosphere, I would say it's a draw. Velvet did of course seem way more laid back...would be a better place to get some work done, no?

Now that you reminded me about sweet sweet Medellín, there was actually another good place for coffee in Laureles on Carrera 70 a block or two south of Estadio metro station. Can't remember the name now but it's right on the corner and they had a great espresso blend at the time and pourovers via Chemex there. Tried googling them but it's not showing up on Google maps...I think it was a relatively new place at the time.

I haven't had their Espresso. They have a deal on their Chemex and V60 - where it's 2 for 6200 so I usually get that with my friend. Yeah, the chocolate drinks are REALLY good there so that explains that. Peragamino has more people - but I find it has a LOT more gringos too and yes, you're right the atmosphere is a lot better for work too.

Thanks for the tip on the other place, I'll try and check it out.
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#25

Latin American Coffee Guide

CH-Toronto, if you happen to find that café in Laureles I was talking about, please report back here with the details. Anyway, on to more coffee spots in Peru...

PERU

CUSCO

Museo del Café - Calle Espaderos 136, about a block from Plaza de Armas - I was a little concerned with this place because it seemed like a tourist trap, but once I tried their espresso I was pleasantly surprised. The coffee was very good in fact. They have baristas who know what they are doing, and not only that, it is sort of a museum as well and you can watch bean sorting taking place and there is a roaster on site as well. Aside from the museum aspect, this is a solid date place with lots of space, nice seating along a courtyard, and it's prime location right across from Plaza de Armas. Double espresso here was about 6.5 soles from memory. You can also take home a bag of their beans.

D'Wasi Café - Heladeros 160 - Also located a short stroll from Plaza de Armas is this place. It's a tiny little spot recently opened and run by a guy whose family actually grows coffee from around the Cusco region. Their coffee is pretty decent, the espresso was nice and balanced that he made for me. I believe it was around 6 soles for a double espresso here, you can also pick up a bag of their beans but can't say I recall the price.

Honorable Mention

El Hada - Qanchipata 596, San Blas - This place is a mention because their espresso is fresh and passable (and not bad); however, their ice cream and homemade waffle cones are damn tasty. Another solid date spot to bring a girl with an ice cream addiction - which, to be honest, is probably most.

OLLANTAYTAMBO

Green Apple Café - Located just outside the entrance to the train station - This place sources beans from the Cusco region and also has very nice brewing and grinding equipment. The flavor of the espresso was very unique, hard to describe, but almost floral and sweet with a mellow smoothness. Definitely worth a stop if you happen to be in this cool little town in the Sacred Valley.

Next up, Arequipa...

Latin American Coffee Guide
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