Cali’s Best Coffee Shops

Juan Valdez and newly arrived Starbucks in Cali are filled to the brim with people drinking coffee produced for the masses. But as many experts will tell you, this mass-produced and highly marketed coffee – while wildly popular and very expensive – is not the best cup of coffee available on the market. Also, there is something beautiful about supporting small businesses.

By the way – is Colombia the only place in the world where the local farmers (Colombians) sell coffee beans to Starbucks (gringos) in order for the gringos to roast the coffee and sell it back to the Colombians? Food for thought…

The reality is that for many years, most of Colombia’s best coffee has been exported. The locals have been drinking coffee made from the lowest grade beans, roasted beyond recognition and brewed with agua-panela (sweet water made from panela, unrefined cane sugar). But that’s about to change. To much enjoyment of local and visiting coffee connoisseursColombian baristas are taking the art of coffee brewing to a new level

Anyway, I know it’s almost a sin to mention in public here, but I’m not much of a coffee drinker, so for this post, I’ve had to team up with my buddy Tommaso Campione behind the Instagram profile Colombia Coffee Club in order to share with you the best coffee shops for coffee snobs in Cali.

Here’s are his favorites:

Macondo

Named after the fictional town described in Gabriel García Márquez’s novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, Café Macondo is located in the heart of San Antonio district. Well known to its loyal clientèle not only as a place for savouring a proper coffee of origin but also as cultural centre. Coffee lovers tend to share other passions beyond the cup such as art, photography, jazz/ live music, cinema and poetry….and Macondo have created exactly that – including a 20-seater mini cinema hidden at the back.

Opening hours – Monday to Saturday from 11 AM – 11 PM. Sunday from 4:30 PM to 11 PM.
Carrera 6 # 3-03 – San Antonio (click for Google Map)

L’Atelier du Café

L’atelier du Café opened in 2017 and is located in the trendy and historical San Antonio district. L’atelier has a relaxed lounge vibe and serves “Café de origen” and offers all the preparation methods from Espresso and Chemex to French press and V60 dripper allowing you to savour the best of Colombian artisanal coffees. Beyond the café entrance area is a trendy restaurant.

Opening hours – Monday to Saturday from Noon to 10:30 PM.
Carrera 9 # 2-51 – San Antonio (click for Google Map)

Trinitario Coffee

Trinitario Coffee is located at the heart of the Alameda Market. Surrounded by fruit, vegetables and herbs, 2 brothers have honoured their father’s family coffee business and created a little hidden gem in Cali. Charming and passionate about the bean, Andres and Camilo carefully select several special “microlot” producers and enjoy giving talks and tasting sessions at their U-shaped seating area, sharing all their knowledge about the intricacies of each region, tasting notes and the best preparation method to bring out the best of every cup. Highly recommended!

Opening hours – Monday to Saturday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM – Sundays they close at 4:00 PM.
Located inside Galaria Alameda, Carrera 26 # 8-37 (click for Google Map)

Bendito Coffee Shop

Bendito Coffee Shop lies on the main strip of Cali’s Granada District, popular for bars and restaurants. Serving all preparation methods for your coffee, Bendito’s style and decor is more authentic and artisanal than modern and fancy, with small light lines, memorabilia and quotes adorning the walls and celing, and with a lovely wooden floor terrace overlooking the street. Serving homemade sandwiches and cakes, smoothies, and cocktails, Bendito is more of a lunch-teatime-early evening place than a coffee shop for your morning fix. Indeed most days it only opens at 1pm!
Bendito is being reinaugurated on August 3rd, so perhaps a reinvention has been underway.

Opening hours – Monday to Thursday from 3 PM to 9:30 PM. Friday and Saturday until 10:30 PM. Sundays closed.
Avenida 9N # 12-05 – Granada (click for Google Map)

The above are all Tommaso’s favorites. I know my family also likes the coffee from…

Barakha Ancestral Bakery

While I love Barakha for their bread, I’ve noticed some very creative coffee creations being served. The head barista knows his craft and is fond of sharing his information about coffee (and old-school bread making).

Opening hours – Monday to Saturday from 8 AM to 9 PM – Sundays they close at 1 PM.
Carrera 1 Oeste # 1-109 on top of Super A supermarket (click for Google Map)

Coffee Bay

This was a cute little cafe that I stumbled upon in the residential barrio San Fernando while my kids were playing in a nearby park. Super good service, a dedicated and passionate barista along with a great assortment of cakes. What’s not to like? Oh, and my girlfriend said the cappuccino was amazing!

Opening hours – Monday to Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM – Sundays closed.
Carrera 25 # 3 – 14 Oeste – San Fernando (Click for Google Map)

Check them out and if you know of another place that deserves to be on the list of Cali’s best coffee shops, then please let me know in the comments below. Enjoy!