Written and Photographed by Samantha Demangate
Bright, balanced, roasty and toasty, the crisp winter air is full with flavor. With my scarf tucked tightly into my jacket, I pace from booth to booth, trying to decide where to purchase my next cortado, a single espresso with an equal amount of steamed milk. The choice isn’t easy, as I am surrounded by seemingly endless options.
This is the sixth Festival del Café in Buenos Aires, and the energy is buzzing. Organized by BA Capital Gastronómica, the Festival del Café (Festival of Coffee) is now an annual habit, with the next already scheduled for July 2024. Featuring over thirty-five coffee stalls, choosing where to sample the perfect cortado is tough. Even still, I managed to try four before I reached my absolute caffeine maximum.
When you think of coffee, you might think of beans from Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia or Indonesia. When thinking of coffee specifically in Latin America, we can add in Hondorus, Peru and Guatamala as additional top coffee producers. So why is Buenos Aires, Argentina proudly hosting a coffee festival? While Argentina is not a leading producer of coffee themselves, coffee culture and the practice of visiting cafes is a staple in the capital, Buenos Aires.
The Rich Cafe Culture of Buenos Aires
With beans imported from around the world, you can count on getting a flat white or cappuccino whenever you need it. Arguably the most popular style of coffee in Buenos Aires is a cortado, an espresso balanced with a matching level of steamed milk. Additionally, loads of cafes in the city love to get creative with their drinks. A great example is Fomento’s heartwarming Carrot Latte, a personal favorite of mine. That said, if you’re interested in drip coffee, you may be disappointed, as espresso based drinks tend to be more common here.
Cafes in Buenos Aires are a social event, with friends chatting over a cup or two for hours at a time. While a quick in and out of a cafe is possible, it’s not uncommon to have customers lounge at a table, working, reading, or chatting for a good portion of the day.
While modern cafes are all the rage, they aren’t the only option in Buenos Aires. For the sake of Argentine nostalgia, the Bares Notables are not to be missed. For a taste of vintage Buenos Aires style, these cafes are ideal for a dive into history. That said, not all of them are the best stop for a good cup of coffee, but they are certainly worth mentioning. And they’re great for a snack and people watching too.
Where is the Perfect Cuppa?
Buenos Aires is a massive city, with endless gastronomical choices. Generally, visitors tend to stay in the neighborhoods of Recoleta, Palermo and Belgrano, all with great cafe options. Additionally, the touristic areas of Centro and San Telmo offer several Bares Notables.
La Coffee te Guia is an excellent book that provides an inside scoop on the current coffee scene in the city. Their instagram page @thecoffeeteguia is filled to the brim with everything coffee related in Buenos Aires. You are sure to find something great in your neighborhood.
Favorites from Buenos Aires Coffee Festival
Now that we’ve looked at the importance of coffee and cafes in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas, let’s dive into my personal highlights of the Festival del Cafe.
Bilbo Cafe
With two special blends of beans, this cafe has a hint of wizardry while maintaining a modern and serene style. The blends Merlin and Gandalf offer two different types of roasts. The cafe itself provides a diverse choice of cakes, pastries and breads as well as appetizers and full meals. In addition, you can count on finding reliable espresso drinks.
These two locations are found right in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires
Villa Crespo – Belaustegui 802 – Local: 11 4836-5077
Villa Urquiza – La Pampa 5501 – Local 11 3045-5932
With blends from El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil, Cafe Puzzi offers several delicious brews. Flakey pastries and hearty sandwiches are also a Puzzi special. With two locations, one in Barracas and another further south in the province of Buenos Aires, this cafe is a great choice for those who live further away from the exact middle of the city.
Bragado 6180, Wilde, Avellaneda
Ruy Díaz de Guzmán 300, Barracas, CABA
With several selections of hot and iced beverages, rich tarts and delicious breads, Llama Coffee Roasters is a dependable choice for a cup. Nestled further into the province of Buenos Aires, Llama Coffee Roasters has four locations, three of which are within the small city of La Plata.
HWF City Bell Buenos Aires AR, C. 13 C 254 1896, B1896, Argentina
C. 3 esq 51, B1900 La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
C. 46 667, B1900AHA La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
C. 48 877, La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Just as it sounds, Cafecito (Tiny Coffee Shop), is small and sweet, but also full of flavor! With excellent coffees and scrumptious croissants, this shop is sure to satisfy. In addition, they’ve busted out a variety of refreshing cold brews.
With two locations within the Autonoumous City of Buenos Aires, this shop is easy to access if you are in Núñez or Colegiales.
Quesada 1515, C1429 CABA, Argentina
Zapata 500, C1426 CABA, Argentina
Honorable Mentions
While the coffee festival features vast options within Buenos Aires, it doesn’t cover everything. A city of 15 million people is going to be chock-full of incredible cafes, so my honorable mentions who were not present at the festival are as follows:
As mentioned early, the Carrot Latte is seriously delicious. This, paired with a freshly made toast, is heavenly. Their avocado toast is sure to knock some socks off.
Zapiola 2402, C1428CXL C1428CXL, Buenos Aires, Argentina
For the experience of rich Armenian coffee, Bombonazo is the place to go. Accompanied by luxurious and traditional desserts, Bombonazo will leave you feeling satisfied and caffeinated.
Jerónimo Salguero 1952, C1425 CABA, Argentina
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