Before delving into the guide to our favorite coffee shops in Mexico City below, which will take you through our preferred cafes to add to your coffee list, I’d like to briefly divert to Colombia for some important context.
After spending six weeks in Colombia a few years ago, a country that has arguably produced the vast majority of my favorite coffees over the past several years, I came back a little disappointed on the coffee front.
On one side, I was able to visit multiple different coffee farms, counting an experience where we roasted and brewed fresh coffee, which was something I had never accomplished before.
The disappointment came from the fact that nearly all of the specialty coffee in Colombia gets exported, leaving very little for Colombians to savor (outside of a few excellent cafes in the bigger cities in Colombia).
While the economic logic makes sense, the feeling generated still lacks positivity.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a completely different account in Mexico, specifically Mexico City (which might be different than smaller cities and towns throughout Mexico).
I witnessed more spectacular Mexican coffees in Mexico City than I have seen anywhere else in the world COMBINED.
One of the most unique (and also my preferred) aspects of Mexico City`s coffee scene, at least in comparison to other cities, is that most of the coffee I encountered in Mexico City ORIGINATED from Mexico.
In fact, I only saw coffee not grown in Mexico once or twice in Mexico City. Which is an intriguing twist that allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of Mexican coffee, the different growing regions, and the different processes used in Mexico.
Another noteworthy aspect of Mexico City’s coffee scene is that almost every single coffee shop we visited was offering various pour over options, something increasingly less common in cities around the world, even locally in Portland.
While I completely appreciate the economics and rationales behind that tendency, it was refreshing to be able to sample fun coffees prepared in a manner that highlights the bright, fruity flavors that I enjoy.
In this guide, I (Matt, the coffee connoisseur and home barista) will take you through my recommendations for finding the finest coffee in Mexico City.
We’ll begin with nine coffee shops that I visited and cherished, transition to more coffee shops that are on my list but I didn’t make it to, and end with a handy interactive map of all of the places mentioned in this guide.
By the end, you`ll likely have discovered a couple spots to add to your own list.
Sound good? Let’s get into it.
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Table of Contents
The Best Coffee in Mexico City: Where to Find Excellent (Mexican) Coffee
Now, in this guide, we’ll exclusively focus on specialty coffee in Mexico City.
While some of the locations we’ll discuss also offer pleasant pastry selections or brunch menus, we’re focusing on the coffee (especially since Matt has Celiac Disease and cannot consume gluten, ruling out pastries).
Before we get into the meat of the guide, here are three things that stood out to me about the specialty coffee scene in Mexico City:
- Tons of filter coffee/handbrew/pour over options at nearly every shop, which seems to be a relic of ancient times back home in the U.S. for reasons that I absolutely understand. But that doesn’t mean I don’t also miss it!
- Mexican coffee is evolving, with many experimental beans and processes being explored. The Mexican coffee scene has a lot of exciting developments, and the fact that nearly every coffee you’ll come across comes from Mexico means that you’ll get to sample various options.
- Numerous culturally relevant specialty beverages. Most locations offer variations of an espresso tonic or similar beverage, yet I also enjoyed observing items including horchata and Oaxacan chocolate across various menus. This fusion of coffee and culture, whether Mexican, Filipino or Taiwanese, is a trend that I`m noticing globally, and seems to be the subsequent “wave” in the coffee industry.
In terms of the process for putting together this guide, I do tons of research on coffee shops before my trips involving large Excel spreadsheets and priority rankings so that I make sure to hit the places I’m most excited about.
However, it’s also worth stating that some of my best discoveries come from asking baristas in my favorite cafes for their recommendations, which nearly always helps me uncover a new place or two to add to my list.
I strongly advise independently exploring to uncover the up-and-coming coffee houses serving the finest brews in Mexico City, if interested.
Notes on favorite coffee: I particularly like lightly roasted beans with fruity or floral tastes and bright flavors. Both when brewed as a filter, and also as an espresso. As an avid home barista, I make multiple cups of coffee daily either using a pour over or espresso method. Some may call my preferences “fancy” or “picky” (as my friend Alysha mentions). However, over recent years I’ve identified what I enjoy, so that’s what I seek when exploring new coffee shops.
Cardinal Casa de Café
Of the numerous cups of filtered coffee I drank in Mexico City, there were two that stood out above the rest, at least for me. And one of them came from a barista recommendation at Cardinal. But more on that in a moment.
Now operating from two locations in Mexico City – a more rustic, cozy corner locale in Roma Norte just a block off Av. Obregón, and a more contemporary, hip feeling cafe in La Condesa.
Part of the reason I was so interested in them is the fact that Mexico’s 2022 champion barista, Shak Zapata, works there (I think he’s also part-owner).
I had no idea that the server to whom I inquired for a pour over coffee recommendation was also the aforementioned Mexican barista champion, having competed in the World Barista Championships last summer in Athens.
I didn’t realize that until later that evening, when I was jotting notes in my journal and wondered if he had been there that day.
I appreciated his willingness to chat in broken Spanish about the coffee after we had enjoyed it, and my primary comment was that I actually preferred it when it was hot rather than when it had cooled somewhat, which is the opposite of how it usually goes.
After asking for a recommendation, we ended up with a beautiful natural process gesha from Veracruz, which was truly unique. It was filled with the flavors of citrus fruits and tropical fruits to be specific – and fragrant, particularly when it was hot.
That coffee presented a lovely expression of what Mexican coffee can be, and it shattered all of my preceding expectations around what to expect from Mexican coffee that is quite clearly outdated.
As a side note, the ceramics were as beautiful as the coffee itself.
Another noteworthy item here was my preferred specialty beverage – something other than straight coffee. It was the Voltaire, essentially a cappuccino with Mexican chocolate.
It was chocolaty without being overly sugary, a balance that is quite challenging to achieve (from my experience drinking mochas and making them at home) and they mastered it.
Instagram: @casacardinal
Camino a Comala: Café de Especialidad
As I said above, most of my favorite recommendations for coffee retailers around the world tend to come from those who prepare the drinks.
In this specific situation, I travelled to Camino a Comala based on a recommendation from Christian, a Q-graded (similar to a coffee connoisseur) professional who led the “coffee tasting” class we participated in (it’s this experience, and I’ve participated in it twice now and found it to be excellent).
Given their familiarity with Mexican coffee (particularly coffee in Mexico City), the writer listed it as a place that must be visited.
Especially after reviewing the online menu and seeing a coffee I had read about previously but never had the opportunity to sample: the black honey gesha renowned Finca Chelín farm down in Oaxaca produces.
They have a few locations around the city, but the most convenient for me was their place at the northwest corner of La Condesa, just a few blocks from Bosque de Chapultepec (which was my next stop).
The cafe sits on a busy street, with roll up doors opening the entire front of the cafe onto the sidewalk.
I recall saying that the cup we had at Cardinal was one of two outstanding cups in Mexico City? This was the other one. And I’m so disappointed in myself that I didn’t purchase a bag to bring home.
Y’all, the floral designs in this cup were amazing. I generally have a hard time identifying floral notes, because they all kind of feel equivalent to me. But, as someone who has jasmine blossoms in their yard, the scents of jasmine wafting off the cup as soon as it was positioned in front of me were unmistakable.
It was as if being struck across the face with a jasmine vine.
Beyond the floral notes, the cup was nicely balanced and tea-like, with a silky smooth light body and a definite sweetness that became more prominent as the cup cooled.
Plus an undercurrent of pleasant – but not overpowering – acidity akin to pineapple or mango flavors.
Another incredible display of the wide range of exceptional coffee originating from Mexico presently!
That cup of coffee is the kind that I’m always pursuing; something special that you can only find in a specific place and time, and that you’ll never be able to get again (unless you return to the same place).
A comparable experience almost ten years ago initially got me interested in coffee after a natural Ethiopian variety with blueberry notes made me realize “wait, is that coffee?” I`ve been in pursuit of that sensation since.
The trains depart from Madrid’s Puerta Atocha train station, usually from the lower platform situated on the ground floor.
Instagram: @caminoacomala
Café Avellaneda
Owned by those managing Camelia, Café Avellaneda was my preferred coffee shop over my initial two excursions to Mexico City (it has existed for approximately 13 years now, at the time of drafting). It lies on a cobblestone street down in Coyoacán (near the Frida Kahlo Museum), which renders it an excellent stop on a trip south either before or after the museum.
Like Camelia, they also use beautiful coffees from Café con Jiribilla (unsurprisingly since they’re all owned by the same people), and the interior of the shop is absolutely tiny, with enough room for maybe ten people if you’re stuffed in elbow-to-elbow.” .
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The palace was transformed into a museum by the Portuguese government in the early 20th century and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
There are a couple aspects of Avellaneda that stand out to me, at least.
Firstly, they carry an assortment of different manually brewed coffees using various methods. Baristas happily provide recommendations too (especially in Spanish).
On the recommendation of the barista, we tried a natural process coffee from Oaxaca, and the barista eagerly described the recipe and method they utilized as they made it with a V60.
Second is the seasonal drink menu, which features my favorite coffee cocktail that I’ve ever had among other creative coffee drinks (we tried the cascara soda and the horchata espresso, and both were also good).
I like Avelleneda so much that, in our 4 day Mexico City itinerary, I list it as one of the four main attractions down in Coyoacán, a list that also includes Casa Azul, Mercado de Coyoacán, and the twin plazas at the heart of the neighborhood.
Chances are, at some point during your trip to Mexico City, you’re going to head down to Coyoacán, and Avelleneda should be one of the key stops you make on your itinerary.
Instagram: the business on Instagram
Camelia Café
Camelia Café was a very pleasant find that quickly became one of our favorite places in the city.
Located down in Roma Sur, we showed up on a sunny Thursday morning and were immediately greeted with a big smile and a “bienvenidos” from the person who turned out to be one of the owners.
When we went over to place our order, I explained (in imperfect Spanish – I needed several days to regain proficiency in speaking it) that I had learned of Café con Jiribilla, a coffee roaster located in Mexico City, through Instagram and their website indicated Camelia as the first location listed where you can find it.
It turns out that Café Avellaneda and the other locations mentioned are all owned and run by the same group of individuals!
- It has a very convenient location near Vatican City.You`ll be within walking distance of the Vatican, allowing you to easily walk to your early morning Pristine Sistine Tour with Take Walks (a company we really enjoy and definitely recommend).
One of the proprietors, Carlos, who has demonstrated success (and claimed top honors) in numerous coffee competitions throughout Mexico, provided us a brief overview of the country`s primary coffee-growing regions and what distinguishes each locale.
He expressed his affection for Oaxaca, which is full of small producers and limited collections that you`ll often see throughout Café con Jiribilla`s lineup.
This was our initial coffee of the trip, and both the espresso, which was a fruit bomb, and the pour over coffee, which was light and delicate and full of stone fruit, surpassed our expectations of Mexican coffee and set us up to further explore the different regions and producers over the rest of our journey.
On my second visit, I arrived on a warm Sunday afternoon and, again, was greeted with the same smile and welcome.
Noticing that one of the owners, Yarismeth, was wearing a La Perlita shirt (a coffee shop in Portland, where I live), I asked about it and learned that the owners of La Perlita and her partner are acquaintances. It`s a small world!
Instagram: @avellenedakf
Blend Station
Of the coffee shops on this list, I probably have the most mixed views about Blend Station.
On one hand, the coffee we consumed at Blend Station was rather pleasant. And that venue was likely the ideal starting point here. By the conclusion of our trip, we basically had successful coffee options from there around 50% of the time.
We enjoyed an excellent V60 from Chiapas made with a pleasantly balanced orange fruit honey processed coffee. The sweetness and bright acidity blended well.
We also had a second coffee from Guerrero that was notably less intriguing, and the main notes that I got from it were roasty toasted, which is not aligned with my tastes.
We also purchased two fancy bags of coffee from Blend Station per the barista`s recommendation to enjoy at home.
Again, one of the beverages was excellent – tropical fruits were very well-balanced between sweetness and acidity (particularly as it cooled). But the other, despite enjoyable notes of maple and tropical fruits, tasted more strongly of roasted wood than anything else.
Now, that does not appear to be the best recommendation, and you’re probably wondering exactly why they ended up on this list.
It’s because their unique drinks, like iced coffee and coffee “cocktails,” and atmosphere are exceptional.
Their cold brew was, by far, the best cold brew we found in Mexico City. My older brother, Josh, was particularly fascinated by the method they use to brew it, which involves one of those setups with curly glass tubes that slowly drip water through the coffee and into a decanter waiting to be poured into your glass.
More resembling a scientific trial rather than anything else.
Later in the trip, we stopped by their location in Roma Norte to sit in the sun and reenergize before continuing our explorations. I was in the mood for something a little diverse and more intriguing, and ultimately ordered an excellent espresso tonic.
The ambiance, specifically at their location in La Condesa, is among the finest on this list.
From the entrance, it seems like a narrow space with a long espresso bar and very little seating. But once you get to the end of the bar, it opens up into a beautiful light-filled atrium centered around a tree growing more than a story tall.
It would be a great place to spend a quiet hour sipping coffee and catching up on your book before heading back out into the activity and commotion of Mexico City.
Instagram:@blendstation_
Chiquitito Café
Established over a decade ago in 2012, this cafe was among the original providers of specialty coffees in Mexico City.
I recollect visiting their café in La Condesa on my initial trip to Mexico City and enjoying their coffee, so it promptly made the list for this latest visit as a mandatory stopover.
Today, the Chiquitito empire has expanded to include four different cafes around the city, but I had to return to the location in Hipódromo (mostly because it’s the most convenient for tourists).
Other locations include a place in Cuauhtémoc a few blocks away from the Angel of Independence, and two cafes in more residential areas to the west of the city center.
The interior of the shop is small, with light walls and a couple of tables opposite the coffee bar, where three baristas somehow maneuvered around each other despite their elbows touching at nearly all times (I was impressed by the spatial awareness).
As it was our first and only coffee stop of the morning before heading off to a cooking class, we ordered a variety of different drinks. A shot of espresso, a cappuccino, and, after a brief conversation with the barista, their house drink – the Chiquitito.
The espresso was lovely – balanced and juicy – the cappuccino was on point with silky smooth steamed milk, but the highlight was undoubtedly the Chiquitito, which is essentially something like a cappuccino and a latte with condensed milk added for a touch of sweetness.
The location in La Condesa is compact, but they`ve expanded the seating region with a pleasant parklet, where multiple groups and canines were relaxing on a sunny morning, enjoying their morning caffeine serving.
Instagram: @chiquititocafe
El Ilusionista Café
During this last trip, we stayed in Roma Sur, and my coffee journey in Mexico City took me on a long walk to Secc. Miguel Hidalgo for one of the most suggested shops from the baristas I had asked around Mexico City.
Tucked away on a sunny corner on a semi-residential street southwest of La Condesa, Ilusionista is one of the few coffee shops on this list that rotates through different roasters (versus being connected to a single roaster or roasting their own beans, which describes most coffee shops in Mexico City).
I have a liking for places that rotate through roasters, which I call `coffee curators`, and I was eager to see a clipboard on the counter containing every bit of information you might want about the coffee being filtered and espresso that particular day.
On this pleasant Tuesday morning, they served coffee from Arrullo, a compact Mexican roaster. I eagerly read the details regarding the filtered coffee accessible, and valued that they too incorporated data like their brewing parameters for both filtered and espresso, something technical home brewers (like myself) will appreciate.
I had a coffee processed using honey from Chiapas prepared with a V60. For some reason (if you know why, I’d appreciate hearing it!), coffee in Mexico seems to feature considerably more honey process than I’ve seen anywhere else.
The coffee I had at this location was well-balanced, being rounded and sweet like a natural coffee but also having a pleasant acidity creating a perfectly balanced cup, similar to how honey process coffee falls between washed and natural styles.
It was fruity and juicy, which is essentially all I want from a cup of coffee these days.
The light green walls and light wood accents of the interior are warm and welcoming, and there is plenty of sidewalk seating outside for those sunny afternoons in Mexico City.
Instagram: @ilusionistacafe
Anvil Café de Especialidad
I am unable to precisely recall how I discovered this cozy small street level cafe – and indeed it is cozy, as there is barely enough space for the bar, let alone the three seats at the bar – but it was some combination of scanning Google Maps and asking baristas around the city for a recommendation on where to go next.
When I went to scope it out in person during a morning wander through La Condesa, I walked up and noticed that they had a horchata espresso drink listed on the menu.
Which prompted me to retrieve my mobile phone and promptly text my older brother to meet me there promptly, because we both are quite fond of horchata.
Around an hour later, we were seated at a sidewalk table enjoying a honey processed coffee from Veracruz recommended by the barista and, of course, that horchata espresso drink. The latter ranked among our top three specialty beverages of the trip (and likely in first place). It was rich, sweet, and utterly delicious.
The prepared pour over coffee with a V60 device as I sat at one of the three seats and learned about the recipe. It had a juicy texture full of red and orange fruits, especially as it cooled when the sweetness emerged.
To be fully transparent, I went to Anvil AFTER visiting Camino a Comala, where I had an incredible cup of coffee. Therefore, my assessment of the coffee here is somewhat influenced by still longing for that jasmine essence at the other place that amazed me.
However, between the unique beverages, the friendly service personnel, and the selection of pour over choices, I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
Instagram: @anvilcafemx
Other Coffee Shops Worth Visiting (That I Didn’t Make it to)
Because Mexico City is massive, there are too many coffee shops to visit in a single trip.
Or, in this case, even in three trips.
The coffee scene in Mexico City (and throughout Mexico in general) is evolving rapidly too, as specialty coffee adoption soars and producers across the country continue pushing boundaries of quality.
This means that, as I`ve created this guide, there are likely numerous additional coffee shops that ought to be on this list but I haven’t got to yet (I’ll get there on my next annual trip!).
Therefore, I`ll use this section to list other coffee shop recommendations I`ve received or found myself in Mexico City that I haven`t made it to yet, but that doesn`t imply you shouldn`t!
Collating recommendations centrally will prove helpful when next I visit Mexico City, having my “must-do” notes compiled in one place!
In any case, here are a few other coffee shops to include in your list.
Alquimia: A shop located in the southeastern area of Narvarte, a neighborhood south of Roma, that I unfortunately did not make it to on my last morning in Mexico City. Nevertheless, this location was among the places I was most eager to visit that I missed out on, which explains why it leads this portion. Multiple coffee options are available, and their menu features coffee-based cocktails. If you do end up there, head around the corner for tacos al pastor at El Visito, and carnitas at El Fenix.
Yonke: Another location from the people behind Café con Jiribilla and Avelleneda, this one is located fairly north, and thus I ran short on time before arriving here. It’s a cozy small space, and they host various pop ups (check Instagram for the latest). Multiple filtered coffee options too!
Totte para Todos: A recommendation from someone residing in Mexico City who is employed at the US Embassy, this is a solo presentation (which is my preferred kind of show) just east of Bosque de Chapultepec. They roast their own coffee beans, and serve it in this tiny, charming café.
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The Best Coffee in Mexico City, Mapped
As guaranteed, here is a map of all of the coffee shops stated in this guide.
Helpful hint: click the icon in the top right corner to expand it to the full screen.
