I’m not going to lie, when I saw this place open I thought it was just Macondo rebranding itself. I wasn’t a big fan of Macondo so I had been avoiding this place. I’m happy to report I was so wrong!
This place is under new ownership, operating directly with Colombian farmers and roasters. They have a huge amount of varietals and processes, ranging from Gesha to Caturra, Castillo, and Typica, as well as washed, natural, and black/red/white honey processes.
Felipe (not sure if he’s the owner or supervisor, didn’t have a chance to ask him) saw me smelling the coffees and was kind enough to discuss the different varietals and tasting notes, growing regions, and processes with me (I’m familiar with the processes in general but wasn’t familiar with the different types of honey processes, so he brought me examples of all the green coffees and explained the differences between the types of honey).
The baristas were also very nice and friendly. They greeted me and even brought out my to-go latte to my table with a drink carrier since they noticed I brought in a water cup and my hands would be full. And unlike my previous experience at Macondo, these baristas knew what they were doing!
The latte I had was delicious. If I recall correctly, they’re currently using a natural Colombian for espresso. It was definitely a natural though: strong chocolate and berry notes shone through in the latte, creating a cup that was deep, a little fruity, and sweet without needing any sugar (besides what’s naturally in the milk).
I also appreciate the variety of brewing methods available. They really try to educate you, even telling you the history of each brewer on the menu. Turkish, siphon, French press, chemex, v60, aeropress, espresso, and I may even be missing some! This makes me happy especially because I went to another Colombian coffee shop (CFS) down the street that has different brewers on display but they don’t use any of them (they only had espresso or drip). They were all for show and that’s disappointing. Glad that Arte Y Pasión actually uses their brewers!
My only note is that they have a huge selection of coffee but most are behind the counter. I’d want to smell them all and read about them since I’m indecisive but my social anxiety is too strong to ask someone to bring me every bag, especially since they have quite a few options. So maybe having the coffee bags somewhere more accessible to anyone curious would be nice.
In short, this place is great and I will definitely be coming back! And Felipe I promise I’ll buy some coffee next time I just have too much at home currently 😂