When I was in Guatemala City a few weeks ago, I was finishing an epic trip to Mexico and Guatemala that had lasted for nearly four weeks. Though most of it was spent with family at the beach, I did really love my first visit to Central America’s largest country and the incredbile adventures I undertook there. From climbing two volcanos in a day to sipping coffee by a stunning lake and wandering the ruins of old monasteries and churches in Antigua, there is so much to do!
Many people often skip Guatemala City or only spend a short while there but I think that’s a mistake. The capital, though not the prettiest in the region, has a lot to offer, especially when it comes to coffee. Who knew that there are coffee farms IN the city itself?
The world is so small
On my final day in the country, I ventured out to visit a lot of different coffee shops from my bucket list, and I started my exploration of the local coffee scene at La Central Coffee Roasters. This relaxed and friendly café-cum-roastery is just behind the airport and is owned by Primavera Coffee, a major exporter of green coffee to Europe and other regions.
When I visited, I was the only customer and I spent a bit of time chatting with the lovely barista, Astrid, who even knew one of my good friends from Amsterdam, Kim Staalman who incidentally works for Primavera! We were soon joined by Andrea Otte, Head of Coffee at Caravan Coffee in London who was doing a short stint in Guatemala.
Andrea had just arrived in Guatemala for a few weeks to help Primavera and to gain more experience at origin, something that I think every roaster should try to aim for. Consider it a pilgrimage. Andrea and I sat for a good thirty minutes chatting away about life in Amsterdam and London, and I told her about my coffee discoveries in Antigua for the eventuality that she should find herself there.
But enough about that. Let’s get back to La Central. This café has a modern and cosy interior with shaded patio seating at the front and more sheltered places in the back. There is a ProbatOne roaster in the corner and a small selection of coffee beans as well as some other local goodies available for purchase.
My flat white was perfectly prepared and really hit the spot. Considering I still had four cafés to visit that day, I was glad things got off to such a nice start. You can also go to La Central for small snacks and a light breakfast, for example. It seemed to me that this place is quite popular with local residents, embassy staff and retail employees. Who can blame them?
