Ok, this entry is a bit special to me and you might have empathy for me once you read why. Although I grew up in Germany and have spent the last eight years living in Amsterdam, I was actually born in Mexico City back in 1983. And despite the fact that I never actually really lived there as a child, teenager or adult, I feel a very deep connection to this incredibly exciting and wonderful city.
So when I recently returned to spend a good three weeks in Mexico, I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to find out whether Mexico City had finally joined the world of specialty coffee or if it was still dominated by the big chains and Nescafe. The first place I came across while doing a bit of research is the cutest little café called Chiquitito Cafe. Located on a leafy and quiet Roma street, Chiquitito Cafe perfectly represents part of the foodie revolution that has gripped Mexico in recent months. “Huh? Food revolution? In the land of tacos?” you say. But even this country with one of the most delicious contemporary cuisines is rediscovering its pre-hispanic heritage and starting to develop a taste for high quality local food and drink.
The same is true for coffee. Mexico is one of the world’s top coffee producers but locals rarely get to sample its fruits. But wasn’t going to be the case forever. When Jeremy Clausser, a Pennsylvania native and his wife decided to open a real specialty coffee shop in the Mexican capital they certainly were ahead of the game. Chiquitito Cafe opened its doors in March 2012 and has since gained a loyal following not only amongst those who know what an Aeropress or a V60 are but also those who just want a damn good Cappuccino.
Indeed they source their coffees from Finca Pecora in Veracruz, which sustainably grows Caturra beans and other varieties near Boca del Monte. The coffees are then carefully and lightly roasted – very odd for Mexican standards – in Estado de Mexico before being taken to the skillfull hands of the Chiquitito Cafe’s baristas. As I was told while taking notes: “We just wanted to create a space for really great coffee, where baristas knew how to properly make a Cappuccino with real latte art and where people could come in and order all kinds of slow coffee methods that are so common in other parts of the world.”
Next to serving local coffee aficionados, they also offer home barista courses and they’re currently preparing to open their second shop near the American Embassy on Avenida Reforma. I tried one of their Espressi and I couldn’t believe how delicious it tasted. Fruity, with hints of spices and a light cocoa aroma. Believe me when I say this: this probably was the best coffee I’ve ever had in Mexico and that is a truly great thing!
