Chile Forum

I have noticed lots of posts complaining about the lack of good coffee in Santiago, but I am still looking for a source of good whole beans. For my tatse Starbucks burns its coffee. I have been down to the Central Market and found the one source there lacking. If anyone has found a good source for coffee, especially darker roasts, please share with the rest of us.

Huasipungo wrote:. . . . I have . . . found the one source there lacking. . . .

Do you mean that you "have not found any source there"? If not, would you tell us the name and location of the source that you did find?

Thanks!

been here (Concepcion) for over 6 months now and have yet to find anything that is remotely good.. i have pretty much been to all the visible cafes in the city centre and have had the WORST coffees ever.. at least they are consistent in that they are BAD.. I have read that good coffee is served somewhere... as for good coffee beans i have yet to find them!.. i get mine sent in from Australia! costly but totally worth it as far as i am concerned... i think there is a niche market for a good quality cafe franchise here in chile.. but then again who knows the palate of the typical chilean.. perhaps they like tasteless coffee..

There are two cafes in Viña of which I know that serve high quality espresso drinks. Enjoy del Mar serves really good espresso drinks, a bit expensive but well worth it; the second I do not know the name but it is located in that small indoor mall-like area next to Plaza de Viña. It's a small cafe with just about 4 tables inside, delicious espresso drinks, and when I was there about a year and a half ago it was 500 pesos for an espresso.

Unfortunately I'm not aware of any businesses that sell whole beans to make at home.

One of my biggest drawbacks in Chile.Considering I was raised in Cuban coffee at all the times, every time
Called espresso with a kick and having it at any time of day, sometimes one before go to bed, for those that said that coffee keep them awake..LOL\
And in the morning as "cafe con leche" or "cortadito".There is no life without coffee.
Sad , but Chile does not have a good coffee , even the coffee shops in downtown Santiago serve a bland mix of espresso and percolated coffee .
I managed buying my own espresso machine a little number made by Krupps, and for the coffee i settled for a "Gourmet'
brand that can be found at your local Lider supermarket, in a golden /orange bag, i did not take the "Haiti" or "Caribe "brands because I have their coffee served in their stores and it was not really good .
It is a matter of taste , but i don't like Starbucks, because i consider them over roasted and a little on the bitter side , you might give a try to the brands listed above ,perhaps something will appeal to your taste .

I am no coffee genius, so take my recommendations with a grain of salt (not literally unless the coffee really sucks):

To hang out & drink, I like Samoiedo cafe right in the middle of downtown Vina, the Cuban coffee shop on the 2nd floor of the mall by Lider on San Martin in Vina, and Kaffee Klatch on the beach in Renaca (great deserts, comp prize if my coffee standards are too low). The first & third have very good internet access, had no trouble using Skype there.

John Hyre

Go coffee shopping when on a visa run or side trip to ARGENTINA. No problems with Chile Customs when bringing in coffee (don't even need to declare it).

I am from the US and I am not a Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts fan. If you can make it out to the Santiago airport, one of the tourist shops sells good premium coffee from Peru and Ecuador (organic and fair trade, too). The store is called Rumbo Sur or something like that. The brand of coffee is called Cafe Britt. They are located on both sides of passport control (second floor, close to the Correo on the open side), so you can buy something from them even if you are just picking someone up or dropping someone off. I just grabbed a pack on the way back from a short trip. Sometimes Jumbo carries Illy (better for espresso). Good luck!