The Coffee Scene in Santiago, Chile

It is funny how the rumours are kind of true: coffee-producing countries show on average a smaller amount of good/specialty coffee cafes and often lack a professional, unique and strong coffee-scene in their cities. Right before coming to Chile I spent time in Peru and Colombia. Both known for their exquisite coffee industries. And I have visited some great cafes in both countries, but they were significantly harder to find. My success rate in finding a place with well-prepared coffee beverages was way higher in Santiago in comparison. Of course, my views are very limited, I have been only to the capital after all.

That being said, here are the places I visited and the impressions they left me with. I am a professional barista with hospitality experience, and this is how I judge cafes I go to. I can tell you if the coffee is prepared correctly and like to observe the workflow and identify the concept behind a coffeeshop business. However I don’t have an exquisite taste... this is where my expertise ends. I simply enjoy a good tasting cup of coffee and a cozy place outside of home. My judgement is obviously very subjective, and some of the information might not be up to date. Read the following as a kind of coffee diary rather than taking me by my word.

So grab your coffee or travel planner and enjoy the article ☕️

@thecoffee.jp

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat), 🍪 Matcha Cookie

This gem was a very unexpected and unique experience. The cafe is far from the center of Santiago, and was a convenient location while I was living with a friend. This cafe is in an industrial area, in an office building judging by the customers that were there. It is an international cafe from Japan, hence it has this clean, futuristic look and professional yet exciting beverages. What impressed me the most was the digitalized experience. I did not have to speak with the barista at all. At the counter, there is a tablet where you can select your beverage/snack of choice, add a number of sugar, ice, temperature, extras (like an extra shot) and so on. Then you pay via the terminal and wait around the corner of the counter, where the barista quietly prepares your drink. Given this is a place people go to during their work break, this anti-social concept is genius.

Taste: Coffee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10), Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)

Service: hard to judge, self-service system ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

@singularcoffeeroasters

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat) -> came with side of water

A very classy, modern, clean and trendy specialty coffee place. The place itself was very stereotypical for a modern, professional cafe: brick walls, white and black colours, plants and minimal furniture and decorations. Enough to keep it natural but tidy, hipster but elegant.

They were displaying and selling a variety of beans that would be great to buy would I be living there.

They also kept a copy of "The Coffee Atlas" there, which I believe grants some extra points.

There were not many seating areas, but generally it was more of a concept of an espresso bar rather than a hangout cafe.

As the name suggests, they roast their own beans, and the roasting area is located right at the entry. This way it is harder to identify the cafe from the street, however once you enter the building the smell of roasted coffee hits you and predetermines your experience positively. Of course the coffee was great.

Taste: ⭐ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

@domestico.cafe

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat), 🥪 Italiana Sandwich (tomato, basil, pesto, cheese)

It was hard to get into this place at first because it was completely full the first time we tried to get a table. This place was incredibly small with only three tables (one table, one bar and one sofa to be precise). That size is often enough but this cafe was too much of a hotspot, and I believe they are losing a great deal of potential customers/money because of this. However this is the only criticism I have. The coffee was amazing there and that sandwich I had was divine. Actually it was a very simple sandwich but its crunchiness, and the melted cheese and the fact that it had seasoning was exquisite. It's a very nice little specialty coffee place with a good teacher and very comfortable prices. Definitely goes into my top 10.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (6/10)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat), 🥑 avocado toast with egg

On this day, I was out to meet my friend at a different cafe. However, he was running late. I haven't eaten all day and my body was giving out. So while walking towards Barrio Italia I noticed this place with a very inviting terrace and went in. It looked colourful, cozy and a little whimsical with a chess board floor, colourful chalk boards and couches and cushions to sit down. I ordered some coffee and breakfast/lunch. The food was quite nice (it's hard to ruin an Avocado toast anyways) but the same cannot be said about the coffee. It was awful. It looked like a cup full of bubbly white foam, not even a hint of coffee underneath or on the sides. It also didn't taste like coffee or oats. It was just hot water with a slight taste of something burned. So yes, that was a disappointment.

I would not discourage anyone from going here... just get something else as a drink ;)

Taste: Coffee ⭐️ (1/10), Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Order Summary: ☕️ americano, 🍰 tiramisu cheesecake, 🍰 maracuya cheesecake

I chose the place in order to taste a nice cake on my birthday. Also it was recommended to me somewhere (probably the "coffee route" they published for Barrio Italia in Santiago).

Honestly the atmosphere was not the comfiest. Small, metal, round tables, very close to each other in an open hall, with the waiters standing by the side and watching you (a common thing in South America - nobody is forced to pretend they work). Oh and the coffee was pretty bad.

On another note, the cakes were very great, so that checks out.

Taste: Coffee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/10), Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/10) Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (7/10)

@oliverscoffeespecialty

Order Summary: ☕️ Darth Vader (espresso with cranberry juice and tonic water)

One of the coolest cafes in Santiago for sure. I have a special appreciation for theme cafes. Some believe it is cheesy, but I love to see people bringing in multiple passions together. In this case the owner (I am guessing Oliver, but who knows) definitely shares a passion for coffee, since they serve very good specialty coffee, and Star Wars. Though I am not passionate about Star Wars, I really enjoyed all the references, the themed glasses, decorations and tokens, the Star Wars inspired menu and beverages and so on. The drink I took looked very well and tasted very nice too. (On my glass I had baby Yoda, don’t remember his name).

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) (-> points for creativity)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)

@cafealturachile

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat)

We went to this cafe to catch up before going to the bar for a language exchange party. From the outside it does not necessarily seem like a serious specialty coffee place, and that's not a bad thing. But with a quick peek on the menu and the counter it shows appears rather attractive, both drink and food wise. That being said the coffee was quite good the place was quite cute and the staff alright: friendly but not with any particular enthusiasm or anything. A very calm place to eat and have a bite and a handy location given the amount of shops, restaurants and bars around it.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

@cafetriciclo

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat), 🍪 Ginger Cookies

A very professional but hipster place. The interior was white with green plants, and the design and art-style of the place sporty and comical. It seemed a little out of place first, but in the whole picture it worked. Though the tables and seats were a little bit too close together which made me a tad bit claustrophobic. The coffee was pretty nice, and so were the candies. This is definitely one of the nice cafes in Santiago. I don't have anything to complain about. It's light, tasty and cozy. And yet I have to admit that I'm not totally hyped about this place. Maybe in contrast with the other cafes I've visited, maybe it's just not entirely my taste and therefore was not impressed. But I'd still go there if I'd be roaming the area. Definitely worth stopping for a quite bite or a little cuppa.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10)

@pacecoffeecl

Order Summary: ☕️ V60 (black filtered coffee)

This was more of an espresso bar than a cafe. The layout is very conversational: you instantly get greeted by a barista as you walk in and are sipping your coffee in a seat in front of the counter the whole time. The barista explained to us how it was a small start-up business and their mission is to form the bridge between mainstream and specialty coffee for their customers. We had a long and educational chat, he talked about their beans, roasting process and his own background. They didn't have oat milk yet, so I took a V60 and it was really delicious. Definitely an interesting experience. Probably this cafe has improved a lot until this point, would definitely go back there and see how they are doing.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/10) (place relatively new and small, best for to-go or solitary visits)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

@rustik_coffee

Order Summary (in total): ☕️ Flat Whites (oat), 🧁 cinnamon bun, 🥑 avocado toast with juice

I've been in this cafe multiple times, it was close to the place I was staying at and one of my favourite areas in Santiago. The location is beautiful, it's in a passage in Barrio Italia (hip area for shops and cafes). It was semi-outdoors, with comfy brown colours and plants. For its location it was still pretty calm. The staff was always friendly and the coffee and food always good.

I have no criticisms for this place because I used to come here a lot. Either with friends or working, it somehow is the right amount of cozy but lively. And the interior was exactly to my liking. One of the places I miss the most since I left.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

@theelephantcoffeechile

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat), 🌰 nut-chocolate-slice

A friend wanted to show me this cafe because he said it reminded him the most of cafes in New Zealand once he came back to Chile. And I have to admit, even I got a little nostalgic being there. The cafe had a very stereotypical specialty coffee aesthetic: clean, white, minimalistic and modern. It seemed very professional, a serious barista setup and a proper workflow. What I love in South America is that no places seem to be understaffed as well (at least no visibly overwhelmed workers). Another interesting discovery was their music playlist. Once again it reminded me of New Zealand (many songs I knew from NZ cafes). Then I went on Spotify and discovered that I can partake in their "jam", add and skip songs to my liking. And on top of that they had their own playlist that I could follow. Now I have a relaxing playlist with good memories on my phone. What a cool idea!

Taste: Coffee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) (My Top 5 for Santiago), Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10) (a little too sweet)

Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (9/10) (actually good but not my taste)

Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

-> Mercado Urbano Tobalaba

@wr4.cl

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (oat)

This cafe was in the coolest mall I've ever been to, the Urban Tabalaba. It is beautiful and has a bunch of great shops, food places, walking areas and even galleries and reading areas.

This coffee place was very professional and clean looking. The logo is great, the coffee machines very fancy and expensive (we looked it up!), and the coffee itself was one of the best ones I've tasted in Santiago (and the bar is high!). Everything about it is balanced and perfect whilst it still offers a unique and distinguishable flavour palette.

It was pretty amazing. Honestly, the food did not look so appealing (at least compared to the awesome bakery next door), so I am not going to judge it. It seems like a serious chain and roastery and if I'd live there I'd definitely buy all my beans from that place.

Taste: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10) (its a mall, so they did the best they could. Would put more counter seats though) Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (8/10) (not complaining, just nothing memorable)

@wonderlandcafechile

Order Summary: ☕️ Flat White (soy) and 🍰 Chocolate Cake

Who doesn't want to visit an Alice in Wonderland themed cafe? No one. For that reason we had to book a table in advance. The booking costs money but that amount is later substracted from the sum of the orders (not a bad idea). After the so-so coffee (I don't think they're familiar with flat white) at the awesome cafe we were able to look around the place. It's an old wooden building with tiny rooms, narrow hallways and shaky stairs. Each room had a theme: White Rabbit Hole (garden, where we were), Tea Room, Music Room, Cat Room, Mad Hatter Room, Alice Room, etc. On the contrary side of the building one could access a shop (behind a mirror-illusion hallway) and buy their merch. Pretty good experience.

Taste: Food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10), Coffee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (7/10) Ambience: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) (would even give more) Service: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10)

The Coffee Route is a map put together by the city to help you navigate your way to coffee-related locations in Barrio Italia, a hip and vibrant district to clash both locals and tourists together. I thought it is a very cool thing and would like to share the link here:

Thanks for reading! Stay caffeinated ;)