The erstwhile Guatemalan capital Antigua is located in one of the country's main coffee growing regions, where the fertile volcanic soils and subtropical highland climate combine to produce delicious coffees. Antigua is also one of the best cities for specialty coffee in a producing country and I spent several days exploring its beautiful coffee shops and cafés.

I brought my Aeropress with me on my two-week trip to Guatemala and Belize but I didn't get it out of my suitcase while in Antigua (luckily, given there was no kettle in my hotel room!) because there were so many wonderful specialty coffee spots to check out.

While on a visit to a coffee farm with De La Gente (I'll be writing about it separately but highly recommend it), I found out how much Guatemalan people love coffee. Even young children have some, while adults drink it late into the night — that's a level of caffeine tolerance that's even greater than mine!

Guatemala is one of the world's biggest exporters of coffee, usually ranking around 10th in the world. So, it's great that in cities like Antigua — which does, of course, host a lot of tourists and is home to many expats — some of the best coffee is being offered domestically. This makes it easy to find high-quality coffee that is grown, processed, roasted and brewed locally.

There has also been a big focus on increasing the quality and consistency of the coffee, as well as exploring experimental processing techniques. This is perfect for someone like me, who loves anything with 'natural', 'anaerobic fermentation' and 'yeast inoculation' in the coffee description!  

During my time in Antigua, I visited ten specialty coffee shops. As always, my very favourites are marked with purple icons in my map and with asterisks below.

Specialty Coffee Guide: Antigua, Guatemala

* 12 Onzas

Perhaps at a café named 12 Onzas, I ought to have ordered a 12-ounce drink but I was in the mood for an espresso-based drink and for me that means a cortado or macchiato. The cortado, brewed with 12 Onzas' house espresso was impeccably brewed, tasting smooth and sweet.

I very much enjoyed chilling out in the peaceful, pastel-hued café — a welcome respite from the Antigua heat and hustle outside. They sell bags of retail beans, as well as coffee-making kit, in case you need to stock up.

* Alegría Café

Alegría is the Spanish word for 'happiness' and when I strolled into Alegría Café, barely 15 minutes after arriving in Antigua, I immediately felt a lot happier. It's a beautiful coffee shop with local art on the walls and a curving wooden coffee bar taking centre stage.

I enjoyed chatting with the friendly baristas about their approach and the coffee, which is sourced from local farms. I had a V60 pourover brewed with a natural Esquipulas coffee from Martin and Alex Keller at Finca Santa Isabel, which had vibrant juicy flavours, especially as it cooled.

The usual espresso-based drinks are also available, as well as breakfast, brunch and various sweet treats. You can also buy bags of coffee beans in Alegría's signature rainbow packaging, and they have some lovely artisan products available too, from colourful ceramics and decorative items to local honey.

Alegría Café is located at 5a Calle Poniente no. 2. Instagram.

* Artista de Café

Set across multiple levels in a sprawling building just south of Parque Central, Artista de Café is a real temple dedicated to the art of coffee. It's a beautiful space with diverse seating options from comfy armchairs to sharing tables and seats in the leafy patio.

And it brings as much substance as style with an impressive coffee menu.There were three single-origin Guatemalan coffees available on pourover during my visit. I went for the Fincas Herrarte natural Gesha, from the Volcán Tecuamburro region to the south, which tasted delicious with the floral and tropical fruit notes coming through perfectly.

I also had a very nice cortado. They also serve a wide range of signature coffee drinks — the affogato looked great — and hot chocolate, cold drinks and brunch and lunch dishes. You can buy the coffee beans and even the flatware!

* Café Sol

I had had so much sunshine on my second full day in Antigua that I was actually seeking the shade when I walked into Café Sol, but their lovely leafy garden at the back offered the perfect compromise.

I was in the mood for a pourover and they had two coffees on offer. After chatting with the friendly barista, I selected the natural Gesha from the Suchitán Volcano region in the east of Guatemala. It had a winey, fruity flavour with the perfect amount of sweetness. 

While I was there, I also picked up a few recommendations from the barista for coffee shops in Lake Atitlán and also — unexpectedly — Norwich, where his friend runs a coffee shop. Kofra is on my list for the next time I'm in East Anglia!

Café Raíz

Located on the southwest side of the city centre, Café Raíz is a good place to stop for coffee before checking out Antigua's Mercado Central. The café is small but attractively decorated with a few stools and tables near the window. My cortado, brewed with a locally grown coffee, tasted great.

Coffea

I spotted Coffea Cafes Especiales while doing some shopping on the east side of Antigua's city centre. I noticed the 'World's 100 Best Coffee Shops' plaque (it's currently number 27) and headed on in. It was bustling when I arrived and I had to wait a few minutes before I could nab a table but it was well worth it!

I ordered a cortado with Coffea's Chich'upaq red honey espresso. With a little milk, my coffee had complex and sweet notes: a very special coffee indeed!

* El Gran Café

A short walk from Parque Central El Gran Café is also just across the road from Alegría occupying a colonial-style building with period features. Inside, it's petite but perfectly formed with an attractive tiled counter and shelves offering a wide range of El Gran Café coffee beans.

I ordered a cortado, which I enjoyed sitting on the small bench near the door. The coffee was brewed with the 5a Poniente blend and had delicious milk chocolate flavours; the latte art was excellent too. As well as coffee beans, they also have some cool merch: the t-shirts would make a great Antigua souvenir!

Fat Cat Coffee House

Established by Gerson over a decade ago, Fat Cat is one of Guatemala's first specialty coffee shops and it's still going strong. There's a very relaxed vibe at the café and whether you opt for an espresso-based drink to go, like I did, or sit down for a hand-brewed filter coffee, the welcoming baristas will ensure you enjoy your drink.

Fat Cat Coffee House is located at 4a Calle Oriente no. 14a. Instagram.

Kaldi & Kapra

I appreciated the nods to the Ethiopian goatherd thought to have discovered the coffee plant in the name of Kaldi & Kapra. It was also the meeting point for my hiking tour of Volcán de Acatenango. 

I had a nice filter coffee and desayuno típico and enjoyed the view from the café's rooftop of Acatenango and its feistier neighbour Fuego. Eight hours later, I would be near the top!

Kaldi & Kapra is located at 2a Calle Poniente no. 2. Instagram.

La Vid Coffee Roasters

I came across La Vid on my way back from the Mercado Central. I was in need of more caffeine to get me through the afternoon and the espresso I had at La Vid really hit the spot. Sit at the brew bar to watch the knowledgable baristas do their thing!