Best Cafés in Medellín 2026

Pergamino café third-wave coffee Medellín

Medellín’s third-wave coffee scene — small-batch roasters and serious baristas

Colombia grows the coffee, but for years drank instant. That changed in the 2010s, and Medellín now has one of South America’s best third-wave coffee scenes. Pergamino, Hija Mía, Cafe Velvet, and Al Alma are the names that travelers remember; underneath them is a deep bench of small roasters working with single-farm beans from Antioquia and beyond.

Pergamino — The Anchor

Pergamino on Provenza is the city’s most-visited specialty coffee shop. Their flagship roastery sits a few blocks away; the menu rotates seasonally between farms in Antioquia, Huíla, Caldas, and Nariño. Order: V60 pour-over of whatever single-origin is featured. The room is bright and laptop-friendly until afternoon; expect a wait Saturday mornings.

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The Provenza Coffee Walk

You can do a self-guided coffee tour by walking 4 blocks of Provenza: Pergamino → Hija Mía → Cafe Velvet → Al Alma → Cafe Zeppelin. Each has a distinct house style and beans. Allow 30–40 minutes per stop; pace yourself — a full V60 of single-origin coffee carries real caffeine.

Beyond El Poblado

Laureles has a smaller but real specialty scene around Plaza de Laureles — try Café Botero (no relation to the artist) or Cafe del Cementerio in Centro for the more old-school espresso experience.

Buy Beans to Take Home

Pergamino, Al Alma, and Cafe Velvet all sell whole beans by the bag (250–500g), priced 30–50% cheaper than equivalent roasters in the US or Europe. Vacuum-sealed bags travel fine in checked luggage.