For a continent so well-known for its coffee, it is surprising how often tourists ask us where it is possible to buy a good coffee in La Paz. Travelers are surprised how hard it can be to find a quality brew during their travels.
For many years there wasn’t a top quality option. For this reason most backpackers would end up at a branch of Alexander Coffee. But while it has passable options, it wouldn’t pass any real coffee lovers test of standards.
There was a decent little-known option of the café inside San Francisco Church that serves up decent imported Italian coffee. Otherwise people could try the more local Bolivian taste in Oriental Coffee shop near the town hall. None would be adequate for a true connoisseur.
A New Wave of Coffee Shops
In the last couple of years there has been a growth of new coffee places opening their doors in La Paz. They are mostly located in the San Miguel area of zona sur with the cream of the crop being Roaster Boutique. They offer a menu of coffees from Bolivia and other South American countries. Also they provide a choice of preparation methods like Chemex, French Press or Aeropress. For all these reasons it is obvious that the owners of this establishment know and love good coffee. If the choice seems overwhelming or complicated the helpful staff will happily advise and leave you to the simpler choice of choosing a light snack or cake to go with your beverage – the carrot cake is highly recommended.
A visit to Roaster Boutique could more accurately be described as a real coffee “experience”. It is much more than simply a cup in your local cafe. You can see the onsite roasting equipment through the glass wall at the back. You can even purchase your own coffee presses and bags of roasted beans to takeaway. Real coffee lovers can also enroll for one of their Barista courses they give onsite. They even have guest coffee experts given speeches from time to time.
So know when one of customers asks where is it possible to find a good coffee in La Paz the answer comes to mind easily. It is well worth the journey to the south side of the city for the best coffee experience in Bolivia and maybe all of South America.