City Nibbler

View Original

The Best Gourmet Coffee – Seville, Spain

I’m a new coffee drinker because I grew up Mormon. Mormons don’t drink coffee, tea, or alcohol because it is against their religion. Ironically, I grew up working as a barista, however, at a coffee shop in Idaho. But proudly, I never tried it, not even once. I knew how to make coffee and use all the fancy coffee vocabulary with customers, but tasting it, no way. I was a far too devout and obedient Mormon for that.

I had my first sip of coffee when I was 30 years old. That was two years ago now. I absolutely hated my first sip. It was from a gourmet coffee roaster called Comet Coffee in downtown Ann Arbor, Michigan, a place that most people swoon over, often with a line out the door. I couldn’t even finish my mocha with a fancy ganache, practically gagging it down. I ended up tossing it - $4.50 in the trash. But since that day over two years ago, drinking coffee from all over the world while majorly reprogramming my taste buds, I can proudly say that I am a huge coffee lover! (An aspiring coffee connoisseur even.) But because of that, I am also a huge coffee snob because I rarely drink anything except the best coffee roasts from the best coffee shops. Starbucks doesn’t even do it for me unless I am in dire need. Me and bad coffee just don’t mix.

Being the city nibbler that I am and while living in Seville, I scouted out all the best places in the city for coffee. The good ones are few and far between, mixed in with some very bad ones and some mediocre ones, but I know that I have found the best that Seville has to offer. And the greatest part is that you won’t ever pay more than €2.50 per cup! Coffee in Seville is cheap compared to America. So if you’re traveling to Seville and need a quick pick-me-up that tastes delicious, I’ve got your back. Here is a list of my favorite coffee shops in Seville.

A Little Information About Spanish Coffee

The latté equivalent in Spain is called, “café con leche.” It is strictly espresso with a small amount of frothed milk, with the ratio being closer to an American flat white. Rather than a milky latté, it has a strong (mostly bitter) coffee flavor. Most cafés and bars don’t have any options for adding syrups and flavorings like what is typical in most American coffee shops. Instead, if you are wanting a bit of sweetness, you add a small included sugar packet. In my experience in Seville, café con leches are not very good. The beans are a very dark roast and the flavor is less than ideal. I’ve even had some totally undrinkable ones. Sometimes I have to add two sugar packets to even make it worth it. That being said, my husband generally likes it more than I do.

If you want something sweeter, order a, “café bombón.” It is less common but still widely known. Café bombón is espresso mixed with sweetened condensed milk, with a 1:1 proportion of espresso to sweetened condensed milk. It is dark in color and very sweet and rich.

Another option is the, “cappuccino.” The cappuccino in Spain has a large amount of milk foam on top. Most often, it has a tiny amount of chocolate powder mixed in as well as sprinkled on top of the foam. If you didn’t see it you would barely know it was even there, but it does add just a hint of sweetness that I appreciate. This is what I mostly ordered when I lived in Spain. I like a little foam with my coffee.

Virgin Coffee

This place is so small that if you blink you’ll miss it. This might be the tiniest coffee shop that you’ll ever encounter. Don't expect that you can sit here and work on your computer while you drink your coffee. This place doesn’t have a standing area, let alone a sitting area. If there are two customers inside ordering it seems crowded. Despite the size, this place is great! It is a self-owned, self-run little shop, all done by one single man. Pedro does everything, and he has so much love and passion for what he does. He adores the coffee world and it shows. His coffee is perfectly steamed and poured and he even takes the time to do beautiful coffee artwork on top. That’s always a plus for me since I eat my food with my eyes before my mouth even gets to it.

The only downside to this place is that the hours are a little funky. Following the Spanish custom, the shop closes in the middle of the day, sometimes right when you feel like you could use an afternoon pick-me-up. There have been several times where I have gone during the written online opening hours and there will be a handwritten sign on the door that says, “Closed because of a family emergency,” etc. It can be frustrating especially when you go out of your way to go there. Like I said, Pedro runs the whole place, so when he can’t be there, the whole shop closes, making it not so convenient for customers. But what is convenient is the location (see below).

What to Do Next?

It is located right next to Las Setas Metropol Parasol, the famous giant mushroom shaped wooden structure in Seville. After getting yourself a drink at Virgin Coffee, head on over to Las Setas to enjoy the view, or if you have a child with you, to play on the playground.

Calle Regina, 1


Torch Coffee

Torch Coffee is my favorite place for coffee in all of Seville. It is coffee done right. I love the mission of Torch. They focus on empowering people, and they believe that they can change the world by changing people through coffee. They have single-origin coffee beans and value that coffee is a seasonal product, always using the freshest beans at that time. The coffee is delicious and never disappoints. It has a perfect layer of crema on top with a full-bodied rich texture to it. They pay attention to detail and create beautiful coffee artwork. They have two other locations besides Seville– one in China and one in North Carolina.

The only downside to this shop is that it is always full of tourists. Everyone sitting there is blonde and speaks English. Even the workers speak perfect English, as well as Spanish. Because it is located in a very touristy part of town, many tourists stop here. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen any Spanish locals at Torch, but the coffee is good enough that I’ve gotten over the overly touristy aspect. Sometimes when I miss home, Torch is a good place to visit because being there makes me feel like I’ve stepped into an American coffee shop, even for just a little while.

What to Do Next?

Torch is a perfectly located coffee shop with so many things to do near by. It is right next to the bridge that connects Seville to Triana if you feel like exploring that area. The Rio Guadalquivir walking path is fun to roam down at any hour of the day. Plus, it’s close to the Torre del Oro, the famous military watchtower built to protect Seville. If you haven’t seen the Catedral de Sevilla, that’s not too far from Torch Coffee either and can’t be missed while visiting Seville.

Ave. Paseo de las Delicias, 3


Lobo Lopez

Lobo Lopez is on my list of favorite places to eat lunch and dinner in Seville, and surprise, surprise! They make good coffee too. Pretty much everything that can be ordered from Lobo Lopez will be good, whether that be coffee, breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They make high quality products and have great service which makes customers constantly come back for more. Mochas are a rare commodity in Seville when it comes to coffee shops, but that’s not a concern here. This place makes a good mocha with a delicious chocolate ganache syrup that is executed perfectly. They will be sure to take care of you here and get you what you’re looking for. If you need a good coffee fix on your vacation, go to Lobo Lopez.

What to Do Next?

Looking for a sweet treat? Go check out Ambrosius. It’s a short 2-minute walk away from Lobo Lopez and it made my list of favorite pastry and dessert shops in Seville. They make fabulous cakes and breads that are not to be missed. There is also my favorite hat shop called Fernandez y Roche right around the corner that makes the most beautiful hats and other accessories. It’s fun to check out and maybe even purchase a hat for your trip.

Calle Rosario, 15


Jester

This little café caught me by surprise. I had planned on meeting a Spanish girl friend at Jester for a language exchange one day. It was a place that she had picked to meet. I wasn’t expecting anything great when we went but just thought it would be a good place to meet up and practice my Spanish while chatting with a friend. But I was actually blown away by their coffee. It had a good strong flavor with a delicious and rich aroma. They also do larger sizing options if that is what you’re looking for.

The only downside here is that the place is tiny. They only have outside seating, with about 5 tables in total. You order inside and then they bring you your food outside. Good luck getting a table. It can be quite the struggle. This place is hopping with tourists which can be slightly annoying at times, but their coffee is so good that I’d say it’s worth the wait and the fight for a table.

What to Do Next?

Jester is very close to The Royal Alcázar and The Catedral de Sevilla. Those are both must do’s when in Sevilla, so make sure you check them out! Don’t forget your camera. Fabulous photos await you.

Calle Puerta de la Carne, 7a


Café Otto

This is my favorite breakfast place in all of Seville for the overall breakfast experience, and their coffee is good too. They have a cute outside seating area that is fun to sit at and enjoy the morning. The inside area is great too and very inviting. They make an extra large size coffee, which is largely unheard of in Seville. Most of the large coffees you would order in Spanish coffee shops are equivalent to an American small coffee. But at Café Otto, their large is similar to an American large, which I definitely appreciate some mornings. Their cappuccino is delicious and has a great amount of foam on top. The service here is great too. They take good care of you and pay attention to your needs and requests.

What to Do Next?

The Alameda de Hércules is less than a 5-minute walk away from Café Otto. There is so much to do there, always something going on. It’s a great place for kids to play, as well as a great place for adults to mingle with friends while tapa hopping. For more information about Alameda de Hércules, check out my blog post here.

Plaza Monte Sión, 8


La Cacharrería

This place has some dang good breakfast food and some great coffee. They have sweeter dessert style coffee choices on their menu like vanilla bean mochas and white chocolate caramel mochas, among others. Their presentation is very nice because of how they layer the different ingredients that make up the drink. There can be five different layers in one drink making it look so pretty! The decorations are top notch here with a coin filled wall and old Singer sewing machines made into tables. It’s definitely picture worthy and worth a stop.

La Cacharrería can be very busy. It is listed on almost every Seville travel and food blog for “Best Breakfast” that exists, because it is super good and everyone knows it. It offers a lot of healthy breakfast options which a lot of people like. Sometimes you might have to wait for a table but they usually turn over pretty quickly. The ordering process isn’t my favorite here. You have to order yourself at the front and then sit and wait for your food. It isn’t that big of a place so ordering can sometimes be a challenge space wise. I often find myself getting in the way of other people sitting at tables or employees delivering food from the kitchen to the customers.

What to Do Next?

This place is located on the famous Calle Regina, a street that is known for its inviting boutiques and cafés. After you get your coffee fix at La Cacharrería, go and do some shopping. Wander through the many different and unique stores and get lost a little as you go. Craving a fresh baked American style chocolate chip cookie during your European travels? There is a cookie shop right across from La Cacharrería called, Galletanas.

Calle Regina, 14


I hope you enjoy these coffee shops during your time in Seville! With all the long days of sightseeing and late nights of tapa hopping, I hope that this list will come in handy when you’re looking for a delicious pick-me-up. Have I missed any great coffee spots in Seville? Please let me know in the comments below!