Want to find the best specialty coffees and work spaces in the beautiful Guatemalan city?

We’ve got you covered!

Coffee is big business in Guatemala.

First introduced in the 1850s, it’s now responsible for about 40% of agricultural export revenue. Nearly a quarter of the population is involved in the industry and the country is the 9th largest producer in the world: whether you're from Sweden or South Dakota, we'd put money on the fact your've sampled some beans grown here at some point.

We've both really learned to appreciate good coffee In the last decade and, whilst nearby Xela is the city with our very favourite cafes, the scene in Antigua is pretty damn good.

So, for specialty coffee snobs, those looking to learn a little more beyond a latte, or lovers of cool spaces serving up reliably excellent cold brew to chill out or work for an hour or two, these are our favourite coffee shops in Antigua.

At the end of the post, we’ve also shared a few recommendations for coffee tastings and finca tours you can visit on a day trip from the city to learn more about the process from bean to brew.

12 Onzas

Named after the 12-ounce serving size, this place is a must-visit for coffee lovers in Antigua.

The stylish duck-egg blue façade opens into a chic street-facing café of clean lines and modern industrial vibes, but the real charm lies in the open-air courtyard and secluded workspace at the back.

Owned by siblings Samuel and Diana Díaz, coffee here is sourced from Concepción Buena Vista, the owners’ finca in San Martín Jilotepeque (that’s been in the family for more than 100 years), with every cup brewed to perfection by award-winning baristas.

Whether it’s a silky espresso or a carefully crafted pour-over, 12 Onzas delivers exceptional coffee in a beautifully designed, relaxed setting that’s ideal for work or unwinding.

Open every day from 7am-7pm, find it here on Google Maps.

El Gran Café

This tiny, modern spot serves up good brews and vibes, with a focus on organic coffee.

They source from several nearby fincas and roast it themselves, and you can find out exactly which fincas on their website.

The staff are also really friendly, and happy to answer questions if you're not sure what to try.

The only downside is that there’s not much seating or space to hang out at for too long, making this a great spot to pop in for a quick coffee as you explore Antigua, but not somewhere that you can work or hang out in.

The café is also involved in various community projects in Antigua and further afield, including one that aims to provide safe drinking water to schools; in 2021 they provided 100 ecofilters to various classrooms across Guatemala.

Find El Gran Café here on Google Maps.

Alegría Café

Opposite El Gran Café, this is the coolest place and space.

It's got more of a hipster, independent vibe, with various artisan products and small-batch items on sale, and we still regret not buying one of several pieces of art they were exhibiting at the time.

The espresso coffees were excellent, but the cold-brew was exceptional, with an almost orange-liquor note that was delicious.

Whilst Alegría did have a couple of people working each time we visited, we don’t feel this the coffeeshop to come and sit for hours on your laptop, but rather hang out and chat or read or daydream for a little bit.

Their notice board also has a bunch of interesting events and businesses in the city and beyond, and this is where the daily shuttle to Earth Lodge picks up.

Open every day 7am-7pm. Find it here on Google Maps.

Café Sol

Located by Calle Poniente, on the eastern side of the historic centre, this lovely little cafe has a hidden-away vibe far from the crowds of tourists.

They offer a variety of espresso-based drinks but we’d recommend having a chat with the knowledgeable staff and opt instead for one of their pour-overs.

Whilst there is inside seating at Café Sol, instead hot-foot it up the spiral staircase to the tiny upstairs terrace to enjoy your coffee surrounded by flowers and with excellent views out over Volcán Agua.

You can also grab breakfast here, as well as freshly-made and locally-baked sweet treats.

Find it here on Google Maps.

Raiz Café

Located just southwest of Parque Central in a colourful, cobblestone side street, Raiz Café is a locally-owned coffee shop that sources its beans from nearby fincas and a few further away in the Huehuetenango area.

Whilst some aspects of the menu are a little confusing and it's a small space, the coffee is good and the food menu - featuring fresh breakfast toasts, waffles, açai bowls and energising ginger shots - is ideal for a morning visit.

They have a few tables inside, but try and grab the window table seat - a great spot to watch the world pass you by.

Note that they only offer espresso-based drinks, not pour-overs.

Find Raiz Café here on Google Maps.

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Although Raiz is a great stop when wandering around or to hang out for a bit, it's not one for digital nomads; they may instead want to head over to nearby Serve Hope Cafe, which is a mission-oriented Christian coffee shop with a quiet co-working space.

They also have free filter water refills for everyone at the front, not just customers.

Artista de Café

On the fancier south side of the city, opposite the beautiful Iglesia San José El Viejo, Artista de Café is probably the most insta-friendly coffee shop in Antigua.

With its sleek, minimalist interiors featuring crisp white walls, neutral tones, natural wood accents, and pastel pops of colour, the café is a popular spot for both coffee lovers and digital nomads. The welcoming and curated space offers plenty of indoor seating, a beautiful design-led courtyard, and a connection to the El Cubo co-working centre, making it perfect for remote work or a quiet break.

Known for its specialty coffee, the menu includes pour-overs, cold brews, and expertly brewed espresso-based drinks alongside a limited food menu of fresh pastries, sandwiches, and healthy bowls.

We do have to note that this is not a cheap place to visit, with the prices of their coffees and pastries not too far off what you’d pay in Europe, and service wasn't great when we visited (despite the mandatory tip).

Still, for some of you, it might just be your favourite coffee shop in Antigua.

They also have a curated shop selling art and artisanal pieces, and host regular coffee tastings, with more details available on their website.out more on their website.

Find Artista Café here on Google Maps.

What about a coffee tour?

With so much of the world’s coffee coming from Guatemala, if you’ve never visited a coffee farm to learn more about the process, a trip to Antigua offers up the perfect opportunity.

There are several fincas located a relatively short distance from the city which welcome visitors, but the most practical option for most people is to join a coffee tour.

There are a number of different options to choose from, and whilst we didn’t join one ourselves (we’ve travelled Latin America extensively, and have visited quite a few coffee farms over the years), one particular tour would have been at the top of our list…

De La Gente, a social enterprise based in Antigua, is dedicated to empowering small-scale coffee farmers and promoting sustainable practices; their tours provide a unique opportunity to delve into the world of Guatemalan coffee while directly supporting local farmers.

Costing $38 USD per person, they offer an intimate experience with a family-run coffee farm. You'll learn about the entire process, from cultivation to harvesting, roasting, and brewing. Farmers personally guide you through their plots, sharing insights into traditional techniques and challenges in the industry. The experience ends with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, made using beans you helped roast.

Some tours we’ve been on have felt very transactional, but those run by De Le Gente allow you to gain not just knowledge of coffee making process, but also contribute to community development and fairer wages for farmers. Ideal for those keen on supporting ethical, grassroots initiatives.

They offer morning and afternoon tours, each lasting around 3.5 to 4 hours.

Other Antigua coffee tours to consider are:

Finca La Azotea / The tour of the coffee farm is much shorter than the above at around 60 minutes, but as part of this super popular tour you’ll travel to La Azotea on your own ATV and then visit the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint on the way back. Alternatively, if you have your own transport, you can visit the farm and join the standalone coffee tour for 50Q.

· Cafe Alegria runs two types of coffee tours - a simple two-hour option that hosts its tasting in the coffee shop or a longer 3-4 hour tour with a tasting in their roaster. Both visit a farm. These tours are quite pricey as compared to others available, but do include lunch at the cafe.

· If you’d like to combine your coffee experience with other activities in the area, you could consider this Coffee and Gastronomic Bike Tour, this Coffee & Macademia Farms Tour or this tour to the village of San Pedro Las Huertas that also farms avocados and honey.

· Lastly, if looking for something a little more budget-friendly, this highly-rated tour is a good option for a morning or afternoon activity.

Honourable Mentions

La Vid Coffee Roasters / Whilst this isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing coffee shop in Antigua, they really know their coffee, roasted in-house and sourced from Lake Atitlan. It’s also a very popular place to work from with solid wifi (maps)

Café Condesa / Located in Plaza Central - in a haunted building constructed in 1549 - Condesa is a bit of an Antigua institution that has been somewhat displaced by the newer, third wave places. It’s still however a mainstay favourite for locals and tourists looking for coffee, pancakes, and breakfast (maps)

Fat Cat Coffee House / Found opposite 12 Onzas, this coffee shop is often recommended but we found it to be too dark, hot and busy inside to enjoy. Perhaps we were just having a bad day though...(maps)

Ojala / Located in a stunning hotel meets hostel, Ojala Cafe serves up small batch coffee from female-owned, Guatemalan microfarms. Most tables are located within the garden so it’s not somewhere to work, but would be a nice spot a sunny day (maps)

Del Otro Lado / We didn’t get a chance to try the coffee here but it looked like a great welcoming space when we popped our heads in, with a totally unpretentious and relaxed vibe. People speak particularly highly of the food (maps)

We'd encourage you to patronise the independent places - where the coffee is best and you should sit in and savour, rather than getting takeaway - however, we wouldn't be doing our jobs if we didn't mention that the nicest Starbucks you'll probably ever find is right here in Antigua.

Set within a colonial building and spacious courtyard near the Arco Catalina (maps), it's annoyingly well set-up and a decent spot for anyone wanting to do a couple of hours laptop work with a good brew.