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The primary reason you should absolutely visit Buenavista is for Café San Alberto. Colombia’s most award-winning coffee producer is located just above town in the UNESCO World Heritage listed Coffee Cultural Landscape of Colombia.
San Alberto Terraza
The café, San Alberto Terraza, is a short walk down from the main gate. It’s open daily from 10am to 6pm. You can try normal coffees such as espresso and cappuccino. You can also get a demonstration using alternative methods such as a Chemex or siphon.
The best part is the view. San Alberto arguably has the most incredible view in the entire Coffee Region, and I can’t think of a more scenic place to sample some of the finest coffee in the world.
Chemex
On our very first visit, we ordered our coffee prepared in a Chemex. The barista came to our table and explained the properties of the coffee before showing us how the Chemex is used. With the first sip, we decided it was the best coffee we have tried not only from the Coffee Region but in all of Colombia. Nothing comes close.
Siphon
On another visit, we tried the siphon. Again, the barista prepared the coffee tableside. He explained the origin and how to use the method as well as the properties of the coffee after brewing.
Coffee Experiences
For visitors with more time to kill, Café San Alberto offers two incredible coffee experiences. All experiences are private and require at least two people. Bookings must be made at least 48 hours in advance, and the experiences can be done in English, Spanish, French, and other languages, any day of the week.
The Premium Coffee Tour with Cupping includes a tour of the plantation and production facilities. It lasts about 2 ½ hours and costs COP$170,000 (as of February 2024).
The Premium Coffee Tour with Tasting and Immersion in Alternative Methods combines the Premium Coffee Tour with a tasting involving three different alternative brewing methods. It lasts about 3 hours and starts at COP$195,000 (as of February 2024).
