People had been telling me about a fantastic place for a coffee in Medellin, so it’s not surprising that on my last visit to the city I headed right over to check out the café.
On a leafy street in the El Poblado neighborhood I walked past restaurants with cuisines from around the world (and around Colombia), and then I saw it. There was no need for a sign, really – Pergamino’s outdoor terrace with tables and comfortable chairs lured me in.
Pergamino has several areas to relax and enjoy your drink – the outdoor terrace, a wood-dominated interior, and a space near the coffee bar. They are all comfortable to spend an entire afternoon or morning with friends, which is just what I did. When I sat down with my friends and an excellent brew made in an Aeropress, I knew no one was going to get me to leave for hours.
Education in Colombian coffee
This place is about education. Owned by the son of a coffee grower, it’s not surprising that Pergamino is intimately involved in the coffee growing process, from the ripe cherries picked off the plant to processing the beans to cupping the coffee in order to determine quality.
Their main farm (where their insignia coffee hails from) is in Antioquia. Lomaverde, at an average of 1,750 meters above sea level, produces a coffee with chocolate and caramel notes. And in another area of Antioquia, Urrao, 20 small coffee growers produce a sweet coffee – see if you can taste the peach and honey notes. Pergamino also has a Caturra variety from Caicedo, Antioquia, where vanilla, panela and red wine notes take the forefront in a complex and intense coffee.
You can buy their coffees online. They roast twice a week, and your order would ship on the same day. That seems pretty fresh to me. Their prices range from COP$18,900 – 21,900 for 360 grams of whole bean or ground coffee, and the price includes shipping.
And what’s in a name? The name of the café, Pergamino, is a nod to their emphasis as coffee producers; it means parchment, as in that protective paper-like membrane that covers the beans.
Carrera 37 8A – 37, Medellin
Want to learn more about coffee in Colombia? Check out these coffee-focused articles. If you’re in Bogota, join us for a Coffee Shop Tour.
*******
We love Pergamino! Despite it’s popularity, it has managed to maintain great quality coffee and atmosphere. Also one of the few places to find chai!
Glad to hear Pergamino hasn’t changed. I haven’t tried the chai there but I hope to visit Medellin soon – and I won’t miss it this time.