Cafes Arrivederci
Calle de Augusto Figueroa, 18, 28004 Madrid
Try Madrid’s best coffee for free in a little wooden room!
Ok, Cafes Arrivederci’s espresso isn’t exactly free. There’s
no such thing as free coffee, after all. And the room has some mirrors and a bar. But when you buy half a kilo of coffee at the industrial-y store with letters missing from the front sign, you get a freshly brewed cup on the house!
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| Street View |
Chueca's Cafes Arrivederci boasts great prices, top quality beans, and a massive global selection. I
know what you’re thinking: how will I distinguish between the 25 varietals? Will the paradox of choice eat away at my under-confident, buzz-seeking consciousness? Worry not, kind reader, for the Dudes shall guide your palate in all coffee things hip, cheap, and strong. Did we mention strong?
Arabica vs. Robusta?
Well, there are two types of coffee beans: Arabica and
Robusta. Arabica is totally “in.” It’s more
expensive, less bitter, higher in acidity, fancy-shmancy, nuanced and subtle, but
not very strong. Robusta is cheap, potent, full-bodied, and at times overwhelmingly
bitter.
Stronger and cheaper – it sounds like a no-brainer. But it’s
not easy to find Robusta beans, neither in Spain, nor in the States. Americans hate
on Robusta, accusing it of tasting of “burnt
tires.” Most fancy coffee shops, undoubtedly your favorite ones in Madrid,
promise 100% Arabica brews.
Don’t be fooled by consumer trends! Compare Robusta coffee to
kale. Or lobster, which used to be poor
man’s food. Robusta was once the American brew of choice and it’s making a
comeback, so with these Dude Tips you’ll be on the cusp of cool!
In 2011 American companies started buying out roasters in
Vietnam, the world’s top Robusta grower, and Brazil has maintained its tripling
of Robusta bean sales to the United States since 2012. What’s more? Big coffee
distributors like Maxwell House and Folgers have steadily increased the Robusta
percentage of their roasts since 2011 to alleviate some economic stress. The
worry that consumers would reject the rubbery, bitter Robusta taste was far off
the mark. Sales actually increased in every blend that cut Arabica for Robusta.
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| The Operation |
What to Choose?
Now that you’ve narrowed down our options to the only six
Robusta underdogs on the chalkboard,
you can’t go wrong! If you seek the strongest, most amp-worthy coffee, go for
the Java (13 euros per kilo) or Vietnam (11) blends. Uganda beans (10.80), the
cheapest option, brew a balanced and smooth cup. The Indian blend (11) is
subtly sweet and weaker than the bunch, but also less bitter.
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| The Board |
What do the Dudes buy for our home-buzz operation? Thanks
for asking! On good weeks, we splurge for the Java. For the dia-a-dia, we look to Vietnam.
So stop buying Carrefour coffee and head to Cafes Arrivederci.
Plus, pick up half a kilo (or more!) of a hip Robusta and you’ll get a free cup
o’ Joe, per half kilo, on the house!
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| Free Buzz |
PS: We haven’t yet tried the Indonesian Robusta blend; so if
you give it a go, share your thoughts at holy.dudes.of.food@gmail.com.
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