Santa Soho | Specialty Coffee Málaga — Restaurant in Málaga

I'm always attracted by cafes at the roasters. You almost always guaranteed to get the coffee as soon as possible after roasting which means much better qualities of the end product in your cup. And Santa Coffee delivers to this sentiment!

When approaching the place from Cale Trinidad Grund one can see the sacks with coffee beans, the machinery of the roaster and that alone sets the positive tone for your experience. When you get to the cafe itself it provides some sitting place which is nothing special, considering all the sitting is outside with people passing by. However, once you get into the cafe to make the order, you're in for a treat. All the necessary attributes of a speciality coffee place are there - wide selection of coffee (what else would you expect from a roaster?), barista brewing, delivering, chatting, some coffee-related tools (I even noticed the Hario Skerton Pro which they sell for €39… oh boy if only I didn't order the Plus version a couple of days ago). And the smell… the smell of a freshly grounded coffee.

I was in to taste the coffee so wanted to get something without milk. Since I didn't have too much time and there were plenty of people in line, long-process V60, etc. were not very suitable. So, after talking to barista, I was suggested to taste two brews they had on the batch: one from Ethiopia and one from Kenya. The Kenyan one was beautiful (not to say that the other was was not, but I have my taste preferences). So I agreed to the batch brew and took the "nutella banana bread" to go alongside. I was also told about the next beans that they would be using the following days and the selection I could get in their other cafe next door. All in all it was a very pleasing and entertaining conversation.

The sweet bread was not special and I don't feel like rating any place based on that. But coffee was quite exciting. It was bolder than one would normally expect from a batch brew and I really enjoyed it not missing on v60 or aeropress.

All in all it was a very good experience (and that's why people go to coffee shops in the first place, imo) with entertaining small talks, beautiful Malaga's soho district around, and, of course, great,...

Sat outside on a beautiful sunny morning in March, I didn’t think it could get much better and then the food and drink which I ordered arrived… wow, the food came quickly, portions were large and hot, well presented and beautifully balanced flavours - my wife ordered scrambled eggs toast which was served with fresh tomatoes, rocket and a thick piece of buttery sourdough toast and could not have hit the spot better. I had the mortadella focaccia which was warm, tasty and packed full of mortadella, no meagre rations. We ordered two cappuccino’s and shared a ‘Rollo de chocolate” (babka) - the coffee wasn’t rust run of the mill but a testament to the barista’s skill in extracting the full array of flavours from the bean… awesome coffee. Gorgeously soft enriched dough and dark chocolate chips through the rollo complemented the rich coffee perfectly. The bill came to €27 which after eating out for years in the UK seemed like a total bargain for the quality of food and service which seems to be a common thing here in Malaga. Staff were friendly and accommodating of my awful Spanish, helped me out by speaking English back to me. A great stop for brunch, will be coming back whenever in Malaga!

No photos as the food and drink didn’t last...

Of course, here is the review in English with the mention of the omelette dish:

I recently dined at Specialty Coffee and had an absolutely wonderful experience. Despite the simplicity of the place and the absence of fancy decor, the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming, making customers feel right at home.

The menu is diverse and offers a range of delicious dishes that are carefully prepared. I particularly enjoyed the omelette, which was bursting with flavor and perfectly cooked. The service was excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who ensured everything was just right.

Overall, Specialty Coffee exceeded my expectations in every way. The delicious food, excellent service, and simple, homey atmosphere make it a standout dining destination. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a tasty and comfortable...