Van Houtte

Buenos Aires is one of my favourite cities in the world. I love its history, its architecture, its beauty and its people. One thing I find equally amazing: its joie de vivre. The city is teeming with restaurants, night clubs and cafés full of happy, worry-free people. Buenos Aires is also a sprawling metropolis where coffee is an art, a way of life.

The numerous cafés in Buenos Aires begin to fill up in the early morning, as the Porteños start their day with their breakfast of choice: a “café con leche y medialuna” (coffee with milk and a croissant). Throughout the day, the cafés play host to business meetings, job offers, friendly tête-a-têtes and even love stories. It’s simple – for Argentines, the café is an extension of the house.

The most popular hot beverages in Buenos Aires are the espresso (café), the double espresso (café doble), espresso with a tiny bit of cream (café con crema), coffee with a cloud of milk (lagrimà), cappuccino (capuchino) and coffee with milk (café con leche). It’s often served with a small glass of water and something sweet.

In Buenos Aires, coffee is so important that 53 of the city’s most awe-inspiring establishments have been declared cultural heritage sites. And with good reason! The cafés in Buenos Aires, with their marble, wood and tango playing from the loud-speakers, seem like they’re from another era.

Coffee and tango... now that’s a vacation.