Cartagena Coffee Masters

Cartagena Coffee Masters turns a morning in Getsemaní into a lesson in how coffee becomes more than a morning drink. At Café del Mural, engineer-turned-coffee artisan David leads a private session covering Colombian coffee, roasting, brewing tools, flavor differences, and the worldwide story behind the bean.

I especially like the range of coffees and brewing styles, and I like that the $85 price includes a 200-gram bag to take home. The small setting can feel personal, and David’s humor and music references help keep a technical subject lively.

The main caution is simple: despite some wording that suggests you will choose, roast, and grind your own beans, the session is usually a demonstration led by the host. If you want a hands-on coffee workshop, ask about that before booking.

Key things to know before booking

• Taste four to five coffees: Samples may range from lighter to darker roasts and are prepared with different brewing methods.
• Meet David at Café del Mural: His passion, humor, and command of coffee are central to the experience.
• Take home 200 grams of coffee: A useful part of the price, especially if you find a favorite variety.
• Expect a lesson, not a laboratory session: Roasting and grinding are generally shown to you rather than performed by you.
• Plan around a two-hour morning: The scheduled start is 10:00 a.m., and the tour returns to the café.
• Allow time to find the café: It is at Cl. de San Juan #25-60 in Getsemaní, and the entrance can be a little easy to miss.

Inside Café del Mural in Getsemaní

The setting matters here. Café del Mural is not presented as a large coffee factory or a farm visit. It is a distinctive café in Getsemaní, built around the work of its owner, an engineer who became a coffee artisan. The space reflects that mix of technical curiosity and personal craft.

You meet at Cl. de San Juan #25-60 at 10:00 a.m. Since transportation is not included, you will need to make your own way there. Give yourself extra time to locate the café, particularly if you are not already familiar with Getsemaní’s streets.

The experience is private for your group, although the size and room arrangement can vary. Some sessions have felt intimate with only a handful of people. Larger groups have found the room tight, so I would be cautious about booking this for a big party if comfortable seating is important to you.

That small-room setting can work in your favor. You are close to the equipment, the coffee, and the person leading the class. It also means the quality of the session depends heavily on communication, pacing, and how much room your group has.

A two-hour lesson in Colombian coffee

The class begins with the story behind coffee. You learn about Colombian production and the wider development of coffee culture, including the influence of brewing technology from places such as Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands.

This context gives the tasting more meaning. Instead of simply trying one cup after another, you can connect flavor and preparation to the decisions made along the way. The subject may include coffee varieties, harvesting, exporting, branding, roasting, and the equipment used to prepare the final drink.

David is the key figure. He is described as funny, passionate, and highly informed about coffee, global bean varieties, roasting, and brewing. His personality is an important part of the value. A dry lecture about extraction methods would be a poor use of two hours, but David’s humor, including music references from the 1980s and 1990s, helps make the class more relaxed.

That said, communication has not been perfect for everyone. David’s English can be difficult to follow at times, especially when he speaks quickly or softly. If you have trouble hearing, ask him to slow down or speak up early. The room can also affect how well you follow the lesson.

Four to five coffees, several ways to brew them

The tasting is the heart of the experience. You receive about four or five coffee samples, with some sessions including five or six types. The selection can move from light to dark coffee and may include different Colombian profiles and preparation methods.

The point is comparison. Brewing method changes the cup, even when the underlying coffee is excellent. Seeing several techniques side by side gives you a better sense of body, aroma, strength, and finish than ordering one café drink and trying to analyze it on your own.

Café del Mural has an unusually broad collection of preparation devices, which adds a visual element to the class. You are not only listening to an explanation. You are watching coffee being made in ways that may be unfamiliar to you.

The results can be excellent, but I would not promise that every cup will suit your taste. One especially unhappy participant found the prepared coffees poor, while other sessions produced coffee described as outstanding. Coffee is personal, and preparation quality can vary with the host, group, equipment, and day.

If you already drink coffee black, you may get more from the tasting because small flavor differences are easier to notice. If you usually add milk or sugar, the class still has value, but you may want to tell the host what you normally enjoy.

What you actually do, and what David does

This is the point that deserves the clearest explanation. The session is often described in a way that suggests you will select a bean, roast it, and grind it yourself. Reports from the experience indicate that this does not consistently happen.

In practice, David generally performs the roasting, grinding, and brewing demonstrations while explaining what he is doing. You watch, taste, and ask questions. Some people have found the format interactive because they can discuss the coffee and compare samples. Others expected to operate the equipment and felt disappointed.

I would classify this as a guided coffee tasting and demonstration, not a practical roasting workshop. That is not a flaw if you want a well-led introduction to coffee. It is a real limitation if your main goal is to roast your own beans or work directly with the grinder.

The distinction also affects the price. At $85 per person, the session is not a cheap café tasting. You are paying for a private lesson, several samples, snacks, the host’s time, and coffee to take home. The value is strongest for people who want context and instruction, not just caffeine.

The coffee bag makes the price easier to assess

Each participant receives a 200-gram bag of premium coffee. Some sessions have allowed participants to choose from several pre-packaged coffees, while others have provided a favorite coffee tasted during the class.

This take-home portion is practical. You can try to repeat the lesson at home and compare your own preparation with what you tasted in Cartagena. It also keeps the experience from ending when you leave the café.

At $85, I would not book this solely for the bag. The coffee is part of the package, not the whole reason to go. The better question is whether you value a two-hour explanation of coffee history, production, roasting, equipment, and brewing, along with four or five samples.

For a dedicated coffee drinker, the answer may be yes. For someone who wants a quick tasting or a bargain breakfast, the answer is probably no. Snacks are included, and alcoholic drinks can be purchased, but alcohol is not part of the price.

Timing, location, and group comfort

The scheduled session begins at 10:00 a.m. and lasts about two hours. Some sessions have run closer to two and a half hours, and one group found a three-hour version too long. I would keep the rest of your morning flexible, but do not assume the class will always end exactly at noon.

The tour begins and ends at Café del Mural. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so transportation is your responsibility. Because you are already in Getsemaní, the activity pairs well with a day spent exploring that neighborhood and the nearby old city, but the tour itself does not provide transportation between sights.

Group size can shape the experience. A small party of around six can feel personal, with room to ask questions and watch the equipment. A larger group may feel crowded, particularly in the café’s compact space. If your party is large, contact the operator before booking and ask how many people will share the room.

Most people can participate, and the activity is private for your group. That makes it a good option for couples, friends, and families who want the same coffee lesson rather than a general public class. Still, private does not necessarily mean one-on-one. Confirm the expected group size if that distinction matters to you.

Who will enjoy this most

This is a good pick for a serious coffee drinker who wants to understand why coffees taste different. You will have several chances to compare beans, roast levels, and brewing styles, then take home coffee for further experimenting.

It also suits someone who enjoys food and drink culture but does not know much about coffee. The class gives you a useful vocabulary without requiring previous training. You can ask basic questions, see unfamiliar equipment, and learn how the drink connects to agriculture, trade, technology, and local identity.

The experience may also appeal to a non-coffee enthusiast who enjoys history and storytelling. One person in a couple who did not normally like coffee still enjoyed the variety and the presentation. The key is being open to the subject, not already loving every cup.

I would be more cautious if you want a farm visit, a tour of coffee-growing country, or a fully hands-on workshop. None of those are the main focus here. You stay at the café, and the host does most of the technical work.

A few practical ways to improve your visit

Arrive early enough to find the café without rushing. The address is Cl. de San Juan #25-60 in Getsemaní, but the location has been described as a little difficult to spot.

Ask at the beginning whether you will be choosing your take-home coffee and whether any part of the roasting or grinding will be hands-on. This clears up the largest possible mismatch between expectation and reality.

If you have hearing or language concerns, sit close to David and let him know you need a slower or louder explanation. The class contains a lot of spoken information, so your position in the room can make a difference.

Avoid scheduling a tight connection or another fixed activity immediately afterward. Two hours is the stated duration, but the class has sometimes gone longer, and the tasting is more enjoyable when you do not have to watch the clock.

Finally, remember that coffee contains caffeine. Four or five samples over two hours may be a lot for you, even if the servings are small. If you are sensitive to caffeine, pace yourself and ask about the amount in each sample.

Should you book Cartagena Coffee Masters?

Book it if you want a personal introduction to Colombian coffee led by an enthusiastic specialist, with several samples, brewing demonstrations, snacks, and a 200-gram bag to take home. The strongest parts are David’s personality, the range of preparation methods, and the chance to understand coffee as a product shaped by farming, trade, technology, and taste.

Think twice if you are paying $85 mainly for hands-on roasting. The experience does not reliably provide that. Also consider the compact room, possible communication challenges, and the fact that the quality of the cups may vary.

For coffee fans, I think this is one of Cartagena’s more distinctive indoor activities. Go in expecting a detailed tasting and demonstration rather than a workshop where you control every step, and the value becomes much clearer.

FAQ

Where does Cartagena Coffee Masters begin?

The experience begins at Café del Mural, located at Cl. de San Juan #25-60 in Getsemaní, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The stated duration is approximately two hours. Some sessions have lasted longer, so it is wise to keep your schedule flexible afterward.

How much does Cartagena Coffee Masters cost?

The price is $85 per person.

How many coffees will I taste?

The package includes four to five coffee samples. Some sessions have included five or six different coffees.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

No. Transportation to and from your hotel is not included. The activity begins and ends at Café del Mural.

What do I take home?

Each participant receives a 200-gram bag of premium coffee. Alcoholic drinks are not included, but they are available to purchase.