‘Your heart & soul are always tied to Medellín,’ Colombia 🇨🇴

Today’s Filter guide is both the first in South America and the first to feature a coffee farm-cafe combo. Pedro’s father began growing coffee outside Medellín, Colombia in the 1970s, and Pedro has followed in the family business with expansion into a roastery and multiple cafe locations beginning in 2012.

Read Pedro’s guide to his hometown for yet-unknown places & pleasures in Medellín, Colombia.

Filter: What do you like to do for fun around Medellín?

Medellín is a city where the cultural and leisure scene is expanding every day. Whether it's checking out an exhibition at El Museo de Antioquia or El Museo de Arte Moderno, browsing the bookshelves at places like Bukz or 9 3/4 in search of a great book, finding a good coffee spot, or spending weekends engaging in outdoor activities in the beautiful surroundings of Medellín—there's always something exciting to do!

Pedro Echavarria’s father began farming coffee outside of Medellín, Colombia in the 1970s. Today Pergamino operates its farms as well as a roastery and cafes throughout the city. Photos courtesy of Pergamino

Filter: If a good friend came to visit, where would you be sure to take them?

Explore the top-notch coffee scene in Medellín: Pergamino, Rituales, Campesino, Délmuri, Hija Mia, Urbania and Laboratorio del Café are must-visit spots for coffee enthusiasts.

Enjoy a good craft beer at TorreAlta.

Take a leisurely stroll through Parques del Rio.

Do a museum tour: Museo de Antioquia, Museo de Arte Moderno, and Museo Casa de la Memoria.

Food at Sambombi or/and OCI.

Dive into the heart of the city with a downtown tour: Wander through El Perpetuo Socorro and the Creative District; go to Salón Málaga to learn about the history of tango and have a good dose of vintage Medellín.

Filter: What do you like to do to escape the city?

Medellín is surrounded by very traditional, picturesque, and beautiful small towns. Personally, I've explored many of them on bike—which is one of my greatest hobbies. But, public transportation can seamlessly get you to all these places. Among my favorites are Jardín, Urrao, Jericó, El Retiro, and Santa Fe de Antioquia.

My advice before visiting any of these places: plan your mode of transportation, if you're planning to stay a couple of days, it's wise to secure your accommodations in advance. I find that opting for the low season or weekdays enhances the experience, providing a more serene and authentic encounter with these charming towns. Hotel Plantación in the traditional coffee town of Jardín is a must.

Filter: What touristy things in Medellín are worth the hype?

Explore Botero Square and the Rafaél Uribe Uribe Palace of Culture. Take a walk downtown during the day—it’s hectic, messy, but it's definitely very real and interesting.

Hop on the cable car at Arví Park in Santa Elena for a scenic metro ride.

Visit the planetarium and the Botanical Garden.

Filter: Where are your favorite quiet corners and hidden gems in Medellín?

Find a cozy spot in the shade of the Frontera Linear Park and enjoy a book.

Take a stroll through Laureles (a neighborhood), marveling at the mid-century architecture and the beauty of the trees. One of our shops is located there and it will be a good place to start or finish that tour.

Head to Alto de Palmas for a nice view of the city.

Filter: What's another coffee shop around there that you really admire?

Hija Mia, Rituales, Del Muri, Urbania, Laboratorio del Café, and Campesino.

Filter: How did you end up in the Medellín coffee scene?

I was born and raised in Medellín, lived in the US for 6 years to finish highschool and college, and came back in 2009. Ever since I've been involved in our family business. My father started growing coffee in the 70s and in 2010 we started exporting directly to importers and roasters around the world, and in 2012 we started roasting and our first coffee shop, located in El Poblado neighboorhood.

Filter: What makes Medellín feel like home to you?

People that are from Medellin are hardwired to not really consider any other place in the world their home. You might live elsewhere, but your heart and soul are always tied to Medellín. Maybe it's the year-long spring, or the mountains, or the people.

Filter: Can you share about your day to day at Pergamino?

It's never boring. My responsibilities take me from the farms to the mill, cupping lab, administrative office, and of course, the cafés. I get to work in the entire production chain for coffee, learning from every part of the business and getting to interact with amazing people, from our allied producers throughout Colombia to customers at our cafés or our roasting partners throughout the world.

Filter: If you could move to any place in the world just for the coffee scene, where would you move, and what shop would be the biggest reason?

Hard question. Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas definitely have a pull with Onyx being based there, and just because it's such a beautiful place with great food and culture. Portland has always been just mind blowing for coffee and food, and NY gets busier every year with more and more great roasters doing amazing things. But... the city I would definitely live in is Melbourne, with Market Lane being a big responsibility for that.

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Pergamino operates 5 cafes across Medellín, Colombia.

Pergamino - Vía Primavera

Pergamino - Calle 10B

Pergamino - C.C. Oviedo

Pergamino - JMC International Aiport

Pergamino - San Lucas

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