Cartagena Coffee Masters

Cartagena Coffee Masters turns a cup of coffee into a two-hour lesson in Colombian culture. At Café del Mural, owner and coffee expert David explains beans, roasting, brewing gear, and coffee’s global path while preparing several samples. The setting is intimate, and the presentation can be both funny and highly detailed.

I like the range of brewing methods and the chance to taste 4 to 5 coffees side by side. I also like the practical finish: your $85 fee includes snacks and 200 grams of premium coffee to take home. The main catch is that the experience may be less hands-on than the description suggests. You may watch David roast and grind rather than choose a bean and do it yourself.

• David’s personal presentation: Expect coffee history, roasting theory, global bean varieties, and plenty of personality.
• Four to five samples: You taste different coffees and brewing styles instead of simply drinking one house blend.
• A charming Getsemaní setting: Café del Mural is both the meeting point and the place where the session ends.
• Coffee to take home: The package includes a 200-gram bag of premium coffee.
• Mostly a demonstration: The host usually performs the preparation, so do not book this expecting a full workshop.
• A useful timing check: The scheduled session starts at 10:00 a.m. and lasts about two hours, though some sessions have run longer.

Why this coffee class is different in Cartagena

Cartagena is famous for colonial streets, Caribbean food, and late nights. Coffee is an equally useful way to understand Colombia, but the subject is easy to reduce to a quick café stop. This experience gives you time to consider what is behind the drink: the bean, the roast, the equipment, the brewing method, and the way coffee moved around the world.

The session takes place at Café del Mural in Getsemaní, at Cl. de San Juan #25-60. The café was created by an engineer who became a coffee artisan, and that background helps explain the unusual mix of technical detail and personal craft. You are not just handed a cup and told it is Colombian. You are shown how small changes in preparation affect what reaches your palate.

David leads the class. His personality is a major part of the experience. He has a playful style, sometimes adding music references from the 1980s and 1990s, while still covering serious material about coffee production and preparation. If you enjoy learning from a host who talks with energy and humor, this can be a very good fit.

If you prefer a quiet, tightly scripted tasting, the personality-led format may feel less polished. One practical issue is that David’s English has been difficult for some people to follow, particularly when he speaks quickly or softly. Ask him to slow down or speak up at the start if needed.

Inside Café del Mural in Getsemaní

The location gives the experience more character than a standard hotel meeting room. Café del Mural is described as a charming local space, with coffee equipment and presentation details that reflect its owner’s craft. It is also the starting and ending point, so there is no sightseeing transfer or complicated route during the class.

Give yourself extra time to find the café. The address is in Getsemaní, but the entrance can be easy to miss. Since the scheduled start is 10:00 a.m., arriving early is sensible, especially if you are coming from another part of Cartagena.

The room size matters. Some sessions feel intimate, with groups of around six, while other reports describe a larger group packed into a tight space. The activity is sold as private, meaning only your group should participate, but the supplied details also note sessions with additional people. If personal space is important to you, confirm the group arrangement before paying.

That point is not minor. A coffee class depends on seeing, hearing, and tasting clearly. A crowded room can make it harder to watch equipment in use or follow a soft-spoken explanation.

What David covers during the two-hour session

The class begins with the story of coffee, from Colombian production to the wider world. You can expect material about coffee’s history, export, harvesting, branding, and the way European influences shaped brewing equipment and preparation. The lesson is not limited to Colombia, which makes it more useful if you want to understand coffee as a global product.

David also discusses bean varieties and roast levels. Samples may range from lighter to darker coffees, giving you a way to compare flavor and strength rather than treating all Colombian coffee as one thing. This is where the experience has real value for a casual coffee drinker. You start to notice that roast level and preparation can change the cup as much as the origin.

The brewing portion is the heart of the class. Café del Mural has a wide selection of preparation devices, and David demonstrates several ways to brew the samples. You learn why different tools and techniques produce different results, then taste the coffee while the explanation is still fresh.

Expect a talk with demonstrations rather than a class where you spend most of the time operating equipment. The description has led some people to expect that they will select a bean, roast it, and grind it themselves. In practice, the host has often handled those steps in front of the group.

That distinction should guide your booking decision. If you want to watch a skilled coffee professional and ask questions, the format works well. If you want to roast beans, set a grinder, and make each cup yourself, this may leave you wanting more.

Tasting four to five coffees side by side

The package includes coffee and tea, with 4 to 5 coffee samples listed. Some sessions have included five or six types, prepared through different methods. You may taste variations in roast, bean, and brewing style during one sitting.

The value here is comparison. A single cup can be pleasant, but several samples let you connect the explanation to your own senses. You may find that a preparation method you expected to dislike suits you better than a familiar darker roast. That kind of comparison is more useful than a generic coffee lecture.

Coffee quality can vary by session. Many descriptions praise the coffee as excellent, while one strongly negative account found the samples poor. That difference may reflect personal taste, preparation, or an uneven session, but it is worth keeping in mind. This is not a guaranteed tasting match for every palate.

The amount of caffeine also deserves a little planning. You are tasting several coffees over a fairly long session. One couple reported unusually vivid dreams afterward, a humorous reminder that this is not just a light sip at the end of lunch. If caffeine affects you, pace yourself and use the water or snacks available rather than treating every sample as a full cup.

The coffee bag adds real value

At $85 per person, the take-home coffee helps justify the price. You receive a 200-gram bag of premium coffee, and the exact selection may come from the coffees offered during the session. Some descriptions refer to each person receiving a portion of a bag, so confirm how the coffee is divided if you are booking for two or more people.

This is more than a souvenir if you pay attention during the class. You can choose a style you enjoyed and try to recreate the experience at home. The lesson gives you a better chance of using the coffee well because you leave with some idea of how roast and brewing method affect the result.

The included snacks also make the price easier to accept, though the central value is the instruction and tasting. Alcohol is not included, but alcoholic drinks are available for purchase. That may suit you if you want to turn the class into a relaxed café outing, but it is not part of the coffee package.

At this price, I would compare the experience with a standard tasting, not with a basic café visit. You are paying for David’s time, the range of equipment, multiple samples, the setting, and the coffee to take home. It is good value for someone who cares about coffee or wants a memorable indoor activity in Cartagena. It is less convincing if you only want a quick cup or expect a full production workshop.

Timing, group size, and the hands-on question

The published duration is about two hours, and that is the right expectation for planning your day. Some sessions have lasted closer to two and a half or three hours, especially when the talk runs long or the group asks questions. Avoid scheduling an immediate commitment afterward.

The experience is listed at 10:00 a.m. That morning timing can work well before an afternoon in the old city, though coffee and caffeine may not be ideal if you prefer a slow start. The activity returns to the meeting point, and no hotel transportation is included, so you must arrange your own route to and from Getsemaní.

The word private needs a little care. The booking information says only your group will participate, but the reported group sizes are not always consistent. One session involved nine people plus two more, leaving very little room. Ask about the number of participants for your date, particularly if you are booking for a couple or a small family and want a quiet setting.

Most people can participate, and there is no strenuous activity involved. Still, the room and seating arrangement may affect comfort more than the coffee itself. The experience is best for someone happy to sit, listen, taste, and ask questions for an extended period.

Who will enjoy Cartagena Coffee Masters most

I would recommend this to:

• Coffee drinkers who want to understand brewing rather than simply sample a local drink.
• Visitors who enjoy history, food culture, equipment, and behind-the-scenes explanations.
• Couples and small groups looking for an indoor activity in Getsemaní.
• People who want to take Colombian coffee home with a better sense of how to prepare it.
• Curious non-coffee drinkers who are open to tasting several styles, though the caffeine level may be a concern.

I would be more cautious if you need a strongly interactive class. The best parts are the demonstrations, explanations, humor, and tasting. The weaker match is for someone expecting to roast, grind, and brew every sample personally.

Language is another consideration. David’s coffee expertise and enthusiasm are clear strengths, but some people have found his English hard to understand when he speaks fast or quietly. Sit close, ask questions, and request a slower explanation when needed. A good host can usually adjust, but you should not assume the talk will feel effortless for every English speaker.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

The experience is often booked around three weeks ahead, with an average lead time of 21 days. That is a useful hint if your Cartagena dates are fixed. Booking early may also help you secure the group size and timing you want.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund. The activity is provided by Impulse Travel.

Should you book this coffee experience?

Book it if you want a detailed coffee lesson with tasting and a useful souvenir, and if you are happy to watch a skilled host demonstrate most of the process. David’s humor, technical background, wide range of brewing equipment, and clear affection for coffee give the session more character than a routine café stop.

Think twice if your main goal is hands-on roasting or grinding. The description can set that expectation, but the actual format is usually presentation-led. Also confirm the group size and ask about the language pace if you need a small, easy-to-follow class.

For coffee fans, food-history buffs, and anyone seeking an unusual two-hour break in Getsemaní, I consider the $85 reasonable. For casual drinkers, the price makes sense mainly because of the multiple samples and the 200-gram bag to take home. Go for the lesson, the comparisons, and David’s personal style, not for a guaranteed workshop.

FAQ

Where does Cartagena Coffee Masters take place?

It takes place at Café del Mural, Cl. de San Juan #25-60, in Getsemaní, Cartagena de Indias.

What time does the experience start?

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

How long does the coffee experience last?

It is listed as approximately two hours, though some sessions have lasted longer.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $85 per person.

How many coffees will I taste?

The package includes 4 to 5 coffee samples. Some sessions have included five or six varieties.

Is coffee included to take home?

Yes. The package includes a 200-gram bag of premium coffee.

Is transportation from my hotel included?

No. Transportation to and from your hotel is not included. You must make your own way to Café del Mural.

Is the experience private?

It is described as a private activity for your group only. However, group sizes have varied, so confirm the arrangement when booking.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not refunded or accepted.