Saturday in Santiago: Café Lucca
Despite my little tirade about the Costanera Center, I found myself visiting last weekend for a specific, non-spotlight-related reason: Café Lucca. This new specialty coffee shop in Santiago caught my attention on Twitter, and I was looking forward to trying something that was neither Starbucks nor Nescafé.
My first clue that Café Lucca takes its coffee seriously was when I asked about the difference between a café latte and a latte macchiato. The barista told me, in a voice that indicated he was excited to share this important information, that it’s all in the sensory experience. His exact words. Apparently, in a café latte, you sense the coffee first and then the milk. In a latte macchiato it’s the opposite. I think.
In the interest of science, Jenn and I ordered one of each. I never ended up trying hers nor she mine, however. Both of us were too busy mmm-ing over our own mugs to even think of offering tastes. Which is clearly a good sign.
I can’t honestly tell you that I noticed the order in which the flavors washed over my palate. What I can tell you, is that my Café Lucca latte macchiato was delightful. Perfectly balanced with no bitter notes, this drink was worth its steep $2.100 (US$4.20) price. My only slight disappointment was that I prefefred Jenn’s heart design to my rising sun, but since I am an adult – or at least usually try to act like one – I got over it.
We were tempted by the desserts but were satiated with our coffees. Next time, I’m going with an empty stomach and getting a slice of that passion fruit confection. They also had sandwiches, but with cakes like that, do you really think I took the time to check out the savory options?
I’ll be honest: Café Lucca even made my Costanera Center prejudice disapear. We went at 11am on a holiday Monday, and the massive mall was virtually empty. By the time we left at 1pm, the hoards were arriving, but for two hours, we could enjoy the shiny new-ness of the mall, with its open spaces and tempting stores (Banana Republic is coming, people!), in peace. With a delicious coffee. There’s no better way to kick off the weekend.
More in this series:
Saturday in Santiago
I miss coffee!! Decaf is never the same
this place looks nice! I want a juan valdez! Or Peet’s coffee near me!
Pobre! Although I’m sure your days of decaf will be worth it
Peet’s is soooo good, I had it almost every day when I was home in CA.
That heart design is pretty nifty…I’ve always wondered how they do that.
Me too! I have a cappuccino-maker at home, and I have no clue how to make designs in my foam. I’m always just happy when it actually foams right at all.
Ummmmmm coffee!!! Charlotte is in desperate need of some new cafes. I’m over Starbucks and Caribou. Miss you!
Haha, of course you liked this one, my little coffee addict. I’m surprised Charlotte doesn’t have more independent cafes from everything you were telling me about how cool a city it is in general!
So fun to share a “Saturday in Santiago” with you. Great write-up and pics… You do that big fancy camera justice. Now, we just have to take a class in coffee foam art
It was lots of fun, we’ll have to repeat it! I think a coffee foam art class sounds like the perfect future Saturday in Santiago topic.
Hi Emily,
Here is the barista secret in making a heart. It’s all in the pour and it takes practice…practice, practice, practice.
To make the heart, with your cup of espresso and steamed milk start your pour from the side of the cup. Keeping your cup tipped toward the pitcher, slightly.
Once you’re about a quarter of the way up move your pour into the middle. Continuing to tip your pitcher of milk you should start to see what could be called halo milk. Continue to tip and pour your milk and two circles will appear. Follow through the center of them to create and finish the heart.
Try it and have fun.
That sounds complicated! And assumes that I have a fancy milk pitcher as opposed to, say, another mug
Maybe your great instructions will be my motivation to get a pitcher and give it a try.
I’m with you. I like the heart better, too. And those desserts? I imagine they’re worth the flight to Chile alone. {sigh}
I will go try them and then report back. See the selfless things I do for my readers?
I’ve don’t drink coffee, but I think the coffeehouse culture would be good for me!
I didn’t know you didn’t drink coffee! Maybe you can taste test the chai latte for me.
Oooh – I like the rising sun! I don’t drink milk in my coffees very often so I always miss out on all the cool froth art =(
This is why you have a husband – “encourage” him to get the frothy drinks so you can admire the foam!
Ha, I would have wanted the heart design too! The desserts look pretty tasty too.
I am honestly spending an inordinate amount of time planning just when I can go back to try them and which one I’ll try first.