From Ethiopia to Colombia in a cup: the specialty coffee that is conquering Malaga and one of its Michelin-starred chefs

In Málaga, coffee is not just a drink, it's a language of its own. The city has created a unique way of ordering it, adjusting the proportions of coffee and milk with names as distinctive as solo, largo, semi-largo, corto, mitad, entre corto, sombra, or nube. This jargon is part of the morning ritual that accompanies the traditional pitufo and makes the act of drinking coffee a local identity marker. In every street of the historic center or the peripheral neighborhoods, there are cafés that keep this custom alive.

Among this multitude of places, Mia Coffee stands out, located at number 9 Vendeja Street, in the heart of the Málaga Soho. This specialty coffee shop, opened in 2016 by Leo, Mila, and Edu—who are described by the Repsol Guide as "three coffee geeks"—has managed to carve out a niche in the competitive gastronomic landscape of the capital. Since then, they have been "spreading joy" in cup form with a clear concept: to offer origin coffee, prepared with care, and served with latte art that transforms each drink into a small ephemeral masterpiece.

Recognition from the Repsol Guide and Dani Carnero

The prestige of Mia Coffee has recently been endorsed with the award of one of the Soletes from the Repsol Guide, a distinction that highlights its quality and contribution to the local gastronomic scene. Among those endorsing its offerings is the Málaga chef Dani Carnero, head of the Michelin-starred restaurant Kaleja, La Cosmopolita, and La Cosmo, who has publicly stated that Mia Coffee serves “very good coffee.” The Repsol Guide itself notes that its tour of Málaga starts at this café "early in the morning" to discover the aroma of its coffee.

The secret to the success of Mia Coffee lies in the selection and treatment of the product. The beans, sourced from Ethiopia, Colombia, and other renowned origins, are roasted and prepared on-site to offer a complete specialty coffee experience. Each drink is topped with latte art designs—such as hearts, flowers, or other creative motifs—that demonstrate the baristas' skill and reinforce the philosophy of being "passionate about their work" as noted by the Repsol Guide.

A diverse menu with nods to all audiences

In addition to specialty coffee, Mia Coffee offers a menu with options to accompany each cup, including vegan alternatives, in line with new gastronomic trends. The proposal has resonated with both locals and visitors, as evidenced by its rating of 4.9 out of 5 on Google after more than a thousand reviews, a particularly high score in an industry where it is more common to find negative reviews than positive ones.