Seattle born K.C O’ Keefe first came to Peru in 1997 as a volunteer. In 2000, the community of San Martín where he was working asked him to help them export their coffee for a better price than they could get within Peru. K.C bought a container without knowing a thing about coffee and exported it back to the U.S which he has been doing ever since.
K.C and his Peruvian wife Tatiana opened Café Verde in 2007. Verde or ‘green’ due to his experience in exporting the green coffee bean and the ecological ethos behind the coffee they sell. It’s only since 2010 that coffee culture has really taken hold in Peru. Before then it was common to only find instant Nescafe style coffee or burnt roasted coffee despite Peru producing some excellent coffee.
Café Verde has gone from strength to strength and has become one of the leading coffee suppliers and cafes in Lima. They roast all their own coffee and grind it fresh for each cup or bag you buy to ensure it’s fresh and with the best flavor.
They have recently renovated the small café which is bright and cheery and kitted out in natural wood reflecting their natural ethos. Wooden etched pieces of wood tell the history of the coffee bean and menus are also carved in wood. They have the first and only Synesso coffee machine in Peru (this will matter to the coffee connoisseurs out there!) and offer a range of coffee including espresso, machiatto and americano. K.C is all about coffee purity so you won’t find specialty coffees here, just simple, great coffee done well. They also have a small selection of cakes and pastries including oatmeal cookies and brownies.
Service is friendly, the vibe is casual and it’s a nice place to stop to get a feel for the emerging coffee culture in Lima and have a great coffee while you’re at it!
Best of Peru Travel Recommends:
- If you can’t make it to Café Verde, the Pan de la Chola Café & Bakery on Avenida La Mar also stocks their great coffee.
