Coffee in Cartagena with a real show.

This private session at Café del Mural turns Colombian coffee into a hands-on-feeling lesson led by the owner, David, with 4–5 samples and a take-home bag. What I like most is how the roasting and brewing discussion is practical, and how the shop itself feels crafted—not cookie-cutter. The main drawback to plan around: despite the marketing language, some parts can be more demonstration than you personally roasting/grinding.

The whole thing runs about 2 hours, starting at 10:00 am, and you’ll be in Getsemaní at Cl. de San Juan # 25-60. You’ll also get snacks, coffee and/or tea, and enough coffee to keep the lesson going after your tasting.

Café del Mural in Getsemaní: the setting for coffee lessons

Café del Mural is the kind of place you want to linger in even before class starts. It’s located in Getsemaní, in a neighborhood where the streets do the talking, and the coffee shop does the adding. The tour starts right there, so you can skip the usual pre-tour chaos of hunting for a van.

This is a private activity, meaning it’s only your group. That matters because coffee tasting is easier when you can ask questions and pass cups around without a crowd pushing you along. The downside? The shop is still a café, so if your group runs larger on a given day, you may feel a bit squeezed.

One more thing I’d file under “worth knowing”: the experience is presented as a coffee session with a strong personality. David often mixes in humor and keeps the pace moving. If you’re sensitive to accents or you rely on fast speech, you’ll want to be ready to ask for slower repetition.

Your 2-hour coffee class: roasting, brewing, and flavor clues

Plan to spend about 2 hours learning how Colombian coffee becomes what you taste in your cup. The core idea is simple: roasting changes flavor, brewing extracts it, and small method differences are what create the range between light, medium, and dark.

Here’s what the session is built around:

• Roasting techniques: how different roasts shift aroma and bitterness.
• Brewing methods: how the same bean behaves when you change the approach.
• Flavor profiles: the “why” behind what you like and what you don’t.

In practice, many people enjoy this part most when the guide can keep it interactive. The tricky part is expectation-setting. The description can sound like you’ll choose beans and grind them yourself. But in at least some runs, David and the team do the key steps and you focus on tasting, comparing, and asking questions.

If you go in knowing you’re mostly there to learn by sampling and watching, you’ll enjoy it more. If you go in expecting total hands-on control over roasting and grinding, you might feel a bit disappointed.

The tasting lineup: 4–5 samples plus snacks and tea/coffee

You’re not just getting one “tasting cup.” You’ll sample 4–5 coffee varieties (and there’s also coffee and/or tea included), plus snacks. That’s a big part of the value because coffee nerds and casual sippers both get something from comparison.

A helpful way to think about the tasting:

• Treat each sample like a mini experiment.
• Notice how roast level changes sweetness vs. bitterness.
• Watch how brewing method affects body and aroma.

You’ll also hear some context about coffee beyond Colombia’s farms. One standout angle from the session content is how brewing and preparation in Colombia were influenced by European technology—often mentioned as German, Italian, and Dutch equipment and approaches. That makes the tasting feel less random and more connected to global coffee culture.

This is also where the small-group vibe helps. If you want to compare notes with David, you’re more likely to get time to do it without someone standing over you.

The 200-gram take-home bag and what to do with it

One of the best “leave with something real” perks is the 200 gr premium coffee bag included with your ticket. This isn’t just a souvenir bag. It’s enough to try your favorite bean at home and repeat the experiment you just started in the café.

A simple way to make the take-home bag pay off:

• Choose the coffee you liked most during tasting.
• Brew it at home using the method you remember from class (or the closest you can manage).
• If you have multiple brewing options, try the bag once your tools are ready, not right before bed.

From what people say about the session vibe, many couples and coffee lovers stay behind afterward to talk shop. If that’s you, the take-home bag gives a natural reason to ask follow-up questions: how they’d roast it, what brew style fits best, and how to store it so it doesn’t lose aroma fast.

Price and value at $85: small-group attention for real coffee

At $85 per person for roughly 2 hours, this isn’t a cheap snack-and-chat. But it’s also not trying to be a luxury multi-course food tour. The value comes from three things you actually get:

• Multiple tastings (4–5 samples plus coffee and/or tea)
• Food support (snacks while you compare flavors)
• A take-home bag (200 gr premium coffee)

When you add those up, the price starts to make sense as a focused experience rather than a casual café stop. You’re paying for time with the coffee master and for the structured comparisons—roast and brewing changes that you can’t easily replicate just by buying a cup at a counter.

If you’re only looking for a quick coffee fix, you might skip this. If you want a guided morning that helps you taste with intention, the $85 feels more fair.

Language and hands-on expectations: what you should clarify

This is the part where I’d set your expectations early.

First, the session is led by David. On some days, his English can be harder to follow due to accent and speed. The best move is to be direct: ask him to slow down or repeat a point if you miss a key detail. You’re not interrupting—this is how you get the most out of a tasting class.

Second, hands-on control can vary. Some class descriptions imply you’ll choose beans, roast them, and grind them yourself. In practice, several people found that the master did the main work, while the group focused on tasting and learning. So if “I want to grind and roast myself” is your main goal, confirm ahead of time what portion is demonstrator-led versus participant-led.

Finally, timing can stretch. The activity is listed as about 2 hours, but there are days where the session feels longer. That matters because coffee tasting isn’t only about the steps—it’s also about when you can ask questions and slow down between samples.

Where to meet and how to plan your morning in Cartagena

This tour is easy to start because you meet at the venue. The meeting point is Café del Mural, Cl. de San Juan # 25-60, Getsemaní, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia. Start time is 10:00 am, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Two practical planning tips:

• Arrive a few minutes early. Getsemaní streets can be easy to misread at first, and you don’t want to stress before caffeine.
• Don’t count on transportation being included. Your ticket covers the experience, not hotel pickup or drop-off.

Also, because it’s private for your group, you don’t have to fight for space in the way you might on big city walking tours. Still, if your group ends up larger than expected, the café seating can feel tight. If you’re doing this with friends or family and you’re sensitive to cramped spaces, plan to arrive with patience and keep your personal space expectations flexible.

Who should book Cartagena Coffee Masters

I’d book Cartagena Coffee Masters if you fit one (or more) of these:

• You love coffee and want a structured way to learn roasting and brewing without guessing.
• You enjoy small-group instruction where you can ask questions during a tasting.
• You want a tangible souvenir that’s actually useful: the 200 gr bag.

You might rethink booking if:

• You strictly want a full “hands-on roasting/grinding” class and dislike being mostly observer-led.
• You’re worried about understanding spoken English with an accent. (You can still enjoy the tasting, but you’ll need to ask for clarification.)
• You’re trying to pack this into an ultra-tight schedule, since the experience can run longer in some cases.

Should you book Cartagena Coffee Masters?

If you’re coming to Cartagena for flavors that feel authentic and you like learning with your senses, I think it’s a strong choice. The combination of a distinctive café setting, a focused 2-hour coffee lesson, and real take-home coffee makes it more than just a “sit and sip.”

Book it if you’ll enjoy comparing multiple brews and you’re excited to learn how Colombia’s coffee culture connects to global brewing tech. Pass—or at least verify details—if you need guaranteed participant-led roasting and grinding, or if tight scheduling is your biggest constraint.

FAQ

What is the duration of Cartagena Coffee Masters?

It runs about 2 hours.

How much does Cartagena Coffee Masters cost?

The price is $85.00 per person.

What time does the tour start?

The activity starts at 10:00 am.

Where is the meeting point?

You meet at Café del Mural, Cl. de San Juan # 25-60, Getsemaní, Cartagena de Indias, Bolívar, Colombia.

Is transportation included?

No. Transportation from and to your hotel is not included.

What’s included in the ticket?

Snacks, coffee and/or tea, 4–5 coffee samples, and a 200 gr premium coffee bag.

Is it a private tour or will I be with strangers?

It’s private. Only your group participates.