In what was once an abandoned house on a dead-end street in Barrio Jara, something magical happens every day: the transformation of simple ingredients into liquid poetry, one carefully crafted cup at a time. This is the story of El Cafetero.
“I came searching for diversity in coffee origins,” admits Alejandro Murcia, his Colombian roots still audible after nearly a decade in Paraguay. “What I discovered was a void where specialty coffee should have been.” That empty landscape of 2017 has since flourished into the country’s most acclaimed coffee sanctuary, now spanning three locations across Asunción.
When passion meets purpose
As Murcia’s reputation as a coffee expert grew, Arami Afara sought him out for courses whilst managing her parents’ petrol station in María Auxiliadora. Through months of professional collaboration, a friendship emerged. “During one of our conversations, she confided that her dream had always been to have a proper café,” Murcia recalls. “I suggested we partner up, and she did not hesitate to say yes.”
In December 2020, a breakthrough moment arrived, they opened El Cafetero, transforming what had been an abandoned parking space into Paraguay’s future temple to specialty coffee.
The following year, when Afara married Rodrigo Balsevich, her husband joined to support the venture, creating the three-founder team that orchestrates El Cafetero’s daily symphony today.
A philosophy served fresh
“We want to have brunch all day, every day,” Murcia explains with infectious enthusiasm. This flexibility breathes life into their “honest cooking”, simple dishes elevated by exceptional ingredients. Colombian arepas sit comfortably alongside Paraguayan chipa, creating a menu that speaks multiple languages fluently.
Their crown jewel, Grandma’s Sara, marries fluffy pancakes with scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, sweet apple compote, and a coffee of choice.
The true artistry lies in El Cafetero’s cultural fusion. They serve tintico cafetero, a traditional Colombian coffee drink sweetened with black honey rather than panela. Both are derived from sugar cane, offering a fitting metaphor for adaptation without sacrificing authenticity.
“The majority of coffees consumed here, the main flavour people noticed was bitter,” Murcia shares. His mission became education wrapped in warmth: “Coffee is above all a fruit”, if I have a good quality product and know how to prepare it, I do not need to add anything to enjoy it.”
The ethics behind every bean
What transforms El Cafetero from excellent to extraordinary is its unwavering moral compass. “For me, specialty coffee is not just about the coffee tasting good,” Murcia emphasises. “It has to be traceable. You have to know that what you are doing has a direct impact on the person producing it.”
Yearly journeys to Colombia connect them directly with farmers. “We do not set a price; we simply let the coffee grower set it, and if our capacity allows us to pay it, we buy it,” he explains. “Just as we try to dignify what we do, we seek to dignify what others do.”
Environmental consciousness flows through every decision: clay crockery from Areguá, glass bottles only, comprehensive recycling programmes. With 29 employees across three locations, they have become significant local employers, focusing on “giving job opportunities to young people under fair and legal working conditions.”
“There are many reasons to come to El Cafetero,” Murcia concludes, “but the most important is for people to satisfy their curiosity.” The abandoned house has become a beacon of transformation, proving that with dedication, cultural sensitivity, and unwavering commitment to quality, dreams can take root in the most unexpected places, even on dead-end streets.
The next chapter involves importing green beans to roast locally, currently, they roast in Colombia and fly the beans to maintain freshness.
VIP Card benefits
As a VIP member of The Asunción Times, you get a 20% discount at El Cafetero, just by showing your VIP Member card – one of many VIP Member Benefits. The coffee shop opens from Monday to Friday in three locations: the intimate original in Barrio Jara, Marketplace shopping centre, and the ZUBA building at Plaza Moiety.
El Cafetero opening hours and locations
📍Barrio Jara (Central)
Monday to Saturday: – 7 AM to 10 PM,
Sunday: 8 AM to 10 PM.
📍Marketplace Shopping Centre
Every day: 9 AM a 8 PM.
📍ZUBA Building, Plaza Moiety
Monday to Friday: 7 AM to 8 PM,
Saturday – Sunday: 9 AM a 8 PM
For more information, check El Cafetero on Instagram.
