
Coffee Like A Local Ep1: Lima, Peru
James Hoffmann is in Lima, Peru, looking for a coffee experience you can only have there – not necessarily specialty coffee, but something deeply local and traditional.
Bar Cordano – a 121-year-old institution- He visits Bar Cordano, a legendary café with over a century of history.
- He orders a traditional breakfast: café pasado and butifarra.
- The coffee is served as a strong concentrate poured into a cup of hot water – an unusual and delightful method.
- The flavor is mild, not bitter, closer to filter coffee than an Americano.
- Low acidity and a pleasant mouthfeel.
- The sandwich consists of country ham, an onion salad, and lime (not lemon, as James initially thought).
- It is salty and juicy; the lime adds a fresh acidity that pairs perfectly with the coffee.
- James adds a spicy sauce on recommendation, which rounds out the flavor.
- James emphasizes that this traditional combination is unique to Lima and exactly what he was looking for: coffee as part of local culture.
- Specialty coffee is great, but local institutions and dishes deserve equal appreciation.
- Recommendation: If you're in Lima, definitely visit Bar Cordano and enjoy this breakfast.
“It’s an experience I strongly recommend – just a great time with coffee and a delicious sandwich.”





