First Impressions
Cafelito is the deliberate antithesis of the sleek, clinical specialty shops colonizing the rest of Centro. Located in Lavapiés, it feels less like a commercial enterprise and more like a collector’s private living room or a neighborhood laboratory. It trades “modern efficiency” for a cluttered, soulful aesthetic—mismatched furniture, vintage grinders, and an atmosphere that is unapologetically local and intellectually dense. If the standard specialty cafe is a spreadsheet, Cafelito is a manifesto.
The Setup
The notion that Cafelito is a “workspace” is a category error. While some guides list it as laptop-friendly, the physical reality is one of “analog resistance.” The interior is cramped and high-energy. The tables are small—barely sufficient for a Chemex and a notebook, let alone a workstation setup.
The lighting is low, and the social volume is high. You do not come here to grind through a backlog of emails; you come here to read or engage in a high-velocity conversation. Power outlets are a rare relic of the past, and the Wi-Fi is famously temperamental. The terrace, perched on a sloping street, is a premier location for observing the gritty friction of the city, but it is entirely unsuitable for a screen-based professional.
The Coffee
Calling the coffee “smooth” is a lazy descriptor that ignores Cafelito’s true identity. They are pioneers of spiced and inventive infusions, bridging the gap between traditional Spanish coffee culture and radical “third wave” experiments.
Their Café de la Casa experiments—involving cardamom, cinnamon, or black pepper—are the primary draw. This isn’t just about the beans; it’s about how many botanical notes can be integrated into an espresso without compromising its soul. While the generic review might mention tortilla, the operational focus here is on artisanal cakes and small-batch sweets designed to complement their spice-forward brews.
The Verdict
Cafelito is a sensory archive, not a coworking hub. It is a cornerstone of the neighborhood’s creative identity and a refuge from the “IKEA-fication” of the global coffee scene. Bringing a laptop here is an act of missing the point. It is a location for the professional to disconnect and recalibrate. Come for the cardamom, stay for the unapologetic lack of corporate polish, and leave the charger at home.
Security Note: Given the dense foot traffic and the social nature of the space, unattended hardware is a significant risk. If you must use a device, maintain physical contact at all times.
