For the Love of Coffee
Located on Vincente Guerrero in Villa Obregon, La Taza Negra is an oasis for coffee lovers.
Born in a home kitchen with a simple cylindrical coffee roaster, one table and four chairs out front, the café you see today has grown into a vibrant, inviting bistro. The vision of original owners Ben and Alexa Boyt continues to be realized by good friends Alejandro (Alex) Amador Navarro and wife Aynsley Parker, who purchased the business last year. Subtle alterations have been made in the café with more significant changes behind the scenes, all in the interest of offering the best product possible.
When asked “Why coffee?” Alex, a civil engineer and former high school math and physics teacher, states simply, “It’s such a good drink.”
Clearly, he loves everything to do with coffee. Alex has enthusiastically researched propagation, harvesting, storage and even the moisture content of the beans. Before purchasing the café, he worked with Ben to repair and modify equipment creating the perfect grinding process.
Arabica beans from Chiapas, Oaxaca and Veracruz are roasted in small batches of eight to 10 kilos with a maximum of one week’s supply to ensure the highest quality and consistency. Sample testing is done daily to test humidity and grinders are calibrated accordingly. Using local resources, composting, supporting sustainable initiatives and promoting the local economy are Alex’s top priority.
La Taza Negra is still very much a family affair. Staff members include coffee expert Benito Delgadillo Brambia (Gamma); Alex’s sister Karina Amador, and his mother Angelina, who will be providing in-house, fresh baked items to complement the delectable baked goods menu. By popular request, a newly added upstairs terrace restaurant offers an authentic Mexican breakfast menu along with original recipes under the direction of long time restaurateur and friend Maria Castiillo. Enjoy fresh lunch items as well and soon to come a newly created dinner experience.
To augment the ambiance, live music begins in December on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays. Plans are in the works for monthly presentations featuring area artisans. Details will be posted on the website.
Alex and his staff are skilled baristas presenting an amazing product that looks as good as it tastes. Their coffee is not only delicious, it is a work of art. You will be hard pressed to find a better cup of java anywhere!
Also at this quaint café in Villa Obregon, you can purchase whole beans (in refillable glass jars) or ground coffee in two-kilo, one-kilo, and 500- and 250-gram quantities. Choose from four blends: City, a lighter roast with less acidity; Vienna, a medium roast; French, a dark roast (their most popular), or Decaf. Cold coffee brew is also available by the liter.
Truly a great expression of entrepreneurial growth, La Taza Negra’s unique brand of coffee can also be enjoyed and/or purchased in ground or bean form at La Bruja and The French Bakery in Barra de Navidad, El Café in Melaque and La Rustica in Sayulita. Beans and ground coffee are available at La Hawaii or Chelis in Melaque.
Alex’s brand of personal service and brewing knowledge are offered throughout the area to support his enthusiastic, coffee loving customers and distributors.
Located on Vicente Guerrero, 112 in Villa Obregon, La Taza Negra is currently open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., and until 2 p.m. beginning December. Closed Sunday. Phone: 315-355-7080. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Website: latazanegra.com.
Day of the Dead
Area families spend days, weeks and even months preparing the altars that celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed, a sacred tradition admired and respected by extranjeros for many years. This year, a special altar was created for the expats who called Jalisco their home. Thank you to Linda Bello Ruiz for presenting the idea and allowing us the opportunity to participate.
Community cleanup
A community cleanup initiative was held in Barra de Navidad on Tuesday, November 7, sponsored by Unidos por Barra, a group of entrepreneurs whose sole purpose is to beautify and improve the streets and public amenities of Barra. Information will be posted for future endeavors and volunteers are invited to join in. Set aside your gloves, brooms and garbage bags and watch for further notice.