If you couldn’t imagine life without good coffee then this article is for you. Join us as The Inside Guide takes a closer look at one of the best places for coffee in Valencia.

Elixir coffee – Great coffee across four sites in Valencia

A botanist will tell you that growing a coffee plant is not a quick process. It takes at least 3 years for a plant to produce coffee beans. This slow, time consuming process requires know-how, experience and patience. Elixir cafe, based across four sites in Valencia, is a place that pays homage to that journey and encourages us to enjoy every moment of what it eventually produces.

When I first started to think about this article there were two Elixir cafe locations but now there are four, each in a different neighbourhood of Valencia. There are three smaller sites, the original was in Russafa market and two smaller sites have opened up in El Carmen and El Grao. They also have a bigger location in Arrancapins. All the photos taken for this article are from the latter. It is a great site with outdoor seating just set off the main road. It’s a great spot for people watching, enjoying the sun or even doing some work on the reliable free wifi. 

Fantastic coffee first and foremost 

Let’s talk about the coffee, it is smooth and aromatic yet also fruity and earthy.  Many years ago I took a tour of a Colombian Cafetal. I remember being told about how the soil, the rain and the altitude all played their part alongside the methods used by the cafetero in making the perfect cup. The coffee at Elixir reminds me of the tour, it is a place that shows respect and honours these processes, the earth where the beans are cultivated and the families that toil in the fields to bring it to you.

The coffee here is different to what you might drink in other places. This is Latin American coffee culture, not European.  Normally this means a lighter roast and a more nuanced flavour. What it lacks in intensity it makes up for in body, flavour and aroma. In the research I did for the place I heard on more than one occasion from those that had visited that they rated the coffee as right up there with the best they had ever had. High praise indeed! What is abundantly clear is that they are not the only ones as the place is always well populated with coffee lovers. 

Take your time 

The coffee itself is served in beautiful cups telling us to ‘Tómate tu tiempo’ or take your time in English and it is a perfect slogan which matches the cafe perfectly. This is not just the morning hit when you haven’t located your brain yet. Heed the advice and go slowly, a moment of calm in chaotic times. Valencia’s crowds and busy streets can fade into the background as you take a moment or two to sit back and indulge. 

More than just great coffee 

Elixir also has good food. The menu isn’t extensive but in a place like this it really doesn’t need to be. If you are feeling peckish they have some appetising toasts, savoury and sweet crepes and various other options. The food is freshly prepared and healthy. They recently offered up a menu del dia option so they are definitely trying to expand on this side of the business.  Last time I tried the 3 cheese and crunchy onion crepe, it was very good with just the right amount of tangy blue cheese to tickle my taste buds yet not overpower the dish. My friend was looking to alter his order from what was on the menu and the waitress was very accommodating. 

Service is top notch, the waiting team are warm and convivial. If you don’t have much Spanish they will help you in English. Nothing seems to be a problem. If you have a question, an allergy or fancy something slightly different to what is on the menu then nothing seems to be too much of a problem. When you visit it seems as if some of the patrons have been there for weeks and if they were it probably wouldn’t be much of an issue. It is little things like this that make a difference and in my opinion it has some of the best service I have seen in Valencia.

They also sell a selection of coffee to takeaway and make at home including coffee grown in Colombia and Brazil amongst others. They are available as coffee capsules, coffee beans or ready ground. If you are looking to drink better stuff at home and let’s be honest most Spanish supermarkets don’t have the best options this could be what you are looking for. They also make a good gift, especially for that person in your life who is notoriously hard to buy for. 

For Valencia’s true coffee connoisseurs  

Elixir is one of those places that when you visit, you come away from wondering why everywhere can’t be like this. It’s not a complicated formula by any means. Warm and friendly staff make you feel welcome and healthy food is served with a smile. Perhaps most importantly the coffee is exceptional. Elixir is a place that doesn’t need to show off, it’s confident that what they offer is more than good enough. A lot of places in Valencia could take note. My suggestion to you is to give it a try and see for yourself.