Curated
Ilustre Specialty Coffees interior

Ilustre Specialty Coffees

Closed
opens 8 AM
Neighborhood
Escondido
Roaster
In-house
Food
Coffee only

Curator’s note

Ilustre names its growers, a dozen of them, down to Carlos Cadena and the two family farms behind his coffee, Finca Pocitos and the Finca Huehuetepan that belongs to his mother. A Gesha in the catalog carries his name, which is what honoring a grower looks like once it leaves the mission statement.

The Curated Order
The drink
Espresso Lemonade

Espresso over lemonade from the Signature list, ordered cold, warm, or extra hot.

The food
Strawberry Jam & Cream Cheese Bagel

A bagel with strawberry jam and cream cheese.

The coffee

Roasting runs on Stronghold machines out of South Korea under a head roaster named Rudy, who has been on Taza de Excelencia México's official roasting team three years running. Escondido pours a full menu of specialty drinks plus pour-overs from coffees chosen in Mexico and further afield, and the bags print origin down to La Reserva's washed typica and bourbon at 1,250 to 1,600 meters.

The beansCurrent lineup
  • La Reserva Ganadora de Premio Sabor

    Mexico · 1,250–1,600 m

    Roast
    Medium
    Varietals
    Typica, Bourbon
    Process
    Washed

    brown sugar · almond · chocolate

  • Morning Blend

    Mexico

    Roast
    Medium

    caramel · malt · almond · dark chocolate

  • Costa Rica Gesha Experimental

    Costa Rica, Santa Cruz · 2,100 m

    Roast
    Medium-light
    Varietals
    Gesha
    Producer
    Johel Monge Naranjo

    jasmine · hibiscus · tropical

The room

A single suite on North Broadway, the main commercial street through town, open eight to three and closed Mondays. Ilustre's camera stays on the coffee and almost never turns to its own rooms, so this one is left for whoever walks in to see first.

The work-test
WifiSolidReliable for most tasks
OutletsSomeSome along the walls
SeatingRoomyComfortable room
NoiseModerateEasy conversation level
LaptopsLimitedWelcome outside peak hours

The vibe

Photos

8

People

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