Kima Coffee Malaga Review 2026: A Top 100 Coffee Shop Experience

Malaga's Coffee Gem

Kima Coffee: Ranked Among the World's Top 100 Coffee Shops

As passionate coffee lovers, my husband and I always make sure to scout out the best cafes on our travels.

Following the esteemed list of the World's Best Coffee Shops, we made a point to visit Kima Coffee in Malaga, and I'm thrilled to share our experience with you!

1. Kima Coffee: A Must-Visit in Malaga

Tucked away in a somewhat unassuming corner of downtown Malaga, Kima Coffee isn't huge, especially considering its impressive reputation. We managed to squeeze in a visit amidst our busy schedule of exploring Malaga's incredible food scene.

2. Kima Coffee's Offerings

Since it's not on a main thoroughfare, they've smartly placed a sandwich board outside. It clearly displays the "HORARIO," which means 'schedule' or 'hours,' so you know when they're open.

Right by the entrance, you'll spot a plaque proudly declaring its inclusion in the WORLD'S BEST COFFEE SHOPS list. This ranking, which started with restaurants, has expanded over the years to include cafes, bars, and more, with new lists published annually. While Michelin guides cover restaurants, this list is a fantastic resource for finding exceptional coffee spots.

As of 2026, only four cafes in Spain made the list, and Kima Coffee proudly holds the 4th spot among them, ranking 93rd overall worldwide. For reference, Spain's highest-ranked cafe is Nomad Frutas Selectar in Barcelona, coming in at an impressive 16th place.

Past the counter, where you'll see the espresso machine and drippers, there's a seating area. It's clean and functional, though perhaps not boasting the trendiest interior design you might find in some modern cafes. It has a more classic, focused-on-the-coffee vibe.

Near the drippers, you'll find detailed descriptions of their specialty coffees. The beans likely rotate, but during our visit, they featured a selection of Colombian beans.

An Americano costs 2.1 euros, and for filter coffee, you can choose from three different brewing methods. Each bean description details the producer, region, altitude, and tasting notes. While it's in Spanish, don't worry – a quick scan with a translation app (everyone has one these days, right?) will help you decipher the "Perfil sensorial" (sensory profile), which highlights the key flavors and aromas.

The space isn't huge, so depending on when you visit, you might find seating limited. The small door you see further inside leads to a restroom, which we found to be impeccably clean!

First to arrive at our table were a cortado (the small cup) and a chai latte. A cortado is a classic Spanish coffee, similar to a latte or cappuccino but with less milk, which I personally love and often order when I see it on a menu.

And then, the star of the show: the filter coffee. Since it takes a little longer to brew, our cortado and chai latte arrived first. After a short wait, our filter coffee was served in a truly unique cup.

This cup is quite special, painted pink on one side and white on the other, with a slightly different shape when viewed from the side. It's a "2-way cup," and the barista explained that drinking from one side enhances the aroma, while the other side highlights different flavor notes. Honestly, the difference wasn't dramatically noticeable for us, but it definitely added a unique, elevated touch to the specialty coffee experience!

Typically, one filter coffee would probably be enough to share between two people. We, however, wanted to try an espresso-based drink too, which is why we added the cortado. The chai latte? Purely because we were craving one! The staff were friendly, although their English wasn't fluent, we managed just fine.

3. Our Verdict: Is Kima Coffee Worth the Visit?

While Spain isn't traditionally known for its highly developed coffee culture, we've noticed an increasing number of excellent cafes (especially those catering to more discerning palates) popping up in major cities recently.

Kima Coffee certainly serves delicious coffee by Spanish standards. However, coming from a country with such a rich and advanced cafe scene, we wouldn't say it was an absolutely mind-blowing experience compared to the very best back home.

That said, if you're traveling through Europe and find yourself yearning for a really good cup of coffee, especially specialty coffee, then Kima Coffee will definitely hit the spot. For fellow coffee enthusiasts like us, it's a truly satisfying find!