On Reggaeton and Coffee
+ my current favorite Latino-owned coffee shops in NYC
“Cafetón” is a new term that exists at a niche intersection of two of my most deep-held, personal interests. Coffee shops and reggaeton. “Cafetón” parties are popping up in big cities all across the country— Austin, Chicago, and Miami, to name a few that aren’t just New York— and people are showing up. Other than your regular Latino coffee shop patrons that might want to dance with an iced latte in hand, reggaeton artists themselves are attending AND hosting them. I’m here to tell you what these events are, why this is happening, and my thoughts on the subject.
The first thing I thought of when I heard about Cafetón events in the U.S. was the “at-home” cafe phenomenon that’s been circulating on social media for a while. In short, it's a hosting trend where people decorate their house like a cafe and have friends over for coffee and tea.
Clearly, people are seeking community in ways that don’t require spending lots of money, partying, or alcohol. It’s not a secret that younger generations statistically drink less alcohol (a topic for another time), have less money, and hold a generally nihilistic outlook on life compared to older generations. Coffee and sweet treats seem to be a uniting factor for young people, from millennials to gen Alpha, and so coffee shops have become more of a community space than ever before.
We can’t talk about reggaeton parties at coffee shops without talking about coffee shop ‘raves.’ The two phenomena are inseparable in origin, and are essentially the same thing, except the former brings together Latino people specifically. The coffee raves are relevant in American and European cities and are centered around house and techno music. Similarly, people credit their emergence with the rise of sobriety and the universal desire for community.
Other than that, coffee is an undeniably central part of Latino culture. Regardless of someone’s country of origin, ability to speak Spanish, or the amount of time they’ve been in the U.S., the ritual of sharing and drinking cafecito together is something most Latin American cultures have in common.
Live music at Cafe Colmado’s opening party in the fall
The first big Cafetón event that came onto my radar was hosted in Chicago at a venue called Recess. According to Eater, the event wasn’t hosted at a coffee shop but rather featured four latino-owned coffee carts at an outdoor venue. Then, I saw a TikTok of a large crowd dancing and singing along to DtmF from a coffee reggaeton party in Austin, Texas, after Bad Bunny reposted it.
Recently, I stumbled into a morning reggaeton party while on my usual Saturday visit to Cafe Colmado in the Lower East Side. It wasn’t promoted as a “Cafetón” (which I think might be in the process of a trademark) but just a DJ set. I spent top dollar on a coquito latte and danced while chatting with my brother and his girlfriend who were visiting NYC from Miami. I promised myself that the next time they hosted a morning DJ set I’d come again with my girlfriends.
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But it doesn’t end there. In recent weeks, Colombian artist Feid hosted his own reggaeton coffee party in the boujee part of Miami, where he played unreleased tracks and had his own DJ security. There were lines wrapped around the block for the event, which I later found out was part of his album release promo tour. It was hosted at Libertino Cafe in Wynwood, a sleek, concrete-counter type of coffee shop frequented by celebrities and models. I wouldn’t necessarily classify this event as ‘community-building,’ but it's surely a more accessible way to connect with a big artist when compared to a concert at a flashy club with large cover charges.
The queen of Puerto Rico, Young Miko, was spotted front and center attending one of the original Cafetón parties in Chicago earlier in the month. She wasn’t promoting an album or hosting the event, but showed up simply to dance and vibe. A similar event series called “Cafe Con Ron” has emerged in Texas, sparked in popularity by Bad Bunny’s reposting. These parties will surely continue to grow in size, relevance, and reach as we enter the summer season.
I see a perfect mix of circumstances: an increased interest in coffee and community paired with a modern reggaeton renaissance. Bad Bunny isn’t touring in the U.S. anytime soon. Either way, concert tickets are expensive, coffee is cheaper, and rallying friends to a daytime DJ set sounds a lot easier than a late night club line.
Clearly I’m a fan of the trend. However, for me, attending a morning DJ set at a coffee shop will not preclude me from going out to dance and drink at night too. I can’t speak for the rest of my Gen Z counterparts, but I am definitely not a part of the younger generation’s sober curious movement. I can understand why coffee shop patrons might hate the rave/dance party idea— but people deserve to have some fun.
Other than Cafe Colmado in LES, I am yet to see other New York City cafes get behind the trend in an accessible and casual way. Unrelated to the “Cafetón” phenomenon, I’ve had some lovely times dancing and listening to live salsa and bomba outside of Buddies Coffee’s Williamsburg location in the spring. Maybe the common denominator to a good time is live music, coffee, and a group of strangers willing to dance together without embarrassment. If that’s the case, Latinos have had it all figured out long before the term “Cafeton” became a thing.
I can’t promise they’ll have a morning reggaeton party, but here are a few Latino owned coffee shops I love in New York City:
Xoco-Latte: owned by a Mexican and Ecuadorian friend duo, I love their specialty drinks. Think Mazapan, Mexican hot chocolate, horchata flavored lattes. They had a local viral moment for serving a BEC on a concha. I wait year round for autumn to finally eat their weekend tamales again.
Ticos Cuban Cafeteria: where I always get my Cuban coffee fix. A great food menu too. Owned by Albert, a Cuban guy from Jersey, who makes a mean Cubano. I’m always here so be prepared to say hi if you come by.
Obscure Coffee: recently opened in Bushwick, a modern coffee shop serving coffee made with only Latin American beans. Obsessed with the attention to detail.
Buddies Coffee: if you know, you know. Their Williamsburg location is officially closed but you can still buy their signature coffee bean blend online. Toasty and chocolate-y, it’s my usual go to. They’ll be reopening in a new location soon.
Casaroma Cafe: Dominican founded, they have a location in New Rochelle and in Manhattan. I’ve been dreaming about their house-made Morir Soñando. I love their social media strategy + all the events they host.
Cafe Colmado: I mentioned them a million times in this newsletter because I love it there so much. I often end my run club here. Other than their delicious drinks and fresh mallorcas, the space is gorgeously designed. They’re in the Lower East Side.
Cholita: I said it before and I’ll say it again! Double mention from the last newsletter but I had to include them in the list. Ecuadorian owned and spectacular specialty drinks in Ridgewood, Queens.
What do y’all think about coffee shop parties or Latino coffee communities in NYC? Any other Latino owned coffee shop reccs? Let me know in the comments.
Wait I love this, two perfect things! I really like Colina Cuervo in Crown Heights (I believe the owner is originally from Ecuador). They have a yummy horchata latte!
This is such a fun idea! I’m in NYC a couple of times a year visiting family so these places are going on my list. And I would definitely rather listen to this music while drinking my coffee than some of what is played in other coffee shops 🤣