The Dominican Republic's Coffee and Cigars

Before coming to the Dominican Republic, I never knew that they were home to such an incredible coffee and cigars scene.

Greca

It’s another hot day in the Dominican Republic, with sweat beads pouring down your face, thirsty to say the least and now you’ve finally arrived at your destination.

You might get offered a cup of coffee (cafecito) “Quieres café”?

From my observations, and my observations alone, it seems like Dominicans could care less for tea lol, unless it’s natural like having a stem from the lemongrass plant in your mug or boiling some cut up ginger.

Coffee in the Dominican Republic is the drink of choice.

I never was a coffee drinker up until recently, in fact I could count on 1 hand how many times I had coffee before this Dominican experience.

Of all those times that I was offered coffee, and took the offer.

At some point coffee became my boost for keeping me up to watch late sports games. Usually I would fall asleep halfway through the game, only to wake up after the final, hearing the commentators’ excitement of how great the game was.

For the coffee connoisseurs, Dominican coffee is made from Arabica beans.

I gradually started to drink coffee more than once or twice a week, I found it to be useful for relaxing, getting more work done, and reading.

In my research, I saw many interesting things about coffee origins, and most of all that it’s healthy? Lol all these years I loved the smell, but hid from it because I thought it was not good for health.

I feel like I discovered a new world that was already going on fine without me, and now I’m welcomed in.

When in the DR, do as the Dominicans do. Ok, now coffee is part of my lifestyle.

I don’t know all the selections, but I am familiar with the popular brands. There is one named after the capital city Santo Domingo, this is usually our go to.

Coffee shops are all over this part of town, I’ve been to a few shops and I should try more, but I’m usually getting my coffee homemade traditional Dominican style.

Homemade Dominican-style coffee is a strong, dark, and sweet stove-brewed traditionally prepared using a greca (a classic aluminum Moka pot).

No modern drip machines here, every Dominican household has and prefers to use a greca. It may require a bit more attention, but as for the results of flavor, strength, and traditional authenticity it’s unmatched.

Cigar lounge

I’ve smoked a few good Cuban cigars in my time, but recently I’ve discovered that the Dominican Republic has top-tier cigars that they take much pride in making.

Extremely proud of their cigars, locals don’t shy away from saying that the Dominican Republic has the best cigars in the world.

They aren’t a common scent on the street. I’ve only witnessed people smoking outdoors on a couple of occasions, and caught the aroma from a distance a few times in a park. Most Dominicans don’t like anything to do with smoking, at all.

But with such a wide selection of cigars selling everywhere from grocery stores to specialty shops, you know people are smoking them somewhere.

The cigar lounge is one of those highly designated spots where people buy and smoke the cigar right there. I must add, cigars here are considered expensive to the average Dominican. The prestige is a foreigner or a Dominican considered to have money lighting up. That’s the stereotype, I didn’t make it up.

The cigar lounge that I went to was also my first time going to one, and I must admit I felt pampered being in there. No special treatment or anything, just how they walk you to your nice comfy cushioned seating, go through the cigar options, light it for you, and leave some type of high-tech lighter at your table.

All that is wonderful, but the best part is some type of fan or suction that takes in all the smoke so that you won’t smell like you had a cigar or were even in a lounge.

The cigar lounges are not just for cigar smoking either. You could choose to not partake in cigars and just buy coffee, order a beverage, or have a bite. It is a great spot for business meetings.

The majority of cigar lounges that I have browsed are upper-scale atmospheres, but I’m not saying that all in the country are.

I also saw a spot in Zona Colonial where they are making cigars from scrap. It’s pretty cool; you could stand by the window and watch through the glass. Then they’ll wave to you to come inside.

Life in Dominican Republic is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.