Café Alma Viva brings a taste of Colombia to Nashville – The Vanderbilt Hustler

Nashville, Tennessee, welcomed Café Alma Viva, a new Colombian coffee shop, at the end of July. Located in Midtown, Alma Viva invites a Colombian oasis into our campus’s backyard. The Spanish phrase “alma viva” notably translates to “living soul.” We entered the shop on a busy Tuesday afternoon with the buzzing chatter of the workday noticeably having come to a halt. The “no laptop on weekends” policy sign posted on the cafe’s store was a gentle reminder of Alma Viva’s goal: to be a place for connection and relaxation.  

We chose to put Alma Viva’s drink menu to the test, and it was nearly impossible to narrow down our options. Spicy and consistently rich flavoring delivers caffeine through creative takes on Colombian classics that felt carefully crafted and deeply personal. Using traditional ingredients such as guava, single-origin coffee and panela, a sweetener derived from solid cane sugar, Alma Viva uses its recipes to tell a story about Colombian heritage. We chose five drinks, and while each was unique, here is our final ranking:  

1. Golden Honey Latte – $8 

To start off, we ordered the drink with the most enticing name. We both tend to opt for bitter coffee and took this into account as we delved into the golden honey’s sweet, but naturally savory flavor blend. Topped with a golden honeycomb skewer, the latte had a buttery and creamy taste. The drink consistency was thick, which you may not typically see in a latte — but we both agreed this is what made the drink stand out and take the top spot on our list. Most importantly, the drink’s sharp honeycomb and brown butter flavor only got stronger until the last sip.  

2. Alma Viva Draft – $8

To put Alma Viva to the real test, we sampled its classic draft cold brew. Incorporating its house panela and salted panela, we ranked the draft second due to its starkly original flavor. We consider ourselves semi-coffee connoisseurs and were still blown away by the unique elements of spiciness and tanginess in their draft cold brew. We appreciated the drink’s thin, smooth and refreshing consistency, which would pair well with the cafe’s traditional take on Roscón, a Colombian sweet bread on their bakery menu.  

 3. Passionfruit Matcha – $7

In third place, we have a strikingly bright and bold matcha latte. With a layer of fresh and tart passion fruit syrup at the bottom of the glass, the drink has a distinctly tropical flavor without straying into overly sweet territory. We appreciated the true green color and balanced flavor, but the drink lost points for us due to its thick, verging smoothie texture. We both agreed it was most enjoyable during the first few sips.  

4. Colombian Milo – $6 

Arguably the most culturally significant drink on the menu, Colombian milo is a chocolate-malt drink mix produced by Nestlé. This powdered drink is iconic in Colombia, consumed frequently by children and families, both hot and cold. While the nutty and mild chocolate flavor was recognizably nostalgic to us regardless of cultural heritage, the flavor fell flat compared to the other options. While it’s not what we would reach for, it might serve as a comforting piece of home for Colombian customers.  

 5. Cardamom Rose Latte – $6

With a lightly herbal and floral flavor profile, this drink may be a go-to for those looking for a non-caffeinated drink similar to a chai latte. Despite its beautiful color and pink powder garnish, the mild flavors and overpowering milkiness left us a bit unsatisfied. We most definitely saw the potential in the drink’s flowery flavor; we think it could be even better served hot to appreciate its warming properties. With that being said, the latte’s soothing taste is perfect for fall and the upcoming cozy season.  

While the drinks at Alma Viva were tasty, the landscape mural was the real highlight of our experience. The mural, created by artist Alejandro Gallego, spotlights the hills of Valle de Cocora in Quindío, Colombia. The piece was nothing short of captivating. The landscape is titled “The Golden Pulse of Cocora” and beautifully captures the area’s nature, including the bright birds, blooming flowers and wax palm trees covering the perpetual hills. We joked that it was as if we had been transported to Colombia.  

What stuck with us the most as we continued our cafe experience was the tagline that was by the mural, which read, “The artwork is not completed by the viewer; it is revealed through their presence.”  

With this, Alma Viva most definitely earned its name as a welcoming cultural and culinary enclave.