Is Macanudo Cafe a Good Cigar for New Smokers?
Macanudo Cafe is a good cigar if you want a mild, easy first smoke. It is a poor pick if you want body or strength. At Humidorist, our beginner guides list the Macanudo Cafe as the cigar most people name for an easy first cigar.
We have not smoked or reviewed the Cafe for this page. The verdict below is our reading of the published specs, a 2012 review from Cigar Coop, and current retailer listings.
Is Macanudo Cafe a Good Cigar?
The Macanudo Cafe is a good cigar for smokers who prefer a mild profile, based on our reading of the sourced specs and the Cigar Coop review. Cigar Coop scored the Cafe Gigante 88 ("Nice to Have") and called it a good one for smokers who prefer mild cigars. That is one reviewer's score of one size, from April 2012, so details may have changed since.
| Spec | Macanudo Cafe |
|---|---|
| Brand | Macanudo |
| Factory | General Cigar Dominicana, Dominican Republic |
| Wrapper | Connecticut Shade (one retailer lists it as USA-grown) |
| Binder | Mexican San Andres |
| Filler | Dominican (Piloto Cubano) and Mexican |
| Strength | Mild to medium, varies by listing |
| Sizes | 25 vitolas as of 2012 |
| Cigar Coop score | 88 for the Gigante (2012) |
| Price | Not given in our sources |
The blend details come from the 2012 Cigar Coop review. The reviewer was surprised to find Mexican tobacco in both the binder and the filler. Our cigar wrappers guide covers wrapper types, including Connecticut Shade.
Macanudo's own site at macanudo.com does not list Cafe specs on its home page. The site lists the Legacy, Inspirado, M by Macanudo, and Emissary lines, plus two new Ecuadorian Shade and Sumatra offerings. For more on the brand as a whole, see our Macanudo brand page.
What Macanudo Cafe Tastes Like and How Strong It Is
The Macanudo Cafe is a mild cigar with creamy, mellow notes of cedar and a touch of coffee, according to our own beginner guidance.
Strength sits in a mild to medium range, and the sources do not fully agree:
- Cigar Coop (2012): the Gigante starts mild and rises to mild-to-medium in the last third.
- Some retailer listings: sizes such as the Court and the Prince Phillip are listed as Medium.
- Other retailer listings: the line is described as mild.
Read the strength line on the specific size you plan to buy, because retailer listings are inconsistent. If you are new to strength ratings, our cigar strength guide explains what mild, medium, and full mean in practice.
Macanudo Cafe Sizes
The Macanudo Cafe came in 25 vitolas when Cigar Coop reviewed it in 2012. The smallest was the Miniature and the largest was the Duke of Wellington. Retailer listings name several sizes in between.
| Vitola | Size (length x ring gauge) | Shape note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miniature | 3 3/4 x 24 | Smallest in 2012 | Cigar Coop |
| Court | 4 1/8 x 36 | None given | Retailer |
| Claybourne | 6 x 31 | None given | Retailer |
| Tudor | 6 x 52 | Toro | Retailer |
| Gigante | 6 x 60 | Size Cigar Coop reviewed | Cigar Coop |
| Rothschild | 6 1/2 x 42 | None given | Retailer |
| Prince Phillip | 7 1/2 x 49 | Churchill | Retailer |
| Duke of Wellington | 8 1/2 x 47 | Largest in 2012 | Cigar Coop |
The Duke of Wellington runs 4 3/4 inches longer than the Miniature (8 1/2 minus 3 3/4). The Claybourne and the Gigante are both 6 inches long, but the Gigante's ring gauge is 29 points wider (60 minus 31). The 88 score applies to the Gigante only.
The current vitola list may differ from these listings, so confirm the size before you order at one of our recommended online cigar retailers. Our cigar sizes guide explains ring gauge and the common shape names.
Who the Macanudo Cafe Suits
The Macanudo Cafe suits smokers and gift buyers who want a mild cigar with a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Choose by what the specs and our guidance list:
- Pick it if you want an easy first cigar with creamy, mellow cedar and coffee notes.
- Pick it as a gift if the person you are buying for prefers mild cigars.
- Pick a larger size such as the Gigante if you want the size Cigar Coop scored 88.
These buyers should look elsewhere:
- You want body or strength. The strongest reading in our sources is Medium, so a stronger blend fits better. Our best cigar brands guide is a place to start.
- You want Mexican-free tobacco. The 2012 blend uses Mexican leaf in the binder and filler.
- You are comparing brands. Our Macanudo vs Montecristo, Cohiba vs Macanudo, and Romeo y Julieta vs Macanudo pages set the brands side by side.
Our verdict would change once we smoke the Cafe ourselves. It would also change if a current spec sheet showed a blend different from the 2012 one. If retailers settled on Medium for the whole line, we would stop calling it a mild first cigar.
Price and Where to Buy
Our sources give no price for the Macanudo Cafe, per cigar or per box. The Cafe does appear in our beginner cigar picks. Check current listings at our recommended online cigar retailers.
Cigars are for adults 21 and older. Our explainer on whether Macanudo cigars are worth it covers the brand's value more broadly.
If you buy a box, keep it in a humidor once it arrives. Our guide on how to store cigars covers the basics, and our cigar humidor picks help you choose one. To find the Macanudo Cafe in the size you want, compare stock at our recommended online cigar retailers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Macanudo Cafe a good cigar?
Yes, for smokers who want a mild cigar. Cigar Coop scored the Cafe Gigante 88 in 2012 and called it a good one for those who prefer a mild profile. It is a poor pick if you want body or strength. We have not smoked it for this page.
How much does Macanudo Cafe cost?
Our sources publish no price for the Macanudo Cafe. Check current listings at our recommended online cigar retailers.
What is the flavor profile of Macanudo Cafe?
Our own guidance describes it as mild, with creamy, mellow notes of cedar and a touch of coffee. Strength runs mild to medium depending on the listing. Cigar Coop found the Gigante grew to mild-to-medium in its last third.
Is a Macanudo a premium cigar?
Our sources do not label the Macanudo Cafe as premium or otherwise. They do list a Dominican factory, a Connecticut Shade wrapper, 25 vitolas as of 2012, and an 88 score from Cigar Coop. Our page on whether Macanudo cigars are worth it weighs the brand's value.