Café culture is nothing new in Portugal, far from it, coffee is an integral part of daily life here. Coffee shops can be found on virtually every street, usually with a small crowd outside drinking one of several daily bicas.
While the Portuguese are, on the whole, unfalteringly loyal to Delta, an enthusiasm for speciality coffee is spreading throughout the country. In the last two years, several artisan coffee roasters have set up shop in the Algarve and a number of cafés have made the switch – bringing a new flavour and attracting a coffee-loving crowd to the region.
The Coffee Studio is the latest speciality coffee spot to open its doors in Lagos – a city that is quickly becoming a hub for coffee enthusiasts, bringing a new concept to the city’s already-buzzing coffee scene. Specialising in locally roasted and sustainably sourced single-origin coffee, The Coffee Studio is making premium coffee accessible to all, while supporting fellow Portuguese businesses.
Whilst coffee is at the heart of the café, the primary goal is to enrich the community. Everything from the furniture set-up, which includes a convertible co-working bar – to the in-store events, has been designed to support local businesses and give back to the local community. So in addition to getting a tasty caffeine fix, customers are also supporting local and international initiatives. You can sip a coffee that supports women-run farms in Papua New Guinea; was roasted in Albufeira and is served in a locally handmade artisan mug.
Many of the products; including the coffee beans and the wall art, are available to take home. The in-shop concept store has a range of homeware, cosmetics and food products designed and made in Portugal… just another way in which the café is supporting Portugal’s premium brands that promote ethical and sustainable practices.
Although almost everything from the food to the retail products are from Portuguese brands, The Coffee Studio has international appeal. Its founders, a husband and wife duo from the UK and Canada, travelled for years before choosing to settle in Lagos last year. After seeing a gap in the market for a community-driven space that can give back to the wider community, The Coffee Studio was born. After many years of living nomadically, the founders wanted to create a space that digital nomads, tourists and locals could all enjoy together. Complete with a coworking bar, space for after-work drinks, ample plug sockets and cosy corners filled with books and magazines, The Coffee Studio is more than a place to stop for a coffee – it’s a community space that everyone can enjoy.
You can visit The Coffee Studio at Rua Soeiro da Costa in, Lagos or find out more about the project on www.thestudio.coffee.
