Portuguese businessman Renato Andrade, operating in tourism industry, has never considered working with coffees, until his wife introduced him to a Chemex. After that, he fell in love with this universe. Attentive, he noticed that the city of Porto did not count on a coffee shop focused exclusively on coffee, with a room for coffee experiences for it to be tasted in different ways. They started to look for the ideal spot and found a gem downtown, full of history, as Renato wanted.
Until they met Ateneu Comercial do Porto (Porto Commercial Atheneum) building, a local that witnessed the city’s transformation history, built 150 years ago, which houses the largest private library in the Iberian Peninsula, in addition to the first edition of The Lusiads.
A little more about C’Alma Specialty Coffee
The coffee shop, inaugurated a year ago, is on the ground floor, where was the old tea room for the wives of the illustrious Commercial Atheneum members, the only place in the building where entry of women was permitted. “When we visited the room, we realized that C’alma had to be born there”, tells Renato. Everything is original, from the color of the walls painting, the tiles painted by famous local architect Amoroso Lopes, medallions allusive to Porto wine, to the fountain and wooden bar. “We wanted a refined location, however one that would not push people away”, he explains. And it worked out!
They hired American head barista Brian Blaker, married to a Portuguese woman, who is also a musician and, in addition to coordinating the room work, chooses the coffees to be served in the room, including the single origin coffees. “Our blend is roasted by ‘7groaster’ and its composition was four-handed made, along with Davi Coelho (read 7 groaster story). “The idea at C’alma is to have people coming with calmness, without puns, to appreciate its coffees and to taste them in peace, using our baristas as consultants, maybe, but everything without haste”, says Renato.
Though it is an old room, practically all tables have sockets to load computers and cell phones, and those who need to use the coffee shop as work environment are welcome.
Beers and Teas
At C’alma one can also appreciate craft beers produced from organic barley, and tea imported from Japan by Chá Camelia, a Portuguese brand.
And, besides being tuned to find out new architectural gems in the city to house a new unit, Renato is investing in the creation of a new company, Things u can add to Barista Life, intended to develop materials to facilitate baristas’ routine, like tampers, among other accessories and machinery.
The cafeteria C’Alma Specialty Coffee room is located at:
Address: Rua de Passos Manuel, 44 – phone – 351 91370460
Website: www.calmacoffee.pt
Instagram: instagram.com/calma_coffee_room
