Booínga
Matosinhos · Porto · Steep Index 8.9/10 · Steep Pick
A one-man roastery in Matosinhos where you smell the beans, pick the one you want, and the owner talks you through what happens next.
The Steep Index
The coffee is the reason for the score, and the man behind the counter is the reason for the coffee. He roasts for this shop and for others, sets the beans out to smell before you choose, then walks you through the brew while he makes it. He also works alone, so the wait is real and the room is small, which is what holds the other axes down.
- Coffee / Drink Quality: 9.6/10
- Atmosphere: 8.9/10
- Solo-Friendliness: 9.2/10
- Value: 8.5/10
- Staying Power: 8.3/10
- Overall: 8.9/10
Perfect for: espresso pilgrimage
The Space
A small room with sacks of green coffee stacked where another cafe would have put seating. It reads as a roastery that also serves you a cup, which is exactly what it is.
The Coffee
You are handed beans to smell and asked to choose before anything is brewed, then talked through what you picked while it happens. Single origin, roasted on the premises, and the same beans go out to other cafes in the area.
There is one person working here, and he roasted what you are about to drink.
The Vibe
One man doing all of it, which explains both the queue and the fact that he still has time to explain everything to you. Come without anywhere else to be.
The Verdict
Do not try to fit this into a spare twenty minutes. Go with an hour, let him choose if you cannot, and take the wait as part of what you came for.
Practical information
- Address: R. Mouzinho de Albuquerque 449, 4450-206 Matosinhos, Portugal
- Price: €€
- Type: roastery
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