Roasted
BEAN THERE AND GOING BACK The Portuguese are big coffee drinkers and there are bars and cafés on every street ready to serve up that bica or galao on demand. So why would a newcomer to the Algarve decide to open a specialty coffee shop… and right next to Loulé’s municipal market?
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ou would think that a professional barista from Holland would opt for a spot within the golden triangle and look to attract ex-pat clients, but no, Ilona van Meegen decided the bustling town of Loulé was ready for something different. And different her coffee shop certainly is. Bean17, at the side of the market, sandwiched between local butchers, fruiterers, and piri piri sauce sellers, is something of a surprise. “When I did my research, I found that no-one here sells fresh roasted coffee of the highest quality. What you can get is a very dark, almost bitter coffee that often tastes burned or ashy; the coffee beans themselves are not special – they are what chains like Delta, Costa and Starbucks use.” A barista who takes huge pride in her work and the product she delivers, Iona explains that it is not just down to the quality of the beans, it is also the way they are treated. “Different beans, including green varieties, allow the professional artisan to modify flavours and to play with end results, giving the expresso, cappuccino, and latte macchiato their own distinct personality and turning
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