After Living in Portugal for 2 Years, I Had to Decide…

Summary

The video follows the journey of two entrepreneurs who moved to Portugal and opened a café. They discuss how the café came to life through a unique collaboration with a local hotel, offering a community-centered space with artisanal goods and locally roasted coffee. The owners share their personal transformation through living abroad, emphasizing how it has made them more open-minded and empathetic. The café quickly became a local favorite, with the owners building strong relationships with regular customers. Their journey from initially doubting their dream to successfully owning the café highlights the power of persistence and community.

Takeaways

• 😀 The café in Villa Deon was opened after the owners found a collaborative opportunity with the hotel above their space, which shares their community-focused mindset.
• 😀 The owners were given full freedom to renovate the café and its garden, transforming the space into a welcoming place for locals and visitors.
• 😀 The café combines a coffee roastery, a café, and an artisan market, where local artisans display their work, such as leather goods, pottery, and woodworking.
• 😀 The café's unique appeal lies in its high-quality coffee, roasted on-site, and the focus on building personal relationships with customers rather than just serving them.
• 😀 The owners worked with a Ukrainian woman who started baking for the café after relocating to Portugal, creating a consignment partnership for desserts and baked goods.
• 😀 Angela, the owner's wife, is in charge of much of the café's baking, while the owner uses his background to maintain quality control.
• 😀 Despite initial warnings that it would take a year to gain traction, the café received positive feedback and built a loyal local customer base quickly.
• 😀 The café's success has led to strong community connections, with customers becoming regulars and even forming friendships with the owners.
• 😀 Living abroad has transformed the owners' perspectives, making them more accepting of cultural differences and improving their approach to parenting and relationships.
• 😀 The owners initially thought owning a café in Portugal would be out of reach, but after two and a half years, they achieved this dream, feeling it is a huge victory.
• 😀 The café has become an integral part of the community, offering a space for both relaxation and social connection, reflecting the owners' belief in the power of community-building.

Q & A

Why did you choose to open a cafe in Portugal, and what was your initial vision?

The couple initially came to Portugal to explore the possibility of living abroad, and after some time, they saw an opportunity to open a cafe. Their vision was to create a space where they could collaborate with the local community and offer high-quality coffee, something that was not easily found in their town. They were drawn to the idea of bringing something new to Vila Deon.

What role does the collaboration with the hotel above the cafe play in your business?

The hotel owners were very supportive and shared the same collaborative mindset as the couple. They gave the couple complete freedom to renovate the space, including the garden. This partnership helped establish the cafe's location, and the hotel also runs a co-working space, making it an ideal fit for the couple's business.

Can you explain the partnership you have with the Ukrainian woman for baked goods?

The couple works with a woman from Ukraine who started baking at home after her family arrived in Portugal following the invasion. She bakes a variety of desserts for the cafe, and they have a consignment arrangement where she gets a display case in the cafe to showcase and sell her baked goods. This collaboration supports both the cafe and the local community.

How do you balance your roles in the cafe, particularly in terms of food preparation?

The couple divides their roles in a way that plays to their strengths. Kevin focuses on roasting coffee, while Angela handles the baking side of the business. The owner, who has some background in baking, oversees quality control and ensures that the desserts meet their desired standards. The food offerings are a mix of the owner’s culinary ideas and Angela’s baking expertise.

What makes the cafe’s artisan market unique, and how does it benefit local artisans?

The cafe features an artisan market that showcases products from local artisans, such as leather goods, woodworking, and pottery. Many of these artisans are from Porto or farther south, so the cafe provides them with additional exposure and a new location to sell their work, helping to foster a greater sense of community.

How did the local community respond to the opening of the cafe, and what role does the cafe play in the community?

The local community responded very positively to the cafe, which was surprising given that the couple had been warned it might take a year to gain traction. The cafe offers high-quality coffee, which was not readily available in Vila Deon, and has developed strong relationships with regular customers, creating a sense of friendship and community. The cafe is not just a place to relax but also a place to connect with others.

Can you describe one memorable interaction with a regular customer?

One memorable interaction was with a regular customer who visited the cafe 22 times in the first 21 days after it opened. He even messaged the owners when he missed two days in a row, explaining that he had gone on vacation. This strong rapport with customers is something the couple cherishes as it underscores the sense of community they’ve built.

How does living abroad impact your personal growth, particularly in terms of your relationship with your family?

Living abroad has made the owner more accepting and understanding of cultural differences. It has helped him become a better parent, as he now approaches his son’s behavior with more patience and curiosity, rather than frustration. He’s learned to ask questions and seek to understand what’s behind actions, rather than reacting impulsively.

What was the emotional journey of starting the cafe, from initial doubts to success?

The couple initially doubted they would be able to open a cafe in Portugal due to the challenges they faced, but after two and a half years, their dream became a reality. They feel a mix of excitement and nervousness, but overall, they are optimistic about the future and believe that their business will last for a long time.

In what ways has living abroad transformed your perspective on different cultures?

Living abroad has helped the couple break down stereotypes and become more open-minded. They’ve learned to accept that other cultures operate differently, and they’ve had to let go of some preconceived ideas in order to adapt. This openness has also made them more empathetic, especially when dealing with cultural misunderstandings or situations that might otherwise seem rude but are innocent in context.