Porto · Miragaia

SO Coffee Roasters Restauração

The wooden slat wall at SO Coffee Roasters on Rua da Restauração, framed espresso and filter menus above a stainless steel counter with a pastry case and a drinks fridge beside a potted palm

SO Coffee Roasters began in Porto in 2019 with three friends, Lisa, Pedro and João, and the name stands for Sudoeste, southwest, a nod to Portugal's place in Europe and to Porto, the harbor. The Rua da Restauração address is the team's roastery and café, a tall, light filled room where honey toned wooden slats climb the walls, a stainless steel counter holds a pastry case, and framed menus list espresso drinks alongside a full filter section.

The coffee is fairly sourced and roasted in Porto, and the team travels to meet producers in places like Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia and Brazil. The baristas include a national Barista champion and a national Brewers Cup champion, so pour overs and espresso drinks are handled by competition level hands, and the café is set up for settling in with a laptop, with beans for sale and workshops for anyone who wants to learn more.