Café ao Léu

Leonardo Goncalves started under the name Soul Barista before relaunching as Cafe ao Leu in 2017, building a reputation as a decorated Brazilian barista competitor and Rio's Barista of the Year who has represented the country at industry events in Milan, Greece and Seoul. At the end of 2020 he bought a 3,000 tree coffee estate in Serra do Caparao, Espirito Santo, giving him a direct path from farm to cup that few baristas get to walk.

The shop rotates more than fifteen single origin coffees pulled from regions including Chapada Diamantina and both southern and Cerrado Minas Gerais, alongside a house blend Goncalves developed to be deliberately less bitter and more chocolatey, meant to ease newcomers toward specialty coffee rather than intimidate them.