Three sisters are teaming up this summer to launch a brand-new coffee shop in Fort Lauderdale. Together, Alexandra Arguello, Talia Barreto, and Selena Silver are drawing on their Spanish heritage to create Porfa Coffee, an homage to their roots in Mallorca.
“I would describe us as being hyper-sentimental,” Selena Silver said in a conversation with Alexandra Arguello and What Now on Thursday. “It’s a love letter to our roots in Mallorca, Spain, where our family is from. Our central message is slowing down. This is a place to be together.”
Like many great ideas, Porfa (whose name is short for “por favor”) went through a gestation period before coming to life much more suddenly than expected.
“With all our love for coffee, and the feeling we have toward Spain,” Arguello said, “we were seeing a lot of coffee shops opening, but a lot of them are cold, dark boxes. Not much personality.”
The intention, Arguello said was to “dip our toes in the water,” running the brand as popup out of a Playa Bowls location Arguello owns. But just as the brand was ramping up for its popup debut, the brick-and-mortar space at 2302 E Oakland Park Blvd came available, bringing the whole story full circle.
“Over fifty years ago, our grandmother had a dress shop in that same space,” Arguello said. “Everything seemed to align perfectly.”
The space is open yet cozy, focusing on experiential dining. There’s also a hi-fi sound system for listening events and collaborations with local artists.
“You walk in and feel the influence of the Mediterranean and Spain. For us it was really important to marry the combination of a space to get work done, but also have it be warm and cozy enough for people there to catch up with friends.”
The menu will feature espresso drinks and Spanish-inspired pastries made in partnership with a local chef. There’s a Saffron Latte, and another latte based on the classic churro. On the food side, there will be baked goods like an Olive Oil with Orange Glaze Loaf and the Mallorcan classic pastry, the Ensaïmada. In the beginning, Porfa will get itself settled as a coffee shop, but there are future plans to reopen at night (after a siesta, of course), with tapas, wine, and beer.
You can keep up with the Porfa Coffee opening by following @porfacoffee on Instagram.
It sound like “an experience “ more than just a coffee shop! Can’t wait to try it!