it took a while for me to finally get a hold of the guys at quentin, but it wasn’t because they were ignoring me, part-owner menachem honestly told me hates his phone, hates checking the messages, emails, whatever. and I don’t blame him. but I’m really glad he did get back to me and we were able to meet up.
I like quentin, it’s one of my favorite spots in roma. its on busy street alvaro obregon, and if you’re not paying attention, you can easily miss it. it’s nice and small, not overwhelming, and has cool vibes. its chill, and the style is really modern. the baristas are sweet too. I was really hoping to hear back because this would be a cool place to take people on my coffee walking tour.
Usually, I get this nervous, anxious feeling when meeting up with a coffee shop, like I’m some famous blogger that’s going in for an interview (I don’t actually think of myself like that at all tbh, like, AT ALL). I just get this sense of nervousness where just before i arrive, i want to bail and leave. but as always, it was a relaxed, easy conversation with menachem. he was recently gifted some beans from sightglass, so we enjoyed a cup while getting to know each other.
it wasn’t until about four years ago that coffee made a difference in his life. he was at a point where he was trying to figure out what to do, and after meeting up with a friend in chiapas, and visiting some coffee farms, that he decided that this was the route he wanted to go. and even then, he didn’t just dive in. he tells me that he had all the equipment and tools in his house to make coffee, until it donned on him, why not open a shop, and thats when he opened quentin.
quentin serves local mexican beans. they come from different spots around the country, with different varieties. occasionally, he’ll have a “guest” bean, like he does now with sightglass. for a while, they were roasting their beans right in the back of the shop, but because the restaurant next door needs that space now, they’re looking to relocate their roastery to condesa, also the home of their second location coming soon (shh, keep it on the downlow). man, I love that location in roma, not only because it’s so cool as I mentioned earlier, but because it’s just a ten minute walk from my house. can’t wait to check out what the new location has to offer. we talked about life in mexico, different coffee shops we like around the world, and traveling plans (i’m glad i caught him when i did because next week he’s taking his two kids to machu pichu, i was super jealous). we enjoyed another pour over, this time a bean they use in the shop, from chiapas. i’m not usually a fan of tart coffee’s, but this one was quite nice. by the end, he gave me a long list of places to check out in roma and juarez, and i was on my way. all that nervousness i felt before, went right out the door, and i look forward to going back soon.
if you’re in the city for a couple days, i suggest heading in that direction, there are a few cool restaurants and bars close by, an el moro for a churro fix, and of course, a dope coffee waiting for you.
The Coffee Guy 