Cuban Style ‘Colada Shops’ Set to Open This Summer

Paying homage to the Caribbean way of coffee, food, cocktails and social lifestyle, DC’s new Colada Shop will be a casual café and eatery where guests come for the quality and stay for the company.   Named after the iconic Cuban-style coffee, Colada Shop is a concept that blends together the contemporary lifestyle of Washingtonians with the Cuban tradition of starting and ending the day.

Juan Coronado, a renowned forerunner in the beverage industry who has worked with distinguished brands such as Bacardi and conceptualized the beverage programs for chef Jose Andres’ ThinkFoodGroup, is one of the masterminds of this unique concept. His passion and artistry for coffee, spirits and food will be unveiled as Colada Shop takes guest on an imaginative journey of old-style Cuba via classic beverages, cocktails and small bites.

Emphasizing the unique aromas, rich flavors and audacious colors, the menu will feature strong coffee, traditional savory snacks, and distinctive cocktails, all prepared with precision. From the classic Cuban sandwich that has captured America’s heart, to reinterpreted comfort bites like the guava pastelito and croqueta. Dishes will highlight Cuba’s heritage, colorful ambiance and lively culture.

“Cuba is an amazing country incredibly rich in history, culture and traditions,” said Coronado. “We wanted to bring a taste of this country – which has been visually frozen in time – to our city and get people excited about this particular lifestyle in a way they haven’t experienced it before.”

Colada Shop takes its name from one of Cuba’s quintessential coffees, the Colada, which is 4oz of Cuban- style espresso traditionally served in a Styrofoam cup along with small, plastic demitasses. Its takeaway form is meant to be shared. Sharing a colada remains a prominent social and cultural activity and is customary of workplace breaks in Cuban communities.

The first locations of Colada Shop will be located at 1405 T St NW Washington, DC and at 21430 Epicerie Plaza, Loudoun County, VA. They are both scheduled to open in the summer of 2016.