Retrogusto Coffeemates

Martina and Paula opened Retrogusto Coffeemates in May 2015 after losing their jobs to Spain's financial crisis a few years earlier, turning the setback into a takeaway counter tucked inside Valencia's Mercado Central. Before opening, they trained across London, Barcelona, and Berlin, learning from figures like two time national Latte Art Champion Miguel Lamora and chasing every cup they could find at the London Coffee Festival. Paula, who also works in theatre, left Retrogusto in 2019 to follow her own path, and Martina has run the counter solo since.

Right Side Coffee and Nomad Coffee anchor two separate espresso profiles so customers can pick whichever suits them, with select coffees also poured as filter at the bar. A rotating lineup of rare and exceptional coffees, kept off the printed menu and poured as espresso only for those who ask, sits alongside a retail wall of beans spanning a range of origins, profiles, and roast styles. Cold drip and iced coffee tonic keep regulars cool through Valencia's hot summers.