Latin Quarter Coffee, a Goa-based brand launched in 2019, emphasizes local roasting to ensure freshness for cafés and customers. Founded by Carlos Noronha, it stems from his family's Caravela Café started in 2015. The company supplies five varieties of coffee, roasted in small batches daily.
In 2015, Carlos Noronha, along with his father and brother, opened Caravela Café in Panaji, Goa. The venture began simply, offering coffee, breakfast items like sandwiches, and later expanding to pastas, pizzas, and burgers based on customer feedback. Today, the café operates outlets in Panaji, Candolim, Margao, and Varca, with coffee and breakfast remaining central to its identity.
While managing the café, Noronha identified a challenge in Goa's coffee market. "Most cafés in Goa were getting roasted coffee from other states," he explained. "Even we were doing the same initially. But there was always a delay between placing the order and receiving it. By the time the coffee reached Goa, the freshness and flavour had already dropped."
This insight prompted the creation of Latin Quarter Coffee in 2019, aimed at roasting beans locally for quicker delivery. The brand offers five coffee types: three single-origin Arabica varieties, one blend, and one Robusta. Roasting profiles vary—light for delicate notes, medium for balance, and darker for stronger flavors—conducted in small batches to maintain quality.
"When you roast in smaller batches, you can control the process better," Noronha noted. "Even a few seconds can change the flavour profile of the coffee, so we keep a close eye on it." Beans are sourced from a farmer in Coorg, graded AAA, AA, or single A, and roasted the same day as orders to preserve freshness, with supplies rarely exceeding ten days old.
Noronha personally handles sourcing, roasting, and packing, as the skill requires extensive training. The blend features notes of dark chocolate and mild fruity tones, though recognizing such flavors develops with practice. "Your palate develops with time," he said. Retail packs of 250 grams are sold at cafés and online via Amazon, while cafés order one-kilogram bags.
"I always say coffee is a hug in a mug," Noronha added, highlighting the brand's focus on experience. As Goa's café scene grows, Latin Quarter Coffee seeks to expand its fresh, local supply network.