Rio Coffee Guide - Café ao Léu
- Daniel Hobbs
- Nov 1
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Rio’s specialty coffee scene is small and easily overlooked, but beneath the surface are a few key figures who have shaped its quiet evolution. Among them, Leonardo “Léu” Gonçalves, founder of Café ao Léu, stands out for his consistency and excellence.
Long before opening his compact café in Copacabana in 2019, Leonardo had been part of the city’s independent food movement. He was a regular at Junta Local since 2013 — the community market where local producers and artisans gather monthly. There, he served small-batch filter coffee from a simple stand, introducing many Cariocas to quality Brazilian coffee long before “specialty” became a trend. Those early years of hands-on service at the market helped him develop his craft, his palate, and a reputation for authenticity.
From dance to roasting
Leonardo's path to coffee was far from typical. Before ever pulling an espresso, he taught gafieira while studying hard for a career in public service, fuelled by a growing obsession with better and better coffee.
What began as a way to stay awake soon became a vocation. After a few years working behind the bar, representing local roasteries, taking roasting and sensory courses, visiting farms, and connecting with much of Rio’s coffee community, he eventually began roasting his own beans in Santa Teresa.
Early on, he experimented with highly exotic beans and processing styles, but eventually refined his approach toward the kind of coffee that balances richness, sweetness, and accessibility — a cup that’s full-bodied and chocolate-toned, designed to appeal to both enthusiasts and everyday drinkers. That mix of technical precision and sensitivity to his audience would become the signature of business: Brazilian coffees that are clean, balanced, and familiar without losing complexity.
A strategic spot in Copacabana
The café itself is located just off Avenida Atlântica, next to the former Selina Hotel, now rebranded as Socialtel. Anyone who has ever visited Rio knows that the majority of the coffee here is bad — so with its proximity to a world-class beach the cafe has become a natural stop for anyone staying, walking or working in the area.
The shop is compact and takeaway-focused — a steady flow of locals and travelers move in and out throughout the day. Revista Espresso described it as a small, inviting space ideal for a quick coffee rather than a long stay. It’s an efficient, minimalist café built for quality and speed.
The coffee and people
Today, Leonardo's team handles the daily operation with the same precision and care that built his reputation. Visitors consistently praise the café for its excellent coffee — often cited among the best in Rio — with smooth, full-bodied Brazilian profiles that reflect the roasting style Leonardo's developed over years of experimentation. The shop is also known for its thoughtful range of plant-based milks and vegan bakery items, giving it broad appeal among travelers and locals alike. Despite its minimal seating, the atmosphere is welcoming, with a calm, good-vibe energy that suits its beachside neighborhood. Many reviewers note that the quality-to-price balance is exceptional, making the coffee shop one of the few spots in the area where specialty coffee feels both accessible and refined.
Leonardo sources traceable lots from small producers in regions like Caparaó and Matas de
Minas, highlighting the farmer’s name on each bag. He maintains close relationships with growers and regularly features beans from more than a dozen producers, reflecting his belief that great coffee begins with enduring partnerships rather than one-off purchases. His philosophy emphasizes loyalty to farmers through good and difficult harvests alike — sustaining long-term quality by supporting producers consistently.
The Menu
The menu is straightforward and focused on quality. It includes the main espresso styles, filter coffees like Hario V60, and a range of milk-based drinks such as cappuccino, flat white, and latte. There are options with plant-based milk and several signature drinks like mocha, dirty chai, and salted caramel. The iced menu mirrors the hot one, with espresso tônica, iced vanilla latte, and cold brew extracted for 18 hours. For those who don’t drink coffee, there are
matcha, chai, and homemade hot chocolate options. Overall, it’s a clean, modern menu built around well-prepared Brazilian coffee and a few creative specialties.
Recognition and philosophy
In 2022, Veja Rio awarded Leonardo Gonçalves with the title barista-of-the-year, noting his deliberate choice to keep the cafe small in scale to preserve focus and quality. That approach — balancing sustainability, personal connection, and direct roasting — has shaped his reputation as both craftsman and mentor within Rio’s growing coffee network.
The cafe embodies what makes Rio’s specialty coffee culture distinct: independence, integrity, and quiet excellence. It’s easy to miss at first glance — a modest storefront tucked near the ocean — but for those who find it, it represents the heart of the city’s evolving coffee identity.
For travelers exploring Rio through its cafés, Café ao Léu is an essential stop. It’s not a place built for spectacle or social media, but for great coffee. Whenever we run out of our own coffee at Aussie Coffee, we duck down to buy a few kilos from Leonardo and his team. Coffee Subscription Clubs
Leonardo's coffee lineup highlights regional variety and careful curation. Each bag
features a single origin or blend sourced from small producers across Caparaó, Matas de Minas, and Sul de Minas, with detailed notes on variety, process, and altitude.
Offerings include approachable classics like Melhor que Chocolate (sweet, chocolate, and dulce de leche notes) and Café da Paula (nutty and smooth), alongside fruit-forward selections such as Só Frutas (jabuticaba, grape, pineapple) and Café do Tiago (guaraná, apple, strawberry).
Every coffee is 100% Arabica, roasted to highlight the natural balance of sweetness, body, and acidity from each region.
Beyond the café
Leonardo has built a wider ecosystem around coffee culture. It offers branded merchandise like sticker packs and caps, a monthly subscription club delivering freshly roasted specialty coffee in three tiers (from 500 g to 2.25 kg), and a supply program for businesses seeking sustainably sourced beans with flexible pricing and weekly deliveries.
The brand also invests in education through hands-on workshops, including Espresso Perfeito and Vaporização e Latte Art, aimed at both professionals and enthusiasts who want to deepen their brewing skills.
Visit details
📍 Address: Rua Almirante Gonçalves 50 – Loja L, Copacabana
🕒 Hours: Mon to Fri 8am – 6pm | Sat/Sun/Holidays 9am – 4pm
💻 Website: cafeaoleu.com
☕ Methods: Espresso, Cold Brew & V60
📦 Roasted in: Santa Teresa
🏨 Next door to: Socialtel Rio (Copacabana)
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