Husband and wife team Robert and Jackie Rosario, along with business partner Peter Camilo, had 20/20 vision when they opened , a café-style coffee shop on Bedford Avenue. Since the restaurant's debut in August of 2008, it has seen a steady stream of customers who have made the urban-chic hangout their second home.
Colador is the Spanish word for "colander." It is also the word used in the Dominican Republic to describe an old-fashioned type of coffee strainer. Robert would love to use a colador to make all of his coffee, he said, if could produce the volume of coffee needed to keep his customer base fueled. Instead, he relies on an industrial Italian espresso machines to do the job.
A visit to Colador is like teleporting abroad, complete with Brooklyn "recorditos" (reminders) on the walls and hip hop and world beat music pumping through the speakers. Jackie Rosario is responsible for Colador's colorful and provocative interior design—definitely a talking point for first-time customers: It is what would result if Frida Kahlo were born and raised in Brooklyn during the time of the Beastie Boys and the Notorious B.I.G.
Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.
A steady stream of customers frequent Colador for free WiFi, creamy Lattes, Paninis and 11 different types of salads. They also serve wine and beer. This is coffee house fusion at its best.
Future plans for Colador include jazz and comedy Wednesday nights, featuring some of Bed-Stuy's local talent. Expect crowds soon to this little gem, and hopefully it will not change the atmosphere. Either way, patrons will have an option: The trio is preparing now to open another Colador in Williamsburg in mid-December.
