Barista Haval Aziz. Photo by Jen Russon.
By: Jen Russon
A new aroma wafts from a shopping center in the Waterway Shoppes at Heron Bay: fresh-roasted Colombian coffee.
The purveyor is Amor Perfecto, or “perfect love”, with the tag line “El café de los amantes”, is meant to assure coffee lovers that this is their brand.
The coffee shop is managed by Luis Acuna, who is Venezuelan, and a long-time resident of South Florida. Acuna confirmed that Amor Perfecto is the largest specialty coffee distributor in Colombia, and that the Coral Springs store, which opened in December, is the first in the company’s 21-year history to open in the United States.
Amor Perfecto offers up a wide range of desserts and bistro fare in the form of sandwiches. Their menu offers beer and wine, Italian style sodas, black, green and herbal teas.
Although the owners are Venezuelan (plenty of cheese-filled arepas to choose from), a European vibe fills the air, along with sounds of beans in a grinder. Customers are either noshing on one side of the establishment, or sipping from cups and chatting on the other side, which is filled with plush couches and nesting tables.
It appears the bill is paid after food and drink are enjoyed – so there is no rush. On your way in and out, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School eagle mascot is in plain sight.
“We opened about three weeks ago, and are so close to Douglas that we get a lot of students and parents,” said barista Haval Aziz.
He added that he hopes everyone who walks into Amor Perfecto feels a sense of love and community.
Aziz and a second barista working the counter confirmed that the coffee shop is working on hosting events that people living in the area, particularly music lovers, will enjoy.
Piano music that is.
A bank of poinsettias matching the coffee shop’s marble floors surrounds a shiny Baldwin piano in the dining area. Across from it, customers chat with friends or sit sipping from small white cups, lost in their laptops.
You can opt to chill or stop in quickly here.
Aziz said that the coffee shop will soon introduce a mobile app that customers can use to not only pre-order, but custom create their cups of joe with whatever unique specifications they feel like.
“If you don’t want to wait around, the app is great for remembering. For example, that this person likes his or her coffee this way, and it’ll be ready for them when they get here,” said Aziz.
He also mentioned that parents with kids in Parkland schools will appreciate coming into Amor Perfecto after the morning drop-off. They are open until 7 p.m., so it’s a great place for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Some of the coffees are espresso roast and meant to pack a punch. Many of the blends in one pound bags bear the mark of gold and silver medals. In 2017, Amor Perfecto picked up awards in the international roasted coffee competition in Paris.
Amor Perfecto
Waterway Shoppes at Heron Bay
6240 Coral Ridge Drive, Suite 115
Coral Springs, FL
Hours
8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday
8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends
Extended hours on Friday nights until 10 pm.
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