As Portland’s winter gloom lingers, stepping into La Floridita on Southwest Watson Avenue feels like a trip to the tropics. The bright coffee shop transports visitors straight to Miami — a feeling that co-owners Ana Ocampo and Jesus Licciardello have intentionally cultivated since they opened in September 2023.
La Floridita, named after an affectionate nickname for Florida, “brings people back to their country,” Licciardello said. “We’ve gotten that comment so many times, ‘I feel at home, I feel like I’m back in Puerto Rico or Cuba.’”
Every detail of the shop has been curated to preserve this sensation. The two-toned pink tiling, painted arches, greenery and bookshelves are an ode to the colorful Florida city. Reggaeton and salsa music complete the atmosphere.
The counter at La Floridita was hand-tiled by owners Ana Ocampo and Jesus Licciardello.Chiara Profenna
But the cherry on top is the Cuban, Venezuelan and Colombian menu showcasing the owners’ heritage and Miami roots. Alongside specialty Colombian and Cuban espresso drinks, the highlight is the variety of pastelitos — Cuban pastries with sweet or savory fillings.
“I think once you put something in a puff pastry, people are more open to it,” Ocampo said. “It’s a perfect vehicle to bring a lot of different flavors that are not known here.”
Baked inside that puff pastry are rotating flavors: arroz con pollo (chicken and rice), nutella, guava and cheese, marionberry, veggie, pizza pastelitos and more. Other popular baked goods include ham croquetas, papas rellenas (fried stuffed potatoes) and flan.
Pastelitos and papa rellenos at La Floridita.Chiara Profenna
The creative minds behind the impressive menu: Licciardello’s parents, who moved from Miami to help run the business.
“It’s a family affair,” Ocampo said. “His parents did have a business before, so we felt like, if we’re gonna run with this, it would be great to have them on board.”
While Ocampo and Licciardello don’t say yes to every one of the senior Licciardellos’ creations, some of La Floridita’s most popular items — like the papas rellenas — came from their experiments.
“The biggest part of our success right now has been the fact that we’re a family business,” Licciardello said. Every aspect of the shop, from the tiling and woodwork to the bakery items, is operated by the couple and Licciardello’s parents.
“We want to keep it small batch — quality over quantity,” Ocampo said. While customers have asked for extended hours and a bigger menu, she and Licciardello are focused on growing at their own pace. For now, they’re prioritizing craftsmanship, though they have big plans for the future.
Ana Ocampo and Jesus Licciardello, co-owners of La Floridita, are bringing Miami sunshine to Beaverton.Chiara Profenna
As La Floridita continues to thrive in Beaverton, Ocampo and Licciardello are already looking ahead. Their next venture, La Flo, will bring a new dimension to the space — a nighttime bar serving beer, wine, tapas and empanadas. The venture has no opening date, but the couple hope to make it happen as soon as possible.
It’s something that downtown Beaverton is missing, Licciardello said. Beyond that, they’re even thinking about expanding to Portland.
“Maybe down the road, we do want to start kind of having a presence over there,” Ocampo said. But for now they’re happy in the suburb representing Latin coffee in Oregon’s vast coffee culture.
The takeaway: The perfect warm and inviting shop for a coffee and snack break when you need a respite from gloomy days.
Sample menu: Guava and cheese pastelito ($4), beef or chicken papa rellena ($5) and ham or spinach croquetas ($2.50).
Drinks: Specialty drinks include cafecito, espresso with sugar crema ($3 for 4 ounces); cafe con leche, espresso with steamed milk and sugar ($5 for 12 ounces); cafe bombón, espresso with condensed milk ($4.50 for 8 ounces); and guava, passionfruit or soursop juice ($4.50 for 16 ounces).
Details: Counter service with comfortable seating, takeaway and catering options. Open 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; 4680 S.W. Watson Ave., Suite B, Beaverton; lafloriditapdx.com
Lea este artículo en español: Esta cafetería y panadería latina trae el sol de Miami al corazón de Beaverton
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— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; cprofenna@oregonian.com or @chiaraprofenna.
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