What started out as a day getting on the road heading to Chuy Arts in Sarteneja, Belize, found our car broken down at Brain & Brü Cafe, fatefully. We arrived Wednesday not realizing they opened at 2 pm on that day (new hours) and it was only 12:30 pm. As we tried to open what appeared to be an unlocked gate a woman approached from inside the home the cafe is connected to, letting us know their hours changed and they weren't opened at that point. So as the car resisted starting and we were clearly not leaving Corozal without repairs, we returned to the gated entrance to ask for help with jumping our car. The woman pleasantly replied that her husband could come out and help. What a huge relief!
A cheerful Rafael Dominguez exits the house looking ready with jumper cables. He apologized for not being open, but this angel did everything he could to help us test the car battery - which was a rental from 3.5 hours away in San Ignacio. When he realized the battery was dead he removed his own car battery and installed into our rental jeep to test it. He then rode with us to Paso's Battery Service in the neighborhood - his neighbor. Which we slumped to see it was closed at first only for the owner to emerge from his home to open the business up for us. The owner, Paso watched him grow up from since he "was in diapers." So what could have been a truly terrible day was remedied easily from the kindness of a stranger - as if the real reason we were there was to meet Rafael.
By the time the car battery was replaced and the car was back in running condition again, the cafe was open and Chantelly, Rafael's wife, had just finished making a fresh flan. They lovingly roast and brew their coffee 2 blocks from Corozal Community College. What started out as a little house coffee spot on the corner with chairs on the street a year ago has blossomed into a full fledged artfully run cafe that can stand toe-to-toe with any barista centered cafe anywhere! The Tiramisu Iced coffee and Vienna iced latte, tops any coffee experiences to date- and that's coming from a former coffee roaster and barista in NYC. Delectable flavors and exemplary creaminess are core to the coffee experience at Brain & Brü. The airiest foam crests the top of their tiramisu with a cream cheese flavor perfectly sweetened so no need to add sugar. All the artful flourishes atop the foam usually present only add the an already optimal coffee experience. It was so good we returned for a, iced caramel macchiato and Greek iced coffee the next day.
What really makes the experience are the owners and staff. Rafael runs the cafe with his wife Chantelly along with his crew of roasters and baristas Ronny and Kevin. Rafael and Chantelly have a sweet back story of growing up together in Corozal becoming friends in high school and then in the marching band as well. From friends they eventually married and had their 1st son while Rafael commuted to work on Caye Caulker for 5 years, but felt he was missing out on raising his son in Corozal. Now with their daughter he feels his doesn't miss out on her growing up since they now run this cafe from their home.
Chantelly make the antojitos "little cravings" along with the fresh flan while they're able to raise their son (7) and daughter (2) at their home based business. Their 5-year-old little cousin also spends time there when not in pre-school - a truly lovely family run business. Ronny beamed with pride over how they take care with roasting the coffee and letting the flavor set in for a week before freshly grinding it to brew. Kevin lets us know how much the community supports the cafe. They lovingly put some of the profits back into supporting those in need in the community. It is an at-home kind of community space you can spend hours there just talking- no laptops- like cafes used to be!
The other attraction: there are the most delicious breezes circulating through this sweet space with tropical vegetation even when the corner just outside is scorching hot! The decor is really welcoming and comfortable. It centers a coffee bar they invite visitors to write their name on it surrounded by twined hearts and basket light fixtures. Brain & Brü Cafe is a unique extraordinary coffee experience definitely worth returning to Corozal for - even with the 3.5 hour trip from Cayo District.
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