As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, a Colombian family bakery in North Philadelphia is celebrating its roots and sharing its culture with the community. When you enter Café Tinto on Wyoming Avenue, you are transported to a place full of vibrant colors, living plants and traditional Colombian music.
“Everything here has a purpose,” says Giselle Poveda, Café Tinto’s kitchen manager. “We want people to think and feel like they are walking through Cartagena, Colombia; it is the beach area of our country.”
The heart of Café Tinto’s cultural experience lies in the kitchen, where family recipes are passed down from generation to generation. The bakery’s empanadas, freshly baked bread and other treats are a source of pride for the Poveda, whose mother owns the business.
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“Our recipes were passed down from my grandfather – we are third-generation bakers,” Poveda said.
One of the bakery’s specialties is pandebono, a traditional Colombian cheese bread. It is made with white Colombian cheese, tapioca flour, eggs and other ingredients before being baked to perfection.
“We have it for breakfast, but also as an afternoon snack with coffee,” Poveda said.
The coffee served at Café Tinto is another point of pride for the company.
“It’s 100% Colombian, 100% organic… and I’m very proud that I’ve been able to build relationships with coffee growers back home,” Poveda said.
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The café’s authentic flavors have attracted a loyal following from the local community, including Eli Washington.
“They have the best coffee in town,” he said.
For Jorge Lopez, originally from Nicaragua, food brings him a sense of comfort and connection to his heritage.
“If we have something from a Spanish country – or Colombian – we can easily enjoy part of our family, part of our country,” he said.
Chef Daniela Garcia emphasized the cafe’s mission to make people feel at home.
“You come here and you make that one stop that reminds you of the coffee you drank at home — that fresh bread that just came out of the oven and was made with so much love,” Garcia said.
For Poveda, sharing the food and culture of her heritage with the North Philadelphia community is a source of pride.
“Food is an important part of our Spanish culture,” Poveda said. “Being able to share that with my community here in North Philadelphia makes me incredibly proud.”
