Brothers Khalid (25) and Soufyan Haddouthi (21), and their cousin Oussama Adbib (24), run the specialty coffee shop Lola’s Factory on the Passeig de Manresa. Their philosophy goes beyond serving high-quality coffee: they aim to create a meeting space and foster connections among customers. They took over the premises exactly one year ago.

Although none of the three had prior experience in hospitality, they took over the transfer in December 2024. The initial challenge, according to Khalid, was maintaining the quality of the already running business. Over time, they learned the trade, ensuring that “the trick is to be enthusiastic and make sure the last cup of the day comes out like the first,” notes Oussama.

The entrepreneurs, children of a family originally from Nador (Morocco) but born in Manresa, recall that initially some customers addressed them in Spanish. “Because of our appearance, with Moroccan features, they were surprised that we spoke to them in Catalan,” they explain. However, they have managed to build a loyal clientele they consider part of a “family.”

Their star product is specialty coffee, a certification that guarantees traceability and maximum care throughout the process. Nevertheless, they insist that the added value is the social space, differentiating themselves from many coffee shops in Barcelona that only serve drinks to go. They are aware of the difficulties of the initial investment and ask for more facilities for new entrepreneurs.