Fundati specialty coffee opens in Lime Rock
By NICOLE DOTZENROD, Valley Breeze
LINCOLN – Now brewing in Lincoln, Fundati has opened to the public, serving specialty coffees and other treats, at 1525 Old Louisquisset Pike.
Owner Alicia DeCastro said her mission is to create a place of community, offering “an interactive experience from the time guests walk into the shop to when they get their coffee.”
The name “Fundati” comes from the Latin meaning “to be grounded, or stable.” More than a play on ground coffee beans, DeCastro said the name serves as a reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment, to stop and smell the coffee.
“We want it to be more of a coffee experience, nourishing your mind, body and soul,” said DeCastro.
The shop uses a pour-over brewing method, taking what DeCastro described as the classic homebrewing hand-drip style brought down to the individual cup.
“We weigh out the beans for each cup on the scale, and while we’re brewing the coffee, we’re actually timing the intervals between each pour-over on the beans, so we have complete control over the process,” DeCastro said.
The process may take a few minutes longer than a drive-through coffee shop, but by using this method, DeCastro said, “all of those little flavor notes come through, and any bitter taste is wiped away.”
In addition to hot and cold brew coffee, teas and espresso drinks, Fundati also offers a variety of natural flavor syrups made in house, breakfast pastries and salads for lunch, with rotating menu items.
While the shop can't currently offer inside seating during the statewide pause on business, DeCastro said, “Even if you’re just grabbing your coffee to go, if you order a pour-over or espresso and you’re waiting three or four minutes, sometimes that’s all the time you need to get a reset going.”
The 24-year-old from North Providence began her post-college career in the corporate finance world two years ago before following a different path, pursuing her interests in holistic health, nutrition and yoga.
With Fundati, DeCastro said each of her passions have come together.
“I always had a vision of wanting to build a place of community,” she said. “We’re open and ready to serve. We really hope that this is the beginning of something great, not just for the shop, but for the community."
