A new independent coffee shop born from a husband-and-wife dream has opened its doors in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Diocle Coffee has welcomed its first customers on the town’s High Street after owner Andrei Turcan and his wife Crina turned years of conversations about opening their own café into a reality.
The couple say their love of speciality coffee and freshly baked pastries inspired the venture, which aims to bring a taste of Mediterranean café culture to Staffordshire.
Andrei said: “We are absolutely thrilled to bring something fresh to Newcastle. The energy and support from the local community so far have been incredible.
“This journey truly began with our shared passion for speciality coffee and fresh pastries like croissants. For a long time, every single date or outing with my wife would end with the exact same conversation, that we need to open our own coffee shop. It was a shared dream that we just couldn’t shake off.”
Rather than leaving the idea on the drawing board, the couple began searching for a suitable location and soon found a premises on Newcastle High Street previously occupied by Chatwins the bakery.
They have since invested significant time and resources transforming the space into a minimalist café serving speciality coffee alongside authentic Italian-style focaccia sandwiches and pastries.
Andrei, who used to work in a mechanical garage, said: “We didn’t let the idea sit on a shelf for long. We decided to act immediately.
“We managed to find this gorgeous location right in the heart of Newcastle and poured our hearts into turning our passion for speciality coffee and authentic Italian-style focaccia sandwiches into a real business.
“We wanted to create a cosy, minimalist atmosphere where people can truly unwind.
“The entire space captures the warm, effortless charm of Mediterranean café culture, offering every visitor a beautiful sensory escape and a taste of the continental lifestyle right here in Newcastle town.
“Opening this coffee shop in Newcastle is a dream come true for us.”
