Taste Rubi: What I found at the cafe that was rated by European Coffee Trip

There are places you discover by accident. At first it may seem like an ordinary coffee shop, a quick stop during a busy day, but then there comes a moment when you smell a scent or taste a taste that makes you think: "Why didn't I discover this sooner?"

This has been my relationship with Taste Rubi . A relationship that began unexpectedly, as I was walking home one day near the Paris Commune, and then turned into a kind of personal ritual. At the time, I thought I knew coffee, only because my body couldn't function without caffeine, but it was an addiction, not a recognition. Only later, hearing the story of Taste Rubi, did I realize that there are people who approach coffee with the dedication of true artisans: calm, humble and in love with their craft.

As they were telling me about the beginnings of Taste Rubi one day, I remembered the episode that best explains their philosophy: a trip to northern Thailand in 2018, to a small cafe that had an almost ceremonial silence. There, an idea was sparked that would soon take shape in Tirana. I like this detail of the story, because it shows that the most beautiful things are often born in silence, quite unexpectedly, away from the noise, by people who think differently from the crowd.

Through them I learned that specialty coffee is not a technical term, but a long process of love and respect. The more I listened to their stories, the more I understood that each coffee bean carries a world of its own: a climate, a land, a person who has grown it with patience. In my eyes, good coffee is that which respects its origin: a cup where the terroir is felt, where the flavor is not masked by heavy roasting, but is allowed to show its pure nature.

When I learned that European Coffee Trip , the most important European platform that evaluates specialty coffee shops in every city on the continent, had voted Taste Rubi the best specialty coffee shop in Albania, I reacted like many loyal customers: with that joy that comes when someone who truly deserves it is rewarded. It was proof that every little detail, every carefully prepared cup, had built a bridge that crossed the border and was appreciated beyond.

Another aspect that makes Taste Rubi unique is the way they select their ingredients. It’s not just about coffee; it’s a collection of experiences from all over the world, brought together in a small space in Tirana. Matcha from Japan, refined and delicate; chocolate from Vietnam, with the aromas of a distant land; and coffee from different regions, each with its own authentic story. Isn’t it amazing how intimate the experience becomes when someone has thought so deeply about you?

That’s why the opening of the second location, Rubi 2.0, excited me. A small place that feels like it’s waiting for you. On Wilson Square, amidst the fast pace of the city, this space has a different energy: it invites you to sit down, to take time for yourself, to not obey the rush. I think that’s why the new location doesn’t feel like a “branch,” but like a new chapter in a story that knows how to move at its own pace.

I've seen many places open and close, concepts that seem modern for a moment and then disappear. But Taste Rubi reminds me that beautiful things are built with heart and don't compete with anyone. They don't come immediately - they come with patience, dedication, and a lot of love.

Taste Rubi is a place that has taught me to stop for a few seconds, to see, to try, to reflect. A place that is not mine, but that has made me feel like I am part of its history. And now that I see this story growing, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to tell it through this article, for those who may not have discovered it yet.

Because this story, I'm sure, has only just begun to be written.