New Bedford Café’s Portuguese Latte Featured in New York Times

This is a big win for New Bedford, the SouthCoast and Portuguese culture.

When the New York Times set out to explore the flavors of Portugal in New England, it landed in the heart of downtown New Bedford at Tia Maria’s European Café.

The feature, published September 30, 2025, highlighted the café’s now-famous iced pastel de nata latte, also known as the Nata Latte. The drink takes inspiration from Portugal’s beloved custard tarts, combining sweet espresso with the flavor of pastel de nata and crowning it with an actual tart perched on top of the cup.

READ MORE: Beloved Portuguese Dessert Is Now a Coffee Game-Changer

An Unexpected Honor

Owner Jessica Coelho-Arruda admitted she was caught off guard by the recognition.

“I am grateful for everything good that’s come my way,” she said. “We do our best daily and it’s nice to get recognition for what we do. Wouldn’t be possible without my incredible team.”

Coelho-Arruda explained how the feature came about:

“Christine [Chitnis, writer/photographer for the New York Times] called the café and asked to photograph our iced pastel de nata lattes without telling me for what – and I also didn’t ask questions. I said, sure, come on down. Fast forward two weeks, and my phone started to blow up that I was in the New York Times.”

READ MORE: Could Tia Maria's European Cafe Appear in Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum?

“I probably should start asking more questions," she said with a laugh. "Regardless, whether it’s some random Joe or the New York Times, I would have said yes.”

How the Connection Happened

The introduction came thanks to Chris and Nelly Saraiva of Brands of Portugal, who suggested Chitnis check out Tia Maria’s.

“They really are genuine, good people,” Coelho-Arruda said.

Tradition Meets Reinvention

For many in New Bedford’s large Portuguese community, Tia Maria’s represents a balance of honoring heritage while creating something new. According to Coelho-Arruda, the Times described the latte as a “playful reinvention” – one that shows Portuguese traditions are not just preserved, but reimagined for a new generation.

For Coelho-Arruda, that balance is intentional.

“My motto is to always let everything happen organically,” she said. “Thankfully, it’s almost always worked in my favor.”

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With this latest recognition, Tia Maria’s continues to be a cornerstone of downtown New Bedford, bringing Portuguese flavors to a national audience.