A guy in Lisbon told me 1 in 3 coffee shops fail in year one, but the one I go to has been open 40 years
He owns a tiny spot near Alfama and says the difference is regulars, not great coffee. Half the people I know say a coffee shop needs amazing beans to survive, the other half say it is all about the vibe and the same faces every morning. Which one actually keeps a place alive longer?