Are you familiar with Toma Cafe? It’s a craft coffee shop that has made quite the buzz with locals and expats alike, and has been featured in Naked Madrid more than once for its quality coffee and hip vibes. But Santiago, the owner of Toma Cafe, has a new venture in Toma’s very own tostador. The coffee shop has partnered up with local DJs to bring you Proper Sound Cafe.
Proper Sound Cafe (also considered Toma Cafe 3) is quite new, opening its doors in July, though the idea—if the Instagram is an indication—was conceived pre-Covid days. Open only a few days a week as of now (get there Thursday-Saturday from 20-24), the tostador is small and intimate.
Wooden benches line the sides with extra stools in place for seating. In the back you can see the high-quality espresso machine used for making their infamous lattes, and of course the machines used to make their own beans. Then, there’s the DJ booth, framed by rows of vinyls and bottles of their wine selection.
“I wanted to bring people together with good coffee, good wine, good cheeses, good music,” Santiago said when asked about the conception of Proper Sound Cafe as he sipped from a glass of tinto.
And he’s not wrong. Besides being able to enjoy live music again (a missed form of communion amid the pandemic), this is complemented by their menu of artisanal beer and natural wines.
Natural wines are a traditional way of making wine, fermented, and with less additives. Having gone a few times now, I’ve tried all 3 of their offerings: white, red, and orange. And all three have surprised me with their depth of flavor and range. The waiters (or are they still considered baristas?) are knowledgeable about their wine menu. Just tell them if you want something suave or fuerte or what flavors you enjoy, and they’ll point you in the right direction. It led me to one of my favorites, Gilda from the Tiago Teles winery in Lisbon, Portugal, that was a mix of three types of grapes. Don’t forget to try their cheese board or their fresh hummus served with crackers.
As for the music, Santiago goes with local DJs, some of them even close friends. The music ranges from classics to trip-hop to jazz (classic and future), and everything in between. The night that I went, @Giiansta was playing. I sipped on my Gilda with my friend enjoying her wine choice as D’Angelo’s ‘Feel Like Makin’ Love’ and Billie Holiday’s ‘You Go to My Head’ echoed from the overhead speakers.
The discotecas may be closed, but here at Proper Sound Cafe, I caught sight of a few people dancing when the music shifted towards disco and hip hop, with Beyonce’s ‘Drunk in Love’ playing among the mix.
I spoke with Daniel, one of the baristas at Toma Cafe, on one of my first visits here, and asked him what their plans were. They hoped to expand towards daytime hours (which it seems they may be starting according to their Instagram), which is a great idea. I can only see this venue becoming more popular as time goes by and the cafe itself is quite intimate.
Check out their Instagram where they post updates on type of music to expect for the upcoming weekend, the names of the DJs, and any change in hours.
Proper Sound Cafe:
- Instagram: @propersoundcafe
- Address: Calle de Raimundo Lulio, 16, 28010, Madrid
- Metro: Line 2 (Iglesias)
- Schedule: Thurs–Sat: 8pm–12am
By Jessica Ramos
Jessica is an LA-native freelance writer and teacher currently based in Madrid, Spain. When she’s not busy writing, she’s taking photos, watching horror films, and searching for rock bars around the city. Visit Jessica’s website and follow her on instagram: @artistandthecity
