An independent coffee house claiming to be the oldest roaster in Wales has officially closed down, after the premises was vacant for more than three months.
Costa Rica Coffee Co, in Pontcanna Street, Riverside, closed late last year and has been empty ever since.
Known for its unique coffees, rave online reviews have praised Costa Rica Coffee Co for its one-of-a-kind blends, mixed in store.
"Costa Rica is not just a retail coffee outlet and cafe... it's also a metaphor for a unique experience!"
"It's a fascinating shop which oozes coffee-smelling goodness out into the street like a drug. Here you can buy beans or the perfect grind for your needs, all fresh and delicious. And you can sit along the counter area and try it all out; feeling like a kid in a candy-store, if this is your kind of thing.
"Walking into this shop is going into a time warp, or perhaps visiting the Museum of Welsh Life. It comes from a time where coffee was still a luxury and new worlds could be found in wardrobes. Or the bottom of a coffee cup."
A spokesperson for the landlord of the building, James Hay Pension Trustees Ltd, said:
"A new tenant has been agreed, and the premises is due to be leased shortly. The decision was made by the tenant to terminate the tenancy agreement due to the current climate."
Local traders said they did not know why the shop closed or where the staff had gone.
Tracey Rees, who works at Diner 77 in Pontcanna Street, said: "It closed before Christmas. Why or how I do not know."
An employee of the Cinnamon Tree, Kings Road, Pontcanna, said:
"We used to get our coffees there. One day we went to get them and it was shut. I imagine they went bankrupt and had to close. It's very sad because it's one of the oldest coffee shops in Cardiff. I think it's been around for more than 20 years."
Emma McFarnon is a trainee newspaper journalist from Cardiff University - see her politics blog here, personal blog here and Twitter feed here.
