Leeds coffee hub brews a digital twist

A new Leeds-based coffee venture is redefining the café experience with a technology-led approach designed for today’s fast-paced, digital-first consumers.

Habitum, the latest project from Alex Galantino, the founder of La Bottega Milanese, has opened a micro-store by the Aire Park development, offering a self-service coffee experience that replaces the traditional counter model. 

Customers place and manage their own orders via digital kiosks, while staff focus on crafting drinks and pastries behind the scenes.

The concept aims to blend convenience with quality, streamlining the takeaway process while maintaining an artisan edge. 

Alex said: “Habitum comes from an idea I first toyed with during Covid when stores were closing left, right and centre; essentially, I was imagining what a coffee shop would have to look like in order to perform in a post-pandemic era. 

“This, alongside the cost-of-living challenges we face today with everything from staff shortages, skills gaps and general increased expenditure of our industry, then moulded into the shape of the current model.

“Equally, all the components that form our setup are present in everyday life. 

“We use smart screens all the time, self-service is becoming more and more common in retail and supermarkets and specialty coffee is still as popular as ever. 

“So, I like to think that we’ve basically taken all of these components and brought them together to create this USP for the store, which we believe will pleasantly surprise people.”

The menu features classic espresso drinks, matcha options and wellness-focused extras such as collagen shots and supplements.

Open seven days a week at 9 Hunslet Road, Habitum is designed as a space where technology and coffee culture meet.

Alex added: “I’ve been involved in the coffee world all my life and my vision is for Habitum to become a familiar beacon within the myriad of coffee options and shops we encounter on the high street – I hope one day people will see our logo and know they can pop in, get their fix of quality coffee and be on their way.”

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