OneBean – Inclusion and Sustainability in Gastronomy

A new café in Albufeira is redefining what it means to run a business.

OneBean opened in July 2025, but its roots stretch back more than two decades – and its purpose goes far beyond coffee.

Behind the venture is Nuno Neto, his wife and a group of close friends whose journey began with something deeply personal. Nuno’s son Tito was born with spina bifida, and the experience revealed a stark gap in support for people with disabilities in the region.

“In 2003, we realised there simply wasn’t enough support,” Nuno said. “So we created APEXA to try to change that.”

APEXA began as a grassroots initiative and has grown into a regional non-profit organisation committed to promoting inclusion, autonomy and quality of life for people with disabilities and their families.

Through therapeutic services, social intervention, vocational training and community-based projects, the organisation creates tangible pathways to participation, employment and independent living. Its work is grounded in professional expertise and driven by a sustained commitment to dignity, innovation and measurable social impact.

By August 2024, APEX had launched catering services – the first step in what would become a much larger vision. Now, one year later, that vision has taken shape in the form of OneBean.

Nuno’s other son, also called Nuno, designed the café’s project and is responsible for marketing and communication, but OneBean is run by APEXA’s various departments and board of directors. “This is not a business,” Nuno explained. “It’s a social project. OneBean is an experience. Nothing like this exists in the region.”

Calmly disruptive

The name reflects resilience. “One bean struggling for survival,” Nuno said with a smile. “That’s the idea. From something small, something strong can grow.”

The atmosphere inside the café is deliberately layered. “It’s calm and disruptive at the same time,” he said. “Relaxing but also a little agitated – stimulated by something different. We want you to feel good. Calm. Relaxed but also aware.”

The team comprises four staff members and two coordinators. Maria oversees kitchen operations, while Milene manages front-of-house operations. The kitchen facilities are entirely standard, with no structural adaptations or specialised modifications.

The café received culinary guidance from Authentic Restaurant in Almancil, where Chef Ricardo Luz helped the team refine their approach. “He showed us how to create the most delicious yet simplest dishes,” Nuno said. “Simple doesn’t mean ordinary.”

A different way of ordering

Even the menu reflects the café’s inclusive philosophy. Customers receive a laminated sheet and a marker to tick off their choices. “Some of our staff cannot write quickly or use electronic devices,” Nuno explained. “So we created a system that works for everyone.”

At OneBean, the figures displayed beside each item are not conventional retail prices. They reflect the verified average cost of producing that product, calculated from ingredients, preparation, utilities and day-to-day operating expenses. No profit margin is built in.

The organisation operates on a model of full transparency. Customers are clearly told that the amount shown represents the item’s true cost. Once informed, they are free to contribute any sum they consider fair and meaningful.

This approach enables financial responsibility while advancing a broader commitment to inclusion and community participation. Customers are not simply purchasing food or coffee; they are deciding how they wish to support a social initiative grounded in dignity, accountability and shared responsibility.

Team work

The café’s approach to teamwork is built on patience and emotional intelligence. Staff members with intellectual disabilities can sometimes experience heightened emotions, particularly during misunderstandings.

“When there is disruption – between staff or with a customer – we take them aside,” Nuno said. “We calm things down. We talk. They learn to accept and apologise for misunderstandings. It’s about growth. When someone does something right, we celebrate it. That becomes part of the coffee experience.”

Challenging assumptions

One of the biggest misconceptions Nuno hopes to dismantle is the belief that disability is a liability. “That idea is wrong,” he said firmly. “People think disability means limitation. We see ability.”

Community engagement plays a central role. OneBean hosts at least one event each month – from concerts to cookie workshops and poetry evenings – creating a space that blends culture with inclusion. The café also partners with local organisations, including CASA, strengthening its ties within the region.

“So far the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Nuno said simply. “People understand what we are trying to do. We hope the community remembers OneBean as a welcoming, warm and professional environment, where people with disabilities were not ‘given an opportunity’, but recognised for their competence, contribution and value.”

Funding the future

Financially, the project is supported by APEXA along with small donations. “We survive because people believe in us,” Nuno said. He encourages other business owners to think beyond legal obligations when it comes to inclusion.

“Try to go above the law,” he advised. “If it says you must hire one person with disabilities, hire two.” Customers, too, can play a role. “Leave a tip. Make a donation,” he said. “But also share the message.” Looking ahead, the goal is steady and sustainable growth.

On a final note, Nuno says: “We would like OneBean to be remembered as more than a café or restaurant. We want it to be seen as a place where inclusion is lived, not explained. A space where people came for good coffee and honest food, and left with a different understanding of ability, dignity and community. A place where quality and social impact were not separate ideas, but part of the same experience. If, in the future, people say that OneBean changed the way they see inclusion (not through speeches, but through daily contact), then we will know we fulfilled our purpose.”

Main photo: left to right Back row: Nuno and Anderson | middle: Maria and Milene (coordinators) | front: Ricardo and Sandra

onebean@apexa.org