The Journey of Cine and Coffee
The evolution of Cine & Coffee and our transition to new platforms
As we transition to new platforms for staying connected, I wanted to take a moment to offer both an introduction and a bit of a re-introduction. I started Cine & Coffee almost a year ago (in November), without a concrete plan, but I was drawn to the name, which felt like the perfect reflection of who I am. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love both cinema and coffee. If you don’t know me well yet, you’ll catch on quickly!
Without a clear roadmap, I built a website to share musings and opinion pieces on cinema and culture—two of my biggest passions. I’ve always enjoyed writing, and this project was a way to stimulate my creative brain while exploring these interests. The coffee aspect is just a fun nod to the idea of a casual, friendly catch-up. At the same time, in my quest to dive deeper into film and cultural conversations, I posted a light-hearted message in London New Girl, a Facebook group that’s saved me more than once. If you’re not familiar with it, there’s a whole subculture—yes, I’ll call it that—of large and niche Facebook groups where women connect. "People still use Facebook?" you might wonder. Apparently, we do. Personally, I only use it for those groups and Facebook Marketplace, but I digress.
That post led to a small WhatsApp group of a few women eager to meet up and talk about movies, which quickly grew, and once we passed the 50-member mark, organizing became essential—but, as luck would have it, I love organizing, so it all fell into place. That’s how both projects merged. While the community was called The Film Club, it all fit under the broader Cine & Coffee umbrella, held together by yours truly. Plus, it gave me plenty of material to write about!
As more people joined, the way we organized evolved. We went from casually asking for availability to setting specific meeting dates, voting on films, hosting social and cultural activities, and now even organizing creative events with brand sponsors. We’ve enjoyed cinema outings, bonded over coffee, explored Barbican and the Wellcome Collection, decorated film journals at the charming Next Door Records, and next week, we’ll be painting mugs at Genesis Cinema. All over the course of about eight months.
What began as a way to share my love for film and culture and connect with like-minded individuals has blossomed into something truly special. While I’m still unsure of what’s next, I have many ideas and am excited to see where they lead. This remains my passion project, and I’ll continue to pour my love and effort into it as long as people are eager to join. Plus, give me an excuse to talk about movies, and I’ll gladly take it!
As we continue to evolve, I've decided to bid farewell (perhaps temporarily) to the website that initially served as the catalyst for this journey. After careful consideration, I've found that the cost of maintaining the website no longer aligns with the value it provides. Instead, I prefer using already established platforms that offer more functionality and better serve our needs. This shift will allow me to use the limited time I have for this project more effectively—balancing it with a full-time job and other commitments—and to make the most of the tools that best support our growing community.
With our transition to new platforms and a refined approach, I’m excited for what lies ahead and eager to keep going. I won’t lie—the whole experience has been both rewarding and a bit daunting. Even though I may seem confident, I still sometimes worry about whether anyone will show up. But that’s part of the journey! What truly keeps me going is the vibrant community that’s grown around our shared love for film and culture. After each gathering, I always feel culturally fulfilled and inspired by all the smart and interesting women involved. If you’ve ever joined us, yes, I’m talking about you!
So, back to the original point: What started as a writing project will continue to be just that, which is why I’m especially excited to be here. Along with recaps of our discussions, I’ll also be sharing my thoughts on various topics, mainly the two you already know about. Think of this as both a diary and a film club bulletin. That’s what Cine & Coffee is all about.