How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
Alex: Brenda (the founder) had always wanted to have a café, and I wanted to own a business. In March 2024, we saw the opportunity to create the project and take part in an event in a neighboring city. After seeing the results, we set out to work at a local sobreruedas (street market), which treated us very well and helped us understand what we wanted to achieve. In September of that same year, this space was born from the desire to offer a more comfortable and welcoming place for others.
What might set us apart is how home-like it can feel, the care we give our customers—who are already our friends—and the friends who have already become part of the family.
Sam: What I’ve learned during this amazing year working with you is that this place was born from a love of art and the world of coffee. The best idea was wanting to share it with the entire community, and I think that’s what made it different from the start: sharing from the depth of your hearts and creating a space where everyone feels they belong.
What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
Alex: I enjoy the afternoons, because we change the lighting in the space and the vibe becomes more relaxed. The place shines and feels more personal.
Sam: Personally, I think it’s a combination of everything. No matter what time of day it is, when you enter this space you lose track of time because of how cozy it feels. It’s a concept not everyone has; you find creative and unique details in every corner.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Alex: The first thing they should see is our photo frame showing the process: where we started and how we got here.
Sam: Three essential things: being part of the traditional welcome/first-visit photo; enjoying the structure of the space; and chatting with any of the little “clouds” who are part of the project—especially Brenda and Alejandro, our favorite clouds.
What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Alex: Something that made starting the project difficult was the location. At first we had a mobile bar, which gave us multiple options, but when it came time to open a physical space we didn’t know which area of the city would suit us best. By chance we found this place, which is now our second home.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
Alex: Nostalgia is a big part of our influence—traveling to another time and enjoying everything more calmly, more slowly.
Sam: Personally, I think it’s the idea that this whole project is for the community, and that warmth and welcome you feel from the first visit, as if you were part of something—a family.
What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
Alex: Tijuana. Its people are a huge inspiration; the idea of having a space where everyone can feel at home.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Alex: It would be Jersey, an iconic brand from Baja California. We’d love to have them as guests, whether distributing dairy products or merchandise, or preparing drinks with their products.
Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
Alex: La mayoría de los objetos tienen una historia, ya que ninguno es nuevo, todo es de segunda mano. Por ejemplo, la banca que tenemos afuera del local la conseguí por una publicación en Facebook que la regalaba; la escalera de pintor la compré para decoración en la casa mucho antes de iniciar el proyecto y acabó en el local.
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
Alex: If it were a record, it would be Thee Sacred Souls, a band and album with a retro vibe that looks for an old sound with new lyrics. I think that matches what we’re trying to do with coffee.
Sam: If it were a city, I think it would have to be one with a certain small-town context, because the space reminds you how special it is to have that connection with the past, with calmness and nostalgia.
Answers by Alejandro Medina Armenta, co-fundador, encargado de compras y barista de medio tiempo; y Samara Reyes, content creator, photographer, and community manager of Celaje Café
