Grijaw Coffee

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
GRIJAW was born as a response to a personal desire to have a space where I could welcome people and offer what I do best: coffee. As a coffee bar set up in my home, it’s defined by being an intimate space where people are received with warmth. It’s about showing that quality is never compromised, even without large infrastructure. We are an alternative to the city’s bustle, located in a working-class neighborhood, inviting people to connect with one another, appreciate the everyday, and enjoy simplicity.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
We love having everything ready to welcome people, finishing the house preparations and saying, “we’re ready for you.” Seeing people arrive fills us with excitement, it lets us know they enjoy being here. Preparing coffee with love and technique to ensure their enjoyment, and topping it off with the customer’s approval, makes us truly happy.

If someone is coming for the first time, what shouldn't they miss?
Our spectacular creamy carajillo and one of our house drinks (like the coconut latte, Ramona, among others).

¿Cuál ha sido un desafío interesante que los haya hecho replantearse algo sobre el proyecto?
At first, our bar was exclusive to private events, but that limited our ability to connect with our community in the way we truly wanted: enjoying quality coffee without rush and talking about the origins of our beans. Although we love bringing our product to events and being part of special moments, we decided to open the doors of our home to share more than just coffee.

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We start from a very simple philosophy: we are what we give. Our project aligns with our embodied principles. In this space, we often collaborate with artists, workshop leaders, collectives, and people whose projects are intentional like ours—and who understand the care this space requires. Even though we welcome everyone, this is still our home.

¿Qué lugar, proyecto o persona los han inspirado últimamente y por qué?
There are similar projects in other cities that not only inspire us but with whom we share a connection from afar: in Mérida, Ghost Coffee and Calle Reconcilio; in Tijuana, Cafeztlán and El Subidón Café. We have special affection for Café Elementos in Villahermosa, as they were the ones who introduced us to specialty coffee.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Without hesitation, we would invite the women of the FEMCAFE cooperative in Ixhuatlán del Café. It’s a project where women farmers and their families produce the coffee that fills GRIJAW with aroma and flavor; the coffee we’ve served at home for over five years. It would be wonderful for them to share firsthand their commitment to their coffee-growing project and, in turn, to taste their different specialty beans together.

Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
The table where the record player sits is my great-grandmother’s old sewing machine. I’ve had it for several years, but I recently had it restored so it could become part of the café.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
It would be the very neighborhood where it is located. It was born here, and part of its essence is everything that happens around it: the neighbors’ routines, the way the sun hits, the noise of the mornings and the calm of the afternoons, the passing cars, the animals that live here, and the vendors who walk this route. This café couldn’t be anything else.

Answers by María Luisa García Pérez, creator, barista, cashier, server, and cleaning staff of GRIJAW