Democratizing specialty coffee and removing that “untouchable” or pretentious label from it. We always say our mantra: “Specialty isn’t fancy, but it tastes like fancy.” We want people to lose their fear of trying something different.

Specialty coffee bars are born from a need to go deeper and to connect. We wanted to help foster an appreciation for specialty coffee, and we were part of the beginning of a boom of interest in higher-quality coffee and more careful preparation.

We are inspired by a love for coffee as a ritual. We come from a Lebanese background where coffee is a language of respect and generosity.Coffee was always the central element at any family or friends gathering. It represents an open-door way of living: offering coffee is saying, “I open my home and my heart to you.”

Our proposal is different. Here, coffee takes center stage, without syrups or added flavors. It has been a challenge, but also a conviction. We have not wanted to change that, even if the path is slower.

It's a place where quality coffee meets creativity and productivity. Since its opening, the mission has been to create a space that can be called a "creative hotspot," where you can come to drink coffee, work, find inspiration, and participate in artistic activities and workshops.

We are inspired by the local art scene; we believe that stronger and more impactful projects can be built together as a community. Artists like Hecho en Cancún, Alex Lechuga, and Elena Caltz, and places like the Lodoso pottery workshop and the Ki’Neek’ chocolate shop, are doing things particularly well.

Life, art, and photography are fleeting. This project was born from —and continues to grow through— a concept of resilience. We see it as something ever-changing: adapting to the market and the goals we want to achieve, while keeping its core identity. Our challenge is to avoid monotony, and we put our heart and dedication into making the gallery grow and evolve.

The idea of "ikigai" still guides how we work. Enjoying the process, taking pride in the details, and doing things properly even when no one’s watching. It’s a reminder to focus on the craft, what we’re passionate about, and let the results speak for themselves.

Analog processes still have much to teach us. Part of our inspiration comes from sharing the photographic legacy inherited from photographer José Hernández Claire, Leonardo's father, and architect Salvador de Alba, Sergio's grandfather, both passionate about photography and who had their own darkroom at home.

I wanted to combine two of my passions: enjoying something delicious, different, and well-made while reading or listening to music. I've always felt a special connection with print media and with "informal" reading —the kind you enjoy without screens and without rushing.

In the book world, it's a common saying that you'll never have the book a customer asks for. Our bookstore is more about being captivated by the opportunity presented by a book that happens to occupy a certain space.

Bookstores have basic routines: sweeping, taking out the trash, organizing books, etc. One of the most exciting moments happens when books arrive that need to be cataloged, appraised, or even researched. The world of used books is a map without end.

My partner and I are fans of design, photography, music, architecture; we constantly keep in mind the words of Rulfo, O’Gorman, Fernanda Canales, Puma Blue, Men I Trust, Ultra 54. They help us fill the space with ideas, materials and sounds. 

With Mariana Enríquez, we would perform an invocation with several initiated magicians, followed by a horror reading. With Camila Sosa, a session with mezcal and boleros about unrequited love, followed by a performance of her latest thesis novel about domestication.

We expanded our ideas, our activities, our commitment to the world of books, to our community, to the causes we consider just. We broadened our way of thinking and seeing the world of books in which we were moving.

What always guides us is the certainty that within the chaos that this great city can be, there are always those who seek an oasis of tranquility. And our intention is that they find it at Clarice.

We learned, in part, from Max Ramos, one of Mexico's most important booksellers, to respect and dignify the bookselling profession. We consider it a profession with a beautiful tradition, one that has also faced the challenges of modern life.

The bookstore was born from the idea of ​​bringing rare, unique, collectible, and hard-to-find books to readers from different parts of the world. From the beginning, we sought to offer a different perspective on books, one that fosters a sense of discovery. 

We believe in a horizontal, non-hierarchical, cooperative, and collaborative form of work organization. We believe in free culture, promoting freedom of access, use, and distribution of any cultural content. We believe in self-management, autonomy, and independence from the state and large corporations.

When someone comes to the bookstore looking for something special, it's like starting a treasure hunt or embarking on a shared journey between us and the customer. However, the most rewarding part happens when they return and tell us how much they enjoyed the book, and that's when the treasure hunt begins again. 

I thought about the creativity required to set up a bookstore: the space design, the layout, and, of course, the selection. Having an independent bookstore is also a way to express yourself.

The bookstore is a pluralistic space, just like the books themselves. That's why the catalog selection is so important to us; the books the bookstore contains shape the narrative of the space itself.

Everything that is part of contemporary art is present at EXIT. I think its specialization is what makes the difference. It has also become a meeting point for artists, gallery owners, curators, cultural managers, and the general public interested in art. 

The physical store was designed to encourage browsing and the discovery of new books. Our goal is to spark curiosity; we believe that often the book you end up buying isn't the one you were looking for, but the one that happened to be right next to it.

Art and design continue to be associated with a high degree of elitism. In our bookstore, we have a wide selection of books not only about art, but also about how to understand art. We also strive to explain it simply in our communication. Because art isn't something to show off, it's something to share.

We like to think of Silvestra as imbued with feminine energy, from its origin to the cup—the energy of care, creativity, quality craftsmanship, and what is born honestly and sustained with intention. We came for the bread, fell in love with the coffee, and are still here for everything this place continues to awaken. 

We're interested in working with photographers who are passionate about analog photography. We'd love to collaborate with them on reviewing and producing their portfolios, experimenting with tests, sharing processes, and giving them a firsthand look at how an image is created from scratch.

Medio Cuadro Lab was born in mid-2020 more out of necessity than a project. Photographers like us didn't have a lab readily available; there wasn't one in Puerto Vallarta, so we forced ourselves to build one ourselves.

We are influenced by Japanese spirituality and the dedication they put into crafts and techniques like sashiko, in which, through patience and dedication, they create beautiful and aesthetically pleasing repairs. Thus, we identify each roll as a unique vision that requires patience, care, and respect.

Having explored a large part of Jimbocho, the book district in Tokyo, and entered as many bookstores as my feet and energy allowed, made me believe that it is possible for so many bookstores to coexist in the same city and that they are all visited for the very different things they have to offer.

I find it interesting to create a routine and a ritual within Simón. I think that being on two such busy avenues allows you to choose to own the street, become a part of other people's daily lives, and also create a community among the neighboring stalls.

We always return to the idea that gave us our start: light as a form of expression. It is our creative beacon and what reminds us that each roll of film and each image is a different way of seeing and sharing the world.

On the surface, Grana as a project strives to be relaxed, and we invite our guests to have a good time. However, every step we take is intentional. We love to experience through play, and we can't deny that nostalgia inspires us.

Liminal was born from the goal of becoming a transitional space between a coffee bar, kitchen, and bookstore. Throughout the project, other cultural forms have been added, such as exhibitions of works by local artists and film and book clubs.

We're disruptive, eager to explore new methods and flavors. Our ritual is a sensorial journey—from the cup of coffee to cocktails, including art and workshops. We seek to surprise with every topic and every sip: not knowing what to expect is part of our mischievous game.

The moment I walked in, I knew exactly where everything would go. Most chefs I know, when asked this same question, always answer, "They didn't choose the place, the place chose them." Honestly, I never believed in that until it happened to me.

We're always looking to collaborate. It's one of our goals: to be the café with the most collaborations, because that's what the name means: compay is friend, compay is family, it's community.

We love to be deeply committed to seasonal menus. We do countless tests and share our opinions so we can improve recipes. Although our creativity isn't just focused on the menu, it's also focused on special events and their organization.

We're designers by profession, and we design basically everything for Trama, from the mugs to the bookcases, so some things fell by the wayside over time. But they're already in progress; we like the idea of ​​Trama as a place of constant change.

The lamb in the logo is the spirit animal of chefs Poppy and Federico. The logo was illustrated by Angelo Vasta, a friend and acquaintance of the chefs, and was intended to reflect a youthful side, with country colors that would convey Poppy's energy.

Trust the barista, the suggestions, and let yourself go. Let go, relax, and open up to the people in the room. Sometimes, the best coffee isn't in the complex, but in the simple… in that quiet moment that allows you to simply enjoy.

We'd love to invite someone from the world of design or gastronomy who shares our way of thinking, perhaps a Mexican designer or a young chef experimenting with local ingredients. The idea would be to do a short-term collaboration: a special menu or a temporary installation that unites coffee, art, and craftsmanship.

Sagrado Filemón is a space that has been built and evolved over time, just like the food, drink, and bread menu. The lack of certain items forced us to be creative and develop our own approach to making them.

There are many people who have supported us, contributed, and added to our work, and that is of great value and deserves incredible respect and admiration. Meeting people who are willing to collaborate and share is a great inspiration at CRC.

Kuepa was born as a refuge from all that was unclear in the world. And although it too is imperfect, it is a space that builds support, trust, calm, nourishment of the senses, transparent connections, and possibilities for the future.

Each location is designed as if it were a movie. The set is designed, the props are chosen, the atmosphere is set to a soundtrack, and the design details appear on the coffee bags, menus, merch, and stickers people collect.

At first, we planned to be a 100% online store. But we soon realized it wouldn't be as profitable and that the market was smaller than we thought. Plus, many people prefer the experience of seeing products in person before buying. So we decided to open a small store in Guadalajara.

I was living in LA in 2019, and at the end of that year I returned to Culiacán, and when I wanted to get film developed, I couldn't find anywhere. I met Natanael, and he taught me how to develop. I would post my photos on social media, and people would ask where I developed them, and I would tell them I did it myself.

This year we launched a narrative, expanded, and remodeled everything from the bar to the bathroom. We complemented the bar with a production center. The result is dignified and more comfortable to sit and work in. We took great care with the finishes, lighting, and certain utilitarian objects designed with recycled materials.

We want Pantera to be a space—physical, intellectual, and spiritual—where anyone who comes can feel free to express themselves through art, a space for the exchange of ideas and processes, and where bridges can be built between creative souls.

I've been really enjoying George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" lately. It makes me feel so nostalgic when I look back and realize how quickly time passes and how sometimes we don't realize how fleeting moments are.

At Aborigen, we have a small space that is slowly becoming a studio. In the afternoons, it's completely bathed in sunlight, making it an incredible time to take photos.

Interestingly, in Mexico, doctors adopted the name as a verb: "mandreakear," which means to disappear for a moment to take a break. For us, Mandrake represents that small, everyday magic: creating moments of pause and surprise that make every cup of coffee special.

We want to create a space where coffee connects with other forms of expression, which is why we host events, from DJ gigs, culinary pop-ups, bazaars (vintage clothing, jewelry), flash tattoos, art exhibitions. Oh, and bike rides, of course.

One of his characters found purpose in giving his best in every little detail because it creates a unique experience for the customer. That idea awakens him: no matter how simple the task seems, doing it to the best of his ability can change lives.

A book that I relate a lot to studying is “The Burnout Society” by Byung-Chul Han: I always read it when I feel overwhelmed and saturated with work, it talks about how society has forced us to constantly stay busy.

What we enjoy most is creating seasonal menus. Each season, we add extra drinks and desserts to the classics we already sell. And finding processes that make them more natural and authentic is truly a challenge for us.

We're inspired by French bakeries for their respect for the process, by cafés that let go of preconceptions, are open to experimentation, and let customers decide what's good and what isn't.

From the beginning, we were clear that we wanted to bring this world to life in a warm and simple way: something that sets us apart is the closeness we have with our customers, the time we spend explaining what espresso is, how to prepare their drinks, and what's behind each bean.

We wanted to start our own business for the pleasure of having something independent, something that would give us the opportunity to generate income without relying solely on a salary. At the same time, we did it out of a true passion: coffee.