How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
It was born from one person's dream: to promote specialty coffee, not just the bean, but the incredible work behind every cup. A whole team working together to get to that cup—people toiling in the fields, long and sometimes dangerous journeys, roasters experimenting, and baristas searching for all those profiles that seem like a dream but have their reasons. For us, what makes it different is the passion and love for the work.
What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
There are many moments, we enjoy those five minutes of calibration before the chaos, choosing the cup that sets the tone for the day. We enjoy the changes in image, bean, history, and flavor. We enjoy the excitement of new product launches, even though they sometimes fail, and that amidst all this, people find the drinks that define them.
If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Those five minutes, an hour, or however long you decided to be there, the opportunity to reconnect or rest, observe the plants, play a while with your children, vent with your companions or just connect with the aromas, flavors, colors while waiting for your takeaway drink listening to the background music, maybe you'll even discover a new musical taste.
What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Reframe the specialty as a connection a person makes with their tastes. That's what gives it its specialty and makes it unique for each person, while maintaining its essence and embracing the challenge of giving the place its own personality.
What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We love seeing friends arrive overwhelmed and leave less burdened, customers who ask where the coffee comes from and are happy to learn about another bean, couples in love who come to get to know each other better, and parents who want to spend time with their children over a cup and a chat.
What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
For us, an influence could be Pau from Mono Azul. The idea that coffee is community gives us hope.
If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
Teocäo and Majuk, a super tasting of filtered drinks, cocoa infusions and mixology.
Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
All the penguins that people give us have formed our collection. Thank you so much!
If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
We'd rather define ourselves by a song,Reflexión del pasto" by Jósean Log, because it gives us hope.
Answers by Diana Ivonne Quintero Ramirez, owner of Sr. Pingüino
