Vínculo Café

How did this place come about and what made it different from the start?
Vínculo was born from our love for specialty coffee and our desire to build a community where people feel they are in the perfect place to share, learn, and grow, using a great cup of coffee as the starting point.

We also created this space with the intention of being a refuge from the routine of city life, where people can step away for a moment and disconnect in our café.

What set us apart from the beginning was the hospitality we offer every person who visits, always aiming to provide the best possible experience.

What part of the day, space, or creative process do those who work here enjoy the most?
When customers arrive who are no longer just customers but friends and part of our community, making the moment enjoyable while we serve their favorite coffee, and when we build new relationships through coffee.

Creating a culture of learning when questions arise from customers or ourselves about a particular coffee.

When the team tastes a new coffee bean, as well as when we create special drinks.

Weekends, when the team is more complete and we get to share more moments together.

If someone is coming in for the first time, what should they not miss?
Beyond taking in every corner of our space, we have a section with merchandise and products from different local brands: specialty coffee, ceramics, artwork, and more.

Also, the opportunity to have a conversation with the baristas and the team about coffee or any other topic, since we like each relationship to begin with a simple exchange.

What has been an interesting challenge that has made you rethink something about the project?
Questioning whether gentrification in the city, especially in the neighborhood where we are located, could negatively affect us.

What influence, idea, or reference continues to shape the way you work today?
We are inspired by the idea that coffee allows us to connect with many different people: producers, roasters, owners of other coffee bars, and more.

Through this connection, we have built a community of growth and support, where we recommend things to each other, help one another in difficult situations, and share experiences.

What place, project, or person has inspired you recently and why?
Enora Café inspires us because it embodies what we also seek: a welcoming space, a warm reception, and an oasis in the middle of the city, along with great coffee and food.

If your space could invite someone to collaborate for a day, who would it be and what would you do together?
En Punto Barra de Café are close friends with whom we already share a history. Since opening Vínculo Café, they have supported us on several occasions, and we have talked about collaborating together in the future.

Is there an object, corner or detail of the place that has a story that few people know?
The books available for customers have all been donated, as have most of the plants, which were gifts from clients and friends. They bring life to our space, and we are very fond of them.

If this project were a city, a book, or a record, which would it be and why?
City: Naples or San Gimignano, Italy, for their vibrant life, art, color, and abundance of plants and nature.

Book: The Manual of the Warrior of Light, by Paulo Coelho, because many “warriors” come here before continuing their complex and magical lives.

Song: Mujer divina, by Natalia Lafourcade, because it brings together several artist friends and reflects the sense of community we aim to create at Vínculo. It’s also a tribute to a Mexican composer, much like we see Vínculo as a tribute to coffee.

Another song would be Beautiful, by Gustavo Cerati. The line “you deserve what you dream” has inspired us from the beginning, and we share it with customers and friends to encourage them in their own journeys.

Answers by Roberto Rodríguez and Victoria Salazar, owners of Vínculo Café.