Meet Cynthia Moreno-Romero of Ollin Cafetzin LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Moreno-Romero.

Cynthia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
The story of Ollin Cafetzin began in the dark of Covid-19. This concept of Ollin is deeply tied to my family’s ancestral roots in Coatepec Costales, Guerrero, MX. There, 90% of the population speaks Nahuatl, practicing existence—and resistance—despite centuries of colonization. It is from this place, where the language of the land still breathes, that my journey toward building Ollin Cafetzin was born.

Through academia, I was exposed to political ideas that fed my mind, creating a sense of urgency to commit to something beyond the self. This urgency became especially clear during my master’s program at the University of Denver, when I had the opportunity to visit Oventik, one of the Zapatista caracoles in Chiapas. I stood before the metal gates of the Caracol, realizing another world existed within-a place designed to meet the needs of the collective.

My political imagination was reawakened. I began asking myself: What can our world look, feel, and sound like when reimagined through an Indigenous framework? At Aquetza, we called this social dreaming—seeing the world as it is and imagining what it could be.

During these moments of reflection, I often found myself reaching for a cup of coffee—to stimulate both mind and body as I navigated the demands of capitalism. Coffee became more than just a beverage; it became a ritual tied to learning, dreaming, and organizing.

Did you know coffee was once banned for being a stimulant for radical thought? At this moment in history, we are in need of an alternative space more than ever. That’s why we are building Ollin Cafetzin: a physical space where we can come together and move in connection.

We source our coffee intentionally, forming direct relationships with Indigenous cooperatives like Maya Vinic, allies of the Zapatistas, ensuring that each cup of cafetzin plants seeds of imagination. We are committed to taking yearly trips to Chiapas, working directly in the coffee fields, and deepening our understanding of coffee production as part of our commitment to supporting Indigenous communities.

Right now, we are in construction, building our home—displaying murals, bookshelves, and ready to host our community for conversation—and we will open our doors to the community in the next month.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the most significant challenges in building Ollin Cafetzin has been securing the funding needed to bring our social dream to life. We recognize that we do not come from a background of inherited capital wealth—our families did not pass down financial resources that could easily fund this project.

But what we do have is the power of community, the strength of our collective vision, and the social capital rooted in relationships, trust, and solidarity. With several startup campaigns, money gathered from pop-ups, and generous donations from family and community, we knew we needed to take an even bolder step to build the home we envisioned for Ollin Cafetzin.

We channeled our collective determination into researching and finding a trusted organization that would believe in our vision and partner with us. This journey allowed us to practice patience, build strategic skills, and deepen our commitment to this work. We spent months gathering documents, strengthening our business plan, and preparing for every question lenders might ask—leaning on our networks and each other for support along the way.

After a year of consistent, focused effort, we finally landed in great hands with a Community Loan Officer from a non-profit who not only guided us through their rigorous loan process but also saw and understood the depth of what we are building. And finally, we secured the funding to build our home for Ollin Cafetzin in May 2025.

This journey has reminded us of that tenemos que construir y no destruir—we must build, not destroy. It has shown us that even within systems not designed for us, our persistence, community power, and clear intention allow us to carve out spaces where our people can gather, organize, and imagine new worlds together.

As you know, we’re big fans of Ollin Cafetzin LLC. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We specialize in beverages and antojitos reflecting Mesoamerican sabores, sourcing from different Indigenous pueblos to ensure each offering tells a story of land, culture, and resilience. Our espresso drinks feature unique flavors, oat-based, while our menu also includes Iskiate (a chia-based natural energy drinks), Firme energy infusions, Chicano sodas, and Indigenous snacks like tamalli and Three Sisters Stew. Each item is designed to reflect who we are while honoring the communities we come from.

What sets us apart is our commitment to reclaiming comunidad through cafetzin, conexión y educación. Alongside our coffee, Ollin Cafetzin houses a robust ethnic studies library, Books Not Bullets, with over 1,000 ethnic studies books available for community checkout. We offer a literacy program where community members can earn drinks and discounts by engaging in reading and discussions—grounding our minds and productivity back into our communities.

Our programming extends beyond coffee and books. For instance, we have hosted and will continue to have sessions on language revitalization activities, community pláticas, book drives, and coffee for protesters and causes, and much more!

We are most proud that Ollin Cafetzin is the first indigenous-owned cafe in Aurora, Colorado. A place to reclaim Indigenous knowledge, relationships, and spaces in modern urban settings. The owner and two co-founders are building what a modern Indigenous experience can look like within a physical space on East Colfax in Aurora.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
https://bookshop.org/wishlists/8d164deba45644a03ea62b1ec7bca094766dfe47

Pricing:

• $4-45

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ollincafetzin.squarespace.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollin.cafetzin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollin.cafetzin
• Other: https://bookshop.org/wishlists/8d164deba45644a03ea62b1ec7bca094766dfe47