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| [Photo, above) Behind the counter, Gabriel Díaz, 22, works the bar with his colleague Ángel Palomares, 25. Palomares always wanted to be a barista, but until Seña opened, his opportunities were limited. Now, he pours coffee in a space where his language is not an obstacle but the very foundation. |
AND HOW TO START A SIGN CAFE IN YOUR 'HOOD
In Tijuana, a cup of coffee comes with a different kind of conversation. At Seña Casa de Café—“the Cafe House of Sign”—the familiar clink of cups and hiss of the espresso machine share space with hands moving in rhythm.
Here, customers are invited to order not with words but with gestures in Mexican Sign Language.
The café is located in Río Tijuana’s Insurgentes Plaza [Av. delos Insurgentes 18137, Rio Tijuana 3a Etapa, 21], and modest on the outside. But once inside the openness of the space is deliberate: clean lines, neutral tones, and good lighting so every hand signal is clear. Even the design supports its purpose—sight lines matter more here than background chatter.
[Photo, above) Behind the counter, Gabriel Díaz, 22, works the bar with his colleague Ángel Palomares, 25. Palomares always wanted to be a barista, but until Seña opened, his opportunities were limited. Now, he pours coffee in a space where his language is not an obstacle but the very foundation.
The driving force is Misael López, who grew tired of seeing deaf friends sidelined in ordinary social settings. His vision was a place where silence wasn’t absence, but culture. The motto—“Más que café: somos un puente entre culturas, lenguajes y corazones”—is visible in every exchange across the counter.
Visitors encounter drinks with names to match the creativity of the project: a Carajisso—chai, caramel, and espresso in one cup—sits beside a cold-brew Chili Coffee infused with chile de árbol and mandarin.
Upstairs, a quiet second floor doubles as a study room, available for small groups who want to work in a space built for focus and communication without barriers.
Local press calls Seña the first café in Tijuana where sign language is the official tongue. Customers who don’t know it are encouraged to try, armed with a cheat sheet of gestures. For some, it’s a novelty. For the deaf community, it’s long overdue: a place where ordering a latte means being understood without having to adapt to someone else’s world.
How to Start a Sign Café in Your City
The idea behind Seña Casa de Café is simple but powerful: give people who sign a place where their language leads, not lags. For readers inspired to try something similar, here are a few essentials:
• Language First. Staff should be fluent in the local sign language, not just dabblers. It takes real commitment, with ongoing practice and training.
• Design for Sight. Good lighting, uncluttered sight lines, and open layouts help conversation flow. Think of every angle as a stage for hands.
• Invite Participation. Encourage hearing customers to try ordering in sign. Cheat-sheets or menu cards with simple gestures make the experience approachable.
• Partner with Community. Work with local deaf schools, organizations, and cultural groups. Their guidance ensures the café is authentic and respectful.
• Blend Novelty with Normalcy. Creative drinks and a welcoming atmosphere attract first-timers, but the goal is a space that feels like home to regulars.
* Offer a bulletin board of names who can teach sign language(s).
Coffee houses have long been social crossroads. A sign café like Sena Casa de cafe, left, shows just how far that tradition can stretch—bridging silence and speech over a shared cup.
Getting to Tijuana’s Sign Café
The address is Seña Casa de Café, Centro Comercial Insurgentes, Av. de los Insurgentes 18137, Río Tijuana 3a Etapa, 22226, Tijuana, B.C.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
If you’re coming from San Ysidro CA, once you cross the border, take a taxi or rideshare toward Av. de los Insurgentes and ask for Plaza or Macroplaza Insurgentes.
The drive usually runs twenty to thirty-five minutes depending on traffic, and the mall has parking on site.
From Otay Mesa, the same directions apply—tell the driver Macroplaza Insurgentes or Av. de los Insurgentes 18137 and expect about a similar drive time.
If you arrive through the CBX bridge at Tijuana International Airport, taxis and rideshares can reach the café in roughly twenty-five to forty minutes.
Public transportation is also an option. Tijuana’s SITT bus line runs along Av. Insurgentes, and Terminal Insurgentes is a major stop. From there, it’s a short taxi ride to Centro Comercial Insurgentes.
For those navigating on their own, ride apps recognize both “Macroplaza Insurgentes” and the specific address 18137 on Av. de los Insurgentes.
Landmarks along the way help confirm if you’re close. The Macroplaza complex includes well-known anchors like Cinemex, Sears, and Sanborns, so spotting one of these means you’re in the right zone.
Delivery apps also verify the location under Seña Casa de Café at Insurgentes 18137.
Practical advice for border crossers: Uber and other rideshare services are reliable in Tijuana, but always check the plate and driver information before getting in.
Most places, including this café, accept credit cards, though carrying pesos for small purchases is smart. Downloading maps ahead of time or having an international cell plan makes travel smoother.
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