On North Stone Avenue, Chappopin Café is serving up more than coffee: It’s creating a vibrant community space where Cuban and Mexican traditions blend with Tucson’s local spirit, brewing culture and connection one cup at a time.

Created by Natalia Chappotin, Chappopin’s name came from a government typo.

“None of the credit bureaus could find me and so it looked like I had two names. I was Natalia Chappotin and Natalia Chappopin,” she told Tucson Spotlight. “So I was like, I’m gonna open a coffee shop and call it Chappopin Café.”

Before launching the coffee truck in 2023, Chappotin traveled through Cuba, Jamaica and Europe, soaking in café culture. She knew she wanted to open a coffee shop, but not one that followed the typical model.

Instead of mimicking Starbucks or Dutch Bros, she envisioned a people-first, community-driven space rooted in culture.

During her trips to Cuba, she noticed how much coffee was a part of everyday social life.

“It’s a communist country, but people celebrate coffee,” she said. “They’re outside playing dominoes and drinking coffee, and I said, ‘That’s what I want for my coffee shop.’”

She and her husband started with a taco trailer that they transformed into a coffee truck, painting it turquoise. They opened on Dec. 23, 2023, giving away 100 free hot chocolates at Davis Middle School and donating their $200 in tips to Anita’s Street Market, which was at risk of closing.

“We felt like we were the richest people on Earth, it was the greatest feeling ever,” Chappotin said.

Chappopin’s drinks reflect Chappotin’s heritage and creativity. Her favorite is the Monte Cristo, named after a Cuban cigar and made with condensed milk, caramel and espresso.

“Very balanced, not too sweet,” she said.

Another staple is the café de olla, steeped in Mexican tradition. Made in a clay pot with piloncillo, cinnamon, clove and Mexican Chiapas beans, it’s deeply nostalgic.

“It was just like a hit. You smell it, and you're just like, oh my god, it smells so good.”

Other standout drinks include Chingona, a bold blend of chile de árbol syrup and espresso; Frida, made with Abuelita chocolate, lavender and flowers in tribute to Frida Kahlo; and the house-made horchata latte, crafted from Chappotin’s own recipe — not just rice and cinnamon, but a richer blend.

Monthly specials like Playa, with coconut, macadamia and vanilla, or the upcoming Guapa, made with strawberries and piloncillo syrup, keep the menu fresh and creative.

“We’ve had so many drinks, and people get upset when we retire them, but the signature ones stay,” Chappotin said. “Those are what started us.”

Chappotin learned to use an espresso machine by watching YouTube tutorials and grew up drinking coffee from a moka pot, a tradition passed down by her dad.

“My dad would make the espresso, and he would have like, an ounce of condensed milk, and he would pour it in there, and he would mix, and he'd be like, ‘Okay, you start your day,’” she said. “I mean, I was like, four, five, maybe. And I loved it. I loved coffee.”

After months working full-time managing a spa while running Chappopin on weekends, Chappotin decided to take a leap.

“For eight months, I had not one day off and it was worth it,” she said. “I finally said, ‘I'm never going to pursue my dream if I’m scared,’ and I finally did it.”

The journey hasn’t been easy. She faced multiple obstacles and relocations. One landlord tripled her rent.

“There’s no rent control in Arizona and nobody talks about it,” she said. “It’s happened twice.”

Now, Chappopin Café has a stable home, operating both a truck and a newly leased indoor space next to JJ’s Bicycle Shop on Stone Avenue. The indoor space doubles as a creative hub for Tucson locals.

Chappopin hosts classes and pop-ups for local vendors, from yoga to charm bars to candle-making in mini jarritos. Vendors like Rebecca Diaz, who creates Mexican clay jewelry, teach and sell on site. The classes cost $50 and include coffee, a pastry and sometimes a two-hour experience.

Visitors to the space are greeted by a vibrant mural of a Cuban dancer and the phrases “Brewing culture” and “Cafecito y chisme,” reflecting the café’s monthly “Chisme Book Club,” which will feature Tucson author Rosalinda Rodriguez and her book “A Purple Truck and a Box of Dishes” in August.

“Chappopin Café is about building community and empowering a lot of women to start their businesses,” Chappotin said. “Just by having conversations, you can empower people to invest in themselves.”

Isabela Gamez is a University of Arizona alum and Tucson Spotlight reporter. Contact her at gamezi@arizona.edu.

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