First Café in YMCA of Greater San Francisco History Opens at Dogpatch YMCA
Sixth-generation Mexican family coffee business, Chula Café, opens its first brick-and-mortar location on September 12, bringing a 150-year coffee legacy to San Francisco’s waterfront
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., September 10, 2026 — Nearly 175 years of YMCA history and more than 150 years of family coffee tradition come together on San Francisco’s waterfront on September 12, when Chula Café opens its first brick-and-mortar location at the Dogpatch YMCA at Crane Cove Park.
This opening marks the first time a food and beverage business has operated within a YMCA of Greater San Francisco location. For Chula Café, it brings a six-generation family story full circle: the family first exported coffee from its farm in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, to San Francisco in 1871.
Chula is the latest addition to Dogpatch YMCA, which opened in 2025 as the Y’s first new San Francisco facility in 30 years. Designed with community input, the Dogpatch YMCA brings together fitness, wellness, recreation and connection to support physical, social, mental and emotional well-being for all.
Building on the Vision for the Dogpatch YMCA
Located inside the recently opened waterfront Dogpatch YMCA at Crane Cove Park, Chula brings coffee and community to a destination where people already come together to move, recharge and connect. Visitors can stop in before or after a workout, yoga class or sound session at the Y, refuel after an on-the-water session with Dogpatch Paddle, or simply enjoy a coffee while taking in the waterfront.
“From the beginning, we wanted Dogpatch YMCA to be a place that reflects this neighborhood and the many ways people take care of themselves and connect with each other,” said Anastasia Gordon, Senior Executive Director of Dogpatch YMCA and Bayview YMCA. “Welcoming Chula is a natural next step and another way for people to come together at Dogpatch YMCA.”
From the Family Farm in Chiapas to San Francisco
For six generations, the family behind Chula Café has grown coffee on its family farm in Chiapas, Mexico. San Francisco has been a central part of that story since 1871, when the family chose the city as the destination for its first commercial coffee export.
The export tradition has continued for generations, and four years ago, the business started selling coffee online. Now, at the new café located inside Dogpatch YMCA, the family story will come to life through a menu featuring specialty coffee, Mexican-inspired specialty drinks, pastries and sandwiches.
Chula distinguishes its coffee by flavor profile, using different fermentation processes to bring out the uniqueness of each. The café will showcase the family’s distinctive coffee offerings, including The Gentle, a naturally low-caffeine coffee varietal grown on the family farm. The varietal is prized for its naturally lower caffeine content and represents the family’s commitment to preserving unique coffee varieties.
Chula’s commitment extends beyond coffee. The family continually reinvests in its Tapachula farm and the surrounding community through initiatives focused on fair wages, education and sustainable farming practices.
“We love the idea of Chula Café becoming part of people’s everyday lives,” said Mayra Bracamontes, who co-owns Chula Café with her husband Adrian Betanzos. “Someone might come to the Y for a workout and stay for coffee, meet a friend here after yoga, or visit every morning on their way to work. We can’t wait to meet the neighbors who will become familiar faces in our lives in what we hope will be a gathering place for conversation, celebration, and community joy.”
Location and Hours
Dogpatch YMCA and Chula Café are located at 701 Illinois St. in San Francisco. Café hours are 7:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Follow on Instagram @ymcasf and @chulacafe.
About Chula Café
Chula Café is a family-owned specialty coffee company with roots in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, dating back more than 150 years. Now in its sixth generation, the family continues to grow coffee on the same land in Chiapas and sources coffee directly from its family farm. Chula’s coffee is roasted in San Francisco and reflects the family’s commitment to quality, sustainability and community. Chula Café brings that heritage to San Francisco through specialty coffee, Mexican-inspired beverages and pastries, and welcoming spaces designed to bring people together. Its first-ever café opens September 12, 2026, at Dogpatch YMCA.
About the YMCA of Greater San Francisco
The YMCA of Greater San Francisco strengthens community well-being by creating spaces and opportunities where people of all ages can be authentic, belong in community, and become their best selves. For nearly 175 years, the Y has evolved alongside the people it serves: listening, partnering, and co-creating to help individuals and families live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. With more than 130 locations in San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin counties, including 15 core branches and an overnight camp, the YMCA of Greater San Francisco is one of the Bay Area’s largest community-based organizations. Each year, it serves 130,000 people through youth development, early childhood education, healthy aging, community connection, and essential support services.
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