Opened in November 2024 in the prestigious Oakland Place of Guatemala City, Café 12 Onzas marks a pivotal milestone in the growth of a brand that, despite its expansion, has preserved an intimate and personal essence. This space pays tribute to Guatemalan coffee—renowned worldwide for its quality but often underappreciated within its own country. Here, 12 Onzas offers an exceptional product that stands out for both its careful processes and the passion of its founders—one of whom is a three-time national barista champion.
This project brought multiple challenges, not only due to its location in a high-profile shopping center, but also because of the brand’s commitment to maintaining its identity in a more corporate setting.
From a design perspective, the space had to meet the demands of a contract-grade environment—durable, functional, and easy to maintain—without losing the accessible, friendly, and close-knit feel that defines 12 Onzas.
One Material Takes Center Stage: Granite
The choice of materials was both strategic and emotional. Granite, a material often underestimated in Guatemala for being “old-fashioned” or “inexpensive, ” became the protagonist of the design. Its durability, versatility, and local origin made it perfect to withstand the high traffic of the mall while honoring the connection to Guatemalan quarries. Incorporating granite into the flooring was not only an aesthetic achievement but also a conceptual victory, redefining its cultural value and impact on spatial perception.
Granite didn’t come alone; it was incorporated in turquoise tones—an iconic color of the brand that ties the interior design to its visual identity. This hue, subtle yet ever-present, serves as a visual thread connecting the physical space to the brand’s narrative.
Lightness and Fluidity as Key Concepts
Inspired by the image of a cloud, the design elements reflect lightness, softness, and flow. Every piece of furniture—from tables to planters and lamps—was designed to appear as though floating above the floor, creating a sensation of weightlessness that contrasts with the solidity of the granite.
This not only reinforces the café’s identity as a fresh and inviting space but also challenges the traditional expectations of heavy commercial furniture.
The layout avoided the rigidity of geometric lines and embraced an organic flow, reflecting the spontaneous and approachable nature of 12 Onzas and creating an environment where every detail invites guests to relax and enjoy.
Architectural Challenges: Visibility and Shelter
The café’s location within the mall offers unparalleled visibility, with exposure from multiple angles.
However, this openness also presented a challenge: the absence of structural elements such as walls or ceilings to provide privacy and protection for customers.
To address this, strategically designed vertical elements were incorporated, such as tree-like lamps reminiscent of a park. These not only offer a sense of shelter but also add a poetic touch to the space, reinforcing the brand’s connection to nature.
A Space with Soul
The 12 Onzas project aimed not only to create a functional and visually appealing café but to captur its essence: good vibes, accessibility, and authenticity. Every design decision—from the selection of materials to the arrangement of the furniture—was made with the goal of preserving the warmth of a family-run business while positioning it as a benchmark in a competitive landscape of local and international chains.
The result is a space that balances function with emotion, the local with the global, and the contemporary with the artisanal. Café 12 Onzas at Oakland Mall is more than a place to enjoy specialty coffee—it is an experience that connects people to their surroundings and celebrates the pride of local culture.