Because the revolution starts in the coffee shop
An Ode to The Penny Cafe.
Community-run.
Culturally rooted.
Built to be replicated.
What if we could solve the world’s problems over coffee?
What if the idea of belonging was woven into the physical building in its inception? What if it wasn’t novel to for different generations, social classes and nationalities to sit around the same table - because that’s just how community works?
For centuries, cafés have been meeting grounds. Microcosms of Movements. Xoco Kalli carries that spirit forward. A community-run café and cultural hub in Valle de Bravo, Mexico
It's pilot project for how to create real community spaces
And a blueprint we believe can ripple outward, far beyond this town.
What is Xoco Kalli?
Xoco (Sho-ko) = Fruit + Kalli (Kah-lee) = House
In Nahuatl, it means House of Fruit — a name rooted in flavor, culture, and care.
Cafe and Restaurant
Daily gathering spot for food, connection & conversation.
Community Programming
After-school art, parenting circles, workshops, and more.
Craft & Local Goods
art supplies + artisania. It’s a micro-market for community creativity.
Why Valle de Bravo?
Because its a love letter to our neighborhood
Valle de Bravo is stunning.
Mountains. Monarchs. Artisan markets. Fresh air.
In our neighborhood, we drink clean water straight from the tap, something that’s rare in Mexico, and increasingly rare everywhere.
But like many beautiful places, Valle is also deeply divided.
Weekend ranches and generational families. Artists and elders. Expats, farmers and workers.
All in one place - but rarely in one room.
We need spaces that cultivate relationships across lines.
Because relationships don't just happen through proximity alone.You can live beside someone for ten years and still be strangers.
Friendship, real friendship, happens through regularity, resonance, and shared being.
It takes space, time and intentional design.
That’s what Xoco Kalli is,
A bridge between communities.
A place where toddlers and farmers, artists and abuelas, all belong.
Xoco Kalli Framwork
Who’s Behind This?
who we are and why were building this
We’re a bilingual, multicultural family building something we believe in — together.
I’m Zoë, a mother, community-builder, creative visionary, community-builder, and ceremonial woman. I’ve spent years working in wellness, education, grassroots organizing, and systems change. Xoco Kalli is a container for all the things I care about: food, art, shared space, mutual care, and creating something that feels like it matters.
This is my husband, Aztekoyotl, a Mexika dancer, medicine man, and keeper of ancestral knowledge. He holds a doctorate in education, teaches pre-Hispanic philosophy, and leads with ceremony.
We've got two wild, brilliant kids who remind us every day why this matters. You’ll see them painting in the garden, dancing in the kitchen, passing out flowers during open mic.They are fully part of this dream, just like we hope your children will be too.
Xoco Kalli is a seed for more spaces like this in more communities around the world.
Join the Circle
This space is built for community by community powered by micro gifts
Xoco Kalli is made possible by neighbors, friends, chosen family, and people like you who believe in shared spaces, intergenerational connection, and doing things differently.
There are a few beautiful ways to get involved:
The Community Registry
Think of it like a baby registry but for a community center.
We’ve created a list of specific items we need (from paint buckets to pizza ovens to playground slides). Pick what speaks to you, and help build this space from the ground up.
Become a Member
Put your name on the map. Literally.
Our lifetime membership is a symbolic one-time contribution that helps us grow and connects you to a global circle of support.
You get a vote. Some cool perks. And a place at the table.
Make a General Donation
Want to support the whole vision?
Your one-time or recurring donation helps us pay rent, fund programs, and keep everything running with care and integrity.
