Coffee is more than just a beverage—it’s a creative catalyst, a ritual, and a companion for those who shape stories, visuals, and brands. At DIA Café, we know firsthand how coffee fuels the creative journey, weaving its way into our inspiration, identity, and workflow. But what is it about coffee that makes it such a powerful ally for designers, filmmakers, and content creators?

Coffee as Inspiration: The Ritual that Sparks Ideas

For many creatives, the act of brewing and savoring coffee is a meditative ritual that marks the transition from everyday life to the creative zone. The aroma, warmth, and taste of coffee create a multisensory experience that not only awakens the senses but also clears the mind, making space for new ideas to emerge. Whether it’s the quiet of an early morning pour-over or the hum of a bustling café, these moments become fertile ground for reflection and inspiration.

“Brewing coffee deliberately can clear your mind and make space for new ideas. The calming routine often allows thoughts to wander, leading to unexpected insights.”

Coffee and Identity: The Creative Community’s Common Thread

Coffee is woven into the fabric of creative culture. From the iconic coffee shop scenes in films to the real-life brainstorming sessions in local cafés, coffee is a symbol of connection and collaboration. It’s not just about the caffeine—it’s about the shared experience. Creative professionals gather over coffee to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and spark innovation. These informal meetups often lead to unexpected collaborations and long-lasting partnerships, reinforcing coffee’s role in shaping creative identity.

Coffee in the Workflow: Focus, Flow, and Breakthroughs

Science confirms what artists and storytellers have always known: caffeine enhances focus, mental alertness, and problem-solving skills, all crucial for creative work. Coffee helps creatives overcome blocks, maintain motivation during long sessions, and find flow in their process. The simple act of taking a coffee break can recharge the brain, allowing for fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.

• Enhanced Focus: Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, reducing fatigue and boosting alertness, making it easier to dive deep into creative tasks.
• Dopamine Boost: Coffee increases dopamine, the neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation, making the creative process more enjoyable.
• Memory and Learning: Studies suggest caffeine can improve short-term memory and the brain’s ability to form new neural connections—essential for creative leaps.

Coffee and the DIA Café Story

At DIA Café, coffee isn’t just a product, it’s a part of our creative DNA. Our journey began with a belief that every project deserves the energy, focus, and inspiration that only coffee can provide. Whether you’re editing a film, designing a brand, or crafting content, you’ll find a cup of coffee close at hand—fueling our process, connecting our team, and infusing our work with the spark that sets us apart.

We don’t just seize the day—we seize the moment, the idea, the story. And more often than not, we do it with coffee in hand.

Ready to fuel your own creative journey? Shop DIA Café coffee beans and allow your coffee and creativity to go hand in hand.

Inspired by our story? Learn more about our creative approach and team on our About Me page.

Look, we all love a good café moment. The ambiance, the vibes, the occasional flirtatious glance over a croissant—but sometimes, you just want that perfect cup of coffee without changing out of your pajamas. That’s where we come in.

Today, we’re diving into a bold, flavorful at-home brewing method using the Chemex—because you deserve more than sad office drip or burnt gas station espresso. And we’re doing it Latin-style with Dia Coffee blends.

Wait, What’s Dia Coffee?

Great question, cafecito-lover.

Dia isn’t just a coffee brand—it’s a movement. Born in the heart of Greendale, Wisconsin (yes, really), Dia Café started as a local hotspot and is now expanding to Phoenix, AZ, with plans to bring the Latin coffee wave nationwide.

But Dia isn’t just about slangin’ beans. It's about building comunidad. Every cup is ethically sourced from passionate growers across Latin America. The result? Coffee that’s as bold and vibrant as the cultures it celebrates. From the art on the walls of their cafés to the families behind the beans, Dia is all about connection, authenticity, and giving back.

They say each bean captures Latin America’s spirit—we say each cup fuels your fuego.

Why Chemex?

So here’s the tea—or rather, the café: the Chemex is your secret weapon to unlocking the smoothest, cleanest, most aromatic brew right in your kitchen.

Think of it like the pour-over method’s cool older cousin who studied abroad and has impeccable taste in music. With its thick filters and elegant glass curves, the Chemex produces a bright, crisp coffee that really lets the flavors of your Dia blend shine.

And who’s guiding us through this ritual of flavor? Our girl Tori from Dia Coffee. She’s got the tips, the technique, and the patience to walk you through every pour.

---

What You’ll Need

• Your favorite Dia Coffee blend (we love La Chula, but any of their blends work beautifully—get yours here)
  
• Chemex coffee maker
  
• Chemex filter
  
• Kettle (preferably with a gooseneck spout, but we’re not judging)
  
• Hot water heated to about 205°F (96°C)
  
• A scale or a really good eye
  
• 50g of coffee, ground slightly finer than espresso (think table salt texture)
  
• 750g of water (for that 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio)
  

---

The Brew-Down: Step-by-Step

Alright, roll up those sleeves. We’re making magic.

☕ Step 1: Prep the Filter

Place your Chemex filter in the brewer with the triple fold facing the spout. Rinse it with hot water to get rid of the paper taste and warm up the glass. Then toss the rinse water. No shortcuts—we’re brewing with intention here.

☕ Step 2: Add the Coffee

Pour in 50 grams of your finely ground Dia coffee. Shake it gently to level the bed. This is the foundation of your masterpiece.

☕ Step 3: First Pour & The Bloom

Start your timer and pour 100 grams of hot water over the grounds in a slow spiral, starting from the center outward. This is called the bloom—you’ll see bubbles rise as the coffee “wakes up” and releases gas (carbon dioxide) from the roasting process. Let it bloom for about 30-45 seconds. (Pro tip: this part smells amazing.)

☕ Step 4: Second Pour

Now we’re getting into it. Pour again in a spiral, gently and steadily. Don’t rush. This is your moment of zen. You’re an artist, and this is your canvas.

☕ Step 5: The Waiting Game

Let it drip. You want the water level to drop until there's about an inch left above the grounds before your next pour. Watch it like it’s the finale of your favorite novela.

☕ Step 6: Third Pour

Same thing—center to spiral, pour and breathe. By now your kitchen smells like a true café and you’re feeling like a barista with a vision board.

☕ Step 7: Fourth Pour

Almost there. This pour is about coverage—make sure all the grounds are saturated. No dry spots. No bean left behind.

☕ Step 8: Final Pour

Top it off with a graceful final pour. This one’s for you—for the effort, the love, and the vibe you just brought to your morning.

Total Brew Time: Around 6–7 minutes

---

Why This Method Slaps

Let’s be honest: this isn’t your basic brew. The Chemex brings out the delicate, layered flavors in Dia’s blends—especially the lighter to medium roasts. You’ll notice citrus, chocolate, caramel and more.

And while we love supporting our local cafés, sometimes your best café moment happens in your own kitchen. Hair tied, robe on, playlist bumpin’.

This isn’t just coffee. It’s a ritual. A celebration of Latin flavor, patience, and craftsmanship. It’s you taking a moment for yourself—or for someone else, if you’re feeling generous.

---

A Final Sip

Whether you’re starting your day, taking a midday pause, or trying to impress someone on a third date (hey, it happens), this Chemex method will not let you down.

Grab your Dia Coffee blend, channel your inner Tori, and seize the home brew.

Because with every pour, you’re not just making coffee. You’re creating culture.

We all want the same thing, right? To be able to make the best cup of coffee from the comfort of our own homes. And whether your kitchen counter is equipped with a gourmet french press, moka pot or good old fashion drip coffee maker, the age-old question remains, ‘to grind or not to grind?’

Here at Dia Cafe, our freshly roasted coffee beans come in whole bean and ground coffee options to choose the one that works best for you. And if you need help understanding the differences between these options to find the perfect match, you’ve come to the right place. Settle in and let’s break down what separates the whole coffee bean from ground coffee and what it means for overall freshness, flavor, storage and preparation. 

What are the differences?

Whole coffee beans are coffee in its original form, packaged for at home use. There are multiple ways to prepare whole coffee beans at home. You can use a grinder to prepare beans for brewing, mashing the beans down into instant grounds and adjusting the ground consistency. Alternatively, you can cold brew whole beans by steeping them in cold water or you could put them into hot water and let them simmer for an extended period of time to extract the flavors. These methods allow for alternative use with the beans for your desired cup.  

Ground coffee takes grinding and steeping out of the equation and is pre-ground for convenient, ready-to-go brewing. You can wake up and instantly get started using your ground coffee. When stored properly, ground coffee can retain flavor and its natural aroma. And when it comes to preparation and time spent, both offer alternative ways to approach your best brew. 

Freshness, Flavor & Aroma

Whole coffee beans are notable for staying fresher longer due to their pre-grind state. When delayed, there can be an increase of flavor and aroma that comes from the beans - leading to the potential for better taste quality and richer flavor. Additionally, you can store beans for longer periods of time and grind only what you need, reducing waste and the potential of stale coffee.

Ground coffee retains the natural flavors and aromas from their original bean state but can be known to lose freshness faster which is credited to oxidation. This means that more surface area is exposed to air, moisture and light - overall affecting flavor and freshness. Due to this, flavor can be impacted and use dates should be kept in mind. 

Fresher Coffee = Better Flavor

For the best brew, flavor and freshness matters. Keeping this in mind, whole coffee beans provide a great option to preserve natural oils and aromatic compounds for a richer, bolder taste in your next brew. What should also be kept in mind is that different brew methods can require different grid sizes. Espressos can call for a fine grind while french press benefits from a coarse grind. Grinding your own beans lets you customize your grind to your preferred brew method for optimal extraction and flavor. Customization is important for preferred flavor and considering whole coffee bean versus coffee grounds is a factor in that conversation. 

Why Does This Matter

Coffee isn’t just known for providing a boost in energy and mood - it offers a unique flavor profile and powerful aroma. Taste is an important element and that all comes back to the grind and brew options. When selecting the coffee flavor and caffeine level that you love best - be it nutty, earthly or smokiness - you set the course for a masterful brew and bean freshness plays a role. Ultimately, prioritizing the freshest option leads to the best possible brew and is impactful in the flavor and aroma profile. 

Whole coffee beans and ground coffee both have their differences. With whole beans, you can ultimately fine-tune both grind size and amount to match your preferred strength and flavor profile. And with ground coffee, you can get right to brewing in no time for that perfect cup packed with your favorite flavor. 

At Dia Coffee, we prioritize single-origin, nutrient-rich coffee blends that offer vibrant and complex flavors. We know that you want to enjoy a bold taste from the convenience of your home and are proud to offer ethically sourced, fairly traded flavors in both whole coffee bean and ground coffee selections. Which is why we have worked to provide only the best options packed with rich nutrients, impactful aromas and home-grown flavors that honor your love for a powerful brew. As proud coffee drinkers who understand the impact it has on our lives and routine, we encourage you to enjoy your coffee your way for a bold start to your day! 

Check out the selection Dia Coffee has to offer! 

A family with flavor and coffee with soul.

Some people fall slowly. Others, all at once. For Mike Drilling, his love affair with Latin American culture happened fast. 

Raised just outside Milwaukee in Greendale, Wisconsin, Mike grew up in a world far removed from the Latin American countries he would soon come to cherish. When he was only eight, his parents, Connie and John, took a family trip to Puerto Rico. That's where Mike introduced to warm Caribbean nights that echoed with the melodies of music, bullfrogs, and laughter. It was his first time hearing people speak Spanish, and it became his introduction to a culture that felt like pure happiness.

Life in Puerto Rico was simpler, yet the people and their personalities were vivid and culturally passionate. It didn’t matter the reason, people there lived fully, appreciated the little things, and knew a good conversation was the beginning of moments forever remembered. 

The following year brought another family adventure to Acapulco, where cliff diving and another vibrant way of life sparked his interest. However, the turning point came in 1975, when Mike was only twelve. That summer, his parents did something truly intrepid: they sent him and his older brother to live in Mexico City! Wide-eyed and adventurous, the newly independent Drilling boys roamed throughout that fascinating city, learned the language, and made new friends.

It was surreal to explore incredible places like the Olympic Village, where the brothers climbed the towering diving platforms built for the 1968 Games, daring each other to jump. They later regretted the decision to climb back down rather than leap, free-spirited, into the unknown.

In the 1970s, Mexico City was alive. Electric with color, bold with culture, and brimming with character. For Mike, those summer months weren’t just memorable; they were transformational. While he may have been young, something deep inside had taken root, and his lifelong connection to the Latin spirit, music, and food started to bloom. These places stirred his soul. And as he got older, that feeling stuck.

Years later, his cultural connection deepened through a bond formed between the Drillings and Rogers families when Mike’s daughter, Allison, married Devin Rogers. Through years of camaraderie, lively gatherings, and captivating stories of the Rogers’ Puerto Rican heritage, the families’ time together ignited an enthusiasm for creating a place to meet and celebrate life's simple joys. 

Driven by boundless creative energy and an entrepreneurial spirit, Mike wanted to honor his lifetime passion for good coffee and Latino culture by creating a place where all these things converge. So, he enlisted his son-in-law, an experienced graphic designer, to help bring his vision to life. From there, DIA y Noche was born: DIA Café, a coffeeshop by day, and Noche, a restaurant at night. 

With a background in graphic art, Devin was tapped to infuse DIA Café with a colorful identity reflective of his Latino legacy. A history that includes his Abuela (great-grandmother), Lydia Reyes, who spent most of her 96 years hand-picking coffee beans in the volcanic soils of Utuado, in the mountains of Puerto Rico. The family’s interest in coffee doesn’t end there. Devin’s sister, Lucia, brings magic to DIA Café with expertly crafted and innovative coffee drinks, each a testament to her creative mind and love for coffee making passed down through generations. 

After a successful opening, the family’s mission of helping Latin American communities and coffee bean farmers became an obsession, and the idea of turning DIA Café into a full-blown coffee company flourished. 

Devin and Lucia’s grandfather, Angel Reyes, lives a quiet life in his mom’s house, tending to the land of Utuado and maintaining their roots. He’s known locally (and around Milwaukee from his time there) as quite the character. Although coffee is no longer the Reyes family business, it’s now ours.

Today, DIA’s lineup of fervently bold flavors each has a meaning that honors the creativity of Latin American life, the love of family, and the importance of sitting down and sharing moments.

DIA Café is meant to celebrate culture and serve as a bridge to connect backgrounds, beliefs, and generations. By showcasing Latino artists, we drink in each other’s experiences that help us better understand and inspire compassion. DIA Café honors the boldness of life in Latin America and the importance of sitting down and sharing moments with friends and family.

With every cup, you’re tasting someone’s story, living a little extra, and seizing the day.