La Chula: Charm in a Cup
Let’s not tiptoe around it — DIA Café’s La Chula is the kind of coffee that turns heads. Confident, smooth, and a little mysterious, this blend doesn’t shout for your attention. It knows it has your full focus by the time you hit that first sip. And yes, we absolutely named it after her — the one who walks into a room and somehow makes everything else dim by comparison.
She’s not loud. She’s just unforgettable.
A Sip That Smiles Back
La Chula is a medium roast with the kind of balance that’s rare and worth savoring. With flavor notes of melon, allspice, and dark chocolate, this is a blend that plays both bright and sultry — like a wink in coffee form.
- Melon lends a juicy sweetness that lifts the whole cup — crisp, clean, and unexpected in the best way. Think honeydew, not fruit punch. It’s delicate and fresh.
- Allspice folds in a quiet warmth — not spicy, but spiced — rounding the flavor with a soft, aromatic complexity that lingers.
- Dark chocolate finishes the moment with richness, depth, and just a little bite. The kind that reminds you that yes, you’re being seduced by your morning ritual.
There’s nothing overdone or overpowering here. The flavors hold each other gently, like a perfectly timed conversation.
FLAVOR ATTRIBUTES
Melon
Hydration Support
Sun-ripened sweetness unfolds, like slicing into a perfect cantaloupe. It's refreshing and smooth, giving a gentle nod to tropical markets brimming with fragrant fruit.
Allspice
Immune Booster
Warmth weaves through each sip where notes of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg mingle in a spiritual dance. This subtle heat adds a touch of intrigue that is comforting, yet unexpected.
Dark Chocolate
Powerful Antioxidants
Deep and velvety, dark chocolate’s richness unfolds with bold intensity, lingering on your palate like the final bite of an indulgent dessert.
Rooted in Guatemala, Roasted with Intention
La Chula hails from the high-altitude terrains of Peru, Guatemala, Brazil — regions revered for producing some of the most expressive coffees in the world. Nestled between mountains and dry winds, this unique microclimate means beans can mature slowly, developing bright acidity and well-structured sweetness.
DIA Café sources these beans through small-scale producers, who grow with pride and precision. Once harvested, the coffee undergoes a washed process that preserves clarity and showcases its natural sparkle. And then — it arrives at DIA, where the roast is DIAled in to honor that brilliance without getting in the way.
This isn’t a "roaster’s roast." It’s a farmer-first roast. Our job? Make it sing.
What’s in a Name?
If you speak Spanish — or grew up in a home where novelas played in the background — you already know: “La Chula” is a term of endearment. It means cutie, sweetheart, beautiful one — depending on how it’s said and who’s saying it.
But in our case? It’s more than flattery. It’s attitude.
La Chula is about a certain kind of elegance that doesn’t need to be announced. It’s warm, sharp, and just flirtatious enough to keep you coming back. This coffee doesn’t demand attention. It earns it.
So yeah, it’s delicious. But it’s also a vibe.
Brewing Your Best Chula
La Chula’s flavor notes are clear but layered — and how you brew it makes all the difference. You want that melon brightness? That spicy-smooth curve of allspice? The cocoa finish? Good water and attention to detail are your best friends.
Start with filtered water, especially if you're dealing with hard water. Use a medium grind, somewhere between sand and sea salt. Brewing at 195–205°F tends to highlight La Chula’s balance beautifully.
Whether you’re using a pour-over, drip brewer, or a clever dripper, let the flavor bloom. Literally. Let it sit and breathe. Take your time.
You’ll be rewarded with a cup that’s expressive without being dramatic. Soft, steady, and... well, pretty irresistible.
Drip Coffee
Medium grind (granulated sugar)
Pour-Over
Medium-coarse grind (slightly coarser than table salt)
French Press
Coarse grind (sea salt)
The Right Time for La Chula
If we’re being honest? Anytime.
But some moments call for a little extra charm. This is the coffee you want when you’re:
- Starting your day with intention
- Sitting on your porch with a playlist and nowhere to be
- Writing, designing, creating — anything that asks for clarity with a touch of flair
- Making brunch for someone you’re trying to impress
La Chula has range. She fits right into the slow and the fast, the focused and the flirtatious. She knows how to show up.
A Bag Worth Showing Off
Let’s talk about the look — because La Chula’s charm isn’t just in the cup. The bag design is just as captivating, featuring artwork by Cyla Costa, a Brazilian artist known for her colorful, bold, and expressive style.
Cyla’s work adds a layer of visual storytelling that matches the energy of the blend itself: lively, soulful, and just a bit cheeky. With hand-drawn type and layered textures, the bag becomes more than packaging — it’s a statement piece for your pantry.
So yeah, we judged the book by its cover. And we liked what we saw.
Behind the bag artist:
Cyla costA (BRAZIL)
Cyla Costa is a Graphic Designer and Lettering Artist working with all kinds of projects in which letters play a fundamental role, especially branding, book covers, advertising, murals and editorial design. Her one-woman-studio is in her hometown Curitiba, in Brazil, yet she can often be found painting a mural or speaking at a conference in other parts of the world. Her work is known for its hand-made quality and minutiae.
So, Should You Try It?
Yes. If you like coffee that’s smooth but playful, elegant but easy. If you’re ready to fall for something that doesn’t shout for your attention — but still steals it. If you’ve ever tasted a cup and thought, “Oh. That’s different. I like this.”
La Chula is for you.
She might just be your new favorite. Don’t worry — we won’t tell your old one.
Where to Find Her
You can pick up a 12oz bag of La Chula (whole bean or ground) right over at DIA Café’s site. We roast fresh, ship quick, and always make sure what arrives at your door is as good as what left ours.
And when you brew that first cup? Take a photo. Tag us. Let us know what song you were playing when it hit just right.
We’ll be over here, brewing our second cup.
Tres Leches Café
At-Home Latte Brew
Combine sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon syrup, ground cinnamon and milk in a mug. Mix with a spoon or milk frother. Once fully combined, fill the mug the rest of the way with Dia Brands drip coffee. We recommend La Chula, Suavecito, or Buena Suerte for a night cap!
Ingredients:
1 ounce of sweetened condensed milk
½ oz of cinnamon syrup
3 shakes of ground cinnamon (¼ teaspoon)
3 oz warm or steamed milk
Drip coffee
Pairs Well With:
Buena Suerta, La Chula, Suavecito
Oso de Peluche
The Teddy Bear Latte
In a mug combine honey, brown sugar, a few shakes of cinnamon, a sprinkle of salt, and warm milk. Mix thoroughly. Fill the cup rest of the way with brewed coffee. If available, top with whipped cream and crushed graham crackers.
Ingredients:
½ oz honey
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Ground cinnamon
3 oz warm or steamed milk
Sea salt
coffee
Whipped cream (optional)
Crushed graham crackers (optional)
Pairs Well With:
Buena Suerta, La Chula
Spiced Coffee Tonic
A Refreshing Twist
Fill a glass halfway with ice cubes. Pour in the tonic water and cooled brewed coffee. Stir in brown sugar (or sweetener of choice) and a pinch of cinnamon. Top with freshly grated orange zest or orange peel twist.
Ingredients:
4 oz freshly brewed coffee (cooled)
4 oz tonic water
1 teaspoon brown sugar or sweetener of choice (optional)
Ice cubes
A few dashes of cinnamon
Orange peel or zest
Pairs Well With:
La Chula, Mucho Macho, Babalu
