Tz'ikin Cafe, a small DMV coffee outfit built around Salvadoran and Guatemalan beans, has rolled a daily coffee cart into Explore! Children's Museum at Art Place at Fort Totten. The pop-up is pouring single‑origin coffee and signature drinks like a Horchata Latte for a slice of Northeast D.C. that has not had its own on‑site coffee option. The setup gives commuters, parents and neighborhood visitors a walk‑up source of coffee with a distinctly Central American flavor profile.
According to Art Place, Tz'ikin began regular service on May 3 and is slated as a recurring food and drink option inside the development’s Explore! space. Local blog PoPville covered the cart's soft opening and described the operation as the first dedicated coffee purveyor at Art Place.
Beans From A Family Farm
Tz'ikin says it sources beans directly from Finca San Rafael in Alegría, Usulután, a family‑run finca that the cafe highlights for its Bourbon and Pacamara varieties and sustainable practices, according to Tz'ikin Cafe. The founder also told WUSA9 that he travels to El Salvador roughly every three months to bring back fresh batches and maintain the relationship with the farm.
A Local Team
The company was founded by Montgomery County natives including Allan Gonzalez, along with partners Alessandro Romero and Allistair Roper. They launched the concept in 2025 and have become a familiar presence at area farmers markets, MoCo Show reports. “We wanted to bring a sense of community and culture into people’s lives through coffee,” the team told MoCo Show, describing a focus on ethical sourcing and cultural representation.
What To Order And Where To Find It
The cart's menu centers on single‑origin espresso, a signature Horchata Latte and rotating Chemex pour‑overs, with traditional Central American pastries listed as coming soon. Tz'ikin's Fort Totten setup is located at 395 Ingraham St. NE inside the Explore! space, with weekday hours posted as 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday hours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., according to Explore! Children's Museum.
For Fort Totten, the cart is a small but visible sign of Art Place's growing mix of retail and arts programming, adding a culturally specific coffee option to the development's weekly lineup. Tz'ikin encourages customers to watch the cafe's site and social channels for seasonal flavors and additional pop‑up appearances around the DMV.
