Introduction to Back of the Yards Coffeehouse
The first time Jesse Íñiguez stepped into a coffee shop was during his freshman year of college. Before that, they were only places he saw on TV. In March of 2025, Íñiguez opened Back of the Yards Coffeehouse at 1621 W. 47th St. It’s the newest location for the coffee roasting company he founded, Back of the Yards Coffee Co. He has worked to make it a fixture in the neighborhood through community partnerships and by hosting community events. Recently he has sought to make it a safe space for residents who are anxious about the increased presence of federal immigration officers in the city.
The Founder’s Vision
“One of the reasons I wanted to open it in the first place was because growing up, we didn’t have places like this,” Íñiguez said. He was born and raised in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, which has a large number of Latine residents. “I think it’s important for the community to see one of their own doing this,” he said. Among other things, he said Back of the Yards Coffee Co. donates frequently to Increase the Peace, an organization that gives scholarships to low-income youth. He also works with the Peace and Education Coalition, a group of stakeholders in the Southwest Side neighborhood that develops leaders and creates networks that promote peace.
A worker steams milk at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse on Oct. 4, 2025. The coffeehouse has become a sanctuary for residents who are anxious about increased presence of federal immigration officers. Credit: Giacomo Cain
The Journey to Success
After graduating from University of Illinois Chicago in 2003, Íñiguez started his first barista job. His passion for coffee grew, and he opened his first cafe, Cafe Cedahlia, in 2008. But in the midst of the Great Recession, Íñiguez struggled to stay afloat. “I didn’t have a good business plan,” Íñiguez said. “I had this false pretense that if you build it, they will come. It doesn’t quite work that way.” In 2016, Íñiguez decided to try again by selling small-batch roasts of coffee beans and cold brew at farmers markets around the city. He raised over $17,000 for a new location through crowdfunding. “The majority of donors were $5, $10, $15 kind of donations,” he said. “But there were hundreds of them. Those are all folks that wanted to just contribute something.”
Community Support
When he opened the 47th Street location last spring, he said the cafe sold out on the first day by 3 p.m. Rheanna Ioli is a regular customer and a senior at DePaul. “I love coming into the shop to do homework,” Ioli said. “The vibes are always warm and welcoming.” Íñiguez and his staff said they will continue to uphold the values the company was built on, sticking with their community first approach. Emiliano Hernández, a 24-year-old barista at the shop, first came to the cafe as a customer. Working an office internship, he grew tired of that type of work and wanted to try something else. “During Covid, I really picked up on coffee as a hobby,” Hernández said. “I thought, ‘What if I take this turn and see if I can turn my hobby into an active profession?’”
David Titsworth and Emmaeilin Salgado-Diaz enjoy coffee together at Back of the Yards Coffeehouse on Oct. 4, 2025. Salgado-Diaz is a De
