Coffee Break: Cafe con Chocolate
The lowdown: Long a hidden neighborhood gem, Cafe con Chocolate - which this reporter, after much struggle, discovered translates to "coffee with chocolate" - got a new owner two years ago when Maricela Tellez took over.
Where: 2100 S. Norwood St. (at Snyder Avenue), 267-639-4506, cafeconchocolate.com.
The lowdown: Long a hidden neighborhood gem, Cafe con Chocolate - which this reporter, after much struggle, discovered translates to "coffee with chocolate" - got a new owner two years ago when Maricela Tellez took over.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Backstory: Tellez, 27, came to Philly from her native San Mateo Ozolco, in central Mexico. She worked as both a barista and line cook. When she got her own business, she decided to combine her two passions and infused Cafe con Chocolate with a strong coffeehouse vibe.
Sip this: The signature drink is the eponymous cafe con chocolate, served piping hot in a giant mug and dusted with cinnamon. It's like a security blanket you can drink. Tellez also whips up traditional Latin American beverages like horchata (homemade rice milk) and the mesmerizing blue awake, made with blue corn meal, espresso, milk and honey.
The beans: Cafe con Chocolate proudly uses beans from powerhouse distributor La Colombe.
The machine: Tellez keeps an old Rancilio Silvia espresso machine behind her counter. She prefers this workhorse and swears that it can churn out a cafe con leche much faster than newer, computerized models.
Holy frijoles: Tellez's dedicated chefs whip up a full menu of Mexican delicacies at this BYOB. There are the standards (burritos, tortas, tacos), but the menu also goes deeper into Mexican cuisine (enfrijoladas, blue huarache). "This was an experiment for us," Tellez said. "We wanted to show people how real Mexican food is made."
Ambience: Walking into this cozy cafe is like stepping into your long-lost abuelita's living room. The earth-tone walls are crammed with paintings and knickknacks, with ink drawings of migrant workers sharing space with tin locusts. It's wacky, welcoming and oddly comforting.
Prices: Coffee: $2; espresso: $2-$3; cafe con chocolate: $4.50; cappuccino: $3.50; horchata: $2.30; entrees range from $8-$11.