Restaurant Review: La Borra Del Cafe
While you can’t toss a penny without it winding up outside a coffee shop in Wicker Park, a recently opened spot offers a fresh take on fresh grounds with the arrival of La Borra Del Cafe.
Located at 1700 West Division Street, La Borra Del Cafe’s Wicker Park location is the latest addition to the 65 locations throughout North American and Mexico. The inspiration here is authentic Mexican coffee, and no shortcuts are taken. La Borra takes coffee beans sourced directly from Mexico and roasts them themselves. Favoring authentic milk frothing that produces a lighter color, La Borra’s blend is a sweet-tasting cup of coffee that stands out among everything nearby.
The menu goes well beyond pure Mexican coffee with plenty of snacks, sweets, and hot and cold drinks to enjoy. On the dessert front, the vanilla concha is a must-try. This traditional Mexican bread has a soft, sponge-like texture bordered by a scrumptious sugar crust. You can’t go wrong with the Garibaldi bread doused in apricot and white sprinkles or the mouth-watering mini chocolate orejitas, a caramelized traditional Mexican pastry sheet that is worth repeat visits to this new Wicker Park eatery.
Fans of all things frappe will be thrilled with the excellent options available at La Borra. The traditional flavors are well represented, with mocha, white mocha, and caramel all delivering frothy and refreshing blasts of flavor. The cookies and crème frappe deserves a review of its own thanks to the perfect blending creating a chilled home for the bits of cookies and whipped cream topping. Other frappes include the chai crème, Matcha tea, and smoothie frappe with your choice of mango, raspberry, and wildberry.
Whether you prefer your coffee hot or cold, La Borra has something for everyone. The espresso Americano will provide the pick me up needed as the weather turns colder here in Chicago, and the Mont Blanc, made with coconut milk, delivers a foamy, creamy brew that leaves you wanting another and another. The cappuccino Italiano is a classy delight, and the hot Mexican chocolate may just steal the show on La Borra’s drink menu. Most drinks come with the option of adding almond, hazelnut, vanilla, and the usual assortment of extras. Milk substitutions are available as well.
La Borra Del Cafe is open for pick and delivery as we wait for COVID-19 restrictions to ease. Once customers are allowed to dine-in, the welcoming atmosphere of this new shop will truly show itself as a fine addition to Wicker Park’s long list of places to take care of your java jones.
As with their other locations, La Borra focuses on acclimating to their environment while offering a tranquil and comfy space. The Wicker Park location will be dog-friendly once it’s open to the public, as well as having a conference room, window seating, and an assortment of cozy couches and chairs. La Borra locations’ hallmark is their book-sharing motif where customers can take and leave books and a chalkboard where visitors are encouraged to leave a positive message.
So if you’re looking for a coffee shop with a genuine Mexican-inspired focus, head over to La Borra Del Cafe in Wicker Park, now open from 6 am to 7 pm for pick up or delivery Monday through Saturday, and 7 am to 7 pm on Sunday.
ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
