New coffee shop, Cafe con Leche, now open in Mexicantown Mercado

Residents of Southwest Detroit now have a lovely spot at which to sip a latte — or better yet, a Mexican hot chocolate: Cafe con Leche is open for business at the Mexicantown Mercado.

The coffee shop is bright and airy with comfortable seating. All the usual suspects are available on the drink menu, but there are some pleasant additions — for example, strong, sweet Cuban coffee and champurrado, a hot drink made with corn flour, milk and chocolate. “We’re trying to introduce a Latin flavor,” says proprietor Jordi Carbonell.

On the food side of things, American and Mexican pastries are available as well as paninis.

Carbonell and co-owner Melissa Fernandez decided on the neighborhood first and the exact location second. “The area didn’t have a coffee shop, a place to have a meeting,” says Carbonell. The concept seems to be taking off: Hubbard Farms neighbors and Detroit Synergy have already held meetings at Cafe con Leche, and its convenient parking is prompting some customers to forgo downtown.

Cafe con Leche is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, and later by appointment. There is free wireless internet access and, once the weather warms up, outdoor seating is planned.

The Mexicantown Mercado is at 2826 Bagley Ave. at 20th. Call 248-736-1196 to reach the cafe directly.

Source: Jordi Carbonell, Cafe con Leche
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh