La Finca Serves More Than Coffee

La Finca Coffeehouse. Photo by Cari Taylor-Carlson.

La Finca Coffeehouse is located near the lakefront and less than a mile south of Bay View at 3558 E. Sivyer Ave. in St. Francis. It offers a plethora of coffee drinks to satisfy aficionados of the bean. In 2017, this Mexican-inspired café opened in the building many may remember as FIXX, (the place with the cozy couches) and began a tradition of coffee excellence as they source all their beans from the family plantation in Oaxaca.

The list of coffee specialties is long and includes several House Creations such as the Coquito Latte made with coconut cream, the Tres Leches Latte, sweet cream, caramel, and vanilla, and my Mexican Mocha with milk, chocolate powder, cinnamon, and cayenne. It was sweet, but not too sweet, with the cayenne adding extra bling to the finish. You cannot go wrong with any of the House Creations and you may want to return often as I do, to linger with any one of the eight specialties.

Also worth a mention: the Horchata, a milk-based drink that is seasoned with cinnamon and vanilla which you can order in a latte, in brewed coffee, or as my companion did, over ice. Like the Mexican Mocha, it was deliciously sweet, but again, not too sweet.

You may find it hard to choose your entree from the brief but enticing menu plus all the Specialties listed on the board. My companion’s Black Bean Quesadilla had a generous portion of Monterey Jack and pico de gallo along with the black beans inside the flour tortilla. The addition of sliced jalapenos added some spice to every bite.

The Breakfast Croissant, a basic egg-and-cheddar combination, was enhanced by the addition of chipotle mayo. The Monte Cristo, a specialty, was a stunner. The chef started with thick slices of toasted bread and filled them with tender shaved slices of Canadian bacon, pepper jack, smoked gouda, red pepper sauce, and house-made strawberry preserves. To make it pretty, the chef topped it with a layer of powdered sugar. It was sweet and salty and oozy from the cheeses and made me very happy.

La Finca has a fast-food vibe because you order at the counter, take a number, and wait for the food to be delivered to your table. You can rest assured however, this is not fast food, and every dish is made while you wait. You will also sense that this is a café where the employees are happy to be there. Co-owner Janeth Zorrilla was present, chatting with her customers, and everyone was very friendly.

When you eat good food in a happy place you will want to come back for more, and I did. The Sopa de Tortilla was the real deal made with guajillo chili broth and topped with fried tortilla strips, queso fresco, and a drizzle of sour cream. It was thick and spicy with some serious heat, and tasted like the sopa de tortilla you would expect to find in Mexico.

The addition of grilled pineapple combined with chicken, black beans, Monterey Jack, and chipotle mayo took the Chipotle Chicken Burrito beyond an ordinary chicken burrito. For all the Sandwiches, Quesadillas, Burritos, and Wraps, you have a choice of fruit, three pieces of an orange, or the delicious just-out-of-the-fryer, house-made chips.

If you are in the mood for a healthful lunch, order the Ensalada Cobb, romaine topped with sliced hard-boiled egg, bacon, and cheese. Jalapeno Avocado dressing made all the flavors pop with its spicy flavors headed by avocado along with an undertone of jalapeno heat.

For dessert, you might find it hard to resist chocolate cake topped with a thick layer of flan. They make both the flan and the cake in house and together they made a tasty ending to my meal.

The name, La Finca, refers to an estate or a farm, or, in this case, the family coffee plantation in Oaxaca and the promise that coffee grown and tended by family is guaranteed to please.

Because La Finca is south of Bay View and away from the bustle of KK, you need to know where to find it. It’s worth doing because La Finca is special and so is their coffee.

On the Menu

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• Location: 3558 E. Sivyer St.
• Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mon-Fri, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat-Sun. Kitchen closes at 4 p.m.
• Website: https://lafincacafe.com

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