Cultura Coffee Co. in Edinburg offers bold flavors, comfy setting

EDINBURG — I began to feel under the weather last weekend, and whatever was making me sick only grew in strength as the week began.

I’ll spare you the details, but I spent most of the week in bed chugging Mucinex and hotboxing Vicks Vapo Steam while I tried to recover.

When all seemed lost, I got a call from one of my editors telling me that they needed a coffee review from me. As I clung to life, and with every remaining bit of strength, I labored through an explanation of my situation — every word feeling like a razor blade slicing the inside of my throat.

“But Frank, the people are counting on you,” I think I remember him saying. “We need you to tell us about coffee.”

That was all the motivation I needed to pull myself out of bed. My girlfriend, sensing a spark of hope, made me a steaming bowl of caldo de pollo, which proved to be the fuel that my immune system needed to crush this illness. Like Popeye cracking open a can of spinach, I was ready to write about coffee again.

In all seriousness, I was fully recovered when I finally ventured out of the house. Safety first.

We drove to Cultura Coffee Co., which is located at a shopping plaza at 508 W. Trenton Road. Arriving there about an hour before they were set to close, the coffee shop smelled like roasty goodness.

The warm lighting and the twinkle of Christmas lights were a welcoming sight for someone who’d only seen the darkness of an unlit bedroom for the past few days.

We were welcomed by the barista (and co-owner) who patiently explained the small yet complex menu to us. He recommended the Café Lechero, which he said is their most popular menu item, as well as his personal favorite, the Café Tapatío.

My girlfriend wanted a hot chocolate, so he recommended their version of the drink which they call Xocolatl, the Nahuatl word for chocolate. She also wanted to order one of their pastries. We were told that one of the workers bakes everything they have to offer, which includes cookies, brownies, and an interesting interpretation of conchas. She decided to try the carrot cake after the barista said that it was the most popular item.

We sat at a table where a little fluffy snowman with a scarf and earmuffs served as the centerpiece. I watched my girlfriend play Wordle on the New York Times app, thankful that I didn’t have to worry about her beating me at some other competitive game. At least I could leave with some dignity.

When our order was ready, the carrot cake was the first thing that we tried. The carrot cake was chewy and dense. The spices from the cake were complimented with a dollop of cream cheese icing and some crushed pecans sprinkled on top.

I asked my girlfriend what she thought of the carrot cake. For some reason, I got confused and started to call it banana bread. It was like it happened in slow motion, like Ralphie saying “Oh fudge” in A Christmas Story. As the words began to exit my mouth, my brain immediately tried to fix my error. What ended up coming out was, “How is the barrot cake?”

“Parrot cake?” she asked as she burst out laughing. “Did you say ‘Parrot cake?’ Here, why don’t you try some PARROT CAKE? You can say that your favorite part of the parrot cake was the beak when you write your little review!”

So much for my dignity.

When she was finished laughing at me, we tried her hot chocolate. The barista explained to us that they are still figuring out the recipe for the Xocolatl, which is subject to change every few months. This version was a mix of Abuelita and Hershey’s chocolate, with a blend of cinnamon and cloves. My girlfriend had hers made with almond milk.

We didn’t see any reason to change the recipe. It was perfectly warm and sweet like a hug from grandma on Christmas morning.

The Café Lechero is served with foamy condensed milk poured over a shot of espresso and sweetened with sugar cane syrup. The drink was very creamy and sweet, but not enough to overwhelm the bold flavor of the espresso.

When asked, the barista explained that the ​​Café Tapatio is his favorite because he doesn’t like sweet drinks. The lack of sweetness does not mean a lack of flavor, and the Café Tapatio definitely packed a punch. It is two ounces of espresso served with two ounces of steamed milk. Simple, yet satisfying.

He said that he added a little more milk to mine so it wouldn’t be an “espresso smash,” which he said while clapping his hands together to emphasize the drink’s strong nature.

We enjoyed everything about our visit to Cultura Coffee Co., from the decorations to the friendly service to the very chill and vibey music, it is obvious that they put a lot of effort into creating a comfortable space to enjoy some excellent coffee and pastries. I only wish we had arrived much sooner so that we could have spent more time there.

If you’re in Edinburg and you’re looking for a coffee shop with some exciting ideas, then give Cultura Coffee Co. a try. The shop is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

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