Cafe Unico

​Early mornings are the worst, and to be honest the only thing that gets me through the day is a little bit of caffeine. Well, more like a lot of caffeine. My caffeine hunt led to me to Cafe Unico, located in Ciudad Juarez. I know, many of you probably don't want to go to Juarez to get your daily dose of caffeine, but believe me it's worth it. 

Cafe Unico is a unique coffee and tea shop in the city that not only caters to caffeine lovers, like myself, but it also offers a space for people looking for a more cultural experience. When the owner, Monica Carrillo, decided to take on this project, she decided she wanted to offer the people of the city something different. She believes that it is important for people to be more involved with literature and film in the local level, as well as the national level. She wanted to create a space where people would be able to go accompanied, or by themselves and still have a great time. This is why Cafe Unico has a variety of books available for customers to read while they are enjoying their drinks and their food. Not only do you get to read a good book while you enjoy your delicious cup of coffee, but on various weekends you can also get to enjoy cultural films in the upstairs room and sometimes even get to chat with the producers. 

Cafe Unico also wants to be more inclusive of vegetarians in the area. Cafe Unico offers a wide variety of veggie sandwiches as well as deserts that everyone can indulge in. There are also alternative options regarding drinks so that vegetarians can enjoy their caffeine without a hassle.

As for what you should order on your first visit, Carrillo is the most proud of her Oaxacan Hot Chocolate that comes in three flavors: bitter, sweet, and semi-sweet. No one else in the city has this type of hot chocolate, and Carillo swears it is unlike anything you have ever tasted. I highly recommend the bombon, which consists of a shot of espresso with sweet condensed milk and topped with steamed milk. As for food, she recommends the veggie sandwiches, which you can enjoy whether you are vegetarian or not. 

If you are ever in Juarez, and you are in the mood for some caffeine and want to immerse yourself in some culture, make a trip to Cafe Unico. You can find them at Avenida Paseo Triunfo de la Republica, in front of the Telcel Attention Center.