Stephanie Hofmann
Whitney Square is home to Cafe Maya, 5501 Odana Rd. It’s a Mexican-influenced coffee house that opened in October of last year, taking over the space formerly occupied by Victor Allen’s.
Works from area artists (right now it’s large glass mosaics) line the walls, while the drink menus hang on several wooden chalkboards.
A list of traditional coffee options is bolstered by the addition of three Cafe Maya specialties: Mocha Maya, a mocha made with Mexican chocolate; Horchatte, a latte mixed with the sweet rice-based drink horchata; and Café de olla. This traditional Mexican preparation involves ground coffee beans, orange peel, piloncillo (brown cane sugar) and cinnamon brewed together in a clay pot that imparts a distinctive flavor to the brew.
The Horchatte, served either hot or iced, is especially good, as the sweetness of the horchata acts as a soft complement to the strength of the espresso shots.
The shop also offers baked goods from Madison Sourdough and a small breakfast menu, including quesadillas, molletes and the Maya sandwich, dishes inspired by Mexico. Cafe Maya sources its beans from New Morning out of Appleton, giving a nod to the smaller state roasters.