Coffee shops in the Condesa sprout like ferns; one day, a coffee shop appears on a corner and the next, there are already three more. Those of us who work in home office mode know how difficult it is to find a coffee shop with good coffee, tasty food and, above all, with ample space to take out the thermos of water, the agenda and the computer.
Almost like an act of magic, Truco suddenly appears, in front of Parque México, apparently as an apartment building with an almost unaffordable rent. But, inside, it hides an elegant and well-kept cafeteria, with sober colors such as olive green and light blue, with a huge mirror that reflects the green of the park and the blue of the sky.
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Truco is for writing, studying or reading. Although they have dishes such as chilaquiles, toasts or fruit and yogurt bowls, the truth is that breakfast or brunch does not predominate, much less lunch or dinner. Residents often stop by to say hello or to wait for a package and sit in the armchairs; however, in general, Truco remains almost always with empty tables, which is an advantage when you want to get to a place where you can get straight to work.
But they are not only betting on people with millions of pending issues to resolve (salute, comrades!), but also on passersby who never skip a walk through the park. For them, Truco operates through a small window from where you can briefly see the bar from which they prepare the drinks, as well as a sideboard with bread and cookies. In addition to coffee, they sell teas and tisanes, designed for those who have overcome caffeine addiction but still need something to wake up with.
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The whole time I was there (working, of course), the barista -called Santiago- greeted and welcomed every person who passed by the little window of Truco. It sounds like an exaggeration, but it's true. Maybe it's because we are always living in too much of a hurry, or because we no longer trust our surroundings, but this seemingly insignificant but somehow beautiful detail really caught my attention. It is, if anything, the only place where I have seen it happen.
Although it is a coffee shop in the Condesa, Truco's prices are standardized and they are, I think, quite friendly. A matcha latte with lactose-free milk costs 70 pesos, and they are worth it. An espresso is 45 pesos, and an Americano is 50 pesos. In addition, teas and tisanes are around 60 and 75 pesos. And the portions are not so small; for example, a cup of matcha latte is enough for a whole morning.
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The menu consists of two white sheets and green letters, an advantage when you want to decide quickly, without getting lost among the many options they may have. The food ranges from seasonal fruit and chia bowls to chilaquiles with dried beef and cotija cheese or a roast beef sandwich. Truco is a true believer in all day brunch, which is like saying they satisfy your breakfast craving at any time and thank God for that.
One of the things that elevates the Truco experience even more is the reference library. It is not, as such, a large space with tall bookcases and thousands of unreadable books. Rather, it is a small wooden cabinet with shelves on which mostly English-language books and magazines rest. Customers can pick one up and browse through it, read it until their free time is up, or come back another day to finish their reading. I didn't ask, but I'm sure anyone can leave a book to contribute to that collection.
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The Truco window attracts attention not only because of the pendant that boasts fun branding in purple, green and blue colors, but also because it has a gold-colored sign that reminds us that in this city we are not all invisible. That's the trick.
Mexico Avenue 121, Condesa
Every day from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.