La Finca is a family-owned business with a focus on “high-quality coffee and authentic Mexican dishes that reflect old world traditions and values.” Beginning in 2019, their franchise has since grown and now has two locations– one on Main Street in Frisco and another on University Drive, just around the corner from Rock Hill.
Unlike other coffee shops in the area, La Finca offers fresh meals from their scratch kitchen in addition to house roasted coffee and fanciful pastries. Such meals include classic Mexican dishes such as chilaquiles and huevos divorciados as well as modern favorites such as avocado toast and cobb salad.
As you walk in, you are greeted by a fun array of Spanish music and a modern rustic environment with plenty of greenery. The cafe is study friendly, with many outlets and an assortment of seating options such as a high top bar with suede chairs and varying table sizes to accommodate groups.
A large window provides plenty of natural light and contributes to the serene atmosphere. Their hours are somewhat limited– closing at 4:30 on weekdays– which doesn’t allow much time for most students to get in and study. Regardless, La Finca offers a great quiet space with unique options for food and refreshments.
As we take time off from schoolwork, we want to share our opinions on some of this year’s Summer Moon Coffee shop’s seasonal and original drinks and snacks.
(Hot) Cafe de Olla:
Prepared in a clay pot known as an “olla,” the Café de Olla is a traditional Mexican coffee that incorporates a sweet cinnamon flavor. We found this drink to be very strong and lacking in flavor, in our opinion. It does include a hint of brown sugar following the bitter taste. There wasn’t a true flavor to the actual beverage itself. We rated it so low because it wasn’t something we would get again and it was too strong for us, but if you’re seeking an alternative to a bold, dark, and dull coffee, then this brew is ideal for you.
Our rating: 2/10
Iced Chai Latte:
Picture leisurely walking through a serene garden, enjoying your preferred tunes of music with this simple and sweet Iced Chai Latte. This refreshing beverage is made from a blend of chilled black tea infused with aromatic spices that you can taste throughout the time you drink it. A few of these spices include cinnamon and ginger, which are mixed with your preferred choice of milk flavor. The drink combines bold tea flavors with the warmth of spices and the smoothness of milk, resulting in a delightful and soothing treat suitable for any time of day.
Our rating: 7/10
(Hot) London Fog:
The London Fog beverage is made by combining steamed milk with a brewed Earl Grey tea. This aromatic drink was sweetened with vanilla syrup and was topped with a light layer of foam. The distinct flavor of the London Fog tasted like orange and lavender which provided a citrusy and floral note to the latte, creating a comforting experience of a cozy afternoon in London. As the drink cooled down, it had a very watery consistency to it. We would have preferred it to be creamier and served at a higher temperature.
Our rating: 5/10
(Hot) Red Velvet Latte:
The Red Velvet Latte was released in early February for Valentine’s Day. Once sipping the drink, it boasts a light and fluffy consistency from the heart-shaped foamed milk on top. Underneath the foam on top, the sweet coffee was colored red. The latte is a perfect resemblance to the taste of red velvet cake. This coffee was ordered hot, but you have the option to choose it cold. We considered the drink to be distinct from the coffees available at other cafes. It holds the capacity to alter perceptions of the red velvet flavor, and it tasted like nothing we had ever tasted before.
Our rating: 9/10
Strawberry Empanada:
As we enjoy our coffees and engage in our school work, we felt the need to refresh our palettes. We choose two of the most visually appealing pastries out of the array of bakery items and entrees on the menu. The strawberry empanada had a straightforward similarity to a toaster strudel. The sugary strawberry filling inside of the pastry didn’t taste as fresh or homemade as we expected it to be. Yet, the crust of the empanada was light and delicious. We’re willing to explore the additional empanada flavors offered at this coffee shop.
Our rating: 5/10
Apple Muffin:
The apple muffin was served on a ceramic plate topped with a streusel topping with an aesthetically pleasing cupcake liner wrapped around it. As we were eating it, it was very dense and had a scone-type of texture. The muffin contained only a sparse amount of apple filling, and we would have preferred a bit more. The muffin itself had a vanilla flavor and was somewhat challenging to eat due to its dense texture. However, it had a nice taste and we would recommend this pastry to people who don’t like excessively sugary sweets.
Our rating: 6/10
Our reflection:
Our visit to La Finca proved forgettable. While the service was great and we received our drinks within minutes of ordering, there was nothing special about the menu items we tried, save the red velvet latte. Additionally, we feel the Mexican theme could be expanded and incorporated more into the decor in order to create an identity distinct from any other coffee shop.
There is a wide selection of pastries and a smaller menu of craft “slow pour” coffees which ensures a fresh cup of joe and can even reduce waste. While there are numerous food options, the drink menu is more concise, so if you are not a regular coffee drinker and are looking for fun drinks to try, La Finca is not for you.
Perhaps the most significant downside to this coffee shop are the steep prices. Higher prices are to be expected from a smaller business, but for us, the taste and experience wasn’t worth the cost. For these reasons, we are hesitant to return any time soon.
