Alba
Coffee shop · Briggs ·
Cafe with Mexican vibe, souffle egg sandwich, mole conchas
Cafe with Mexican vibe, souffle egg sandwich, mole conchas
"A rad (Eater Award-winning) coffee shop on Michigan Avenue in Corktown, this spot serves an $8 “egg sandie” built around an egg soufflé on a buttered, toasted brioche bun with cheddar, chives, and chile de árbol aioli. The sandwich has great geometry—everything is symmetrical for really even bites—and if a breakfast sandwich is judged solely by one’s ability to cook an egg, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one. It’s on the smaller side but rich with fat and flavor, satisfying without knocking you out, and it’s become a breakfast sandwich I keep in my rotation. As co-owner David Valdez put it, “We knew when we were taking over the space we almost had to have an egg sandwich. That’s such an iconic piece of Astro history and we knew we had to continue the tradition of a tasty egg sandwich that you [can] just crush in the car or at the cafe. [Something] all-around good, but at the same time different.” Alba has carried the souffléed egg torch proudly, and Detroit’s a better breakfast city because of it." - Danny Palumbo
"Ask a group of Detroiters what their favorite breakfast sandwich is, and you’ll likely get some votes for the specimen at Eater Award-winning Alba. What sets Alba’s “Egg Sandie” apart is that it features an airy souffled egg instead of the usual folded or scrambled. It’s put in between a buttered brioche bun with a smoky chile de arbol aioli and fresh chives. It’s both light and rich, and a perfect start to any day of the week. It’s a worthy replacement for a former mainstay on breakfast sandwich lists that used to reside at this same address." - Danny Palumbo
"Situated in the space where the shuttered flagship Astro location once stood, visitors will find a familiar aesthetic as the previous tenant, as well as those Corktown feels. The brief menu currently features espresso drinks like a traditional cafe de olla or a Bitter Orange Esspritzer made with Topo Chico, espresso, and blood orange juice; pour overs; tea; and a variety of pastries. Coffee is sourced from Anthology Coffee in Eastern Market and Grand Coffee Roasters, based in San Francisco. Pro tip: For those still lamenting the loss of Astro’s fluffy breakfast sandwich, Eater Award-winning Alba makes one that’s pretty darn close to the original." - Courtney Burk
"Situated in the space where the shuttered flagship Astro location once stood, Alba has gone on to gain its own traction as an Eater Award-winning cafe, offering visitors a subtle, IYKYK Mexican vibe with bilingual subheadings on the menus and beverages and bites featuring a blend of tradition and innovation. Highlights include a refreshing rhubarb-infused iced espresso espritzer; cafe de olla, prepared with drip coffee or as a latte and flavored with piloncillo, canela, and spice; and a cinnamon-punctuated Mexican hot chocolate. To eat, a breakfast sandwich featuring a silky souffle egg on a brioche bun with cheddar, chile de árbol aioli, and chives, as well as a curated selection of creative baked goods like mole-infused conchas prepared by local home bakers. Coffee is sourced from Anthology Coffee in Eastern Market and Grand Coffee Roasters, based in San Francisco. Vibe check: Alba has joined a growing number of cafes that are keeping their doors open later in the evening, out of recognition to folks who may not drink alcohol but still desire a fun, safe place to gather in the evenings. As such, Alba is open from 8 p.m. to midnight on Thursday and Friday, with coffee, tea, and other nonalcoholic beverages, along with live performances by local artists." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Situated in the space where the shuttered flagship Astro location once stood, Alba has gone on to gain its own traction as an Eater Award-winning cafe, offering visitors a subtle, IYKYK Mexican vibe with bilingual subheadings on the menus, and beverages and bites featuring a blend of tradition and innovation. Highlights include a refreshing rhubarb-infused iced espresso espritzer; cafe de olla, prepared with drip coffee or as a latte, and flavored with piloncillo, canela, and spice; a cinnamon-punctuated Mexican hot chocolate. To eat, a breakfast sandwich featuring a silky souffle egg on a brioche bun with cheddar, chile de árbol aioli, and chives, as well as a curated selection of creative baked goods like mole-infused conchas prepared by local home bakers. Coffee is sourced from Anthology Coffee in Eastern Market and Grand Coffee Roasters, based in San Francisco." - Serena Maria Daniels