After its grand opening on January 23^rd of this year, the café has quickly developed a reputation for hot drinks and quality baked goods. Looking at the menu posted outside the establishment, potential customers can find almost any type of caffeinated beverage imaginable. Edible offerings appear subject to change; however, an abundance of variety is consistent across these listings as well.

Upon passing through the doors, I was greeted by two friendly baristas and a display case that featured several types of pastry along with twelve different flavors. I couldn’t remember the last time an apple Danish had entered my life, so ordering that was a no-brainer. I decided to pair it with a sixteen-ounce medium roast coffee (https://crema.co/coffees) and one of their namesake beverages—a cortado.

The total clocked in at $8.75, which struck me as kind of high, but three items from nearby Starbucks or Java House would probably ring in around the same price. Three has been called a magical number; nevertheless, this consumer experience revealed that its power is severely limited when one buys things at a coffee shop. It was all delicious, but I’m still skeptical about whether an equitable relationship exists between the cost of these items and that of a similarly priced burrito or burger available elsewhere. Some things may be beyond comprehension in our world; however, I think it’s safe to say that smart money would typically gravitate toward the heartier fare.

Anyways, I swiped my debit card, gritted my teeth, and hoped for the best. A receipt rolled out of the register. I signed on the dotted line. This virtual tour guide might have ended up late on March rent, but he would at least get to gorge for another day. Well, all things considered, maybe gorge is an overstatement. I ate the Danish while my caffeine brewed.  To be fair, service moves quickly here. It wasn’t long before I plopped down into a booth across from the counter with my loot, notebook, and a copy of Ben Marcus’s The Flame Alphabet.

Now was my time to take in the surrounding atmosphere. Cortado is a self-described “metropolitan-inspired, fast-paced, European style espresso bar,” yet I was picking up on vibes of embargo-era Cuba. The layout doesn’t evoke a sense of authoritarianism—I can’t imagine how Fidel Castro might have decorated a café—but its essential lack of frippery is underlined by subtle ornamental allusions to the Mediterranean as well as classic American diners. If what one drinks here will often have its roots in Italy, what one sees appears to stem from more diverse influences.

For instance, the simplistic wood finishes found around the room appear to be drawn from bistros across Cyprus, and Cortado’s ambient music consists primarily of the acoustic Spanish fusion that might be heard throughout tearooms in modern Madrid. What ended up invoking an aesthetic of post-WWII Americana for me was the classic seating (repurposed school chairs and painted stools) coupled with an unpatterned porcelain countertop set beneath a cluster of lustrous metal.

In addition, the black honeycomb tile at the base of the wall beyond the counter seemed to be a twist on the tacky checkered inlays characteristic of retro-American greasy spoons. These details coalesce into a sparse, minimalist style that pervades the larger environment.

This scantiness is typified by the primacy of a vast brick wall located behind customers in the main seating area. It bears nothing besides a coat of white paint. When one casts a cursory glance around the venue to discern sources of adornment, all that immediately stands out are a couple of large wooden panels made with fine tools from woodworkingquestions.

A keen eye will eventually notice the tripartite nature of ornamentation surrounding Cortado’s light fixtures. Above the counter, bulbs are encapsulated within lanterns. Over the central dining area, they hang in black wire globes. Finally, attached to the ceiling of the space, one can spot white track lights. These choices in lighting carry on the allusions to domestic, international, and minimalist influences that inform the overall interior design of the store.

If my first impression of the space was vaguely Cuban, my final one conjured a clear image of renovated Havana. Pictures of cherry wood benches, titanium rafters, and vintage Chevys in overgrown parking lots with Thermoplastic Car Park Line Marking ran through my mind. The layout of Cortado is interesting, but I think its bare walls could use some paintings or framed photography.When all is said and done, Cortado is ultimately a coffee shop. Customers arrive in pursuit of premium goods and services rather than a museum.

Toward fulfilling those needs, the café delivers in spectacular fashion.There is an excellent espresso maker with high-end coffee plus a fine selection of homemade pastries. You don’t need to order one of each, but splurging is definitely a possibility. I visited over the weekend at around 9:45 in the morning and it wasn’t too crowded. A lot of families arrived as time wore on, but that’s common across establishments after the workweek is over. The room can definitely get loud, so reading isn’t always easy. Regardless, Cortado is definitely worth a visit. If there happens to be a crowd, one can always order their items to go.

The post 522XX Tour Guide: Cortado Coffee and Café appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Location, talent of national soccer teams, and culture are just a few things of many that Hispanic and/or Latin countries differ in. One that may be surprising is the language. “What?” is probably the question you’re asking right now, so let me explain.  There are countries whose national language is Spanish and are classified as Hispanic and Latin countries, but there are also countries who speak languages other than Spanish and are still classified as Latin countries. While people from Spain do speak Spanish they ARE NOT a Latin country.

Short Lesson: Hispanic is in reference to language while Latino/a is in reference to geographical location. Hispanic is for people who are from a country whose primary language is Spanish. (Some don’t like to identify as Hispanic and that’s okay. Just ask before you call them that.)

Latino/a means anybody who is from a country in Latin America. (Which is mostly every country below the United States of America.) This being explained, the terms Hispanic and Latino/a are used in the US to determine groups.

If you go to a Latin country, I doubt they’ll say “I identify as Latina/o” and if they do, videotape it because I won’t believe you. That being said, even in the United States there are people who don’t want to be labeled as Hispanic or Latina/o, but by their nationality. It’s always important to make sure you know before you begin labeling people.

For example, I identify as Mexican-American and since Mexico’s primary language is Spanish, then I can say I’m Hispanic. Since Mexico is below the United States of America, I can also call myself Latina. Therefore, I am Hispanic and Latina, but I only say this when someone asks me what I identify as when I’m in the Untied States. I don’t go to Mexico and tell people I’m Hispanic/Latina. (They’d probably stare at me like I was crazy and run away.)

Let’s say that Maria is from Spain. She speaks Spanish and identifies as a Spaniard. Maria can identify as Hispanic due to Spain being a Spanish speaking country, but because Spain is in Europe and not a part of Latin America she cannot identify as Latina. (If you are still unclear about the difference between Hispanic and Latino/a click here.)

While a large number of countries in Latin America speak Spanish, the reason that I say the language is different is because of the way that it is spoken. In Latin America, just because Spanish is spoken by a large number of countries it DOES NOT mean that every person in different countries are the same nationality. Labeling everyone who speaks Spanish as Mexican is absurd for many reasons but I’ll stick with the language thing for now. (Check out this video that talks about why not all Latinos are Mexicans.)

As examples of dialects I shall compare male soccer players. There’s no special reason that I’m using them as examples other than the fact of their nationality and that a few of them move around from place to place but still retain their native dialect. Well that, and the fact that I love soccer.

Before we get in to it, I need to clarify one thing. These dialects aren’t the only way that the people of these certain countries speak. There are countless others but if I was to talk about every single Spanish dialect in every single Hispanic and/or Latin country I don’t think I would do anything else for a solid month at the very least. If you don’t know Spanish thats quite alright. Just listen to the way that the words are pronounced. You should be able to hear the differences. (I hope. Either way here’s a video of soccer players doing cool stuff.)

Okay. Let’s get started.

First up, a Mexican Soccer Player. His name is Javier “Chichartio” Hernandez. (That’s not his middle name, that’s his nickname.) He plays for the German club Bayer Leverkusen and for the Mexico National Football Team. He currently resides in Germany, but before that he lived in Spain playing for Real Madrid, and before that he lived in England where he played with Manchester United. He started his career in Mexico before heading off to Europe. The reason that this is important is because while he has lived in different places and speaks English, he is Mexican and regardless of where he has lived you can still hear the dialect of Spanish that many people in the United States are used to hearing. Such as the speed of which it is talked, and the vocab and pronunciation that you may learn in Spanish class. The actual interview isn’t important. Oh, and he’s the guy in the jersey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ygO_Qm9VAA

Next up, is James Rodriguez. He is a Colombian soccer player who currently plays in Spain for the team Real Madrid and is a part of the Colombian National Football Team. Before arriving in Spain he played for teams in Argentina, Portugal, and France. The speed at which he talks Spanish makes it clearer to understand. His vocab varies than that of Javier’s which helps demonstrate how Spanish varies from country to country. Again, the interview itself isn’t important unless you think he’s cute. (A lot of people do. I won’t judge.)

Sergio Ramos is a Spanish soccer player who plays for the team Real Madrid and for the Spain National Football Team. He has played in Spain for the his whole career and the way he speaks is how people from Spain typically speak. There are parts of Spain that don’t speak Spanish, but thats a whole other thing. Once again, the interview isn’t important and Ramos is the guy in the jersey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyUEw7uilI4

Let’s go to South American countries.

Claudio Bravo is a Chilean soccer player who plays for FC Barcelona and the Chile National Football Team. Bravo played in Chile before moving to Spain. His Spanish varies from that of Javier’s, James, and Ramos but it is nonetheless Spanish. Listen to him speaking below, and once again the actual interview isn’t important just the way he speaks.

Next up on our dialect tour is a Uruguayan player. His name is Luis Suarez and he currently plays for FC Barcelona in Spain and also plays for the Uruguay National Football Team. He has played in Uruguay, the Netherlands, and England before arriving in Spain. However, even with all these location changes, you can still hear the difference in the way he speaks Spanish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32XbkgRpTkM

Next up is Lionel Messi who plays for FC Barcelona and the Argentina National Football Team. Sidenote: He’s the best soccer player in the world. (Open for discussion, but he’s the best player in the world.) Messi is an Argentinian player who, after leaving Argentina at a young age, traveled to Spain and has played there ever since. Here you can tell that he has managed to keep his native dialect even though he’s lived in Spain for a large portion of his life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7k0aAb-Sec

Sidenote:  I should point out that I only used soccer players who have played or currently play for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid which are two teams in Spain. There are different soccer players that I could have chosen but I didn’t feel like it.

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have the biggest rivalry in Spain. When they play each other it’s called “El Clásico” and just watch this video so you can see for yourself how intense games can get. Real Madrid is in white and Barcelona are in the blue and red stripes.

Their fans constantly argue about who is the best team but the most heated discussion comes from the question who is the best player in the world: Lionel Messi or Cristaino Ronaldo? Messi plays for Barcelona and Ronaldo plays for Madrid. The reason I’m explaining this is because it gives me a chance to tell people that FC Barcelona is the best team and Messi is the best player in the world. Of course, if you talk to a Real Madrid fan, they will say that Madrid is the best team and Ronaldo is the best player in the world but I think they’re just confused. However, they may say the same thing about me.

Soccer is a lifestyle in many Hispanic and/or Latina/o countries, so I thought I  would give you a small insight into these two teams.

Moving on…

Spanish is spoken by many countries but each country has a distinct way that they speak it. The dialects that you heard are only a small portion spoken in these countries. It’s important to realize that because you can lump nationalities under the term Latino or Hispanic, it doesn’t mean that they are the same thing. Language is one of the most important aspect of culture. It is unfair to minimize that by simply saying, “They all speak Spanish so whats the difference?” There is a huge difference and hopefully this small dialect tour gave you some insight into the Spanish language.

(I also hope you decide that Barcelona is better than Real Madrid, but you know. Whatever you want. No pressure.)

This is the fifth article of the column titled “Living in White America.” Every month there will be a new article discussing how one immigrant group, Hispanics/Latinos, live in America. This column will have articles dealing with anything and everything that concerns Hispanics/Latinos, this could include political and social talks. Some articles may discuss a culture of a different Hispanic/Latino group and interviews with a variety of Hispanics /Latinos will be added as well as interviews with non-Hispanics asking for their opinion. Discrimination against Hispanics and Latinos has gone on long enough and now it’s time people get a look into a world they dislike so much.

The post Living in White America: Difference in Spanish Dialects appeared first on KRUI Radio.