With an abundance of coffee shops in Madison, it takes some ingenuity to stand out from the rest, but Café Maya does just that.

Recently replacing the old site of Victor Allen’s Coffee at the intersection of Odana Road and Whitney Way, Café Maya offers a fresh, Mexican-inspired take on quality cups of coffee and locally sourced baked goods.

In addition to the traditional latte, cappuccino and espresso drinks expected of a java joint, Café Maya serves a few signature drinks that are in line with the Mexican-inspired concept.

One such drink, the Café de Olla, follows a recipe adapted from how coffee is traditionally prepared in Mexico. To create the drink, coffee grounds are combined with water, cinnamon, orange peel and a touch of piloncillo — a pure cane sugar typical of Central and Latin America. The result is a cup resembling black coffee, yet rich with cinnamon and citrus notes. The sweetness from the piloncillo is subtle, but the flavors from the spices and orange shine through enough so added sugar may not be necessary.

Another offering unique to the café is the Mocha Maya drink. It’s made with a base of espresso and Mexican hot chocolate, which means another cinnamon-infused, slightly spicy drink.

Café Maya also showcases a latte made with homemade horchata, appropriately termed the Horchatte. Horchata is a type of flavored, sweet milk made of rice, vanilla and, again, cinnamon. Though often served cold as a refreshing drink, horchata is just as good when heated and paired with espresso. The creaminess and sweetness of the milk is strengthened when swirled into fresh coffee, and the flavor of the latte remains unique from the cinnamon and vanilla elements of the horchata.

Unique drinks aside, Café Maya also serves an assortment of baked goods, as well as heartier food options like waffles and oatmeal, or sandwiches, soups and quesadillas for lunch. Arrive early for the greatest selection of bakery items, as the display case empties out quickly and is limited once afternoon hits. The reason? Café Maya sources their baked items from a local favorite and French bakery around the corner, Le Petit Croissant. From fresh chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies to sizable double chocolate muffins and of course, flaky croissants, the sweet stuff is not to be missed.

The environment at the cafe is welcoming thanks to a staff that goes beyond the expected etiquette of a traditional coffee shop. Workers walk around to tables checking on customers and holding conversations with its older base of patrons who frequent the shop.

Attracting customers with quality food and service alike, Café Maya is likely to warrant excursions to Madison’s west side for a long time.