The new coffee shop focuses on artisanal coffee and baked goods

In a city where growth is often associated with Las Colinas, corporate offices and developments in northern Irving, the opening of Alma Cafe & Bakehouse in the southern part of the city has drawn attention to an area where independent coffee shops are scarce.  

The new family-owned business opened its doors in March at 202 S. Britain Road, within Irving’s historic district, occupying a house built in 1938 that was transformed into a coffee shop after several months of remodeling and a long run of pop-ups. 

The experience at Alma is intended to go beyond the menu. The space, designed to feel intimate and welcoming, retains some of the property’s original residential character. There are lounge-style indoor areas for conversations over a cup of coffee, and an outdoor wooden terrace designed for socializing. 

The project grew out of a story that began long before the café. The family behind Alma grew up around the kitchen thanks to the expertise of Elvia Ojeda, who has been a pastry chef and cook for decades.  

“My mom has been a pastry chef basically since I was born. She has always baked, loves catering, and we grew up enjoying food, desserts and family time,” explained Marla Ojeda, Elvia’s daughter and co-owner of Alma Cafe.  

The family’s passion for coffee came later. That passion evolved over years of “coffee expeditions” to places such as New York and California, where the family members took note of specialty drinks, pastries and space design.

“We love coffee. We were always traveling because there was some nice coffee shop we wanted to check out. More than anything, we enjoyed spending time together,” Ojeda said.  

The idea of Alma Cafe took shape when the family moved to Irving after the pandemic and noticed something that would eventually become an opportunity.  

“I saw that there was nothing here, especially on this side of Irving,” she said. “In downtown Irving we couldn’t find concepts like this; we wanted to create something that was more of an experience, not just a coffee shop or just a restaurant.”  

But opening Alma wasn’t easy. The chosen location was an old residential house that had to be converted into a commercial space. The process took nearly two years, including renovations, inspections, permits and modifications required by the city.  

“A lot of people didn’t understand why it took so long. They thought it would be three months, and it ended up being two years. It was a normal house, but when we walked in, we saw the vision,” she recalled.  

As the construction progressed, they decided to try their luck with a small pop-up in front of the building, without any advertising or marketing campaign. The intention was to find out what the community wanted, and the result was unexpected.  

“The lines wrapped around the house. The pop-up became very popular,” said Ojeda, who ended up unintentionally becoming the face of the business.  

Alma Cafe uses locally roasted coffee and created their own blend with a more intense flavor profile.  

“We wanted a stronger, bolder coffee. We’re Mexican American, and we wanted to reflect that. We also try to support small businesses and buy local whenever we can,” Ojeda explained.  

The sweet side of the project does have a direct connection to the family’s experience. Everything is baked in-house: scones, kolaches, pastries and sauces are made right in the shop using recipes developed by Elvia Ojeda. 

Some offerings blend traditional Mexican flavors with modern American reinterpretations, such as the Fresita cake, made with strawberries and cheesecake chunks.  

“These are flavors inspired by Mexico but adapted. We also have more American options,” Marla Ojeda noted.  

Among the drinks, the star is the Spanish Latte, prepared with a medium sweetness profile and a distinct coffee flavor. Other standouts include the Caramel Crush and the Alma Latte, finished with cinnamon. On the bakery side, the blueberry scones, strawberry scones and kolaches are highlights.  

On weekends, the menu adds options such as green and red chilaquiles, breakfast burritos and the so-called “divorced chilaquiles,” with both salsas, one of the most popular dishes.  

Alma Cafe is at 202 S. Britain Road, Irving. Alma Cafe Instagram.