All the effects of gentrification in one corner of Mexico's Colonia Roma

"Two American girls are sitting on a bench outside the establishment, sipping Nepalese green tea. The inside is a spacious and austere area reminiscent of an industrial warehouse with a visible bread oven, and English is spoken more often than Spanish. A man in his sixties, wearing a jacket and tasseled shoes, tells the young man behind the counter that he drove almost an hour from the wealthy residential area of Polanco just to buy a loaf of malted cereal: 165 pesos (about $9)."

"Sitting in the doorway of the building next to the bakery, a woman makes herself instant coffee. She's heating the water in an electric coffee maker plugged into the tangle of wires in the street. On a folding table there are plastic cups and sugar. Behind her is a pile of blankets brought by neighbors to help her through a particularly cold November night in Mexico City."

"Maria (who prefers not to give her last name) was evicted from her home at the end of summer, along with 20 other families, for a crime called despojo that is similar to squatting. They were forcibly removed in the early morning. Their belongings are still inside, and since then, they've taken turns standing guard at the door. The entire building is sealed off by the city prosecutor's office, including the ground floor: a soup kitchen."

Colonia Roma displays stark socioeconomic contrasts as upscale bakeries and cafes charge premium prices while longtime residents face evictions and loss of services. Patrons in polished establishments buy specialty teas and artisanal bread, and English frequently dominates conversations. Nearby residents endure precarious conditions: a woman heats instant coffee from a street outlet, neighbors provide blankets, and evicted families who faced despojo keep watch while their belongings remain inside sealed buildings. The city prosecutor's office has closed properties including a ground-floor soup kitchen that once served full meals for 10 pesos, eroding a vital community food resource.

Read at english.elpais.com