BlackEarth Java Coffee

It sure is interesting! Like stepping back into time. The coffee is not my favorite by any means…read more But it is something different and is fun to stop by.

I love finding these Gems in small towns. Toads is super quaint. Very tiny, only three tables that…read moreseat two each. But the space is so amazingly eccentric, it's enjoyable to just sit and look around. The coffee is roasted on site, good flavor nice balance. The proprietor was just as eclectic as his shop, interesting and informative. Overall I gave this a 5 star rating for the atmosphere, the good coffee was a bonus. Huge fan of this place.

Look for us on the West side of the main street, 2 blocks south of the tracks or 6 blocks north of the river.

Our historic location in downtown Spencer

See all

Cozy view of Grand Ave

Medlar Coffee Co

4.4(5 reviews)

1.0 mi

Medlar is a cute coffee shop on the Main Street in Spencer. We arrived early on a Saturday, within…read more30minutes of opening, so they didn't have everything ready but they got the operation up and running quickly. The coffee was great, but the best thing was the cappuccino muffin. We had to wait about 10minutes for the muffins to be ready, but that made these even better! The muffins fresh out the oven were the move. 10/10 quality. You should absolutely order a cup of coffee and a cappuccino muffin if they have them.

I really like their coffee and food. However, I just watched two girls, one making my sandwich and…read morethe other filling food containers, touch the food with their bare hands and no gloves on. Would appreciate it if they wore gloves while making food.

Comfortable interior

Storefront

See all

Homemade bread and pastries

Muggabeans Coffee Company

4.0(2 reviews)

1.5 mi

Always our go to in the Spencer Hospital. Thank you for being there. Coffees are always worth the…read morewalk (instead of the less appealing freebies), and it's great to have the options. No matter what reasons anyone might be in the hospital, take that little extra trip to Muggabeans.

This place was too hard to find Cuz it's in a hospital hallway. While the coffee was not stellar it…read morewas not over-priced..

Starbucks

2.4(5 reviews)

1.3 mi

Every time I have been there or go there, they are extremely slow. Took 10 minutes to make one iced…read morelatte. Besides that, the service is horrible. I have been to multiple Starbucks and this one is by far the worst I have ever been to.

Watching five employees work this stand was hysterical. New employees being trained. Some had…read morenerves of steel others were extremely nervous. I told one newbie it would get easier and the next day she smiled and seemed much more relaxed at her new position. Very efficient crew, we were here nearly everyday of our house hunting trip to Spencer. We will be back! Thanks gang for the fun experience! Great coffee too!

Pecan Cortado

Iced Banana Bread Latte

See all

Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha

Sisters Mainstreet Cafe

3.2(5 reviews)

0.9 mi

Be sure to go on the days they have cinnamon rolls....absolutely wonderful!! Also beware of over…read moreordering. Everything is absolutely supersized. My husband and I could have easily shared one breakfast, the portions were so generous. Nice vibe, AND DON'T FORGET THE CINNAMON ROLLS!

Was in town with my wife on business from California and we were looking for breakfast. There were…read moreonly a few cafes listed on Yelp but we saw this place while driving through town and decided to stop. It is definitely the place where the locals get breakfast! Lots of older folks gathered for coffee and breakfast. Exactly what you would expect in a small farming community! My wife and I both had the Bargain Breakfast which was two huge pancakes, two eggs and bacon or sausage. It was about $9 I think and was plenty of food with the big pancakes (I had blueberry pancakes for an additional $1.25). Pancakes were the star of the show. As my wife said, they were some of the best pancakes she had ever had. Perfectly cooked and not too dense. If we were ever in town again we would almost certainly come back to see what the locals were up to!

Largest pancake I've ever seen 13"

Locals at breakfast

See all

#8 Bargin Breakfast

Scooter's Coffee

3.7(3 reviews)

1.3 mi

Love scooters!!! I like how they have different options than Starbucks as well. I love there app as…read morewell!

Normally big fans of Scooters but this location was something. We were overcharged $5 as the…read morewindow guy must have given himself a tip. We paid with a new gift card and he "couldn't" give us a receipt. I would avoid this location. Spouse reached out customer service who provided no response after a week. Well done young man, well done. Guy knows his game.

See all

The Hen House

4.8(6 reviews)

1.0 mi

We split the sandwich and the flavor is off the chart. Can't wait to see everything in the store…read morehere.

I'm a transplant to Northwest Iowa, so when I discovered The Hen House years ago - with its…read morebig-city charm, gifts and home decor options in a small-town setting - I fell in love. I often tell the owners that if The Hen House ever leaves town -- I'm outta here, as welI! The Hen House is my favorite shopping destination in Spencer. I also love to bring my out-of-town company to experience it for themselves, because it's tons of fun! They offer amazing seasonal items, baby gifts galore (ear of corn chew toy is my favorite staple gift), house wares, kitchen/dining, funking jewelry, pillos, lamps candles. . . Oh, and to receive a gift card from The Hen House is like finding a little lump of precious gold in your pocketbook.

See all

Twisted Sips

5.0(1 review)

1.1 mi

Twisted Sips is one of our absolute favorite locally owned coffee shops. (Can you blame us for not…read morehaving just one favorite?) This little drive-thru gem is owned and operated by the amazing Bobbi Schmith -- a seasoned barista with a heart of gold and a gift for crafting drinks that hit the spot every single time. She's friendly, fast, and full of good energy, and it shows in every sip. The drinks? BIG, bold, and unique. We've tried everything from the Cadbury Egg Latte (pure Easter magic) to the Twisted Caramel Macchiato -- blended to perfection. They also serve up a full lineup of options: hot, iced, or blended... espresso or not. Coffee, tea, cold brew, Lotus, Red Bull, smoothies -- all the good stuff. And the food? Homemade breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and daily lunch specials that are actually worth going out of your way for. Everything's made fresh and served fast, which makes this spot perfect for busy families (like ours!) on the go. They even do fun promos -- like holiday giveaways, surprise discounts, and cheerful seasonal touches that make your day just a little sweeter. Pro tip: Check their Facebook page for daily food specials -- they change it up all the time, and it's always something good. If you haven't been to Twisted Sips yet, treat yourself. You deserve it. #TwistedSips #SpencerIowaEats #DriveThruGold #LocalLove #CoffeeWithHeart #SpencerIowa

McDonald's

2.0(24 reviews)

0.5 mi

My previous review still stands... and one of the best things to roll out lately is the app and…read morecurbside delivery! Don't tell anyone!! Especially when the lines are long... just pull into a spot and then order your food and safely play on the phone, check emails, meditate, do whatever you want until your food arrives!

They are very slow in drive thru waited almost an hour to get our order don't recommend eating hereread more

Prime Rib

3.6(63 reviews)

0.2 mi

Came in for a work dinner while in town. There was 8 of us. Very busy place & they sat us quickly…read more Service was super friendly and great. The drinks were very good. Appetizers & food was top notch. Everyone was super happy with their meals. Family friendly place with nice people.

Good enough for Spencer Iowa! Food seems consistent. Very dated which adds to the charm. Who even…read morehas a salad bar anymore?? Service is friendly.

Baked potato

See all

Inside the restaurant.

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

17 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Michael S.

6

10

4

10 years ago

There was a time when I never would have dreamed that I'd review a coffee business, because quite simply... I'm not a coffee drinker. At some point in my life, however, I became quite a fan of Chai Lattes. (I think a fellow ISU student in Ames introduced it to me back in my college days. College is a time for experimentation, right?) Without a doubt, BlackEarth Java has the best Chai Lattes in town, with the most variety of additional flavor options. Now, it's true, with a variety of different people working there you might not get the sort of consistency in your drink you might expect from other "cookie cutter" places. But it seems to me that BlackEarth is one of those "custom hand crafted" business endeavors where perhaps it should remind you that variety is the spice of life. Of course, I say this knowing full well that I'm going to order the same thing every time. Speaking of ordering, for me personally.... I pretty much show up at the same time and on the same side of the building and usually get very consistent service. The person I see there the most recognizes me, remembers what I like to order, and away we go. As for coffee itself... who knows, maybe I'll give it a try again someday. It could happen. After all, I didn't like chocolate covered coffee beans when I started going there, and now I'm addicted to the damn things! (FYI, they'll hook you by giving you a free one with every drink.) read more

Annette S.

75

2

0

10 years ago

If ever in Spencer Iowa and need a great cup of coffee, this is the place to go! The help is AMAZING and will make you anything you could think up! Their menu is large and they never rush you on choosing your flavor! The best part is you never have to leave your car, just pull up order, and drive away! My favorite is mud slinger! Enjoy! read more

Teri V.

0

1

0

12 years ago

The best coffee ever! Served with a chocolate covered coffee bean and a cute sticker and a punch card. Buy 10, 11th is free! So many beverages to choose from, not just coffee! The prices are quite decent! And its drive up..dont have to get out of the car!! The service is FABULOUS! I highly recommend this place..the BEST! read more

Shelly R.

0

1

0

12 years ago

Blackearth Java is an exceptional drive up coffee shop in the parking area of Many Hands Market and Napoli's in South Spencer. They make a tasty latte as well as the regular House blend in regular or decaf. Their hours are the best of any coffee shop outside of gas station "coffee". Their prices are moderate. read more

Mike O.

0

2

0

11 years ago

OMG THIS PLACE IS LIKE THE BEST PLACE EVER FOR ANYTHING DELICIOUS! Sorry for the all caps but i can not stress how absolutely delightful this place is. Amazing service, amazing drinks, and amazing people with awesome personalities. CAN NOT WAIT TO COME BACK!!! read more

Lisa R.

0

2

1

8 years ago

I just love the coffee here. The employees are always welcoming and smiling . I will always recommend this place to everyone. Love the frappes, expressos, Italian Ice, and the cold & hot teas. KEEP UP THE EXCELLENT WORK read more

Ashley R.

0

5

0

8 years ago

Love the smoothies there... decently priced too. Most friendly staff at a coffee place and with it being a drive thru it's very convenient too. And I love how they give you a free drink after you buy ten. read more

Kristine B.

0

1

0

1 year ago

Service has always been amazing! Drinks are top tier! Its my favorite coffee place! The smell of their air freshener is absolutely stunning! There is no coffee place that beats BlackEarth Java! read more

Caleb L.

3

1

0

4 years ago

Great coffee, great non- coffee drinks.. awesome customer service!!! They offer so many awesome drinks- drink possibilities are endless!

Dylan D.

108

2

0

8 years ago

Great coffee! Always busy. Owners are great!! Very reasonable in price!! If coming through town, make sure to stop!!

Tami E.

18

1

0

10 years ago

This is the Best place to get the best drinks (coffee, teas or speciality drinks) ever. And the best barstis ever.

Elice H.

47

1

0

8 years ago

I have been a fan of BEJ since they opened. Spot on lattes hot or cold. I can't get through a week without one.

Destiny M.

0

13

6

4 years ago

Absolutely the best coffee ever!! It's always fresh and all the staff are very friendly.

Caitlin R.

0

2

1

9 years ago

I am not a coffee drinker , but Love the mudslinger frappe!! Service is always great!

Isabella N.

0

2

0

5 years ago

so good when ever me and my grandparents go we always get coffee from there delicious

Abigail S.

1

2

0

6 years ago

In my opinion, the best coffee in Spencer!

Janet H.

0

3

0

8 years ago

Good coffee but count your change.

BlackEarth Java Coffee - coffee - Updated August 2026

People who viewed BlackEarth Java Coffee also viewed

Localish Okoboji

5.0

(4 reviews)

The lavender latte is so good! This was walking distance from my air bnb, so it was nice to walk to…read morecaffeine! I come several times a year for work, I'll be back!

Mollie has been wonderful both times we've been in the store. The lavender love latte is one of the…read moreBEST lattes I've ever had. The blueberry muffin was delicious as was the blueberry scone I had the following day. My sister got a vanilla iced latte and a lemon poppyseed muffin both times and was equally impressed. Prices are fair and her customer service can not be beat. She has earned herself a few loyal and local customers. I cannot say enough positive things about LOCALiSH. We even had some ice cream while we waited for our coffee and it was some of the best ice cream I've ever had. We'll be back for sure! If I could give more than 5 stars I would. Not to mention the place smells like homemade waffle cones and it's adorable on top of that.

Spice & Lemon

3.3

(3 reviews)

If you are in Okoboji Iowa and you get coffee at any other place you are crazy. We have tried every…read moreplace and this is it. The line says it all. Stand in that line and wait because you will not be disappointed ever. Every single drink is made the same every time. Do not walk to this place RUN. Amazing atmosphere amazing workers amazing everything.

They charged extra for lite ice for a $7 drink and took a long time to prepare everything at the…read morecoffee shop I worked at we didn't charge extra for lite ice it should be a common practice to get what you payed for and I didn't pay for a drink with a few sips because it's full of ice

Medlar Coffee Co

4.4

(5 reviews)

Medlar is a cute coffee shop on the Main Street in Spencer. We arrived early on a Saturday, within…read more30minutes of opening, so they didn't have everything ready but they got the operation up and running quickly. The coffee was great, but the best thing was the cappuccino muffin. We had to wait about 10minutes for the muffins to be ready, but that made these even better! The muffins fresh out the oven were the move. 10/10 quality. You should absolutely order a cup of coffee and a cappuccino muffin if they have them.

I really like their coffee and food. However, I just watched two girls, one making my sandwich and…read morethe other filling food containers, touch the food with their bare hands and no gloves on. Would appreciate it if they wore gloves while making food.

Central Perk Coffee House

4.4

(14 reviews)

It's the cutest coffee shop with a great vibe. The baristas were kind and friendly. They have…read morefantastic coffees and teas as well as other fun drinks like frozen hot chocolate and more. I'm a huge fan of their sandwiches which are delicious and filling. And I may or may not have sampled their baked goods - all which were delicious.

The young lady at the counter promptly told about the daily special and took my order. I ordered a…read moreTurkey and Avocado BLT with a chai latte. The chai was up quickly. The BLT was also up in pretty good time. The BLT was good with ample avocado and bacon. The BLT was served with chips (kettle). The seating area is pretty spacious for the size and layout of the place and there 7 others there eating when I was. Quiet little place with some music playing in the background. Free WiFi and the price for my meal was reasonable given prices these days.

O'Farrell Sisters

3.6

(83 reviews)

We enjoyed it. Staff was friendly. Way better than your normal diner. Food was good. Prices were…read morevery low. Outdoor seating and felt like you were stepping back into time. Adding it to our rotation for future visits.

Food was amazing, it was hard to choose what to get but everything was delicious. The Pancakes were…read moresuper big and fluffy, the Omlet was the best one I've ever tasted, and the French Toast was great. The workers were super friendly, it was a very good environment and experience.

Toad's Roadhouse Coffee

4.5

(8 reviews)

It sure is interesting! Like stepping back into time. The coffee is not my favorite by any means…read more But it is something different and is fun to stop by.

I love finding these Gems in small towns. Toads is super quaint. Very tiny, only three tables that…read moreseat two each. But the space is so amazingly eccentric, it's enjoyable to just sit and look around. The coffee is roasted on site, good flavor nice balance. The proprietor was just as eclectic as his shop, interesting and informative. Overall I gave this a 5 star rating for the atmosphere, the good coffee was a bonus. Huge fan of this place.

American Classic Cafe

3.2

(30 reviews)

Have been eating lunch here ever since they opened. Never disappointed. Their food is delicious…read more Their daily specials are affordable and yummy. Not fancy. Just good food and service.

the past 2 times I have gone in ive sat for 30-40 minutes before I get my order in. I usually tip…read morewell so im not sure what the reason is.

Sisters Mainstreet Cafe

3.2

(5 reviews)

Be sure to go on the days they have cinnamon rolls....absolutely wonderful!! Also beware of over…read moreordering. Everything is absolutely supersized. My husband and I could have easily shared one breakfast, the portions were so generous. Nice vibe, AND DON'T FORGET THE CINNAMON ROLLS!

Was in town with my wife on business from California and we were looking for breakfast. There were…read moreonly a few cafes listed on Yelp but we saw this place while driving through town and decided to stop. It is definitely the place where the locals get breakfast! Lots of older folks gathered for coffee and breakfast. Exactly what you would expect in a small farming community! My wife and I both had the Bargain Breakfast which was two huge pancakes, two eggs and bacon or sausage. It was about $9 I think and was plenty of food with the big pancakes (I had blueberry pancakes for an additional $1.25). Pancakes were the star of the show. As my wife said, they were some of the best pancakes she had ever had. Perfectly cooked and not too dense. If we were ever in town again we would almost certainly come back to see what the locals were up to!

Maxwell's Beach Cafe

4.0

(113 reviews)

TL; DR: Great place for food and drinks as well as a good late night spot!…read more Great spot for the Turkey Club! The drinks here are amazing! Solid martini, traditional Negroni, classic Old Fashioned, Prickly Pear Marg, and mini beers all hit the mark. They also bring out complimentary bread for dinner, which is a nice touch. I'd love to come back and try more of the menu. Heads up that it turns into a busy bar scene later in the night, so keep that in mind depending on the vibe you're going for.

A place I've gone to and will always continue to go to year after year!…read more As this restaurant is only open 3 month a year I always look forward to going! Food is absolutely amazing. I recommend starting out with their calamari or the Italian nachos are truly one of a kind. Their fish is so fresh and their Tuna is always a go to item for me as well as their desserts are always scrumptious. The wait staff is nothing but the kindest people and so attentive. I love eating both inside and on their patio on nice days. Please note this place is never empty and always packed so be prepared to wait a little bit but it is always worth it. Reservations are almost a necessity on the weekends. An Okaboji classic and will continue to eat here year after year.

The WaterFront

3.6

(106 reviews)