After a long day on the road, a great cup of coffee is non-negotiable--even if it means venturing a…read morelittle farther from the exit. Brickhouse was absolutely worth the detour. Tucked away in a charming small town off I-80 in Iowa, this coffee shop is a gem. The beautifully renovated historic building adds to its warm and inviting atmosphere, making it the perfect place to recharge, whether you're grabbing a quick cup or settling in for a break. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and they made me a fantastic Americano--my go-to order since it delivers a consistently bold espresso experience without the variability of drip coffee. If you find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and make the stop. It's well worth it!

From New York to San Francisco, my wife and I have traveled to coffee shops across America…read more Brickhouse has now made it into our Top 5 best coffee shops we've been to. Expect to be greeted with a smile and warm vibes in this small town gem. This is a can't miss coffee shop if you're passing by!!

I've been to Midnight Coffee a number of times. The sandwiches are very good, and the coffee is…read moreokay. It's in a good location and a chill place to work. The location is right next to a hotel I've stayed at a few times. The service has always been pretty slow. Today's experience, however, was not good. The staff member was upset because she had to drive into work today (it snowed). I ordered an iced mocha, and I got a hot mocha. I told her about the error, and she said, "You said a hot mocha." I told her I had said "iced," and she responded, "We don't have any ice." Very strange since I got an iced mocha at that very place the day before. They may have run out, but the whole interaction seemed very strange. After ten minutes of waiting for my (wrong) drink, I ended up with a refund and the motivation to write a review.

Premium price and my latte was just ok tasting. I got a vanilla latte with oatmilk. I could taste…read morethere was vanilla so I appreciated that. My problem was that the oatmilk left a coating on my tongue that was just unpleasant. I liked the flavor but then this coating/feeling in my mouth lasted until I went home and brushed my teeth. I can't recommend the oatmilk, certainly not at this price.

There is just something about going into independent bookstores that feels like taking a step into…read morethe past. This was definitely the case when I stepped into Prairie Lights Books. I was in town visiting campus and needed to bring something back for my kids. A friend recommended the store so I walked the couple blocks over from my hotel to check it out. A lot of bookstores neglect books for kids. To my amazement the entire lower level of the shop was for kids. It was fantastic. I walked around for a good 30 minutes checking out what they had to offer. The upstairs has more traditional selection of books. I was in a hurry so I didn't have time to check it out. It was a place though you could easily get lost just browsing the shelves. Looking at some of the reviews I somehow totally missed that there was a cafe attached as well! I'll have to check that out the next time I'm in Iowa City.

I love visiting independent bookstores when we travel. There's no better way to get a feel for the…read morecommunity. I loved how the store was laid out. All staff was very helpful, even some staff members that weren't on the clock. I saw a lot of books I had not seen on shelves before. There was a great selection even though this isn't a giant store. Seek this place out if you're in downtown Iowa City. (Cafe area looked cool... just didn't have time to explore everything...but did buy books!)

Big Caribou fan! I decided to visit this location to get out of the house while working remotely. I…read moregot a iced vanilla latte (7.4/10) and a blueberry muffin (8.2/10) from the baked goods display case. Both were solid. The service here was great with cheery workers, and the atmosphere here is great for working. It feels like a cozy log cabin on the inside! Caribou misses a 5 star due to the lack of a wow factor when it comes to there coffee. It doesn't quite hit the "OMFG" levels of places like Cafe Saint Pio (Cedar Rapids) or Zoetic (IC / Solon).

Why go to Starbucks and other chains when they have little gems like this. I imagine it's a small…read morechain but the coffee is very good ($2.99 for a brew) and they give you refills. Good Wi-Fi and seating and I would much rather come here than any large chain like Starbucks.

Tspoons is located on the first floor of the Old Capital Mall. I recently had coffee here with…read moresome University Center for Advancement folks to discuss my modest donations to the College of Engineering. The inside area is small, a little dark, and with only a few tables available. Extended conversations should really be taken out into the seating area just outside this coffee shop. My black coffee (my favorite choice) was very good, and the treats were certainly tempting. Counter service was friendly and deliberate.

Coffee Emporium's coffee is good and the treats are delicious, but for me it's not a five star spot…read moredue to poor wifi and a lack of ambiance. You won't be disappointed in your coffee or the service here for sure, but you could certainly go somewhere with a cuter vibe if that is something important to you

This is a cool place!…read more I found it on Yelp nearby my grandfather's nursing home. I had a few hours to kill so I walked here and back. Very nice décor and I like that all the coffee is pour-over on demand. You can choose various kinds of coffee and get 'em after a little while. And at Starbucks I'm used to asking for a cup of water since I've walked a long ways, but here they have a carafe of cold water ready to go. That's good for me. I forget what my coffee was called (second from the top) but it was really really good! I was thinking about doing another whole (16oz) cup of it, but I had to go back.

I don't normally write reviews, but I found my experience to be extremely frustrating and…read morebelittling. I ordered tea, and the barista decided to be a jerk. First, he asked how I wanted my tea, not realizing he wasn't differentiating between the types. I didn't want to be rude, so I said I wanted to take it and go. I'll take the bag and steep. He meant to say pour-over but did not. So instead, he decided to laugh at me for his mistake, and still I decided I did not want to make him feel bad or correct him in front of everyone (because truly, who likes that), but maybe I should have, because he then mansplained to me how to pay for it. And the tea isn't even that great.

This is my third summer shopping the Iowa City Farmer's Market and also the third summer that Brass…read moreRing Coffee has been at the Iowa City Farmer's Market. And to be honest, I don't know if I would love Saturday mornings at this market like I do, if it weren't for Brass Ring Coffee being there! Owners Sam and Emma are always so cheerful and energetic (no doubt, thanks to their own great coffee), and they're passionate about what they're serving up which is reflected in the perfection of the pourovers and cold brew I keep ordering. Each year, their booth has evolved a little more and I can't wait to see where they take this fantastic popup coffee bar (I'm personally hoping it evolves into a hip new cafe somewhere in Iowa City).