Before I ever tasted a single bean, the name stopped me cold. Calusa. A roaster bearing the name of…read morean Indigenous people -- the Calusa, the ancient shell-mound builders, the unconquered lords of South Florida's mangroves and waterways. People who never surrendered. People whose bones are folded into this very soil. As someone who walks through this world carrying Taíno blood and the memory of peoples whose names colonizers tried to erase, that word hit different. It wasn't a gimmick. It wasn't a logo. It was a declaration -- that this land has a story older than any espresso machine, and somebody here understood that. That understanding alone earned my curiosity and my respect before I'd even stepped through the door. "The name carried the weight of a people who never bent. That's the kind of legacy worth building a roastery around." Then I learned the story behind the man behind the roaster -- and it only deepened my respect. Luis Arteaga came home from serving in the United States Marine Corps and did what so many veterans do: he looked for work. No fanfare. No red carpet. Just a man with discipline in his bones and calluses on his hands, trying to find his next mission in a civilian world that doesn't always know what to do with people like that. He found his way to the original owners of Calusa Coffee Roasters. They saw in him what the Corps had always seen -- dependability, grit, and a willingness to learn. They gave him a job. A floor to stand on. And Luis did what Marines do -- he didn't just fill a position, he grew into something greater. Over time, through sweat and dedication and an unmistakable passion for the craft, he rose to become the owner of the very roastery that once took a chance on him. That's not a business story. That's an American story. A veteran's story. And it's exactly the kind of origin that makes a cup of coffee taste like something more than coffee. CALUSA COFFEE ROASTERS IS A SOUTH FLORIDA INSTITUTION Fast forward to today, and Calusa Coffee Roasters isn't just surviving -- it is a staple. Walk into the right cigar bar on a Friday evening and someone at the table will mention the name. Sit down at the right diner counter on a Tuesday morning and a regular will nod toward that familiar bag. In South Florida's rich, layered, cafecito-and-culture coffee landscape, that kind of word-of-mouth is earned over years of consistency, of showing up, of never letting the cup get small. Luis continues to build something that belongs to this community -- rooted in the terroir of a region as complex and layered as its people. The coffee is exceptional. Bold where it should be bold, nuanced where it earns it. The kind of roast that makes you sit down instead of rushing out. That's no accident. That's someone who respects the craft because he was forged in institutions that demand nothing less than your best. "When a Marine finds his mission in a roastery, every bag he puts his name on carries the same standard -- do it right or don't do it at all." Meeting Luis was one of those moments I didn't expect to move me the way it did. We are both moving through the coffee world trying to build something that means something -- something rooted in identity, in service, in the belief that what's in the cup should tell a story worth hearing. And here was a fellow Marine who had walked a road I recognize: uncertain ground, earned footing, and a refusal to quit. And finally, if you are in South Florida and you have not made the pilgrimage to Calusa Coffee Roasters on Commercial Blvd, you are overdue. Go for the coffee -- stay for the story. And if you're lucky enough to meet the man himself, shake his hand. He earned it in more ways than one. To Luis Arteaga and everyone at Calusa: thank you for carrying a name that honors this land. Thank you for honoring the service that shaped you. And thank you for a cup of coffee that carries the weight of all of it without spilling a drop. Semper Fi, brother. Keep roasting.

I stopped by Calusa Coffee Roasters to do coffee run for my fiancee. I ordered the iced Americano…read morefor myself and iced vanilla latte for my fiancee with oatmilk. My fiancee seemed content with their flavors and she didn't yell at me. So based on this, I would assume Calusa Coffee has some decent coffees. Please try this place and see if you enjoyed it as much as my fiancee. The location is a bit weird to enter and exit so be careful driving in and out. They offer limited parking so bring plenty of patience with you when visiting!

Decided to stop by since I was in the area and i'm so glad i did! I got their French vanilla latte…read moreand it was soo delicious, along with their breakfast burrito omg. I was so excited to also see they had organic pressed juices!! The customer service was so sweet and welcoming. I ended up studying as I fell for the store's calming environment

I've been to this location at least three times, and each time, it's been a positive experience…read more Even when there's a long line, the service is always very fast and the staff is very friendly. I've also tried both their coffee and their matcha, and it's always hit the spot (finally, a place that promises lavender flavor and actually delivers!). Sadly I've never been able to just sit inside and enjoy my order (I've always either been on my way somewhere or about to head to the movies), but I love he overall vibe of the cafe and appreciate that they're trying to be a third space. Overall, I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area.

Delicious pour over Peruvian coffee. Great espresso, too! Complex and flavorful…read more Lots of seating, although it does get busy by 10 am on weekdays. Parking nearby. Plenty of natural light and a good place to work as long as you grab a seat and don't mind some music

This is a nice coffee shop and roastery. I read great reviews so had to stop in. There is only…read morestreet parking available. The space was lovely with plenty of seating. I had to try the horchata cold brew which was delicious. I can see why they have good reviews. We got my kids some pastries too. Overall, it's definitely a great coffee shop.

Excellent coffee - being roasters makes all that difference! Great atmosphere, great hospitality…read morefrom Emilio and Rakhila in the back. Will definitely drop in again.

Such a great little coffee spot! We stopped in for a quick pick-me-up and were really impressed…read more The place was spotless, had a cozy atmosphere, and everything looked so well put together. We ordered the Cinna Bun Latte and the Lavender Haze, and both were absolutely delicious. If you're looking for a new coffee shop to try, I definitely recommend stopping here. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

We came out after breakfast to get a little pick up. This business was tucked away in a small…read morebusiness center. We thought we parked by it but didn't and had to walk around to find it in the plaza. We even encountered other folks who were also trying to find it in the plaza. It might be good to have signs by the entrances to let people know where to go for that particular place, seeing as it's so popular. They were very welcoming and they were very quick with their service. They are a family owned i and operated business that specializes in Colombian coffee. They had some baked goods as well, but we didn't eat there. I ordered the banana coffee cake latte and it was fantastic! It was very rich in flavor, but kept it coffee. Unlike some of those specialty drinks and holiday drinks, it was not all syrup. I very much enjoyed it. Definitely recommend you checking them out. They're a bit away from the strip, so there won't be the same kind of lines.

New coffee shop in town? Apparently not.... It's just really well hidden! Cumbres has become a…read moregreat hidden gem! Parking was easy, the hardest part was finding where it was located, as I was not familiar with the plaza itself. Just make sure to follow your GPS well There's limited seating outside, and inside as well, but most people seemed to go in and take away their coffee and food. The coffee is freshly roasted, great quality, and the staff was super friendly explaining their different milk options, and quite healthy as well! I tried one of their iced lattes with a pandebono sandwich which seemed quite a novelty! Since pandebono is meant to just be eaten as is. Definitely exciting! I did enjoy it after all

Argyle coffee has been popping up all over the place and for some reason my husband thought that…read morethey had a coffee shop. So we did a few drive bys trying to find the shop. Lol One Saturday after a horrible breakfast experience, we decided to do another drive by and noticed the doors open. So we parked and proceeded to go in. We were immediately greeted by Manny, the owner. He had just opened up and was getting ready to start his day. Felt kind of bad walking in but he was gracious enough to give us a tour of the shop and even explained the roasting process and what each machine did. As if the tour wasn't enough, he even offered to give us a private cupping session. It was so awesome! We learned the proper way to make coffee and had the opportunity to try some. Ended up tasting the Ethiopia and Colombia. The Ethiopia was nice, light, and had an interesting flavor. It was like tea and I enjoyed drinking it as is. The Colombia was also tasty but on the bolder side. Fun Fact: did you know... bitter tasting coffee can be caused by the water being too hot or by over steeping. Delicious coffee... Super nice owner... recommend stopping in and getting your bag of beans! This location is not a shop! Lol But they welcome customers to come in to buy coffee bags and hang out.

If you think you're a coffee lover then pay a visit with Manny. He has a passion for the bean and…read moregenerously shares his interest. This is not a coffee shop but a wholesale outlet for coffee beans. On Saturday he will sell coffee directly to the public in 12 ounce bags or more. You'll learn about variety and regions, complex and simple flavors as well as how to store and prepare your Java. If you want decaf, cream or sugar then this is not your place. The atmosphere is simple and that works fine. Just as Manny says 'if you feel like you might lose an organ, you're in the right place'. I was in the right place and the taste of the coffee was well worth the treasure hunt to find this coffee pro.

Located in a strip mall you could almost easily pass it. The hanging sign shows Espresso Mail and…read moreon the glass window you could see Grumpy Man Coffee. It was early around 9am that I came by and it had steady customer flow and even more so after. The ambiance was interesting as it is a shipping/postal service with the coffee bar in the back. Met the owner and he was really nice and explained the history of the location and the interesting decor and more that is displayed in the store. What was most interesting was the wall of fame where you are able to see really interesting things that customers have shipped which was pretty cool! The coffee was good overall, the only wish I would have to make this better is to actually have a menu similar to what is showcased online on their site for visibility. The syrup flavors are shown on their board but the names of the specialty coffee isn't such as the lucky charms and the French toast. So be sure to check online to see their speciality coffee!

I don't think there is a bad thing I could say about Grumpy Man. I am a true lover of their in…read morehouse roasted coffee beans. They release these seasonal roasts that are always just so good. I usually will have mine shipped to me but on the occasion I get to visit the shop I always have to get one of the specialty hot/cold drinks to go. They are SO good. They also do mail, packing and shopping services amongst other things which is so convenient. It's a one stop shop for your quick errands and you get to have some amazing local coffee while you are at it!

I was introduced to Per'La when I happened upon the Instagram Live that co-founders Chris and Paul…read moredid with Yelp Miami recently... They were so approachable, knowledgeable, and fun, that I wanted to support them, so I purchased some coffee. This was on a Thursday morning. The coffee was delivered across the country to my doorstep in Arizona on Saturday - I was super impressed! We made a pot of the Miami Restaurant Employee Relief Fund Blend this morning and it was fabulous. I typically put some steamed almond milk into my coffee but I drank it black (and several cups). It wasn't just me who enjoyed it either. It also passed the test of my judgemental, 43 year old Jewish husband's palate. He always takes his coffee black and this was no exception. I will definitely visit the Per'La coffee shop whenever I make my way back to Miami, but in the meantime, I'm sending love from Phoenix during these crazy times. I know where to look if I ever have questions related to coffee as well! Thanks Team Per'La!

Okay. I call myself an avid coffee drinker, however, I don't think my body was ready for what…read morePer'La throws down. Two cups in the morning, and I was still watching episodes of The Office until 4am... so you know the stuff is good, and probably the most productive I've been in a long time. Since I don't live in Miami, I ordered some of their beans and had them shipped. I got the Lucha Blend in whole bean form and some of the Cold Brew Blend ground up for my summer enjoyment during the heatwaves. I liked them both for different reasons, but the the Lucha Blend was my favorite. It was a dark roast but didn't punch you in the face. It was super smooth and you could get the smoky notes of chocolate with every sip. Don't get me wrong, the cold brew stuff was good too, and again, a small glass will keep you buzzing for hours. I've heard so many great things about Per'La from friends, so I was super happy I was able to support this coffee shop from across the country during COVID-19. Not only was the ordering process super easy via their website, they offer free shipping, and even included a super cute hand-written note showing appreciation too. Huge plus. I ordered on a Thursday and I was drinking their delicious blends by the start of the work-week. I don't know if they're always this fast, but... it was fast. Until I can come in and support them in-person during a future trip to Miami, I know I'll be ordering more of their beans to hold me over until that happens!