It has always been true that I'm a sucker for kindness. Since my cancer diagnosis just before Christmas, I think this has become even more true. As someone who is single with very little family around, it has become increasingly important to surround myself with people, places, and things that I find healing. I'd wanted to check out Illumine Coffee since I learned that they'd opened in the small strip center at 86th and Westfield directly next to the relocated Global Gifts. However, my schedule doesn't quite click with theirs and I simply don't find myself in this area as much as I used to. However, I had a day off for election day today and decided to get some errands done since my stamina seemed better than it has for a while. I stopped in to Illumine and decided I'd also check out the new spot for Global Gifts. Illumine Coffee is connected to the Indianapolis Art Center's Coffee Counter, which I also love, and also the Garfield Park Summer Farmer's Market. Illumine Coffee is a missional coffee roaster and shop that donates 10% of their profits to community organizations. It's locally owned by Kent and Anna Phillips. If you wonder why I loved the vibe so much read this directly from their website - "At illumine, we value exceptional coffee, intentionality and care for our customers, and generosity and kindness towards one another." It's truly no wonder that as soon as I entered, I felt welcomed. Illumine is, as I noted, located in a strip center just south of East 86th Street directly on Westfield Boulevard. There's also a holistic pet wellness clinic at the other end of the building along with Cater Me and a couple other businesses. Global Gifts relocated from their spot near Whole Foods to this building just before Illumine opened up, however, they are right next to each other and a seriously dynamic duo. I parked at the south end of the strip center since a spot allowing me accessibility was open, however, I quickly figured out that the best way to access the building to get to Illumine is on the north end. There's a ramp on the north end and a ramp directly in front of the pet wellness clinic. However, this is an older building and the sidewalk is kind of narrow. Thus, I had a couple obstacles blocking the sidewalk if I entered from the south. The north end is a bit easier, though as summer arrives and doors stay open there may be some challenges here (Global Gifts acknowledged this, though they are very helpful). Illumine has a single glass door and as you enter there's tables and chairs toward the right and toward the back. The counter is on the right toward the back. It's all fairly accessible, though the aisle between the counter and the tables is a tad narrow. I was able to make it, though a larger power chair might struggle. That said, there are ways to work with it and the front of Illumine is perfectly accessible. Illumine has a variety of coffee options, though it's refreshingly not overly extensive. There are also some amazing pastry and croissant options. I ordered an iced cold brew. I have to be honest and say it's likely the best one I've had. I'm hit-and-miss with cold brew, however, I really liked this a lot. I also ordered a chocolate croissant. As a paraplegic, I always hate ordering croissants. If you've ever been with me at a Yelp event, you know I'm incredibly nice and an incredible slob. Hey, it's true. This croissant was so good I'm not sure I cared if I was a slob. As all the cool kids say, it was delish. Okay, I don't think cool kids say delish. I think Kent may have been working and he was super friendly. He also has a seriously cool mustache. Yes, Kent, I'm Yelp reviewing your mustache. I have mustache envy. The other employee working was also super friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere is simple yet warm and inviting. There are outlets for working, but I liked that there was a quiet buzz of genuine conversation. Business was steady throughout my visit and I just really loved the vibe here. While this is a bit out of my way, I could easily see myself going a bit out of my way to come here. It helps that Global Gifts is also here - two great places in one strip center. There's also a new restaurant coming in soon to take over the old Greek restaurant that was here. There's much to love here and there's no question I'll be back. read more

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What a lovely place! The workers were all so helpful and happy. The menu had just enough choices. And the baked goods looked delicious. We had the coffee cake...very good. And we had two bacon and egg breakfast sandwiches which were also tasty. The coffee was just right and for how busy it was, I was impressed with how quickly everything came out. Lots of seating, including a cozy couch area in the back. Would definitely recommend! read more

I got the cookie butter iced latte and it was so good! Illumine is definitely a hidden gem. I didn't even know it was there. Tucked away in a small strip mall, you might not see it if you're not paying attention. The staff was so welcoming and kind, and explained the seasonal drinks to me as well as others. Ambience is great and there were a lot of people working in there. I will definitely be back! I wish the hours were longer, but maybe one day they'll expand! read more

Illumine Coffee - Cookie butter iced latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Coffee is awesome. People are awesome. It's closed on sundays.... So sick of this. Rivet the other coffee shop is closed too on sundays. SUNDAYS ARE JUST DAYS read more

I absolutely love coffee and the biggest coffee connoisseur! Every opportunity to try a new coffee shop I am there, this coffee shop has great vibes to get some work done to a catch up session with your bestie or to grab a quick coffee on the go! Must try! read more

I love trying different matcha latte teas to get a better feel of how they are made based off of taste and texture. This matcha latte 'hot' was pretty good but not the best I've had and the reasoning for that is because I like my matcha strong. Now knowing they are decently good ill ask for more matcha powder next time. The latte was very creamy because of how she frothered it which I really liked and of course I got the oatmilk as I normally do so it tasted less 'milky'. read more

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The Illumine coffee shop is just your basic coffee shop. But what makes this coffee shop special is truly the staff they are so sweet and helpful! I tried an iced cafe miel and a chocolate croissant. Both were decent, I think the croissant would've been even better warmed up but that's on me for not asking. This location does have plenty of seating options if you wanted to sit and get some work done or sit and relax on the sofa in the back. I recommend checking this coffee shop if it's local to you. Cheers! read more

Illumine Coffee - Coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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Simple and easy coffee hub, lots of parking, well laid out basic atmosphere, didn't have enough chairs when I first walked in but was able to sit down once I ordered, and good prices! No house made syrups sadly for that ideal drip sip, my maple latte settled too quickly leaving a shiny dark designer diabetes glow around the bottom. I had to swirl it all round and round a bit to make it mix. Had a right sealed take out cup since the indoor dining China was all used up, got it mixed well and could enjoy, I found a predictable sugar espresso tingle that paired well with my John Cleese book on Creativity. Service was friendly. Seems like a strong fun going city brew, I can see the appeal for bringing quick coffee to this part of Indy. read more

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I always shop near Nora, but have somehow never been to Illumine until today. Upon walking in, I was surprised at how spacious the shop is! There's plenty of tables and chairs, making it an ideal study location. The barista at the counter greeted me with a friendly smile. I ordered a chai latte, which I asked for a tad less sweet. They don't add sweetener to their chai latte, so they just used less of the chai flavoring (I'm guessing it's a syrup). Even with less chai flavoring, the drink was delicious! The milk was foamy yet light. I would love to try some of their seasonal drinks before winter ends, but I'm going to try to make more of an effort to go here! The staff is so sweet and drinks are reasonably priced. read more

5 stars for quality, atmosphere, and service! Very welcoming coffee shop a hop, skip, & a jump from North Central. Plenty of space to connect with friends & wi-fi for my laptop. Quiet enough to think, but not hush-hush. Great oat milk ice chai latte! And the best? Their tagline: be a light. read more

Illumine Coffee - Ice chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The employees working when we stopped in were such a delight! Ben made a pumpkin in my honey miel latte too! The atmosphere here is upbeat and modern and there was a good morning crowd. One of the best lattes I've ever had! read more

Illumine Coffee - Honey miel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Very good latte! I really wanted matcha but they don't have that here. The vibe is cool and chill inside. My latte was perfect temp and really good. I would definitely return. Hopefully they get matcha soon read more

Illumine Coffee - Chai latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The illumine coffee company just opened it's coffee shop. It is a great place! It's wonderful. Latte, pour over, bakery items, drip, cold brew, and fun! The family run coffee shop is warm, welcoming, and has a great atmosphere. My wife and I had pour over decafs. Loved it and we will be back! read more

Illumine Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

A great local coffee shop in the Nora area! I stopped in Illumine Coffee to try their caramel apple cider for a fall drink, and it hit the spot. The employees were friendly, and it seems like an inviting space to meet up with friends or work. read more

Ordered a hot blackberry brown sugar latte (which comes with oat milk) and it was delicious. I would definitely order it again. I got the order to go, but this looked like a nice place to sit for a cup of coffee. read more

Illumine Coffee - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

I remember trying illumine for the first time and looking at my sister immediately after my first sip of their blackberry brown sugar w/oat latte and saying "omg I'm gonna go broke. I just found my new favorite coffee shop" They even do in house roasting and they have my favorite beans ever. I get The Darkness and go through that bag very quickly. When I say I'm obsessed with this place. I mean when I got out of surgery all I could say was how much I loved "illumine coffee". Yes I said that more than noticing my husband taking care of me. So go check them out it will be your next favorite too! read more

I stumbled on Illumine Coffee when looking for a non-chain shop, and it's a modern and minimalistic aesthetics gem with insanely good coffee. The baristas were very patient as my senior citizen parents decided what to order. Illumine didn't have skim or 2% milk for a latte (they have almond and oat, which is a little too "non-traditional" for some elderly people who like what they like), but that was the only disappointment of the whole experience. Mom ended up with hot tea - high quality leaves in a sachet - and Dad and I each had an Americano. We also got chocolate croissants and a blueberry muffin. All the pastries were freshly baked and not defrosted or purchased at a club store. The Americano was the absolute star of the show. Illumine espresso is one of the smoothest I have ever tasted in all of the states and countries I have visited. We actually purchased beans to bring home as we were so impressed with the taste. When deciding which coffee beans to purchase, Kent (the head roaster and owner) was there and talked to me a bit about his in-house roasting and blending process. The thoughtful care and passion put into the quality and taste of this coffee is not only evident when he speaks, but in the final product in a cup. Illumine is a do not miss shop if you appreciate incredible coffee. read more

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We stumbled upon Illumine Coffee, located in the Nora area. The space was well done, and really clean. As soon as we walked in we were welcomed by the employees. They had a great menu of specialty lattes, and they were so unique! I ordered the caramel cookie butter latte and it was perfect!! Thanks Illumine for providing great service, lattes and welcome to Nora!!! read more

Illumine Coffee - Caramel cookie butter latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Service was great and people were super charming. Drinks were unique and interesting. Recommend!

Very nice facility and very helpful staff. Great selection. And convenient to the Nora area read more

Illumine Coffee - Coffee bar and pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The blackberry maple latte is one of the best I've ever tried. Cute shop in a great location. Employees are knowledgeable, quick, and patient! read more

If you know me you know that I am not a big coffee drinker. However when Yelp gave me the opportunity to try a new coffee shop on Nora I jumped at the chance because I love the area. Let me begin by saying that when you first walk in it is the cutest set up. There are couches and tables which allow for conversation or working. It is very quiet on the inside which made for a very relaxed environment. I decided to try a latte which tasted like a sugar cookie it was so great. The part that I really loved was the cup covers which say "you are not alone." The thought of someone seeing this first thing in the morning made me smile. I definitely love trying local places and you should too especially a place as thoughtful as this one. read more

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So glad I finally made it to Illumine! Cute place, and staff is super friendly and helpful! Knowledgeable about their product (is the chai a mild or bold? etc) and was happy to share personal reccs. I grabbed an iced Maple Vanilla Spiced Oat Milk latte and it had just the right balance of every flavor. The blueberry muffin was just the right amount of cakeyness & crumble, sweetness & blueberry - yummy! Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Great open space with lots of tables and chairs. The ambiance here is comfortable and relaxed. People were there solo with laptops or meeting with friends. Employees were super friendly and engaging customers. They have a good mix of coffee, espresso, loose leaf hot tea, iced tea, hot chocolate, and other special drink options. Loved their masala chai latte with oat milk. It had a nicely balanced flavor. read more

A new coffee shop semi-near my home?! Had to go. My husband and I stopped by in the mid-morning on a weekday. Everyone working was so friendly and answered a few of our questions about the menu. I got a cafe miel with oat milk and it was exquisite. Truly balanced and not too sweet like a lot of specialty lattes I've had lately. The honey was noticeable but not overpowering. There were probably 10 other customers there chatting or working on their laptops, the music was low, and the noise level overall was perfect for working remotely. (This is a gripe I have about some other popular local spots, the music is so loud that you'd absolutely have to take headphones to concentrate.) There were bench seats and individual comfy chairs as well. I can't wait to go back and try more of their specials! read more

Illumine Coffee - Cafe Miel and view of the front window - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The best coffee and the friendly staff, and great management. My husband is there twice a day!

Illumine is a great, unassuming spot to meet a friend for a morning coffee. There's ample seating inside. Some for 1, some for 2, some for 4. My wife loves the blackberry oat milk latte. I highly recommend the french toast muffin. Glad this spot exists! They're quick, kind, and provide service with a smile. read more

Coffee- Great option if I'm in the area. There's a Starbucks close, but why get Starbucks when you can have something local? Service- Friendly, kind staff Ambiance- Clean, well lit, good(not great) seating. I love that this place isn't overly done and simple. Simple wins, I'll be back if I'm in the area! read more

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Easiest 5 star review I've ever written. Staff is friendly, drinks are tasty, the owner is typically onsite and a great guy. Vibe is friendly and spacious. read more

Amazing cold foam. The caramel cookie butter latte is amazing. Super friendly staff and their downtown location is super convenient

Trendy and bright coffee shop that's good for a hang out spot. I got the pumpkin spice brown sugar latte that was delicious. Drinks take a bit of time (this ain't Starbucks) but worth the wait. They have pastries and breakfast sandwiches as well, I'll be back to try them! read more

Blackberry Oat Milk Latte it is truly the best latte in town. I have only ordered it hot, but I'm sure it is tasty iced too. The employees are always friendly and the shop ambience is warm and opening to meet up with someone. I have always had quick service here as well. Do yourself a favor and book your next coffee date here! read more

Cute hangout, friendly staff and delicious chocolate chip cookie! Great place to gather and work.

Delightful cappuccino! The foam was perfect & cute foam art. The barista checked in to ask how it tasted & also offered next time I come in to add in a bit of sugar when preparing the cappuccino so it'll dissolve better. Thoughtful & much appreciate touch I prefer to support local coffee shops & they'll definitely be in my rotation! read more

Coffee is great if you have 20 minutes to wait. Suggest a little help on speed. The wait is a tough balance.

This area needed a coffee shop! Great service love their extended hours and 4 birds pastires offered. read more

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Having this location close to the gym is dangerous but also a lovely treat. Staff is always warm and welcoming. The pecan croissant was recommended and I was so happy that I took, it was phenomenal! The space is chill with plenty of seating and natural light coming it. They also have wifi, which is a must now a days. read more

Illumine Coffee - Pecan croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

great service and food. Very fond memories from this establishment. normal coffee shop ambience. yet still absolutely perfect. The staff is always friendly and also very kind. locally sourced coffee and being a local coffee shop, I absolutely love it here. 11/10 would go here again. read more

It's a cute little place to stop if you want to hang out or get some work done. The ambiance is nice. The service is not the quickest - especially if the line is three or four ahead of you - but the food and drinks are reliable. read more

Illumine Coffee - A reminder to be a light - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I needed a matcha latte before my road trip to Chicago, so I decided to pick one up at Illumine Coffee. This is a neat coffee shop in Nora that I found through a Yelp Elite perk one week. The ambiance is nice and very eclectic. You can definitely relax and get some work done at the coffee shop. The staff are wonderful and friendly. They can make suggestions on a particular coffee for you depending on what your mood is for the day. The matcha latte is wonderful and prepared exactly the way I like it. The best part is this is very convenient for me since I live only a mile from the coffee shop. Illumine Coffee is a great hangout spot with friends to talk over a cup of coffee or to get some work done. I would come here on a regular basis if I needed to get some work done remotely for my job. It is average noise and not too loud. You can make progress with your work here at Illumine Coffee. It is a win-win situation! Great coffee and great atmosphere!! You cannot go wrong! read more