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.

Came here once or twice before and the mocha latte was very bland and overpriced…read more Decided to come back and give it another try because it was only place in the area and it will definitely be my last time. It was about 11:30 AM on a Saturday and there were a couple people from me so it took me nearly 10 minutes to place my order just for them to tell me they were out of mocha lattes and pretty much any flavored lattes.

Good food, but not a lot of veggies!on the hot bar area today to choose from and the ones I love…read morewere too spiced up . I love herb seasoning, not black pepper , hot chili peppers or blackened foods . Some people will not eat a vegetable unless it's spiced flavor ! The desserts are always yummy. Manager told us he will change his table seating as another Living Green location did , must be getting complaints about the one person in a booth with a laptop and a coffee cup , sitting for a long time . Ambiance is a cool vibe, chill music , with lots of usually young good looking people .

For a unique experience Living Green fits the bill. It is quirky and has a nice cafe where you…read morechoose from fresh selections like salmon which is quite good. There are also vegetables and starches. I wish they could keep all the offerings heated. There also is a gourmet grocery selection and wine. You can dine in, sit in outside tables or have it boxed for takeaway. My one wish is that "Living Green" would not use plastic utensils and containers for those dining in.

Rose's is a cute, modern coffee bar inside of the Del Mar hotel. It's easy to find, but depending…read moreon what time of day you're going, you may have to fight to find street parking. I work nearby, so I just strolled in during my lunch break for a little midday pick-me-up. The staff is pleasant and helpful. My only suggestion is to perhaps have an allergens list for the individual baked goods. I tried to ask the staff about whether some of the treats contained nuts (in particular, the s'mores bar, and the chocolate chip cookie) as I have a peanut allergy (tree nuts are okay). There was a bit of a language barrier and the staff seemed unsure, and tried to err on the side of caution (which I appreciate). However, knowing that a s'mores bar or a chocolate chip cookie is unlikely to contain actual peanuts, I was a little frustrated because it would have been okay for me personally if it was simply that the baked goods were "processed in a factory that manufactures peanut products". Those trace amounts normally don't affect me. I feel like this was likely the case, but again, I'm glad that they just proceeded with an abundance of caution. I settled for a cheese danish even though I was really after a chocolate craving. Good on the staff for being cautious, disappointing for me that I couldn't cater to my chocolate craving. Oh well. I also ordered a Get Green smoothie, which was refreshing and delicious. The coconut water makes it super hydrating. Whether you're staying at the Del Mar hotel or just work nearby and want a little treat, this spot is a great place to stop in.

The coffee was very average, however, the service is why this rating is so low. Sabrina had a…read morehorrible attitude from the start, looking us up and down as soon as we entered. After my friend ordered, her drink came out very light. From the jump I knew I was going to be disappointed. I asked Sabrina if I could pay to add an extra shot into my drink as all they had done at this point was put ice in the cup. She looked so aggravated, as if charging me an extra dollar for a shot was the biggest inconvenience. In all, don't come here. To add, it's in a hotel lobby, very average. Most average coffee for a girl to just give attitude from the moment you enter. Not coming back

This place is so quaint! We came looking for dessert and found a whole vibe! My partner ordered…read moresome butter pecan gelato, and it was so smooth and flavorful! I almost ordered some myself, even though I was waiting for my cheesecake. I ordered matcha cheesecake, and it almost seems like they made it from scratch! The consistency was perfect, and its presentation was lovely. I asked where to pay and was told to enjoy first and pay later. Now THAT is service. They've got cute chairs throughout the store and a nice, Parisian vibe. You can order croissants, gelato, cheesecake, carrot cake, and a whole host of sweets. I'm sure this is a Wilton Manors 'go to'!

Excellent atmosphere, excellent coffee and dessert was 10/10. Owners were so sweet to dogs coming…read morein. Will definitely be back.

AMAZING FOOD and SERVICE‼…read more Every time I've been I felt at home...treated like family‼ Today Stanley was THE BEST I've had! He DESERVES a RAISE!!!!‼‼‼ Go....enjoy! ABC say hi to Stanley

I hate needing to drop stars from local places that I love, but Stork's has a recent problem that…read moreneeds to be called out. Namely - staff and service. Management, I'm talking to you - the new staff members that have been present during our visits in the past month do not fit the ethos of your business. Service has been sloppy. Your new staff members failed to properly check with the kitchen on allergens and sold us an item that could have put me in the hospital had I not paid closer attention. On top of this, they've completely forgotten items that we have paid for. Now, this isn't the first time this has happened here - but whenever it's happened in the past, staff has always been very apologetic and gone above and beyond to make it right on our next visit. This time? Victim-blaming, and a lackluster recommendation to contact a manager - no apology, no attempt to right the wrong. If I wanted shoddy service and apathetic attitudes, I'd go to a chain. What makes Stork's special is its food, yes, but also its sense of community. And lately? You've been severely underwhelming in this category.

Travelled almost an hour while on vacation to get to this place, but it was worth it to see the…read morekitties. All of the volunteers there are very sweet and you can tell they really care about the cats. The space was really well used even though it was small. I don't know if I would call this a café, it is more of a cat lounge with some drinks for purchase. They don't charge for admission but we were able to donate and they were very grateful. We spent about an hour here and it got pretty crowded which was really nice. I think they are very good at getting cats adopted which is what matters!

Cat rescue with snacks and drinks while you per the cats and maybe adopt. There a toys, tshirts…read moreyou name it. It's run by a dedicated staff of volunteers. There's a buzzer at the front door so they can carefully unlock without escaping kitties bolting through the open door. It's almost like a secret cat speakeasy upstairs with a small sign on the street. There's also a great pizza place on the first floor of the same building. Terrific concept and extremely well run

Sometimes the best breakfasts are the ones you stumble into without much of a plan, and that's…read moreexactly how we ended up at Angelo Elia Bakery Bar. We ordered a latte, the Parma prosciutto, stracchino and fig spread croissant, and a ham and cheese quiche to share. The moment they pressed that croissant on the grill and served it warm, I knew we made the right choice. The buttery, flaky pastry with the salty prosciutto and sweet fig spread was one of those bites that makes you stop talking for a second just to appreciate it. The quiche was just as memorable, light, fluffy, packed with flavor, and somehow gone way too quickly. Sharing sounded like a good idea when we ordered, but halfway through I was already regretting it. Great coffee, delicious food, and the kind of place that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even paid the bill. The service is super friendly and the cafe is modern and super clean. Can't wait to come back and work my way through the rest of the bakery case.

Stumbled upon this gem and can't believe I haven't been here before! Super cozy cafe with an…read moreamazing array of baked goods, coffees, and food options. Staff was super friendly and our drinks and treats came out fast. Plenty of cozy indoor seating also tables covered outside too. They had a nice coffee bar and a few tvs too, very European vibe. Music was soft and not interruptive, very nice vibe. Will definitely make this part of the regular routine!

Love it here! They have a huge variety of coffee flavors. The Avalanche is my favorite so far…read more(mocha + caramel). Their cinnamon muffin is also delicious. I love the space inside. I've started coming here to do computer work since there's a lot of seating inside.

I was very impressed with Aroma Joe's! We were looking for a coffee shop with food options located…read morenear our hotel and decided to give this place a try. We ordered an egg sandwich with spicy chorizo, veggie and cheese egg bites, and an iced latte. Everything was excellent. Both food items were a step up in quality from more common chains. I especially liked the sandwich, which had a good balance of fillings with bread and a nice spicy kick from the chorizo. The iced latte was smooth and didn't need any sweetener to be delicious. It also wasn't overfilled with ice. Service was very friendly and helpful to us as first time visitors. There's a lot of seating inside and on the patio. We will definitely return the next time we're in the area!

Great food, ambience and even better service! Would recommend for breakfast/brunch. Great for small…read moregroups

Very torn on this review. I had so many people tell me I had to come try this cafe, so this…read moreSaturday we did. The ambiance is nice, it being summer didn't really help but I can picture what it would be in the fall. The food was decently portioned for the price, tasty and nicely presented .. now the coffee, which is what we really went for, was not it! I didn't even finish mine and neither did my boyfriend . And we are coffee lovers! Sad because it truly has great potential. As they say you always have to try something once

I was not a fan of their coffee, however their chocolate chip cookie was to die for. Delicious…read more Also, the egg, cheese and bacon empanada was super tasty. I did not expect the empanada to taste so good. I am very happy that I gave them another chance and tried their food.

I came with a group of friends Saturday around 10ish in the morning. Needless to say it was busy…read more It's nicely decorated Inside and they also serve food. One side is the floral shop and the other side is the coffee bar. The entrance to the coffee bar where you place your order is way too small for the amount of traffic flow they have coming in and out. I felt like I was in the way no matter where I went. The employee taking our order was not the nicest and definitely was overwhelmed. This isn't a regular coffee shop where you can place your order to go and still drink your coffee or hang around. We were told If we were not eating or drinking at the coffee bar you will not be able to sit down. Ordered two iced lattes and two empanadas. Coffee was okay but the empanadas were really good!