Cafe Diem — Restaurant in Ames

The last time I was there was Sunday, February 4th in 2018. I sat at a table by myself, and I spoke to no one except to request a cup of coffee. I had rarely gone to Cafe Diem because I was treated so badly while I was sitting quietly at my table and bothering no one else who was there. (I see other negative reviews on Trip Advisor, by the way.) I never faced any rude behavior at the Cafe Diem in Ankeny, where I'd frequently patronized between my web developer courses at DMACC. I am now a graduate student at ISU. This is my second experience as a graduate student. In another state, I completed an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in a four-year-long graduate program in creative writing , a program that has a strong reputation and admits less than 1% of its applicants. I'm happy, though, to say that I've never had any problems at Stomping Grounds or Cafe Beaudelaire. Thus, I have to agree with others who have written negative reviews about this establishment. Given that I never faced any kind of conflict in any other coffee house I'd frequented--including those in Ames, IA, Iowa City, Gallup, NM (where I served for a year as an Americorps VISTA), Santa Fe, NM, and Fayetteville, AR--I have to ask myself what made Cafe Diem such an unpleasant experience for me in the past year or two. In a letter of recommendation, my thesis director wrote that I have a strong social conscience. He knew me well, but I've had very little contact with the staff at Cafe Diem, so I'll defer to my thesis director's assessment of me. In any event, I can only conclude that Cafe Diem is an odd exception--at least in my case. I live close to Cafe Diem, but it was a mistake for me to swap Stomping Grounds and another cafe for the former. Oh, and while I'm thinking about it: the Cafe Diem in Ankeny was also quite warm and friendly, and it included more sunshine from outside. I wish they were in...

I've been here a number of times and never had anything but a positive experience. The atmosphere is very nice for getting caffeinated and working on homework or having a personal meeting, the food is enjoyable especially for a small coffee shop (I LOVED the chicken salad sandwich last time!). But this experience today at 3:40pm on Labor Day was by far the BEST so far. The lovely lady at the counter was SO INCREDIBLY helpful and thoughtful. She helped me understand the different types of coffees available and how best to get the drink I was hoping for, for the best price I could. She was so absolutely wonderful, I had such a great experience. She didn't have to go out of her way to help me find the best drink I could afford but she absolutely did, and was so kind about it. I liked this place before, but now I think I can say I...

Diem serves good to above average coffee consistently, with a rotating mix of seasonal flavors for lattes and such. Hard to tell if they aerate the pucks before tamping since the equipment is hidden behind the front desk. Good ratio of large to small tables and bar seats near the windows. The decor feels “lived in” and comfortable, though some of the tables and chairs don’t match the aesthetic. It could be an example of eclectic style to stand out, or it might be a case of answering an ad for “anyone want this free stainless steel table?” Parking is metered on Main but you can park in the lot by the Union Pacific trackway for free and walk a short block and a half to the cafe. Staff is friendly but don’t expect a casual conversation or banter unless you’re a regular. Hot food menu items aren’t worth the cost,...