392Caffe — Restaurant in Clinton

Recently I was in town and I was really excited to check out this cute local coffee shop, the place had a great vibe and some solid reviews, so I thought it would be a nice treat. Unfortunately, my experience left me genuinely unsettled.

While waiting in line, I watched the customer ahead of me hand the barista a jar of what had to be either raw milk, or br*est milk, and ask for it to be used in their latte. What shocked me more was that the barista accepted it without question. As someone with a vulnerable immune system, I found this not only gross but also deeply concerning from a health and safety perspective. Allowing customers to bring in unregulated, potentially unsafe substances and then bringing those behind the counter where other people’s food and drinks are prepared is a major red flag. Raw milk is filled with bacteria that can be airborne, I could not take this risk.

To make things worse, the trash bins were overflowing, and there were flies buzzing around the seating area. It just felt unsanitary overall, and I ended up leaving without ordering anything.

Really disappointed. I wanted to support a local business, but this just didn’t feel like a safe or clean...

I enjoyed a lunch meeting with colleagues at 392 while visiting Clinton. I enjoyed the Chicken Pesto Panini, which was pilled with good chicken, plenty of cheese, and a well-balanced pesto. The Panini selection was difficult, with many delicious-sounding options. The bakery case was full of attractive selections, but I opted for a Pumpkin Blended Iced Latte instead. The iced latte was pretty good, good balance of pumpkin without being overpowering.

The Hip, "urban" atmosphere is fun for informal meetings, hanging out, or sitting back and getting some work done while jiving to the medium-volume music and watching people come in and out. There is plenty of natural light in this welcoming space.

The cafe is reasonably small, so do not be surprised if you arrive looking to sit down for lunch or hang out and have to wait around for a bit for a seat. Fortunately, the food, coffee and atmosphere is worth the wait.

392 Caffe holds up well against comparable places in much larger cities, such as Iowa City or Madison. In Clinton, it is the hands-down...

So pleased to have found such a gem; Jay and his entire family are indeed a light, and bringing their Clinton area customers some of the very best specialty coffees and barista knowledge I’ve experienced period.

Beyond the cozy environment, I found an engaging staff behind the counter that included their little sweetheart of a daughter. No joke, she ran out with her umbrella to invite customers in from the rain, and was equally equipped to share her list of favorites from the menu.

The menu and staff are both approachable and adventurous; if you choose, you have the opportunity to learn and experience a variety of beans and brewing methods (but they know how to keep things simple too). But wait,... there’s more!!!! How could that turkey & avocado sandwich look so simple on the menu, but be ohhh-so satisfying????

I’ve found that some shops do coffee, others do community,... no need to settle for one or the other when you can have it all @392!!!

For the record, I have no association with 392 Caffé,... just know something special when I...