Kawa Coffee — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

EDIT - Since I only get to review one thing (apparently - It could just be 'user error', as I'm a newb), I'm going to have to add more stuff!

General - Its kind of unfair for the rating system to have a number for the decor; the decor of Kawa Coffee is functional coffee shop, with mis-matched tables and chairs and couches and the like. Very reminiscent of the coffee shop in Capitola CA I grew up with (Mr. Toots, on the Esplanade). The place gives the proper semiBohemian vibe, while at the same time is kept scrupulously clean and organized. While I'm not a big fan of the style (which is no fault of Kawa), it is very comfortable and very hospitable.

The service is top-notch; the baristas want to make your first cup the best cup you've ever had, and it shows. My friend Lisa Swanson is enamored of their honey vanilla latte; she swears this place is the first place where it is consistently made the way they should be made (as opposed to the inadequate consistency of the Other Place). I am addicted to their green tea fraps, myself, and their strawberry smoothies are comfort food for my nine-year-old son. Yes, Kawa has become our favorite collective place to go and relax, and in my case, have my butt handed to me in Parchesi all the time.

The Maple Capuccino - This is the creation of one of the baristas at Kawa (they have a recommended list, which I'm working my way through one at a time). Now, I had to try this one first because I'm a sucker for maple flavor; one of my favorite snacks at that Other Place (tm) is the Maple Scone, but since their coffee at the Other Place is so bad, I haven't had one in awhile.

The good news - the drink itself was excellent, but at Kawa one comes to expect a certain top level of excellence. The bad news - the drink was strong enough such that the shots of maple spice could barely be detected. It was sweet, as if someone had put in sugar, but the expresso completely overpowered the maple taste. Had this been a latte, then I think I'd have had more of the maple flavoring, but as it was I could barely detect it.

But back to the good news; as an expresso drink, it was still fantastic.

I also had their scones; these are homemade by the owners' mother, and I got the next-to-last one. I tell ya, it was clearly a nut-flavored scone, with an oat texture. It was moist, nutty (although not as nutty as me, but I digress), and to my delighted surprise, it had morsels of butterscotch contained therein. My love for butterscotch is second only to my love of maple; apparently my raving about its goodness sold the last one, so I was unable to buy a second one to take home and share with my son and dog.

What... you never share your goodies with your dog? I sure do; in fact, my dog loves Kawa coffee as well. She has had bacon, turkey, and egg/cheese bagels, but although she begs, no expresso for her! Kawa Coffee has a dog bowl outside, and its always filled with water - in fact, it was that canine courtesy that first inspired me to drop in and try it, my first trip. If you see a scruffy, loveable, friendly hyper-JackRussell terrier mutt,...

A very pleasant surprise.

I was in the area for a driver's license test and had some time before my DMV appointment. I wandered the area, and considered stopping by the nearby 711 for a cheap drink. This was when the sign on the (lovely, shady) gazebo caught my eye: Kawa Coffee.

With a bustling DMV parking lot on one side and a gorgeous neighborhood on the other, this coffe shop seemed to be a shining beacon, beckoning me forth. From the outside, it seems rather unassuming; a tasteful decal plastered on the storefront. Stepping in, the first thing that I noticed was the smell. A wonderful mix of dark roast, delightful syrups, and perhaps a pleasant hint of hardwood washed over me as I entered the café.

I was greeted with a friendly smile and a warm welcome. I noticed the plethora of indoor seating for those working from their devices, not to mention the gazebo seating outside. A range of music plays, from Led Zepplin to modern indie.

A sign on their counter promoted today's special: an iced vietnamese inspired latte. Intrigued, I asked for a large (16 ounce) to-go. I sat outside and sipped on my light coffee, pleasantly surprised by its dancing notes of spice and sweetness.

While I am no connoiseur of coffees, I can confidently say that that latte is the best cup of bean water I have ever had.

Would I reccomend this café to a friend? Yes. An enemy? Also yes. I believe anyone who loves anything about coffee should make time for a trip to Kawa Coffee, whether alone or for a date.

I paid $5.79 for my 16 ounce latte, a fair price. If you come, however, be sure to bring enough to tip plenty. I give Kawa...

Nice independent coffee shop, one of the best in CS. I'll just list my pros and cons instead of writing a long review:

Pros:

Great coffee, I was able to pick an Ethiopian light roast for my cappuccino, and they actually served it in a large ceramic mug, so that was rare and a treat.

Nice setting, nice music, large tables, free wifi

Cons:

"Customers" treating the place as their personal business office. This place is trying to run a business, and you got all these slackers sitting around leeching the free wifi. I didn't see a lot of coffee cups near them, either.

Just visited and had to listen (for 45 min) to a woman an conduct a job interview or something, sitting at a table with a laptop and papers all strewn about. It's one thing to use the wifi and have a drink, but it's another to conduct business-related phones calls (loudly) in a private coffee shop, annoying other people.

I wanted a scone, but those in the display case were drizzled with a sugary glaze or something, so not a lot of options for someone wanting a healthier option. Not a big deal, but at least have plain croissants or something....

Pro: They have a sign up saying "No Wifi on Fri/Sat", which is a plus, and which shows that they are as annoyed by the wifi leeches as I am.

sigh* maybe I'm just old, but I miss the days when people chatted and met with each other in coffee shops, not just...