Caffè Casa — Restaurant in Kalamazoo

The model local cafe, but I don't go here for quality espresso.

Atmosphere, 5/5: Cafe Casa is crawling with plants and cute eccentricities in every nook and cranny! I love the fun and vibrant style they so excitedly embrace. The team will warmly greet and wish me well on my way out of every visit. They set the standard for what it means to be a local cafe working closely with their roaster for thirty years and serving housemade food & syrups (they grow their own rose, lavender, and sage based syrups + many non-housemade syrups) and display local artists' work for sale on the walls. Sustainability is a clear value as they always serve in ceramics and encourage recycling. The baristas know many of the guests and can connect easily with anyone from any background. The customer service here is exemplary.

Food & Drink, 5/5: A shockingly inclusive menu! I have asked for their soup every visit, and am impressed by the vegan and vegetarian options. They cycle through a diverse selection and look forward to what I can try each time. I have a troubled appetite, but I've finished every meal! Each sandwich is made to order and a diverse selection is available on their menu. Separate, labeled steaming pitchers are used for non-dairies. They charge for every modification, including whipped cream, but offer coffee AND espresso ice cubes for your iced beverages! Non-dairies offered include almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, and oat milk. A tea menu is also availably

Espresso, 2/5: The first time I ordered a double espresso (don't call it a doppio, they are not trained on that terminology), I was caught off guard because it looked like a quad shot in a teacup with nearly no crema. I took a sip and enjoyed what tasted like an americano. Not bad to pay $3.50 for a double americano! The over-pulled espresso is the standard, however. I will never order a cafe latte here for fear the beverage will be watery and weak with the espresso masked by sweet syrups. They do not serve cubanos or cortados, nor would I order one here. The last sip of each "espresso" has had grounds in the cup, some as course as a pour over or metal filter! If they were able to consistently pull espresso shots with a defined heart, body, and crema, Cafe Casa would rival many local offerings for my favorite spot to stop. The flavor profile has so much potential too! It has low acidity and a smooth chocolatey taste. Until then, I will order a "double espresso" and enjoy what tastes like a delightfully affordable americano. Not rated 1 star because the flavor profile of espresso shows...

I brought in three kids and myself to get something sweet after dinner. The lady behind the counter working was not very friendly, and the other seemed annoyed at out presence. We ordered one chocolate chip cookie, three tiny tea cookies, and a brownie. The choc. chip cookie tasted bad, not anything homemade, but something that came out of a redi-made tub. The three tea cookies were crumbly and tasteless. And the brownie, which she cut down to a sliver instead of giving it to me whole, also had a weird taste to it. I had to stop to rinse my mouth out after because it was such a strange and almost metallic aftertaste, the kids even complained that their stomachs hurt. On top of everything, I was charged $10 for the treats. Which seems pretty high considering the quality of...

Easily my new favorite cafe in downtown Kalamazoo!! Walking into Caffe Casa is like walking into a warm hug, you instantly feel at home. I had a delicious lavender lemon chiller and a veggie croissant for lunch yesterday and I'm already dreaming about coming back for more. I was so impressed by their hospitality, wide variety of options, and fun atmosphere. And SPECIAL shout-out to my pal, Erin, for being such a lovely barista!

As someone in full Pride gear yesterday, it was SO great to step into this shop and know that I was safe and supported after walking past others that did not offer that same feeling. See you again soon...