Summer Moon Coffee — Restaurant in Kenosha

On a scale of 10... Coffee 9, Espresso 8.5, Dairy 10, Merchandise 10, Service 10, Environment 9.5, Value/Price: 7

I love coffee’s 3rd wave in the US (Intelligentsia, Colectivo, V60/Btz Encore/Stag), and Summer Moon is perfect for Kenosha County! It’s perfect because it’s more similar to Colectivo’s cafes than Intelligentsia’s, which means it can stay in business by attracting more than just us coffee “snobs” ;-) . Both their drip coffees (no individual brew options) were strong and flavorful; I would not be disappointed to receive those from any 3rd wave coffee shop I’ve been to. My Americano surprisingly and deliciously highlighted the smokiness of their oak-roasted, wood-fired method, but did not taste burnt. The half-moon latte was quite sweet; I wasn’t expecting their “Moon Milk” sweet cream to be so sweet, but it is rich. The latte's foam was velvety smooth, without a single bubble - it was perfect! Dairy and non-dairy options were extensive, and the staff were patient, helpful, and friendly. I realized too late that I was being a challengingly complicated customer my second visit there. The staff never seemed put off in the least, though; they were obliging, helpful, and kind. Interacting with them was a delight, and my drinks were ready surprisingly fast, even at the packed grand opening. The merchandise is of better quality, with diverse unique selections, than any shop I’ve ever been in (though you won't find a grinder or kettle there). For full disclosure, I know the managers and a couple of the staff there, but my service was from people I don’t know.

The cafe is big, with lots of seating, beautifully customized furniture, and even a children’s play room, which my nephew enjoyed. The decor and vibe are warm, inviting, appealing, and stylish. Staff are friendly. Almost a 10/10, it is one of the better cafe environments I’ve experienced. Whether you take this positively or negatively, there was little-to-no evidence (masks, signage, etc) of the pandemic in the environment.

There were only 2 things that were not phenomenal - price and the one whole bean I have tried. The only whole bean I tried was Summer Moon’s “Afterglow.” It’s labeled as a light roast from Mexico with “sweet yams, grapefruit” flavor notes. I brewed it in a Chemex and/or V60 multiple times, using recipes that have regularly delivered citrus notes from different coffees (including from Mexico) I’ve tried over the years. Not until the last 20g, literally, did I find the light roast flavor and grapefruit notes. Had it been labeled a medium, or light-medium, roast with sweet yam notes, as well as something like milk chocolate, graham, or toasted almonds, I would have believed it (I don’t have a very sensitive palate). This coffee tasted like one of the best plain, solid coffees I’ve ever had. If I was trying to introduce someone to 3rd wave coffee, avoiding challenging them with any unfamiliar flavors, this might be the best 3rd wave blend I’ve ever encountered for that. It’s definitely a good blend, but when a 3rd wave shop labels a 12oz, $14.95, bag of coffee a light roast with grapefruit notes, a medium/medium-light roast that tastes like smooth, normal coffee is not expected.

I have not frequented 3rd wave shops during the pandemic, so the price may reflect the cost of business now, rather than Summer Moon being more expensive. That being said, everything I browsed (drinks, whole bean, and merchandise) cost the same or more than other shops I’ve been to before the pandemic. The quality was very high, though, so I guess you get what you pay for. I still intend to go back as often as I can and recommend you do also.

Overall, Summer Moon far exceeded my hopes, and I think it will continue to be a smashing success as more and more people experience it and...

To put it bluntly, Summer Moon is the best coffee shop that I've had. My go-to order is The Blue Moon Latte w/ 1/2 Moon Milk is my absolute favorite drink here. The combination of their heavenly moon milk as cream with the perfect balance of flavors in the Blue Moon Latte is out of this world. It's the kind of drink that keeps you coming back for more, no matter how many times you've had it before. As far as matcha goes I hate it. It tastes like I'm drinking blended grass, BUT Summer Moon has changed that for me. Their matcha is surprisingly good! It's the only matcha I'll actually drink and enjoy. They seem to have the secret to making it just right.

The service and atmosphere at Summer Moon are top-notch. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and happy to help with any questions or recommendations. It truly feels like a welcoming and warm environment, making our coffee breaks even more enjoyable.

As for the food, I can vouch for their cinnamon rolls. When they served it warm, it was like biting into a piece of heaven. It's the perfect treat to complement the fantastic coffee selection.

My friends have highly recommended the Raspberry Moon Drop, and it's on my list of things to try on my next visit. If it's anything like the other delights at Summer Moon, I'm sure it will be incredibly satisfying.

Add this to your list of places to visit if you visit the...

I came to Summer Moon Coffee Shop to order some breakfast and write a little. I wasn’t upset about the atmosphere at all! The workers were great and polite, the place was clean and spotless not a dust bunny or cobweb in sight. I ordered a 3/4 Winter Moon iced latte. After I got my cinnamon roll they asked if my latte was hot or iced. I replied iced. To which I heard the girl say to her worker ‘See, I told you it was iced.’ I brushed it off thinking they’d fixed the mistake. Receiving my iced coffee I noticed there was barely any ice cubes on the top. Not thinking too much about it I took a drink and realized they placed the warm latte into a clear cup and topped it off with ice. I don’t know if they were hoping the ice cubes would quickly make it cold but the warm latte melted the ice making it a luke warm iced latte. I like my coffee sweet so I was expecting it sweet, sweet. To my disappointment it wasn’t as sweet as I thought it would be. I still drank it. I have high social anxiety to answer any questions on why I didn’t ask to have my drink remade. But if you’re looking for a place to sit back, relax and enjoy a decent cup of coffee along with a breakfast item I totally recommend this place. I’ve been to plenary of coffee shops and I did more work on my novel than...