88Keys Coffee — Restaurant in Lakewood

I recently went to 88Keys on a Friday around 12:00 PM. This was my 3rd time here and it wasn’t too busy at this time. Definitely kinda warm tho, but it was the hottest weekend of the year so that’s not on them. My assessment of my visit will go over 4 things which are cleanliness, aesthetic, employee engagement and food with an overall thought regarding if I would return to this place:

Aesthetic: Bruh, I like the look of this place. Its nice, its clean, its got the sense of a place thats inspired by jazz and good rhythms, but is keeping it coffee shop chic. Super cute. It has a good amount of seating, inside and out, but there might not be enough seating on a really packed day which is why you should go early or on a low traffic day. Tons of outlets underneath the tables so thats a plus! Music was really good! Not too loud and not too quiet. People can talk in groups and hear themselves which I appreciate. It’s a really nice cafe ya’ll.

Cleanliness: Clean, clean, clean! The place is 10/10 on cleanliness. The tables are wiped down, the seats don’t have anything on them, the ground is spotless. Bathrooms were great with easy access to customers.

Employee Engagement: The owner and his brother were working there at the time behind the counter and they are great! Very calm and cordial, with a lot of knowledge on their products. They make their own mixtures themselves so its pretty to talk to them about it. No complaints here! Food: I got the Spanish Latte the 1st and 3rd time that I came here and it was really good! I believe it has some kind of mexican chocolate in it with cinnamon? The only thing I would improve on this place is descriptions for their drinks, but its okay, the guys know what they are talking about if you just ask. I also got the Strawberry Fields latte which is in shop strawberry puree mixed with milk and 2(?) shots of espresso. So tasty! They sell cookies and pastries there too! All sourced from a local business called From Scratch and they make a wonderful green cookie that I bought that is vanilla and coconut, but I forgot what its called. They do alternate desserts so I don; think its there anymore, but its worth a try!

Overall Thoughts: This place is perfect to study, hang out with friends at, and chill out. I’m definitely coming here again with friends and to get work done. 88Keys is lit and the vibes are spot on with what I’m looking for in a coffee shop so catch me here...

I visited this coffee shop for the first time around 4 PM today. Although I’ve seen it before, I had never been inside. Upon entering, I was impressed by the design and ambiance. However, the positive impression ended there. The cashier’s demeanor was terrible. My friend and I greeted him with a friendly "hi," but he didn't respond and instead bluntly asked what we wanted.

His unhelpful attitude dampened our mood immediately. When we ordered, he informed us that the drink we wanted was only available hot, without suggesting any alternatives or offering assistance. We had to list several options ourselves. His customer service was non-existent, clearly indicating he was disinterested in his job. Despite our efforts to remain polite and positive, his attitude never improved.

Sadly, this experience has ensured that I won’t be returning. The lack of patrons now makes sense. Many people, like my friend and I, enjoy supporting small businesses, but encounters like this deter us from doing so. I hope the owner reads this review and addresses these issues with the staff because this kind of service will drive...

This is my new favorite coffee shop! I ordered a latte, matcha oat latte, cronut, and the la roost breakfast burrito. The latte was perfect. The matcha latte was frothy and delicious!! The cronut was of course a sweet breakfast treat- it tastes like a classic glazed Krispy Kreme donut with many fluffy layers. My coworkers said his la roost breakfast burrito was really good and made his morning better. I picked up coffee and breakfast for my coworkers and we were all so impressed. The employees are also so kind, helpful, relaxed and just overall had good vibes when explaining the menu items. I asked them to sweeten my matcha latte with agave and they lightly sweetened it like pros. The interior decor is great too. I like how the sign outside doesn’t immediately give you any expectations (it just says “coffee”) and so when you walk through the door you notice the interior decor more. I have only gone once...