Kitanda Coffee & Acai - Mercer Island — Restaurant in Mercer Island

I'm skeptical this location will do well. The staff they're training up were struggling up to last week. I've gone in three separate times with a few days in between each and there are still problems. The service is very slow as a result, especially coffee. It takes forever to get a drink.

They messed up my last order also. I asked for a doce de leite (dolce de leche) kitanda. The cashier who had served me each time in the past questioned if that was a drink. While kitanda itself refers to the type of store it is (in Brazilian PR), the only food items I saw on their menu with the word "kitanda" in them were what they call kitanda bread. So that should be easy enough to remember, especially after two weeks of training. Unfortunately, she only punched in a plain kitanda bread which I didn't discover until I returned home, so I've been hesitant to go back. I get coffee very early in the day and I don't have the mental energy to deal with all that. I need whatever store I'm visiting to be on top of things as reasonably as possible.

I'd complain about them not being on food delivery apps, but they're not ready. They need better trained staff and possibly more bodies to handle coffee orders. I do prefer Kitanda's coffee over Starbucks's burnt taste. While Brazilian lattes are great (made with added sweetened condensed milk and vanilla powder), the regular lattes themselves are also very enjoyable.

As far as the store itself, this space is way too tiny. There's no place to stand and it gets very hot in there. I wish they'd move all the businesses out and flatline this block. The store itself is clean aside from the one flying saw buzzing around, but the building is not well kept, and the parking is terrible. Also the ventilation is very bad. One expects the co-mingling of espresso and cheesy bread at a Kitanda (not the best air combo, although the food is good), but it's too intense in such a small space with...

I had my first experience at Kitanda, and it was absolutely fantastic! The Brazilian latte was rich, smooth, and full of flavor — easily one of the best I’ve ever had. The staff was incredibly welcoming and helpful. They took the time to explain the menu, answer all my questions, and make sure I felt comfortable with my choices. One of the team members even stepped out from behind the counter to walk me through the most popular items — such a nice touch! Thanks to her recommendation, I tried the cheese roll, and it did not disappoint. Overall, amazing service, delicious food, and a warm, friendly vibe. I’ll definitely be...

I stopped by this cozy little café and tried their Pumpkin Spice Latte — and wow, it was so good! Smooth, creamy, and perfectly spiced without being overpowering. The pumpkin flavor really came through, and it blended so well with the espresso. Not too sweet, just right.

The vibe of the café was super warm and inviting, with soft lighting, comfy seating, and a calm, relaxed atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you can sip your coffee slowly, read a book, or just enjoy a quiet break. Friendly staff, great drinks, and a peaceful ambiance — I’ll...