Alaska Coffee Roasting — Restaurant in North Miami

I’ve suggested group runs in North Miami on weekend mornings pretty much for the purpose of coming here to Alaska Coffee Roasting afterwards. The clean, warm decor, the frosty AC, the smell of different roasted coffees, the quick counter ordering and the anticipation of freshly made breakfast and lunch dishes—-all make a post run visit here wonderful. They have a water dispenser with cups to serve yourself water while you wait for your food and so on your coffee. Speaking of which, there are so many options it’s dizzying, because you can choose your fancy drinks hot or iced and also choose the roast you want. I usually go for the coffee of the day which is a hot cup for $2.50. It is a cup of smooth coffee made with ever changing beans. My cups when I have gone have been Nicaraguan and Ethiopian roasts. They have milk in creamer pitchers at the water dispenser counter along with the sugars and napkins to serve yourself.

You pick up your food order when it is brought out from the kitchen you can glimpse and your name is called. The utensils are at the side of the pickup counter. This means that the dining experience is completely self serve from the time you place your order. I love this setup because it makes the place so relaxed, to the point that you forget you’re freezing inside because all that sweat you expelled earlier is frosting up.

I’ve gotten the loaded hash browns a couple times because they live up to the name and load me up! Sautéed vegetables, bacon bits and plenty of melted cheddar on top of crispy shredded potatoes make for a magical post run breakfast. My friends like their wings, particularly the coffee buffalo sauce, and I’ve been able to get it on the side. It’s tangy, slightly rich and smooth despite the coffee grounds that are mixed in. One day, I’ll get the wings with that sauce!

The lovely owner Karen took some to talk to us the first time we visited as a group. Her brother opened a coffee shop in Alaska, sourcing coffee from around the work. She wanted to have a coffee shop here in South Florida, hence the name. She has way more food options, according to her. We’re lucky to...

The coffee is AMAZING. No, really. I can't believe it took me 1 year after they opened to discover them. I used to order my coffee to be roasted and FedExed to me from Paradise Roasters and/or George Howell's Terroir, but I discovered ACR and now I just drive the 10 minutes there to get me some primo beans. I am wild about the Timor Leste, the Brazil Cerrado, the Milan San Remo, and for decaf, the Decaf Sidamo is very nice. I usually have decaf Americanos or Macchiatto's when I drop by. I've tried some of the desserts, and they're very good. I've had various salads: excellent, especially the antipasto. Hubby likes the Shepherd Pie. I don't do gluten, so I haven't had the pizzas, but dang, they look so tempting, I might blow my gluten ban one of these days just to taste one.

I haven't set foot in a Starbucks since I discovered ARC. And, really, I never liked the coffee at Starbucks. They're just convenient, so I'd pop in to get stuff when I was driving around doing errands or after the gym for a latte, iced. BUT...who needs Starbucks when a far, far, far superior coffee place is driving distance. Go. Load up on beans. And you will not regret this. I'm very picky about my brew, and they have lovely beans. They have tastings, roasting "join ins", live music some nights. They are trying hard to be a place to just hang-out. My writing group met there a couple times to do a "write in" with coffee.

Please support a place that really gets java right in Miami area. You won't be able to tolerate Starbucks again when you have beans done...

This is my second time coming here. I wanted to wait for my second experience before writing a review. I came for lunch and today for breakfast. The food is delicious. The service is great! The two times I've come, I've seen how friendly the staff is and the locals that come here. I like to eat vegan and sometimes cheat with some cheese, that is my weakness. I had their vegan pot pie with a side salad which was delicious. My girlfriend had a Champion Pizza, which was to die for! Honestly, I love the fact that they offer vegan and vegetarian options. A lot of places still do not offer anything for vegans and whenever I ask, they usually tell me a salad with oil and vinegar, how boring! This place has vegan breakfast options, how amazing! They have vegan pizza!!!!! Their bakery sections is also very very good. My sister took home with her a chocolate chip cookie and a cinnamon bun, which were both very very delicious. Their coffee options here are impressive, I had a soy latte. I am Colombian so I swear we start drinking coffee out of the womb so to impress me, is hard but it was gooooodddd! I love that they are open late and they have charging ports so you can come and study. It is a very cozy area and they make you feel so welcomed. Parking is def not an issue. I would give this a 5 star due to the friendliness, customer service...