Calusa Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Oakland Park

Wow. Finally stopped in this place and am very happy I did. The layout reminds me of the coffee shops you will find in the uptown area in New Orleans in that it looks like you are having coffee in someone's house. The hospitality certainly makes it feel that way. Steve the owner is absolutely passionate about his coffee and justifiably so. I asked him to give me essentially a tasting menu of his coffees while I worked on a large project and was very impressed with the distinct flavors you find in each. I went with the roast of the day, Mangrove Island and I am definitely coming back for more!

The interior of the shop is very clean and has a cool open window where you can watch Steve monitoring his coffee roasting and talk to him. There are several places to sit inside and out, a large table in the corner as well as a comfy armchair along with lots of books to read. It's a great spot to go work on something that requires caffeine. There are also several pastries available (didn't try any).

Outside is a covered patio that would be perfect to take your dog and significant other to. The location is in a strip of single story mixed commercial/residential establishments. Look for the "dead end" sign as a marker, it's pretty much your only good marker when driving by to find the place.

The store mainly does take out orders for people ordering in bulk so you know that he has built up a loyal customer base when throughout the day you see numerous people coming in for their 'regular' bags of coffee beans that they are using at both their business and homes. This is a very, very good sign because it means that people trust him and his coffee beans enough to serve it to their own customers.

You will draw obvious comparisons to Panther Coffee in Wynwood. Both are freestanding establishments that have passionate owners making damn good brews. If you are in the area, come by and see what Steve is up to. You won't be disappointed and you'll be supporting a business that is doing a damn fine job at making...

I walked into Calusa Coffee Roasters on a whim. I'm a Fort Lauderdale resident but I live further south and I don't know the area around Commercial very well. I happened to be nearby and wanted an Iced Latte. I did a quick search, and being a fan of local shops, I found Calusa and decided to give it a try. I walked in and to my surprise, I saw a familiar face! Luis owns the shop and funny enough, he's an old family friend whom I hadn't seen in years. It brought me such joy to see him in his element, in the shop he started and nurtured. I can speak from personal experience...Luis is a great person with a sharp sense of humor and zest for life. If you are interested in supporting local business owners, he's the guy you want to give your money to. The shop itself was cute and homey, well-curated, and had a very local vibe. I got the feeling that the people who were there were regulars and knowing Luis, he makes everyone feel like family. Best of all, the Latte I ordered was amazing. Plus, they sell wholesale for anyone interested. Great quality coffee. Highly recommend you check this place out if you are in the area! It's conveniently located East of 95 of of Commercial, so it's easy to swing in there before you jump on the highway. Can't wait to...

This is now the best coffee in Fort Lauderdale. Hands down. Fresh beans, great pour, great value!

Beans are roasted in house, which he also sells. Some roasts and combos I like more than others, but they are consistently flavorful and filled with pleasant tones. Never unpleasantly bitter.

I'm a cortado guy. He is very good at steaming the 3% milk so the pour becomes very thick, but it never separates from the espresso or bubbles. Not so much as 1 grain of grounds on the bottom of the cup. He is also getting good at the latte art, although that doesn't really affect the taste.

EDIT: out of the dozens of times I was here I DID find 1-2 grains of coffee grounds on the bottom ONE time. I didn't think such imperfections were possible here! :-D

I was a former recurring customer at Swichbox until the management change (prices went up and didn't reflect quality). I am quite familiar with the coffee scene here, I've been to Brew Urban, Warsaw Coffee (now Milk Money), Wells, and Alchemist (good but pricey now) as well, it's easy to say Ft. Laudie is very privileged to have exceptional coffeeshops.

But this place has the freshest beans and the best pours, and for the...