Cafe Milo, Why can't you be right next to my house?!

Now that I have discovered it, whenever I think about doing some work (so...every day) I think about coming here. It has the best vibe of all the coffee joints I've been to in this town. The prices are fair, and the selection is superb. There are always places to improve, but let's start with the good stuff, shall we?

First, the decor of this place provides the perfect coffee shop vibe. A long rectangular space with a floor-to-ceiling, brick, two-sided, fireplace to make two eating sections, with an eclectic mix of used lounge furniture huddled around the warm gas flames of the very convincing, fully-enclosed, faux log fire. The floors are a black-stained cement in which someone took the great care to apply the right acids with the right techniques to get that cool marbling effect.

The walls are mostly brick (where there are walls) but the main focal wall is a lovely "amber" yellow color, burnt yellow, dark golden yellow. I'm terrible at describing this because all I care about is that it is YELLOW! People are typically afraid of yellow and some scientific research has given it some stigma. They say people fight more often in yellow rooms than in any other color room. Here's just one of many places I found that. I tend to disagree. Who doesn't love the color of the sun - the star that gives us life? And colors, by the way. I apologize. I can really get carried away with all things yellow.

This is the wall of Tea I will reference later..but here's the yellow wall! Oh, and the brick walls, the computer desks, and I think you can even see the floor-to-ceiling windows!

The second more important aspect of my work environment is sun light. I spent 10 years in college, 3.5 of them in a cement basement with florescent lighting. So, windows are a MUST. This place boasts of wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows on 3 sides! They have invested in very chic and minimalistic blinds to block out light when needed. If you stay here long enough, you find that when the sunlight enters the building from a different side the customers, almost in sync as if by clockwork, raise and lower the blinds accordingly in their section of the establishment. It is really interesting.

As an aside: when did we define that coffee shops must be dark holes for mysteriously creative people to brood in? Starbucks has helped the U.S. to veer from that trend, but still I find far too often that coffee shops are dark, musty, little holes in the wall instead of a bright and light place for work-from-home professionals to get something done. So I'm not a struggling painter. So I'm not J.R.R. Tolkien or J.K. Rowling. I still deserve a cool workspace.

The third feature of a perfect work space is WORK SPACE. This shop boasts the most accessible desk and seating options I've found in a cafe in all my many years of sitting in cafes - trust me people, I was in college for a decade. Really. No joke.

The ceiling is the typical industrial, exposed HVAC look which is just bleh at this point. Let's get something new, world... Please? Its not even energy efficient. These people are heating the apartments above because there is no insulation or any kind of barrier between us and the second floor's living room. However, it couples nicely with the country "family room" kind of feel to the brick walls, and the fireplace with grandma's old furniture huddled around it.

That beautifully cool fireplace. Don't you love the built-in bookcase? Also, WINDOWS!

The final space you cannot see here, is the one I currently write this review from. They have a large U-shaped area as you walk in that is dedicated to those tech savvy individuals out there who come here to get some work done. These are skinny high-top tables with bar stools that bench right up to the windows. The most beauteous part of this whole arrangement? The 12 outlets that line each wall slightly above the desks with individual reading lamps plugged in at regular intervals. Can you say coffee shop HEAVEN?! Never have I see something more thoughtful.

Okay, okay, okay. I'll get to the food now. While this is a coffee shop, what should not be passed up is an opportunity to try the tea. This coffee shop boasts some of the finest teas I've ever tasted. I'm an herbalist at heart and rarely veer from my decaffeinated life, but when I do, I want flavors like these. The tea here is put up on a pedestal and celebrated right when you walk in. Remember that picture above with the bookcase of urns and the yellow wall behind? The teas are kept right here for your perusal.

They are presented to you in lovely teapots, pre-steeped so that the tea is immediately available for your consumption. The used herbs and flowers are left with you in one of those cute little metal half-n-half pitchers you get with your after dinner coffee at a fine dining establishment.

Honestly, while it is a coffee shop, I don't come here for the coffee. The espresso leaves something to be desired. It is very strong, but the beans are harsh and a bit cheap in flavor. There is no depth to the taste, just an acidic burnt taste to them. If you prefer your coffee to be like this, buy Folgers for home and come here regularly. I have to give Stomping Grounds kudos for their absolutely supreme espresso drinks, but that's another post.

However, the staff here are wonderfully courteous, kind, and fun-loving. My barista hand-delivered my latte today (they always hand-deliver all items that are 'for here'). When he came by he told me why the design in my latte foam was so scary looking. He said, "When I poured the coffee, to me it looked like a jack-o-lantern so I attempted to fill it in. In doing so, I ended up making it scary. I'm sorry if it terrifies you!"

Needless to say, I laughed hysterically and commented that a jack-o-lantern should be scary so he was only doing the latte justice. Despite the lovely, perfectly frothed, milk foam, this latte needs sugar and quite a bit of it. This is a clear indication for me that the espresso is not as it should be. A true latte should be smooth, rich, and full-bodied. I should not need sugar because milk is sweet enough. When I need sugar, something's wrong.

A final note: I tried breakfast here a few days ago. It is very simply food - probably a classier, cleaner version of the types of breakfasts you'd get on a fast-food line. I had a bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel. There was also a breakfast burrito. It was delicious and definitely made in-house, but some yogurts and fresh fruit, breakfast quiches, and other such small plate delicacies would send this over the top. Lunch is an uncomplicated yet delightfully fresh menu. I ordered the chicken caesar wrap.

I started eating and then realized I should take a picture first.

It was delicious, my only comment is that it needed way more chicken to be a chicken caesar wrap. This way its more like a caesar salad with bits of chicken wrap. 

I almost forgot! The small list of cons: 

1. Its on the west side near West Towne Pub. This is great for anyone who lives over here, but I don't! Its a good drive to get there from my house and for anyone who works at the university who is hoping to steal away an hour or two at a lovely coffee shop for lunch. 

2. The coffee needs an upgrade, but I do love that they celebrate tea as they do. 

3. Parking can be a nightmare. Thank goodness it has not been an issue for me but these buildings are just jam-packed full of apartments so there are always cars parked here which share parking lots with the local businesses. This is a pretty bad set-up for the businesses as it does not encourage people who live farther away than a reasonable walking distance to use the services. It definitely should drive down business. 

4. Prices are reasonable, but considering Arcadia's prices, they could be slightly lower. However, Arcadia roasts their coffee in-house which saves a considerable amount of overhead and middlemen costs. But that's another post. Oh and its found here.

5. I can't seem to load their webpage. What's going on Cafe Milo? 

If you want to smile when you walk in and still be smiling when you leave, go to Cafe Milo. 

That's it folks! 

-Allie

Cafe Milo

4800 Mortensen Rd #101, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 268-3166

www.cafemilo.com

Cafe Diem on Main St.

Good morning friends and family, but more importantly good morning to those of you who read this out of interest, not obligation. It is a pleasure to see you here!

I apologize for having lapsed on my duties to create a comprehensive review of local area shops. I have had quite a crazy few weeks as I attempt to move myself out of joblessness and into the mystical territory of the employed. Seriously, I've had approximately 10 meetings and sent out 12 job applications in the last few weeks. I'm telling you, apply for jobs is a full-time job!

Now, down to business. Cafe Diem is one of 3 places to get coffee in the historical downtown district of Ames. Located right on Main Street where all the shops have the absolute cutest, most-intriguing, and stylistic window fronts, there is a pleasant demeanor to this shop, but it feels more like a well-lit cave than anything else. This is the type of atmosphere some coffee-loves crave, that underground speak-easy vibe, minus the alcohol. The walls are a coffee brown, the artwork is decidedly earthy in nature, playing off of the wood-tone hues of the suspended doors used to separate sitting areas into private little alcoves.

The cons: typical seating arrangements, cafe tables and hard straight back chairs, diner booths in dark colors, and only a couple of chairs that are indicative of a victorian-era salon. They have used the space well though and have included seating areas in the window display areas. There is even a bistro bar set with stools on one side.

It is a very dark shop with only one window at the front of a very long skinny room, granted it does span the width of the space, but with a very dark decor, it simply can't compete.

Finally, the baked goods are shipped in from that heavenly baking expert and genius in all things restaurant, SYSCO. UGH. I tried a scone and yes, they are clearly processed and just made to look perfect. This is my restaurant pet peeve. I'd rather see a bunch of disheleved, mismatched, slightly burned scones with REAL ingredients, than go to a restaurant just to sample the trash I can buy at the grocery store. Its 90% cheaper to buy raw ingredients and make foods (especially baked goods) from scratch. You already pay employees to be there, why not pay them to work? (Note: statistic is entirely made up but I'm sure it is not too far off-base). Did I come to your shop to sample the food stylings of SYSCO? No! I came to experience Cafe Diem.. So be something work experiencing.

The shop also boasts a pathetic lack of outlets with which to plug in this computer. I'm running very low on battery and scrambling to write these words before I retire to a location more appropriate for writing.

This lack of outlets serves two purposes. If you're trying to avoid this sort of freeloading, 8 hours of free wifi for a $2 cup of coffee, then you're a wise coffee shop owner. This only works if you're a Starbucks on Adams Morgan in Washington, D.C. though. You need so much demand that you have no room for seating for this to work.

If you're just too cheap to include outlets, it isn't a wise move. You're missing out on business and creating that coffee shop vibe of creativity, intense thought and reflection. For someone like me, who is applying to jobs and trying to beef up their blog, this doesn't help much. Although, I have bought two beverages and a scone since I've been here so maybe it is a moot point? Regardless, if I didn't have to be in downtown, I would have skipped it altogether and headed to Cafe Milo - but that's a different post.

The pros: It has internet access! You'd be surprised at how many shops don't in this town and when they do, it is shoddy at best. This shop boats a strong, continuous connection.

There is a lot of seating which is nice because anyone can find a private spot to do whatever they wish.

There is a great variety of teas, coffees, baked goods, smoothies, and believe it or not RAW juices! The only coffee shop I've seen here to provide raw juices, this is sure to be a reason that I come back (but I'd only be buying a juice to walk the street with, I wouldn't be staying). It provides a small breakfast and a full lunch menu which is a nice addition, although I have yet to try the food. Also, it is right across the street from the only local quilting and fabric store in the town - but that's a post for my other blog, Knits in Progress which can be found here. Finally, there is nothing industrial about the place which I find to be a welcome reprieve from the over-done, black-painted HVAC ducting many coffee shops have chosen to expose to their clientele.

Now, the coffee: It is not roasted in-house. I can clearly taste the commercialism in this cup of coffee - that sound so pretentious but those of you who are coffee connoisseurs out there, you get my drift. It had great foam, but the milk didn't taste like anything. It reminds me of milk in New York. Why? Why buy milk from SYSCO when you have the opportunity to partner with Iowa's dairy farmers. This is truly the land of bounty as I have never tasted such luscious, deeply intense milk. Really, this shop has missed out on a lot of great food opportunities. This is a seriously wrong move, especially in an area that is SO Iowa-centric. You'd really attract more customers and keep them coming back if you boasted a myriad of local ingredients and partnerships. Even if its terrible, people will come back to support local farmers and businesses.

On the positive side, they strive to rotate through a huge variety of coffees from all over the world. So, each day you come in, you will find a different coffee to sample. I really appreciate this. Some are Fair Trade or organic but not all.

The tea also seems less than perfect. It is a commercially produce package of ground-up herbs. This reduces the cost per bag for all involved but also kills the quality. You can really get a taste for these things when you exclusively drink herbal teas, as I do. They do have a large selection for a coffee house. You're usually provided with a black, a white, and an herbal. They have a few options for each.

Bottom line: If you're in the vicinity and need a place to meet with a group, need a place to read the paper, or grab a quick cup of joe on your way to the next stop - you could do worse. However, if you're in the mood to stay awhile, and have a truly existential experience with your coffee and food - go elsewhere. This place means business and nothing more.

In search of cool beans,
Alicen
Yeah, I gotta work on my sign-off. Suggestions should be posted in the comments. Thanks!