After driving by this place every week, reading good reviews, and talking about trying this place out, we finally decided to see what the experience was like here. First, there is a drive thru which I think is awesome, very helpful for people on the go. Second, there are a couple of seats for outdoor seating right in front of the shop. For the inside, they did an excellent job making it look like a coffee shop. It had a very similiar look to Smokey Row in Des Moines, but then again that is also just a coffee shop look. There are many comfortable seating options for studying and FREE WIFI! You will see the password to the WiFi when ordering your drink. We ordered their specials (we think they are specials) the Firework and the S'more's Mocha. I also got a big chocolate chip cookie. If I could describe the coffee and cookie briefly, I would say "Not bad". Let's just say I would be willing to pay for their drinks for the peaceful studying or chatting with friends atmosphere. read more

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Lunch and coffee were both great. The servers were friendly and attentive. I'll mix this place into my lunch spots. read more

Cafe Diem - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

I've come here a few times over the last couple years. The coffee is great and I love to write here. However, last time I was here a real creep of a guy plopped himself down across from me in my booth and would not leave me alone. I felt vulnerable and uncomfortable and he wouldn't take a hint and leave. Finally, ten minutes later, he left. Then a Cafe Diem employee approached me asking if I was okay. She said that man had been harassing female customers for four years. It sure would've been nice if they would've done something about it while he was harassing me instead of approaching me after he left, especially knowing what he does and how he makes women feel. They need to make more of an effort to keep him from coming in. I won't be back, ever. read more

I can always count on Cafe Diem for a great cup of coffee. I always try to support locally owned business. I think this is the only one in Ankeny, if im not mistaken. It's cozy and clean. I always check out the art they have hanging on the wall. You can buy them too. Stop in, enjoy a coffee. support the little guys read more

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Super cozy super friendly place!!! The staff was great to recommend a nice hot coffee for this cold morning. Staff is super knowledgable of the menu and makes great recommendations. The pumpkin mocha Is delicious. Breakfast sandwiches are super good. The sausage and egg on a croissant was amazing!!! So crispy and oohy gooey. And on top of all this they are super reasonable!!! I will definitely be coming back soon !!! read more

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Cons: tables were all dirty, no baby changing station in the restroom, breakfast sandwich was small and looked like it was frozen and microwaved. Pros: tuna sandwich was pretty good, workers were nice, and iced coffee was solid. I would probably go back just for the sandwich and iced coffee if I was in the area. Worth a try. read more

Coffee: 4/5 Sandwiches & Pastries: 4.5/5 Floorplan/Ambiance/staff: 4/5 Value: 5/5 WiFi: 4.9Mbps download, 0.6Mbps upload on a Friday afternoon. An artful, locally owned, well-maintained strip-mall establishment. Needs a few more power-strips, for us tech-junkies. read more

When I was wanting to try a new cafe, I found this lovely spot (thanks to Yelp ). It is a charming little cafe serving up coffee drinks, muffins, and a small menu of sandwiches and soups. I got an espresso drink and chose a muffin from their display. The muffin didn't have much flavor and was kind of dry, but the girl working the counter was super friendly and made an awesome drink! What I liked most about this Cafe Diem was the seating choices. You could sit at a bar top by the counter, one of their many tables, a more private area of tables by the door, or the high top chairs right in front of the fireplace. I sat by the fireplace, and for someone who's always cold, it was the best spot in the house! I had a very relaxing time at Cafe Diem and plan to go back when I am in the Ankeny area again! read more

Our go-to brunch spot! It's a small, quiet spot, but has never been busy when we go. IMO the best pancakes in Ankeny, especially the cinnamon roll pancakes! We've had the burrito, scramble and omelette as well and all are delicious. Lots of great coffee add in options. We have met the owner once and she was very friendly and helpful. They were having issues with the credit card reader so she gave us her number to call if we were charged duplicate, which we were not. We've always had great service overall and fantastic food! read more

This is an average coffee shop. The ordering area is cute. They offer almond and soy milk. No coconut or oat milk. Everything looks like the general frozen coffee shop food. (Same muffins and scones we used to get frozen when I worked at a coffee shop.) I got a cafe miel and it was fine. Not amazing, not gross.i would go again, but it wouldn't be my first choice in town. read more

I've been getting coffee here for about year and a couple months ago they started serving breakfast. WOW!! There breakfast is absolutely amazing! The chai tea french toast is the best. All of the employees are always friendly! I love coming in! read more

I am big on supporting local businesses, so Cafe Diem is my go-to when I want some caffeine before work, or when I'm meeting a girlfriend for a coffee date. Their employees are cheerful and helpful. Lately I get a dirty chai, and although their chai is just a mix, I still enjoy it. Their other beverages are great, whether you're a latte person or a black coffee drinker as I am most of the time. Smoothies are good, and you have the option to add protein powder if you want. Love their blueberry muffins and scones as well. The fact that they have a drive through is awesome too. Cafe Diem isn't amazing by any means, but if you want great atmosphere and a decent cup of coffee, it's great. Compared to large competitors like Starbucks and Caribou, I will almost always choose Cafe Diem. read more

The staff is always friendly, the coffee is great, and the chicken salad sandwich is the perfect combination of savory and sweet. They have the longest list of sugar-free flavor shots I have ever seen, which is nice for the diabetic and otherwise sugar-challenged among us. The layout is fun, offering different areas for more and less private seating. Chairs, couches, booths -- even a few library-esque carels if you just want to set up your laptop and drink your coffee solo-style. Or pull up a stool at the bar! Love love love all the seating choices. Locally-owned, free wifi, great atmosphere, great coffee. Can't go wrong. read more

Cafe Diem is part of a small retail area on S Ankeny Blvd across from the DMACC campus. They offer all the regular fixings of a local coffee house along with a unique layout. Grab a stool at the bar, a booth on the back wall or a big, comfy chair along the front windows. The colorful paint scheme on the walls is inviting and conducive to a relaxing atmosphere. Free wireless is available and they've got fairly late hours (10pm-ish during the week, later on weekends). I stopped in one evening to burn through some work on my laptop and enjoyed a hot cup of Earl Grey tea. It was a welcome change from my desk and home and I'd definitely consider stopping over more often in the future. Whether you're there with friends, to hold a client meeting or to check out the local musical artists performing, Cafe Diem is a great place to stop in Ankeny. read more

Good coffee, good food, good service. All of the employees are always smiling and helpful. Very happy with this place. They have a meeting room you can reserve. Great place to get out of the office and have a change of scenery. Highly recommended! read more

Good for coffee, breakfast and more! I grabbed a coffee and breakfast sandwich. Reasonable price and quick. I as there for a meeting in the privite room. VERY NICE read more

Cafe Diem - Breakfast sandwich and coffee $9 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

10 months later, I once again find myself at Cafe Diem. The trouble is this is the best place to go in the area, and I've been feeling sort of conciliatory lately about some of my Yelp reviews. Despite my recent 2 star experience, I decided to give this place another shot. The previous review still stands, but the good news here is that the WiFi is definitely better. It's still bad, but at least now it oscillates between glacier slow and super-speed. Now that the WiFi works reasonably well, I'm revising my earlier 2 star rating. I'm not sure if my complaints were known, but I'm happy to say the Wi-Fi is now acceptable (but there's still room for improvement). Considering that it's free, it's hard to complain. read more

Wonderful locally owned coffee shop in the sea of chain places that is Ankeny. Friendly service, good coffee, relaxing atmosphere. During the day it's a perfect spot to hang out and study or read. I believe they have free wifi, which is always a plus. I'm not the biggest fan of their baked goods (why do places insist on individually wrapping every single baked good in saran wrap?), but they're fine for a carb fix. Drive thru if you're too lazy to get out of the car! read more

Cafe Diem was always my standard in Ames when I lived there! So awhile back I stopped in Cafe Diem in Ankeny! It's a wonderful coffee shop! Super clean, super good coffee, kind barista's and good snacks! I always loved the muffins at the Cafe Diem back in the day of the early 2000's and it looks like this store has the same! The owners of the Ames store were always super sweet, and supportive of local music and art! And it looks like this store does the same! Keep up the good work! This is a great place for Ankeny to have! read more

Nice small coffee shop. Staff is very friendly and the food is great. The only complaint is there wasn't enough lol.

Was in from out of state and was drawn here from reviews and wanting a place away from downtown Des Moines to hammer through some work. Open space and relaxing feel. Good coffee and uses real spoons to stir coffee! There is a conference room with comfy chairs for more private community meetings. Not sure if or how you reserve it. Enjoyed my work time there. Wifi worked great! Free second cup of coffee a plus too! read more

Cafe Diem - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

Their cupcakes are amazing. The frappe I got was also delicious. Two other people I were with got coffees and they raved about them. It looked like the owner was present & attentive. And the woman who helped us was very friendly. Definitely going back, and definitely would recommend. read more

If not the best coffee in Des Moines it is very close. Staff incredibly friendly also!

I'm a big coffee shopper. I would've given this place more stars but I'm bummed with their pricing. I had to pay almost $6 for an iced almond milk latte (no flavors) and the smallest iced size they had. It's disappointing and unreasonable and overall not worth it. If you are a college student like me at least. The coffee was good though, just too pricey. read more

I'm very picky about my coffee shops, especially when it comes to atmosphere. Cafe Diem has one of the best atmospheres one can ask for in such a place. It's warm, cozy, and relaxing. The lights are not too bright or dim, the walls are deep red, and the furniture is basic dark brown/black leather. It's not too flashy, but there's enough decor to be interesting. As far as service and coffee goes, it was good. I'm only giving this place four stars because I was served a styrofoam cup and I kinda wanted a ceramic mug but didn't feel comfortable enough to ask. (But that's just my timidity at work, there.) I had a latte, which was delicious (and the reason I wanted a ceramic cup...I was hoping for latte art.) Apparently people have had issues with the tea, but I haven't had that so I can't promise that's amazing as the coffee. But over all, a very good experience. :) read more

Their blended lattes are very good. Great combination of cream and coffee. Could perhaps use a slight bit more of cream but could just be personal preference. Staff was very knowledgeable about their drinks as well as their competitors drinks. If you want coffee in Ankeny, this is the place to go. Starbucks and Carribou don't even come close. (Experiences are via drive thru) read more

Cafe Diem - Salted Carmel blended latte 16 oz. (They should get branded cups) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Ankeny, Iowa

The people working here are soooo friendly, almost too friendly, really! Like how Starbucks workers are in the morning after their 2nd triple something. I always come late at night, close to and up to closing because I am in Ankeny waiting for my daughter to get done with dance. And this friendliness is REAL! Even up to the time when they ask me to leave at 9:pm. There are always people there doing bible study and talking nicely about other people! So if you have an ounce of cynicism in your bones, be warned! The coffee isn't awesome, much better in my to-go cup, vs. their styrofoam cups. Their scones are good. My daughter loves their strawberry banana smoothies and I like a steeped cup of green iced tea on a warm night. Nothing amazing. But the atmosphere is what makes this place a rare find! read more

Alright coffee, almost too dark inside, and when the sun is setting it gets SUPER hot! Coffee is too expensive too. If I want to spend that much, I'll go to Starbucks. And now they have some sort of minimal payment necessary to use a credit card or some crap like that. Only reason I go is because it's at least somewhat quieter then Starbucks read more

This is my favorite coffeeshop in Ankeny. Good coffee, a warm atmosphere and a welcoming, friendly staff. It's popular, but I rarely have a problem finding a place to read. There is a plethora of seating options. From dark leather couches that are nap-worthy, to open tables with wooden chairs, to bar stools sidled up to the counter. There's a good mix of music: anything from acoustic coffeehouse mixes of popular tunes, to indie, to modern pop. Its loud enough to hear, but not enough to prohibit regular conversation. Overall, I'd recommend this shop for anyone looking for a good cup of joe. Come in and keep warm on a cold day. Or, if you're in a hurry, don't fret. There's a drive-through. read more

My dad and I planned a stop at Café Diem as it looked to be near the mid point of our trip from Kansas City to Minneapolis. We were both glad we stopped at Café Diem for lunch. We both enjoyed the Cape Cod salad with grilled chicken, apricots, cranberries and walnuts. The chicken Panini was heavenly as the white cheese was gooey and the bread was soft and delicious. It's not everyday that you get to take lunch on such a brightly painted table that paired well with the rest of the décor. The shop was bright and cozy. The salted caramel apple cider would be perfect if the drink wasn't so sweet to mask a hint of tartness of the apple cider. The staff was friendly. I'm glad we stopped at Café Diem as the rest of the trip was wonderful. I always enjoy spending my hard earned money at local coffee shops that stress friendly interaction and quality products. Keep up the good work, Café Diem! read more

been coming here for years for food and drink. the meeting room is a great option for our regional club to hold board meetings.

I had breakfast at Cafe Diem this week, I ordered the Loaded Potatoes. They were amazing! The potatoes had bits of bacon, onions and peppers in them and the eggs were done to perfection! I will be back! read more

Visiting the area and decided to give them a try for some coarse ground coffee to make our cold press. Decided to try some drinks while there. I had a great skim mocha and my husband had a cold press. Awesome coffee quality. Looking forward to our home brewed cold press with their coffee. Nice shop, WiFi, and even a private room for gatherings. We didn't try any but cookies, scones, etc looked delish! read more

Just stopped here for a quick drive thru fix! Ordered a large black Coffee and a lemon poppyseed muffin. The lady at the window was so friendly and got my order to me quickly. The muffin was so good. Next time I will bring my boyfriend and we will try their food. read more

Better than the other 'name brand' coffee shops in town. Cute little place that is relaxing and a great place to stop to rejuvenate. Staff have always been attentive and friendly. Stop in for a bit and check it out. You will more than likely end up staying longer than you intended. read more

Cafe Diem is across the street from the Des Moines Area Community College Campus in Ankeny. I go there about three times a week for coffee in the morning. It is full of college students studying and business people having meetings. The coffee is good. A large mug of coffee is $2.07, including Iowa Sales Tax. There are soups and sandwiches and pastries to order. It is clean. It has comfortable soft chairs and lots of tables, if you need space to spread out papers. The WiFi is fast. It is a good coffeehouse. read more

A nice medium-size coffee house located in a strip mall across from DMACC. Lots of drink options, including smoothies.

I booked a room here for an event, but when I arrived, there were other patrons in the room. I respectfully asked the manager to uphold their end of the booking deal, but they refused. I'm disappointed that our regular weekly meeting had to be cancelled due to an apparent lack in organization or communication on the part of the employees. read more

Cafe Diem is a great coffee shop. The atmosphere is inviting, the staff is friendly, and the coffee and food are excellent.

The food here is absolutely delicious - prices are a little high, but the food is fresh enough to justify them. The staff tends to be pretty awesome - at one point a cashier realized I was struggling to make an important phone call with a dying phone and loaned me her own charger for a few hours. However, I'm not sure they're the most organized business in the world. I attended an event (for National Novel Writing Month) that the cafe accidentally failed to account for even though the organizer called ahead. I've also been there a few times when the cafe was very short-staffed. This is still a great place to work and eat delicious food, so I'm definitely coming back. read more