I've been enjoying trying out different coffee shops in the Peoria area and this time I brought my…read moresister along! This is my very first time visiting Café Santa Rosa! When we arrived, there was only one other customer in the shop, so it was very quiet and relaxed. The music was playing but it was almost to quiet. We did get there right around 2:30 and they close at 3:00 p.m. so that could be why they weren't busy at all. Only one other customer came in while we drink our coffee. I was hoping to try one of their chocolate croissants, but they were out at the time. I ordered the winter spice latte, and my sister ordered the hot mocha latte. I have to say, my favorite part of the entire visit was the atmosphere. The space is absolutely beautiful -- warm, industrial, and rustic all at the same time. The wood accents paired with the exposed ceilings, soft lighting, and open layout make it feel welcoming while still being really unique. There's so much room, and it feels like a place where you could comfortably sit and hang out for a while with friends. One of the coolest little details was spotting an old dumbwaiter -- you really don't see those very often anymore, and it added even more character to the space. I also loved learning that they have a bar-style setup on the other side of the restaurant a few nights a week, which is a fun and unexpected touch. Another special feature is that their coffee comes straight from Colombia, and you could truly taste the quality. They've been in this location here for about 2 years and since the building is bigger I hope that they are getting a lot more customers but I'm not sure. Overall, it's a really neat spot with a great vibe, and it's worth checking out.

Visiting Peoria, and excited to try different coffee bars. After reading the story of Cafe Santa…read moreRosa, my HS bestie and I ventured in to try something new. We were warmly greeted by the owner, and fell in love with the layout. The menu is extensive, and I tried the cortado and a harvest muffin. Both were extraordinary, and my friend tried the avocado toast. Lucky to try a bite, it exceeded ALL avo toasts I've ever tried. The sourdough was homemade, and the avo had a Colombian twist that took it to a new level. Topped with a medium boiled egg, it was just sublime. Very classy, very comfortable..can't wait to go back!

My husband and I were traveling back home from Knoxville, Illinois and thought we'd swing by and…read moretry out a coffee shop along the way. This was my first time trying out Kickabrew Coffee so I didn't know what to expect when I went inside. We had been outside for a while so I was looking forward to trying out a nice hot coffee! I got the white chocolate coffee and my husband got a hot cocoa. While we waited for our drinks we took a look around the coffee shop and I have to say, it's quite charming! I was not expecting the back room at all, not to mention all of the seating and the log cabin look that it had to offer either. It felt like the seating options were endless including couches and designer chairs. There's even an upstairs loft as well which is a great place to hang out with friends! It's so cute! A few moments later, they called out our drinks from the side window, it's located in the hallway leading to that cute log cabin looking back room. I think more places should have a side window by the way. It was nice to be able to step aside and not be in the way while other people are ordering. There were lots of people coming in and out so I think it's a popular spot in town, I don't blame them! Time to try out our drinks! They were great and we warmed right up! I would definitely go out of my way to come back and try this shop out again. I'd like a little more time to look at the menu and see what else they have to offer. I hear they have some yummy snacks so I'll have to try one of those next time! To the owner: great job on your coffee shop! It's super charming and I love it!

A T M O S P H E R E Warm and cozy! Perfect for coming here…read moreon the weekend to chill, after school to work on homework, or after work to hangout! Plenty of seating and HANDICAP/DISABLED FRIENDLY! (They have 2 entrances - the front and side with a ramp) S E R V I C E The barista was so nice! I was on the fence about what to try and she immediately recommended a couple different things, which landed me with their featured Blueberry Latte... IT WAS AMAZING! Could not have enjoyed my drink more! F O O D I didn't get any food this time, but like I said above... my Blueberry Latte was delicious and left me totally impressed with the taste and quality of their coffee!

Review Visit: October 30th, 2017…read more With my love for coffee and visiting coffeehouses, it is a surprise that this place popped up in Peoria without me knowing. My friend and I were actually heading to Riley's Cupcakes and Coffee Lounge for some caffeine and sweets when we found out they were closed on Mondays as of recent. Sad at the thought of not getting to try a new coffee place, my friend suggested we try the place a few doors down. Come to my surprise that there was a newer coffeehouse right there. So, in we went! [CxT] appears to be a new coffeehouse in Peoria, a city that seems to be going through a renewal of sorts... tons of new places, young places, fresh places... and [CxT] is a welcome addition, in my books. If cozy coffeehouses needed a photo, this place would be perfect. It's small with very limited seating but it's still open enough to feel inviting. Upon going in, we were greeted by one of the owners behind the counter and we chatted for a bit while trying to figure out what to order. Very nice fellow and I hope their company does well. My friend ended up ordering a Matcha Tea Latte while I ordered an Iced Caramel Latte. Oftentimes when I order my usual, it is either a bit too bitter or a bit too sweet, but the balance of this latte was a near perfect blend of flavor and espresso. It is easily a Top 10 for me. My friend said his Matcha Tea was pretty good. He had to explain to me what he ordered as I had never heard of it before. If you like their coffee a lot, they roast it themselves and you can get it in a multitude of flavors. They also offers some unique chocolates, which my friend bought and liked. They have these cool things that you stir in Hot Cocoa and it dissolves, giving it a new flavor. I want to go back and get a few of those things before winter fully hits! There appears to be art on one wall that is for sale. I didn't get a good look at them but they looked cool from afar. There is also a pretty decent-sized jewelry set up, if you need to accessorize while picking up some coffee. All-in-all, [CxT] Roasting Company is a great addition to not just Main Street in Peoria but also to Peoria itself.

The service is great! The Barista, Elliot, gave great recommendations and made some great coffee…read more Great coffee and good vibes. Highly recommended.

The staff were very friendly and kind. There was a long line and more online orders coming in and…read morethey kept their composure under pressure. The pastry I had was Devine. The coffee was made to perfection. It has a lovely atmosphere.

Very festive and beautiful inside. Super neat that the coffee is kept in a vault since the building…read morewas previously a bank. Lots of unique drink options, scones, and muffins. The building goes way back there's room for groups or individuals to work. Parking options in front of the establishment. It does have stairs so it is not ideal for wheelchair or strollers. Large bathrooms with a changing table. Service was excellent and will be back when we're visiting the area!

From coffee truck to temporary location back to coffee truck…read more My friend Maria first told me about this place and how it is a coffee truck that's taking temporary residency in this Tropical Sno building until the end of winter. Not really wanting to stand outside and order coffee in 10 degree weather, I kind of forgot about it until we were at a hockey game and Maria said it was still open and was having their final day the next day. Having already plans to go to Weaver's for lunch on that same day, it only made sense to drop in next door to grab some caffeine before lunch. So, that's what Emily and I did. We both needed some caffeine before we dug into our lunch. The menu was pretty vast for being a mobile truck. I'm guessing them being in an actual building lets them expand their offerings. Being situated in the Tropical Sno building also lets them tap into that companies sauces and syrups to build some pretty interesting combinations and drinks. Emily got The Best Brew and I snagged Night Shift Special with some caramel flavoring. We took a seat to enjoy what little sunshine there was on this dreary day. It was a bit too cold to sit outside and enjoy our coffees so we took them to the car to sip them down. We tried Emily's first and it was really good. The cinnamon bun flavor was just subtle enough to not make the drink all about itself. Then we tried my Night Shift and we both fell in love. Usually when Emily and I grab coffee and food, she gets the better tasting thing but I won this one with the best tasting drink ever. This drink is legit a Top 3 coffee drink I've ever had. Every sip was smooth and delicious and full of flavor. After we drank most of our coffees, we wandered over to Weaver's for even more tasty goodies but we kept thinking about that Night Shift Special. With The Best Brew moving back to being a mobile truck, I am going to have to keep my eye on where it'll be setting up shop to get more of that sweet sweet Night Shift Special.

For the past two years, I have been getting best brew coffee before work when I can, and it is my…read morefavorite start of the day. The staff and ownership there is amazing and hilarious super welcoming. coffees to die for.

Review Visit: November 28th, 2021…read more I couldn't wait for this place to open. I can wait to go back. Somehow, the building of the Coffee Can became this huge hyped thing among people living in Central Illinois. Being from Central Illinois, I got wrapped up in this hype. It's probably due to the unique building materials used in it's construction. You see, the Coffee Can is literally made from shipping containers. It's been a trend that seems to be gaining popularity over the last few years/decade. Take a unique structure and throw in some coffee and that is probably how I got hyped up to try this place. Sadly, with the world currently in a unique situation, the items needed by the Coffee Can took forever to arrive. This lead to the opening being delayed multiple times. But, we are sitting here reviewing it so that must mean they finally opened. It was a windy and sunny afternoon with a few of my friends and I stopped in for some coffee and chit-chat. I wanted something warm since it was just cold enough to chill your inside without freezing you out completely. Also, I made sure to come here on an empty stomach so I could try out their food (which I am never hungry when trying these places, so the opportunity to sample their food is always a failure on my part... but I am learning). My order consisted of a 20oz. Americano and a 'Grown Up Grilled Cheese'. The place was busier than I anticipated for a Sunday since the baristas were busy with the orders that came before us and orders coming in through the drive-thru. After about a 5 minute wait, Jenn and I were able to put our orders in. She got a Chai Tea Latte and a salad. The wait for my drink was short and my food came out a few minutes after that. Since I was hungry, I dived right in to my sandwich while the coffee took it's sweet time cooling off. With those first two bites, I knew my sandwich wasn't going to be a great experience. I didn't realize it came with spinach on it until it came to write these words. I knew it had a funky taste but I haven't had spinach since I was a kid, so I couldn't place what was off about it. It wasn't completely off-putting as I ate the whole sandwich but I can't help but think I would've enjoyed it more had I ordered it without the offending topping. But, who puts a spinach on a grilled cheese?! I chalk that mistake up to me talking and not paying attention to what I was actually ordering. After an eternity, my coffee was cool enough to sip. My taste buds are a glutton for punishment and I love the bitterness of Americanos, but this one tasted very bland. It's hard to say what I wasn't a fan of but I just didn't care for it and was debating on ordering a new drink and tossing it. But, wasting coffee like that hurts my soul so I ended up sticking with it. I do chalk my interesting experience to myself making a mistake on ordering my sandwich and also not ordering the coffee I was craving and getting something basic instead. As we wrapped up our hangout, we decided to check out the upstairs area. The second we stepped foot on the 2nd floor, I wished we had our hangout up there. It was super cozy and intimate with comfy-looking seating and what appeared to be a fireplace. I didn't snap any good photos of the area as there were people sitting there and I didn't want to invade on their privacy. I may have had a unique experience for the worst but, as I said, the blame on that was mostly on me. My friends want to come back when it's a bit warmer out so we can sit outside on the upstairs deck. That you can see below (with the American flag). Hopefully my next visit is a better experience. If I do get to return, I will update this post with any new info/photos/revise the score based on that trip. As always, don't let my blog post dissuade anyone from checking out a place. Go there and it may just be your new favorite place!

Two of us on our order. Our order was 1 medium coffee, 1 medium decaf mocha and a toasted bagel…read more This took 45 minutes to fill. There was one couple ahead of us that got coffee and ice cream and they left before they got their full order because they had waited so long. Our bagel was not even hot and the coffee tasted like it was burnt. Needless to say we won't be back.

Great coffee bar w/ matcha, espresso drinks, and beautiful monsteras…read more Matcha latte was legit

Asked my Peoria native friend for recommendations around town and this was his number one spot- and…read moreI can see why! Zion was the perfect cafe to spend a few hours working while fueling up with some caffeine and breakfast. They had plenty of tables/bar space, and even an extra upstairs area with more seating. I tried their special banana butterscotch latte and it was incredible. Also tried the classic avocado toast. I was surprised to have two slices that were loaded with avocado mash! If I'm being picky it was a tad too salty, but the sourdough toast was delicious. I'm looking forward to trying the crunchy at my next visit. I'll absolutely be back next time I'm in the area!

Review Visit: April 15th, 2023…read more Jesus that's a strong drink. Like anything with life, you explore enough and you will experience some wild things. Coffee Connection happens to be one of the more unique coffeehouses I've ever visited. After breakfast at Busy Corner, it was time for coffee. We walked up and as soon as we walked in, I knew that we were in for a treat. There was Jesus stuff everywhere and a bookshelf near the entrance that was crammed full of Jesus books, movies, audiobooks, and etc. Not that this place being a Christian-themed is a bad thing. Just my first religious coffee place. No, what made this place unique were the random stuff you'd probably find unsold (or sold ASAP based on trends) at Goodwills or Thrift Stores. You should be able to see some of the oddities in the photos below. To note, there was also a lot of St. Louis Cardinals craft items around so if you are a Cards or Cubs fan, just take note. I was standing there, looking at the menu on the counter and things in the display case when out of the corner of my eye I see someone standing there. This spooked me as we were the only customers at the front of the store. Turns out... it was Jake from State Farm. As a life-size cutout. I knew I had to get a photo with it. Emily saw a Strawberry-type drink on their FB page and ordered that. I got a plain ol cold brew for my sipping pleasure. We stood there while the barista made our drinks and took in the unusualness of Coffee Connection. Once we got our drinks, we wandered to the back and to check out the giant artwork painted on the wall. You can see that below. We headed up to the front and say by the big window, playing Speed with a deck of cards on the aforementioned shelf. I took a sip of my cold brew and instantly knew it would be a slow sipping drink. I've had some strong and bitter cold brews and this one is in the Top 3, easily. Not that that is a bad thing but something to keep in mind if you try one here. Emily enjoyed her drink and said it tasted like a mix of beer, coffee and strawberry. I took a sip and would have to agree. We both agreed that it didn't taste bad... Emily said she enjoyed it, actually. Just an interesting drink. They did have baked goods and refrigerated items for sale but seeing as we just ate breakfast, we weren't in the mood for anything besides caffeine. Some of them did look appealing despite full bellies. Sadly, you can kind of assume this place doesn't do gangbusters in sales as a lot of the fixtures and odds and ends were just not in fantastic condition or shape. Some of their decorations were covered in some dust or showed signs of not being touched since opening. We ended up leaving with half our drinks left. Normally I finish mine while I'm at the place but with how bitter it was, it was a slow sipping drink. Once it was watered down a bit, it really hit the spot after some yard work. I can't say that would return here or would suggest people go out of the way for but if you are in the area and need a caffeine hit, Coffee Connection can connect you with what you need!

The staff is so kind and knowledgeable! It is a perfect spot to relax and sip on coffee. There is…read moreplenty of seating. We both got delicious custom cold drinks. I highly recommend.