Along Route 9 in Lakewood Township, you will find a cozy cafe. I have been wanting to come there ever since discovering it on Yelp. Brand: 5/5 From the sign to the wooden logo to the solid font, Kava Coffee House maintains a cozy aesthetic as a cafe in Lakewood. It is formally certified as a kosher eatery by the Kashrus Council of Lakewood, NJ. You will also find the wood theme plays out in the interior as well, with wooden panels and the wooden signs. Website: 5/5 The opening page offers you a glimpse into the classy design, from the images to the cool color scheme to the overall theme. I did like the interactive pages of the online menu. Kava powers the website through Order2, which has an advanced online ordering system. It also takes you to the basic description of the business, which discusses the cozy atmosphere and the extensive food selection. Wait Time: 5/5 I experienced no issues or delays with my order. Indeed, the establishment uses the name basis when announcing the order. Ambiance: 4/5 I did like the smooth jazz playing over the radio and the authentic fireplace at the center of the establishment, warming it during the winter. The wood panels on the floors and the walls evoke the cozy vibe of a cafe. Around noon, the establishment can get noisy and cluttered, though it did not prove cumbersome compared to the rickety table. I did not have any issue with the seats nor the space within the medium-sized dining area. Drink: 5/5 I ordered the Kava Supreme Frappuccino, which is their signature frappuccino, consisting of cookies & cream, caramel, peanut butter, blended with coffee, and ice cream, topped with whip cream, drizzle, and cookie crumble. It definitely has a sweet taste, but it did not overwhelm me, despite having so many ingredients. The caramel and the coffee did give it the spicy aftertaste. The ice cream did give it a smooth texture without making the frappuccino tedious to drink. Service: 5/5 I did not experience any issue with the staff. They did have patience with me when I blanked out on my order and had to return to the menu to remember what I wanted. Worth The Money?: 3/5 The Kava Supreme Frappuccino encapsulated the brand succinctly within a signature drink. The way the website uses interactive pages manages to introduce anyone to the menu items, including a section dedicated to their specialty dishes, in such a way unique to the establishment. The wait time it took to make the Kava Supreme Frappuccino matched the quality, and it did not feel tedious with nothing about the ambiance interfering my experience. The staff put a lot of effort into their dishes, and the specialty drinks are no exception. Based on my first impressions, I will say that Kava Coffee House managed to get me in a good mood with its fireplace and the smooth music. That good mood stayed with me throughout the time I enjoyed the Kava Supreme Frappuccino. The website reflects the ambiance of the business with its overall design. While the staff cooking in the background can be tedious if you sit too close to the kitchen, the noise did not burden me. Would I say that the price was worth it? I will say that I would have gotten a drink like the Kava Supreme Frappuccino to cost the same regardless of the cafe, however the other menu items did prove beyond my personal budget. Considering the maintenance of the website design and the fireplace, I will say that the ambiance and website do justify the high prices, but only a little. Rating: 5/5 Stars Between four or five stars, I ultimately chose five stars, because the experience going to Kava Coffee House made their signature drink worth it. Its taste stayed with me throughout the day. A lot of care has been put on Kava Coffee House and I have hope that it will continue to serve Lakewood Township. Recommend To... Anyone who is looking for a quick coffee without buying any additional snacks. read more

Kava Coffee House - KAVA SUPREME FRAPPUCCINO (20oz) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Howell, New Jersey

See all

When I am running around town, I'll stop here and grab a basic coffee. I don't stay inside and sip, but I don't do that at Starb's either. It's an order, grab and go. Service has been good, no issues and the coffee is hto and made the way I like it. No complaints. read more

We were looking for a new coffee place to try in our area and found Kava about 30 minutes away. Decided to take a chance on a rainy day with, as it turns out, mixed results. The place has a drive-thru section, but we opted for large seating area inside which has a charming and warm interior. The menu is extensive, and even Kosher. I ordered a salmon sandwich which was served on sourdough bread that was warm and absolutely delicious. My cappuccino, cookie and cheesecake were, unfortunately, under par. The drink lacked foam, the large cookie was dry, and the cheesecake was served in a cafeteria style plastic box rather than on a plate which made it less appealing. The biggest issue though was the silverware, which was, unfortunately, dirty. We opted for plastic forks, but even there we didn't feel the warm and fuzzies because they were unwrapped and touched by, I am sure, lots of hands as they were picking their own. Kava should at least serve those the way they do in other take out places, prepackaged and wrapped in some clear plastic. What I appreciated the most was the host who was extremely warm and helpful in getting us the order and making us feel welcome. Clearly this is a popular place given it was booked with wall to wall people, but Kava should make minor improvements which would certainly elevate their rating. Looking forward to coming back to a slightly better experience. read more

See all

The coffee is good, lots of choices. However it sometimes takes a really long time at the drive thru to order and get the drinks. The other day I waited for 10 minutes to order, I had to pull away bc I had to go to work. read more

I've had plenty of great experiences at kava, while it was business meetings or lunch with family or friends, always was amazed by their food and service. But this was not the case this week; I had a a meeting early morning at kava, when I walked in the place at 8:00 and the place was an absolute mess, dirty, with food on the table and dirty plates and cups. I had to wait about 15 minutes to get a table, and when they finally set a table for us, the noise of moving tables and chairs was very interrupting. The food, coffee, prices and service are always great; I guess it was just the organization of the place. Kava is always a great spot for business meetings but today I didn't have the best experience, hope to have a better one next time. read more

Used to be my favorite place when I came down to Jersey. Now I will never be coming here again. It is very upsetting because I enjoyed their drinks a lot. Now they have people who can't speak English taking my order. I wish they could understand. I asked for a cortado with a quad shot espresso. I explained before paying it's a quad shot with less milk than a latte. I paid $10. They gave me a cappuccino with a single shot instead and said "sorry we don't know how to make your drink". This place used to be my favorite place but will be going elsewhere. Message to owner: spend the couple extra dollars and hire legal workers who speak/understand English. What kind of milk? "Blue or red". Very upsetting. The last 3 times there were issues here. There will not be a 4th. read more

This place is beyond charming with the fireplace in the middle of the cafe. I think the food is delicious specifically the portabello mushrooms. So many healthy and tasty options. Was excited to see they recently added some gluten free options. read more

Bathroom dirty in the morning, had to open toilet paper, soap dish had dust on it at 10am. cashier unenthused, not familiar with menu items. Food not flavorful. Guest has pancakes, waffles, salads, eggs, wraps and we had the company of unwelcomed flies. 49.00 for three coffees n breakfast meal. read more

Kava Coffee House - Lightbulb theme chandeliers and salt n pepper shakers - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Howell, New Jersey

I really enjoyed this place! The inside of the building is super nice. A lot of nice décor, seating, fireplace, as well as very clean. The service was quick and friendly. I ordered the 'Blueberry French Toast Frappachio'. The blueberry definitely overpowered the French toast flavor but that is okay with me. It was quite delicious and basically Starbucks prices for the drinks. My husband ordered just a regular coffee which he said wasn't the best but it was good. For our dishes, my husband ordered the 'Pizza Panini' which he loved. I ordered the 'Caprese Pizza' which was VERY delicious. It was huge as well! I was not expecting it to be that big. Definitely big enough to share with 1 or 2 other people. Yes, this place is in a VERY Orthodox and Hasidic community and while I am Jewish, I do not follow any practices. I did not feel judged or anything, just a regular customer! I will for sure be back and will recommend! read more

The place was clean and neat in the people are very friendly. The food seem pretty decent. We did have to wait a long time though for our food and then they lost our food. And on top of that they never called us to pick up our food while we were sitting right in front of the counter. read more

Kava Coffee House - Blueberry shake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Howell, New Jersey

See all

Finally got the chance to try this place. Very cute and rustic vibe inside with plenty of space to sit and stay a while. We got a breakfast burrito, apple crepe, and a toasted almond latte. The burrito is highly overpriced for what you get. Basically just a tortilla with some egg, a few pieces of potato, and what tasted like very little salsa. The crepe was pretty good and looked delicious. The latte was great, not too sweet. The guy who took our order was less than friendly. He never even smiled and barely made eye contact. When my coffee was made as a hot latte instead of the iced that I ordered, the guy corrected me and said no you ordered that and turned away. We did not feel welcome here at all. All that being said, I would return but I would pass on the food and just grab a coffee. Make sure you emphasize if you want it hot or iced. read more

Kava Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Howell, New Jersey

See all

Kava hosted a sheva brachos for our niece and we could not have been more thrilled with the service we received. The food was delicious, the staff was courteous and professional and it was an excellent experience from beginning to end. I would definitely recommend Kava to anyone looking to cater any event, big or small. read more

Had sheva brachos there and it was absolutely lovely! Great food, beautiful ambiance, and friendly customer service! Can't wait to go back!

I was very excited walking into this place, nice atmosphere and it looked like great baked goods. However, as soon as I walked to the counter, I noticed 5 out of 6 employees NOT wearing a mask and serving food! I could not believe it! This is 2021 and they are part of the problem with the high virus rates. Completely unacceptable! read more

I should have known better. Came looking for a "nice" coffee shop in the area. Walked in and was greeted by a male employee with "hey, doordash?" Immediate turn off. The place was filthy and I am not joking. Pastries looked like they spent the night out and counter tops looked like they hadn't been wiped down in a while. The girls working were nice and the chai latte was good (alittle sweet for my taste) but I wouldn't dare ever return. read more

The best place ever amazing drinks and food I love the Greek salads there also I highly recommend this place

Kava prepared a wonderful Sheva Brochos; phenomenal food & great ambiance; clean restrooms; would highly recommend.

When I first started becoming an "active" yelper, KAVA was one of the first places I reviewed. I gave it 5 stars and I still award it 5 stars. I come here at least once a week, and spend hours sipping my hot Americano, twirling my garlic pesto zoodle (zucchini) pasta with my fork, and writing my dissertation like a mad women in front of their cozy fireplace in the center of the shop. As a graduate student, I live at coffee shops. I can't function without coffee. However, most of the time I am STARVING while I study and I'm on a very limited diet as to what I can and cannot eat. The average coffee shop has muffins, a variety of pastries, bagels, an occasional wrap. Well for someone like me who is on a modified paleo diet, I can't eat any of this! Kava, however, understands! They have veggie/cheese omelettes, egg white omelettes, and my favorite shakusha (poached eggs with tomato sauce, peppers, spinach) etc.! You can get a side of hash browns or toast with all these entrees. The hash browns are FRESH, it's like your eating a baby red potatoe diced up, crispy, and with a buttery finish. Yum! Salads! Kava has endless salad choices, that are huge and do not leave you hungry! I enjoy the salmon salad the most, but the tuna is a close second. You get REAL salmon with this salad, it's blackened and delicious with omega 3's! The dinner menu is equally fantastic, although you can order breakfast all day if you like :) Besides the pesto zoodle pasta, I recommend their whole wheat veggie or cheese quesadilla dishes as well as their new gluten free veggie pizza. Yes, gluten free! They also have stuffed portabella mushrooms and these amazing spicy cauliflower bites, for we paleo eaters!!! I've never had their mac n cheese, mushroom ravioli, or penne vodka due to my dietary restrictions, but I've see the plates. I'm there long enough to drool over what could have been in my tummy! haha! I think it is important to note that everything here is FRESH. Depending on what you order, you may have to wait 10 minutes (especially if you come around lunch time). This isn't a fast food joint, however. It's an independent coffee shop. You are served quality food with fresh and healthy ingredients. If you are in a hurry, they do have a DRIVE THRU! The staff at KAVA is incredible. Paul and Jeanine, barista and servers combined into one, are great. They know me by name, my "usual order," and Jeanine can even recognize my voice when I order through the drive though! Apparently I sound "very happy" in the morning.. by why wouldn't I be?... I'm at Kava!!! I've also met one the owner/manager, Joe Jaffe, who greeted me personally one afternoon and made sure I was happy with my order. Since then, when he is at the location, I've had several conversations with him. He asked me about my dissertation topic, school, etc.,. Kava is a busy place but when the owners, managers, and employees take the time to get to know their guests, that is what separates a "good" from a "great" establishment. Coffee Coffee Coffee, let me not leave this out! I must say, that if you are looking for single origin coffee, Kava is not the place. Most of my friends know I'm obsessed with single origin coffee, but I make an exception at Kava because their coffee is pretty good.... and I can eat and study at the same time! I order their cafe Americano most of the time, it's bold and strong. I've had their signature dark roast, which is also very good. Kava stands out in their latte, frappuccino, and speciality drink department. I'm a simple coffee drinker, so I cannot vouch for the taste of these drinks, but from what I have seen on my weekly visits to Kava these coffee drinks look like milkshakes! Fancy ones! ;) For example, they have a S'mores lattee with steamed milk, chocolate syrup, toasted marshmallow syrup, and graham cracker topping. That sounds to me like a girl scout cookie and a roasted marshmallow on a stick old school style all in one!! WHOA NELLY! I would order that if I could have sugar... I'm going to splurge one day... I will, I tell you! I am going to admit at this point that I consider myself somewhat of an annoying customer because I like my coffee HOT and I drink it slow. I'm always asking for my coffee to be reheated. No problem at kava! Paul doesn't just reheat my coffee, he pours me a fresh cup on the house :) Thank you Paul! To close, I mentioned this in my last review and I will reiterate: This is a Jewish owned establishment. Honestly, besides the fact they are closed on Saturdays and close early on Fridays, I don't even see how this matters. Reviews below, however, seem to imply that "outsiders" are "unwelcome" by the majority of Orthodox and Hasidic community that frequent Kava. I am a Catholic and I have NOT experienced this. The customers at Kava are great and I'm here at least once a week. Throw out any preconceived notions you have about this community and give Kava a chance. read more

See all

It was a truly unpleasant experience. The quality of the food and drinks was excellent, but unfortunately, the service was extremely disappointing. The cashier displayed a complete lack of professionalism and respect. Not only did they make a mistake when taking our order, but they also went out of their way to ruin our evening with our family. To compensate for their error, the manager offered us a complimentary drink. However, just two minutes later, the cashier approached our table and took the drink from my three-year-old daughter. They accused us of not paying for the drink, despite us explaining that the manager had given it to us for free. It was clear that the cashier had no interest in our explanation. Although they eventually tried to return the drink, the damage had already been done. The incident completely soured our mood and ruined our evening. It is imperative that the owner takes responsibility for their employees and provides them with proper customer service training. You don't take a customer drink away! read more

Place was very empty when I arrived. I ordered a black coffee, which tasted fresh and a cinnamon twist. The cinnamon twist was a bit too sweet and slightly doughy, and I couldn't make myself finish it. Free wifi and a relatively quiet environment so un was able to get some work done. Tables were clean, and service was prompt. As I was leaving, it seemed like they were closing up and the owner, I believe, offered me a salad to go, on the house. Very nice of them! read more

Was not expecting this interesting experience at Kava coffee house. Other customers were unwelcoming and glared at my friend and I. Coffee was overly sweet and has a strange after-taste. However, it was a really cute store with rustic decor. Didn't get to try the food but I believe it is all kosher! read more

Food was good ambiance was good. Coffee was delicious. However, it's like a covid free world in there. Workers aren't wearing masks, customers aren't wearing masks. No social distancing. Very very very unsafe if you ask me considering we're in a pandemic. read more

Pretty good food,some things ok priced others expensive....no waiter service..usually need to clean your table. The customer service needs improvement. Usually a good setting for a calmer breakfast/ lunch. read more

I have wanted to check this place out for awhile because I've heard all good things and most of the reviews were good. So there was some good and some bad. I had a mocha latte that was excellent. The crepes were pretty good as well but a little thick on the crepe shell. So I'm neutral about the crepe. The downside was that it was not the cleanest. Perhaps we arrived right after a huge rush and they were catching up but every table was dirty. There was a guy cleaning but it seemed like they needed a few. I don't know if it was just customers who left all of their trash everywhere but it was quite a lot. One guy cleaning up didn't seem like enough. And seeing a trash can on top of the chair during clean up was disturbing. Again, I think they needed an extra person to help with cleaning and I would've been happier. The decor was nice and the ambiance. Nice fireplace, menu board easy to read. Cashier was friendly. read more

I had ordered a burrito and they forgot to put the vege and the sauce and it wasn't warmed up and I tried giving back to the waitress and she was just giving me really tough time I don't recommend eating at this coffe house read more

This place reminds me of home. Would 100% return back here again for my morning coffee

I don't know what it is about this place but the coffee tastes odd. I have tried numerous times and every time it has an odd taste. The first time I thought it was me but after the third time it's three strikes and you're out read more

Really nice coffee house with plenty of comfortable seating. I had a medium coffee with milk, sat back on the couch and relaxed for a good half hour. What a nice place to hang out and to be with friends. read more

Cute coffee shop. I love the hot choclate! Gotta sit by the super awesome fire place its super cozy :)

Kava is a warm coffee house with an awesome food menu too! The staff is friendly and nice and the food is delicious! read more

Kava Coffee House - We made my daughters 12th birthday here all the guest had a grand time!! Thank you!!! :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Howell, New Jersey

See all

I agree with others about atmosphere, comfortable and roomy. Prices high for portions you get and food is nothing that makes you go WOW! If your budget minded, not a great place to go. It's a bummer, when you have great atmosphere but average food quality or service to follow. A buzz kill as some say. If I just wanna see antique style stuff I'll go to Salvation Army. Sorry Kava but you talk the talk but don't walk the walk. read more

The coffee is great. I've been here many times and always been happy. The cheesecake was particularly good

Cutest Place Ever! Great Decor! Extremely Cozy (fireplace, couches, cushions, the works)! They even have crossword puzzles and board games. Also great for business meetings. You can sit at a table for four, or a bigger table for a family. You can even sit at a high table with bar chairs. You can technically get breakfast, lunch, and dinner there! Delicious food (i loved the Greek quesadillas!) and drinks (you can get a punch card, and your 10th drink will be free! . They also have a drive through, which is super convenient. Great customer service (Especially someone by the name of Vince- ask for him, you wont be let down. guaranteed.). Extremely friendly. You can also order online. Basically, check it out. its a great place to be for pretty much any occasion. read more

First time there I was hoping to see more Homemade Bakery items did not see hardly any Homemade Bakery items I ordered a almond latte drinks are served in paper cups not in China i set down on the sofa there were two sofas and coffee table I sat down on the sofa waiting for business meeting table was not cleaned after sitting on the sofa for 10 minutes a woman came over and says I reserved this sofa and she points to her three-year-old son that sitting on the second sofa all by himself I never heard of such behavior before in my entire life very rude but let's get back to the food I am I ordered a apple crepe I will serve the apple crate but without a knife and fork have to figure out where to find the fork and knife I sat down with my business partner on a regular small metal table and Metal chair my business partner complained wasn't comfortable for his back read more

First of all, this place looks nothing like the pictures on its website. Dirty dishes sitting on tables, lots of tables squeezed in. No comfy looking sofa. On to the food... my husband ordered a coffee with cream. His coffee had some foamy looking stuff on top and what appeared to be oily globs floating on top. Returned it for another which was ice cold. Cheese omelet was burnt , home fries greasy and toasted bread hard as a rock. My omelet was barely edible. Our friend ordered their cauliflower bites which were chewy. My husband returned his plate and coffee uneaten and not drank. No offer of refund, no apology - nothing. I went and requested a refund . Once again, no apology just a rude what was wrong with it? It was over $12 and I was not paying for something that was inedible. read more

I pulled in and waited on the drive thru line for 15 minutes before rolling up and finding out you guys don't serve Kava tea? I get that you're a coffee house and it's "just the name" of the place but why call it Kava if you don't serve Kava? I mean I guess I could have called and been like "hey, do you serve Kava tea?" But I didn't wanna ask a seemingly stupid question. I wouldn't call a place called "Steak Meat House" and ask them if they serve steak... you know? Just a thought. Really wanted to try this place and their imaginary kava, only to be let down. read more

was there for breakfast yesterday with my mom. What an embarassment. The manager has to be replaced if this place wants to continue to do business. Very insulting staff. Food was only served to one of us and when enquiring about the other dish that was ordered we were asked to see the receipt to verify if the dish was paid for. Additionally after 'verifying' it was still a 30 min wait for an omelet!! Will NOT recommend this place and will certainly not return. read more

Looks beautiful, nice ambience, pastries and sandwiches that are much better than that big chain from Seattle! The people are friendly, the seats are comfortable. Although it was already late they assured me they would brew me a fresh coffee, I was not especially impressed by the flavor and so they immediately offered to throw in a single shot expresso to improve that. Pretty big asset when driving along Route 9, perfect place to stop for a refresher read more

Altogether a disappointing experience. I was very excited to try this place bc I love coffee but I'm not a fan of chain coffee shops, however I would not return to kava. Their coffee and food selections are over priced, the service was slow, and the coffee and crepe that we ordered were not worth the price. The coffee was small and tasteless- iced caramel mocha latte which tasted like chocolate. I could've gotten the same thing for three dollars with better quality and quantity. I expected more from a coffee shop. Moreover, the crepe which on the drive through menu was advertised as 8 dollars was charged to us for 11.... Not right especially because the crepe was not a crepe... It was literally a folded pancake. Will not return read more

Messed up my order and left something out. Asked me to wait for a replacement, after waiting 20 minutes (for a bagel), I'm told that they are out of that bagel. I asked for a refund, they asked for receipt. I gave it to them and left expecting a refund. It never came. When I asked for a refund on following visit, was told they couldn't do anything without receipt. Talk about absurdity. Terrible service. That's not honest business. read more