We had just finished lunch and my mother in law asked if we could go some place for coffee and dessert. This place was pretty close so we decided to go here. I am very pleased we happened upon this cozy cafe. The owner, Abeba, could not have been more pleasant. Even my wife mentioned how nice she was, and she usually is hard to impress. I do not drink coffee, but my mother in law said it was very, very good. She had that face you make when you eat/drink something and it is just amazing. She also had a scone. Both wifey and suegra said they were really happy I took them here. Thanks Abeba for making our afternoon a hit!! read more

Kefa Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

Stopped in Silver Spring for business with some time to kill in the morning. Was happy to find Kefa Cafe for my morning coffee over two days. Second day I had a bagel that was just okay, but I really enjoyed the coffee and the cafe is a nice quiet place to sit and watch Silver Spring wake up. The woman running the counter I believe is the owner and is very attentive and pleasant. read more

Kefa Cafe - Kefa Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

This is a wonderful local coffee shop. The coffee is fabulous and very friendly owners. I enjoy drinking coffee in my own home but this cafe has same ambiance I'm looking for, comfortable and quiet. Also great place for just hanging out. While waiting for your coffee they have mini games to enjoy. read more

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The Kefa Cafe is everything a wonderful coffee shop should be. The best coffee have ever had in my life made with love and care. Beyond that, the pre COVID cafe was a place either to sit alone and perhaps read or to talk quietly with whatever interested neighbor might be willing to converse. People seem to know when to chat and when to leave alone, pkcking up the signals from Ababa, who serves coffee, good sandwiches, and pastries with kindness and personal authority. read more

Totally in love with this place and their owners. I can't believe I haven't written a review yet. When you walk into this place you feel like you are home, whether you go their all the time or just once. This indeed is the best neighborhood coffee shop. The coffee is really good- which can be hard to find in drip coffees sometimes. The pastries and sandwiches are always fresh and delicious. What sells it though is the sweet sisters, Lene and Abeba. Even when my mom comes to the area, she insists we stop here to say hello to the sisters because they are just that nice. read more

This is a fantastic little coffee cafe that is run by an Ethiopian family who are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They know how to brew coffee here. The espressos here are so incredibly fruity tasting, and the little puff pastries that are for sale are also quite delectable as well. Good brewed and prepared coffee, real nice simple comfortable setting where many locals sit and chat, nice ambiance, what more can you ask for. A perfect place to kill some time, or just grab a quick brew and forget going to the Starbucks instead. Worth a stop if you are in the neighborhood. read more

As far as warm, friendly, welcoming coffeehouses go, Kefa Cafe is the one place in the DC metro area that rivals my favorite Minneapolis neighborhood stop, the 2nd Moon. Owners Lene and Abeba Tsegaye are as nice and hospitable as can be. They know their customers and put a premium on relationships. Come to think of it, they care about the quality of everything!! The coffee at Kefa is first rate, and the two sisters have done a splendid job of turning Kefa into a true community gathering place, a setting where groups come to meet about projects, display art, and discuss civic matters. Sometimes the owners even stay open past closing to accommodate residents' needs. Kefa is truly an intimate space, which is often a plus and sometimes a minus. It can be hard at times to block out others' conversations. Also, the last time I checked there was still no wi-fi, a drawback for those of us who use coffeehouses as alternative workspaces. Overall, though, I agree with those who describe Kefa Cafe as a "gem." It's a gem that hopefully will survive and thrive in redeveloped downtown Silver Spring. These are the kinds of places that keep the "cool" in Silver Spring. read more

Ah Kefa. You don't really need my review, you've already got 4 and a half stars. But you're great, and I think you deserve 5. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, so I'm not basing this review on my opinion of their brew. I'm basing it on my wife. You see, she loves coffee. Loooooves it. But since we had a baby, she only allows herself one or two cups a week. And where does she get that precious mug? Kefa. On the weekends, I have only but to suggest that I go get her some coffee at Kefa and I am instantly the best husband in the world. So, gentlemen, take note: an easy win for those of you with similarly addicted lovers. For me, a non-coffee fiend, Kefa is still pleasant because the two women (sisters?) are always so sweet. In fact, they are so sweet that it must rub off on their customers, because here, unlike those innumerable green tinged chains with which we are all so familiar, the customers are actually friendly, and polite, and considerate. It's bizarre, but the only explanation I can come up with is that they've been affected by the charming atmosphere at Kefa Coffee Cafe. read more

Great Coffee Skip the Danish at the Library Location I love Kefa Cafe! They have been a staple in Silver Spring for over 20 years! I stopped by their Downtown Silver Spring Library location! I love the coffee, but the pastries are usually a bit stale and purchased from BJ's or maybe COSTCO and then resold. Instead, spend the money on the wonderful coffee/latte/espresso experience! The other slight inconvenience is the gift card. You can't call a number to check your balance on the gift card; you have to go to the store which can be a drag. read more

The owners are super nice, and the place values the community and supports it. However I have to give them only 2 stars because the food was very mediocre, and the coffee watery/weak. I had a breakfast croissant. The croissant tasted old, the egg rubbery. The one saving grace was excellent fresh orange juice. Come for the atmosphere, but don't expect much else. read more

Came here with my boyfriend to get a cup of coffee. Very cute place, owned by two Ethiopian sisters. I ordered a cafe au lait (with organic coffee) -- was yummy. My boyfriend and I browsed some of the books on the window sill, and one of the sisters came to show me where their cafe was mentioned in a book written by a producer of The Wire, and in another book, a photo of them standing in front of their cafe juxtaposed to a photo of what was in its place years prior. Overall, a very cute coffee shop. Would definitely recommend. read more

I have to add to the chorus here. This place is a true gem. Coming off and on to Silver Spring over the past 7 years or so I can't believe I just recently discovered it. There is a genuine warmth to the owners (who are always there:) that makes you feel you've stepped back to a time before everything was packaged corporate effects. They care to smile and greet their customers. There is ample seating room, so you won't feel rushed if you would like to just relax and drink a coffee in peace. The coffee is great, I am a big fan of espresso/machiatto's and Kefa does not disappoint. The gelato is up to the challenge as well. Next time you are in the downtown Silver Spring area try it out, I think you have a much more memorable experience than Seattle's best chains in the mall around the corner. read more

I really like this place! The service is some of the best that I have EVER experienced. The two sisters running the place are as sweet as can be, and while I sat there sipping my coffee, I heard them greeting the other guests with warm salutations and conversation. My dad has been going there for years (it's been there for over 12 years) and I finally checked it out for the first time this past weekend. The coffee is SPOT ON! I went out of my way to go 2x while I was in town for their delicious macchiatto. That plus the amazing service in a quiet, laid back atmosphere can't be beat. Oh, and the gelato is really tasty. Will be back the next time I'm in Silver Spring. read more

This place is really cute and quaint. The customer service is pretty good, and the main woman who works there is very friendly. And the food is delicious! I had one of their breakfast sandwiches and tried the quiche of the day, both of which were very good. My only complaint would be that (at least when I visited) there was only one person behind the counter. So that one person was taking orders, making food, AND running the cash register. The line would move somewhat slowly because only one person was there to help. But all in all I had a good visit. I also like that they had games and puzzles that you could do and they supported local art. You could even draw your own art if you wanted, and they would hang it up in the powder room at the restaurant! Definitely a community feel. read more

Aw, this place is adorable. Coffee's great, service is AMAZING - the two Ethiopian ladies who run the place are almost always there and so so nice, and they provide space for local artists to display their work - it's really a community-centric place. Food is fine, nothing fancy, but I have to give this place a good review just for EXISTING in an environment like Silver Spring, replete with starbucks, chipotle, baja fresh and other chains. I really hope it survives - we could all use more sunny cafes with friendly owners and mismatched chairs and fewer corporate coffee shops with dreary mass produced art and music. read more

Not like this place needs anymore positive reviews, but I thought I'd contribute to all of the positive statements about this place and go ahead and sing its praises. It is very cozy as mentioned by other Yelp users. The owners are always really warm and friendly whenever I come in. I always get the Cafe Mocha whenever I come in and it always hits the spot. It's not too sweet and always steaming hot, which is great! The lunches are a little pricey, being that they're usually just regular sandwiches and if you want to get a tad fancy you can order a quiche. I don't think I'll buy sandwiches here again, simply because I feel like I can make those type of sandwiches on my own for a fraction of the price, but the coffee drinks are totally worth it! They have a frequent buyer punch card, so don't forget to ask for yours. read more

After reading all the great reviews about the Kefa Cafe I couldn't help my self to wake up in the morning and visit it, especially because I wanted to try the Crossaint and a good espresso, a combination I miss so much since I've lived my last year in Rome, Italy. Easy to find, just a side road of Georgia Avenue, I had been astonished by the glowing wall paint right after the cafe, representing an imagine of people, religion and colors all combined together in an armonious way which anticipate the inside atmosphere. Right entered the door a nice green mixture of green chairs and table, yellow walls and anscient cups on the shelves welcome me. The cafe has two rooms, really well lightned by the sun and it seems like to be frequented by interesting people, from an old couple to a middle class man on his laptop to a couple of girlfriend and a single woman. I wait slightly over what I was expecting on the line, though one of the two girl of the Kafe came to me and nicely asked what I wanted in a really kind manner, just as I was expecting from the reviews. Unfortunately crossaint were just finished, so I opted for a honey muffin with almond on top and an espresso, which I'm still drinking. The muffin is really good, with a bunch of honey on the suface, tender and sweet. The espresso, and I'll be straightforward on this, is not as it suppose to be. I am going to enlight most of you guys on this then. The real espresso, and I would say, the best you can get in the world is in Naples, Italy. It is so short and thick you can't even tell you have drank something, but the dense and unique strong persistent taste that leave in the mouth for at least 15 minutes it is simple unique and worth the money. Here in United States, from what I've noticed so far, the espresso is what in Italy we call "long coffee", it is watery, not as thick as it suppose to be and usually with a weak taste. The espresso I'm having here at the cafe is "caffe lungo", but has a nice creamy surface and a unique flavour, which I believe is due to the organic manifactory of it, which is sorprendently persistent and unique. So in the end, despite the fact it is not as the Original is suppose to be, I would give it a 4 stars on five. I am almost at the end of my breakfast and I just had the last bite of my muffin. The Kefa Cafe fullfilled my expectation. It has a really nice atmosphere, nice service and really nice products. I wouldn't give it the 5 stars people use to give because they lack of two things I really like: music and wifi, plus if it happens to you to stay in the main room, you might be aware of a boring noise coming from the refrigerator which is louder than the chatting of people and actually affect the atmosphere. So if it happens to this cafe to instal a nice music system and a wifi then it will have my 5/5 stars. For now it is a 4/5. read more

Kefa Cafe - Kefa cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

The only cafe in DC area out of dozens I tried that serves espresso the right way - with a small glass of sparkling mineral water - without you even having to ask. And espresso itself is wonderful. Just the way it's supposed to be. read more

Before really acknowledging my five stars, please read the review first!!!! In a nutshell, I was looking for a cozy cafe to call home when I moved to Maryland a few months back. Upon walking into kefa, you'll notice the very cozy decor. I won't go into detail, but it feels very personal. The seating is amazing for a small place. I was very impressed with that. The girls working the shop are absolutely phenomenal and I truly believe they are the epitome of perfect customer service. I honestly can't say enough about them. I even wen home and raved about them to my wife. The product - this is the real test... The coffee. The first time I went in, I ordered a black coffee (add cream and sugar off to the side). I was impressed. Their regular coffee doesn't feel weak like a lot of mom and pop places who are trying to save a buck in these tough times. They really know what they're doing. The second cup I ordered was a latte. Again, I was impressed by the espresso shot. These girls aren't using an automatic machine which had me worried, they're grinding, tamping and pulling the shots on their own. They have their shots perfected. My third order was a soy latte (I'm trying to cut dairy out - allergies - and I'm not a big fan of soy) so I let the girl behind the counter know this and she asked an interesting question. Are you allergic to almonds? "No" I answered. She then poured two short lattes and asked me to try them. I did and I told which one I liked best. She said "that was the soy milk. The other was almond milk." I was incredibly happy she did that because I was able to feel better with my soy decision. I didn't feel so much like a sissy - or like I was gonna regret getting soy over regular milk. All-in-all, I can't recommend this place enough. You will absolutely fall in love with it. I promise. Don't let my review decide for you. Decide for yourself, I promise you'll thank me for it. This place is officially my new home :) read more

I used to love my Starbucks routine until I found this place. Step out of downtown Silver Spring and head one block south on Georgia Avenue for this little gem. Kefa Cafe was so great, I have never looked back. 1) It's never crowded or noisy--you can actually have an intimate conversation, read a book or browse the web without distraction of swarms of people. also, no lines! Sometimes I have to wait 20 minutes for my starbucks drink. 2) Delicious coffee. Isn't that why you go to a cafe? 3) Locally owned and operated. For bleeding heart, anti-establishment people (and you know who you are) this place is a big fuck u to the Starbucks chain. 4) Friendly service. Starbucks has charming baristas, but they're paid to smile. The two ladies who operate this place actually talk to you if you strike up a conversation. Okay, enough yammering. Gotta grab a cuppa. read more

They're back and we are grateful. Good coffee, tasty breakfast pastries, eggs, salads, quiche, soup, sandwiches, desserts, espresso, teas, and the friendliest service in Silver Spring. read more

Drink locally! Delicious coffee and excellent, friendly customer service. A wonderful spot to check out in the neighborhood. read more

Not sure why this place won Best of Fenton with other great places in the neighborhood. The owners are very nice and make the place feel homey but besides that there isn't much going for this place. The serving sizes are small, the prices are high, and the seating is cramped. Further, and probably most annoying is the lack of WiFi. What cafe doesn't have WiFi! read more

This place is the favourite local coffee shop of my former host family in Silver Spring. The coffee is always fresh, they are friendly, have nice prices and great treats. Absolutely worth a visit! read more

Cheap, local, not-Starbucks coffee? Yes please. I only wish I could get it in 2-liter to-go cups because I am a caffeine addict. :) I surprisingly don't go here more often, though I pass it pretty much daily. However! When I have been able to frequent this place, I have loved it. The coffee is GOOOOOOD. The pastries are yummy. The gelato is fairly decent (but I'm comparing it to gelato in Italy, so I may have a bit of a bias). The prices are great. The owners are super nice. The atmosphere is awesome & laid back. The decor is cute and cozy. What's not to love? read more

My favorite new coffee shop because: 1. The coffee and tea are outstanding! 2. It's family owned and run. 3. It's a hidden jewel that is never overly crowded. 4. The adornments are modest but bright. 5. The two sisters who own the place are absolute kittens and are genuinely very sweet and may want to know more about you if you're new but they do a good job of not being pushy. There are a few snacks and gelato, too, but this is not the place for a hearty meal. Eat down the block and come to Kefa to drink coffee and digest. There are lots of tables that are comfy enough (no plush chairs though) and they also rotate local artists' work on the walls. There is also an amazing community mural on the side of the building that is worth checking out. It really is an independent gem. read more

I love this place. Its cozy, they have their own art gallery, and as soon as you enter, it's inviting with tchotchkies and decorations galore. Mark their hours, it sucks to forget em and find they're closed! read more

Kefa Cafe - Taken 10/24/11 by Justin Fair - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland

I REALLY hope the urbanization of Silver Spring doesn't force this place to close down. This is an awesome mum and pop coffee shop with delicious fresh lunch items, home-made gelato and desserts. I've been here a couple of times. The service have always been superb. Their gelato is pretty much what you NEED TO GET. They have this veggie sandwich, that's delicious. Fresh, crisp veggies for a healthy lunch. It's great. It is also a great place to sit down and meet with friends. They have enough sitting for accommodate everyone most of the time. read more

5 stars for the coffee beverages! - Yummy iced mochas and iced coffee. I love that this business has been around silver spring for 25 years with the same owners. The owners and workers and super lovely and always seem to have a smile on their faces when I visit for there tasty iced mochas. Plus, if you are lucky, they do that smart trick where they put ice coffee cubed in you iced coffee, which keeps if from watering down. I also loved that this place is kind of hidden off the main drag of Georgia avenue and it gives Kefa more of an intimate setting. I have never had the food or pastries, so read other reviews for that. But, to me, a coffee shop is a coffee shop not pastry shop or bakery those are just added items that I tend to shy away from because I would rather waste my calories at a place known for their desserts and sweets. Plus, I'm picky at times. read more

Centerpiece to all cafes should be the coffee which this place delivers wonderfully (I ordered espresso macchiato). I don't think I would ever order their pastries again, however. The cranberry muffin was cold, and it didn't really live up to its name for it only had cranberries on top of the muffin. Ambience is excellent. The sun shone perfectly through the window seat as I browsed through my newspaper (well, on my phone but I think it sounds more romantic when you say paper..), and the place was cozy. I am definitely going back for the coffee and ambience. I might order their sandwiches to see if that's better than their pastries. read more

Kefa is as excellent a coffee shop as I have found in the Silver Spring area. The reason to go here, by far, is the ambiance and friendly staff. The staff always seem happy to see you, and will bend over backwards to make sure you have an excellent experience. When I say "bend over backward" I don't mean in the starbucks sense, like if you complain they'll remake your drink and give you a certificate. Although that's nice, that's not what I mean. I mean that, not once but TWICE I have arrived after Kefa has closed. Both of these times I turned to despondently walk away, only to have the door open behind me and the owner there with a warm smile, beckoning me inside. That's right, they have reopened not once, but TWICE to make sure that I do not go without coffee. That is what I call customer service. And I am not a regular by any standard, I've only been a handful of times. All the same, excellent treatment and a relaxed, warm environment. I'll admit, I've had better coffee. But cute, local owned coffee shops are getting harder and harder to find, and amongst the rows of food chains in downtown silver spring, Kefa is a gem. I highly recommend you check it out. read more

The best banana nut muffin I ever had. Was recommended to try the chai latte (and I'm not a latte drinker. Coffee, black, is how I like it) and it was delicious. They were open with 10 inches of snow falling too. Lovely and friendly staff. Will definitely be returning often to try other food and read. read more

This is a friendly, cozy cafe that doubles as an art space for local talents and writers. In addition to the international teas and coffees (coffee derives from the Ethiopian word "kefa"), owners Lene and Abeba Tsegaye offer a wide variety of fresh pastries and ice creams, lunch fare, and sell greeting cards. Their own greetings are always sincere, accompanied with a smile. Most Fridays at 6:30 p.m., Space 7:10 at Kefa features a discussion, performance or reading. Genres have ranged from theatre to non-fiction memoir to jazz combo. If you're seeking a space in downtown Silver Spring that caters to the person, not the chain or brand, this is it. B. Bayne read more

Great Breakfast, peaceful setting and we were so happy to be in a restaurant with character, not a franchise.

After having heavy lunch at nandos peri peri, my friend wanted to have some hot drink. I decided this place after reading yelp reviews. Owner is super cool, she welcomed us as if we are regulars, she asked about our tastes and suggested some choices. We had almond macchiato and latte. My macchiato was awesome and my friend loved his latte. Bottom line: I will make it a point to try it out again if I'm in the area. read more

The coffee is strong and delicious, and it feels really good to patronize a locally owned cafe. Next time you want a latte or a capuccino or just a cuppa joe or tea, resist the urge to go to Starbucks and head to Kefa. It will make you smile. They've also got some good lookin food. And they care about their customers and neighbors - there are always groups of people meeting there, and they've got a fun wall of photos! :) read more

Some of the best coffee I've ever tasted and service is friendly and authentic. It's a quiet, unassuming place with owners who value community. I wish I could go every day, but I have a coffee budget I have to stick to. read more

I'm happy to find a local spot when possible, and this place is a treat. i had a decaf americano, which was rich and delicious, not overly roasted nor thinly acidic. really well done. ordered 2 hot chocolates and a pastry for my boys. i got one tiny sip of the hot chocolate, made with steamed milk and it was rich, not quite as chocolatey as I like (i'm an 85% cocoa kind of guy) but my boys loved it. we brought in our own cups, which the proprietor offered to wash for us :) awesome! Very kid friendly place, she absolutely charmed my two boys. Support local business, and get great service and great coffee. yelp rocks in helping me find spots like this when i'm on the road, thanks guys/gals :D read more

What a sweet spot this is . Very good coffee . They offer a good variety of sandwiches . I only tried a Coffe which I enjoyed . The coffee shop itself is cozy and nicely decorated with different tea cups, coffee grinders and coffee machines . Big windows make for a sunny interior and brightly colored table covers create a cheerful atmosphere . Good idea lace for meeting friends or reading a book . Rare to find a place like this when so may coffee places are part of these big chains with cavernous spaces . read more

It seems like only yesterday that Kefa Cafe opened in downtown Silver Spring but it has actually been FIFTEEN YEARS! You KNOW that for a small independent business to survive that long the owners HAVE to be doing something right. In Kefa's case it is the always warm and inviting sisters Lene and Abeba Tsegaye who will greet you upon entering. Their coffee and pastries are great and their side Space 7:10 gallery always has a changing display of art. Kefa has become such a beloved business that I proudly included them in my book "Downtown Silver Spring" (Arcadia Publishing, 2010). Skip the chains and visit an authentic piece of Silver Spring! read more

Kefa Cafe - L-R Lene and Abeba Tsegaye pose in front of their business. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Silver Spring, Maryland