I was highly disappointed by my experience at Sankofa Cafe. After hearing about this spot yesterday, I specifically came out to support a Black, women-owned business. Unfortunately, I encountered a severe lack of professionalism and legal compliance from leadership. Immediately upon entering, the barista nicely notified me that dogs were not allowed. I politely explained that he is a trained service animal and asked if I needed to speak with a manager. The barista was respectful and allowed us access. Unfortunately, minutes later, the owner, Jessica Troupe, stepped in aggressively. When I notified her of his status, she was completely dismissive, setting a very poor example for her young staff member. Her confrontational and aggressive approach showed a clear ignorance of both the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) guidelines regarding public accommodations. If you rely on a service animal, please be warned. I will not be supporting this establishment. I hope management takes immediate steps to properly educate themselves on accessibility laws read more

Sankofa Cafe is a gift to the Montclair community and surrounding communities that it serves. The atmosphere is wonderful and welcoming, the coffee and tea are wonderful, and the staff are always friendly and helpful. Sankofa has become of hub of the community, often hosting social and cultural events, in addition to participating in community outreach in support of many causes. The owner, Jessica Troupe, has poured her heart and soul into this cafe, and it shows. It is one of the best coffee shop in the area. read more

Sankofa Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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What a vibe and a half! This place is genuinely chill and a place intended for people to come, chill, work, whatever. Steeped in Ghanaian culture, it's a modern, unassuming space designed for comfort and gathering-- reflective of African coffee culture! The coffee tastes authentic-- heavy berry and earthy notes, as you should find in African origin coffee. My first time at a new cafe, I always order just plain coffee and always have the first sip just black. Did NOT disappoint and only tasted better with the addition of crème. (Real quality coffee needs no bells and whistles... although they do offer many delectable flavors and coffee (and teas) drinks!) The owner is a sweetheart. While I just met up with a friend of mine for coffee, I will make it a point to come here again and support this community, woman- and black- owned business. read more

I love going to Sankofa! The coffee is always excellent. The staff is friendly. Plus the music is on point.

My favorite coffee spot in Montclair. Great coffee, snacks and vibes. Beautiful decor too. And a great place to work from home. Love the baristas and the owner Jessica is wonderful too. read more

The coffee is amazing on its own or in a latte. The banana bread and crepes are delicious and addictive. The staff is attentive and skilled. And the seating, music, vibe, and various art installations are welcoming and comfortable. Well worth the time and indulgence! Highly recommend. read more

I love this cafe so much, if I lived in Jersey I would definitely frequent more. I went twice during my visit and the ambiance and menu are perfect. I was able to get work done and not be bothered by noise levels. I also loved the barista's patience when I asked questions about their specials and the care she put into my latte. I'll definitely be back again! read more

This cafe has such a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The space is very clean and there is a lot of seating for you to get work done or converse. I ordered an Apple Orchard Chai which is a seasonal special along with a Cinnamon Raisin Roll. The staff was very kind and receptive to the questions we had about the menu. The experience overall was great and I definitely recommend everyone to visit. read more

Sankofa Cafe - Apple Orchard Chai and Cinnamon Raisin Roll - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

Sankofa Cafe has a welcoming ambiance. There are several seating options. We were greeted warmly upon our arrival. Our drinks were very tasty and made to our liking. The banana bread was sooo yummy! It was a wonderful compliment to our chai, mocha and caramel latte beverages. What a wonderful addition to the area! read more

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First of all, I love the design of the cafe. You can tell that their intention was to provide a welcoming and safe space to spend some time. The staff were very friendly and attentive! One of my favorite elements of the cafe was the Library! I love that you can actually get a book and read while having your coffee or whatever your choice! The owner Jessica is a Phenomenal Woman and the Absolute Best! She was very thoughtful in how she put this amazing cafe together. I will definitely be back and will bring friends! read more

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This place was great. I was highly satisfied with the friendliness and professionalism of the staff the various coffees and teas on the menu were excellent.the place with decorated with historical markers. It was an adventure and good tasting food and excellent service and history. I enjoyed my visit. I highly recommend you give it a try . A lot of. read more

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Came for a mid day matcha break from work and this was the perfect cafe! The croissant was very fresh and tasty, we ordered a lavender matcha and a caramel matcha both with oat milk and they did not disappoint. We appreciated the calm and quiet atmosphere, the afrocentric style added a very "homey" feel. Service was quick! read more

Sankofa Cafe - Decor - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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the drinks are phenomenal and the staff is great. chill vibes throughout the shop too. would definitely recommend to sit and relax for a bit. read more

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This cafe was so awesome. Nice and quiet. The coffee was incredible. Have been back for dessert and coffee several times. If you like espresso, this is the place for you. read more

5 stars for interior design. It's a greasy space for working and hosting a small meeting. The staff was friendly I was pleased with my black coffee, it taste scorched. read more

Beautifully decorated, wonderful barista, excellent service, really good coffee, amazing cookies! This is my new go to spot. read more

Sankofa Cafe - Iced caramel latte w/ almond milk and a chocolate chip cookie. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

What a sweet little gem! Fantastic addition to Montclair! Great coworking space! Love the beautiful decor, warm vibe and very friendly staff! Will be back again and again! read more

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We are thrilled to have a wonderful cafe in the south end now! Great coffee and lovely atmosphere with a lot of seating.

The ambiance of this cafe is very nice, with lots of comfortable inviting seating, different games available to play and offers a modern yet cultured feel. This cafe is inviting with the seating and game features and offers quick but great quality service. I got a latte that was delicious and much better than Starbucks or Dunkin. A refreshing small business I will likely support again! read more

Friendly and fast service for quick coffee while also having the option to kick back at a table with a laptop or one of the games they keep stocked for customers. read more

The vibes are serene, spacious and comforting all at once. Great service and yummy pastries! They even have some cool games for my 3 year old to keep entertained while I drink my coffee. Can't wait to come back! read more

Lovely neighborhood spot. Really nice atmosphere and great people. Good breakfast options.

Excellent coffee, excellent service, great atmosphere. This will be a routine/frequent spot.

We were going to get our coffee to go, but this cafe is so inviting you don't want to leave! So we had our delicious coffees on the couch, and were lucky enough to chat with the owner who was absolutely delightful. Highly recommend! read more

One of the best coffee shops in Montclair, if not THE best! The atmosphere is warm and inviting, the staff are very friendly and welcoming, the coffee and pastries are AMAZING! The lounge/seating areas are just what you need in a cafe. I can't rave about this place enough! read more

My large iced coffee tasted watery and weak, and what little coffee flavor there was tasted sour and bitter. It was also $5.96, so with tip you're talking about a seven dollar mistake. That's a lot of money for an iced coffee. It's a nice large spot with lots of seating and I'll return to give them another try, but if you're gonna charge more than Starbucks, you need to deliver better product. read more

Great chilled vibes with great tasting coffee. Great place to do some work in the wifi. read more

Sankofa Cafe - Inside Store - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Montclair, New Jersey

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Such a beautiful space, love the people and the coffee is incredible. Would definitely could come back again as soon as possible.

Went here yesterday and was very pleased. Upon entering you're automatically greeted by the kind staff. I ordered an iced chai tea and chose to sit to do some work. There is free WiFi and light music that plays but isn't a distraction at all. Got to also speak with the owner who is so kind. Love being about to support Black owned businesses. This is going to be my go-to spot in the future. Very happy to have it part of the South End community. read more

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A new gem in Montclair! This place is such a great spot to grab high quality coffee and work from home. The staff there is incredibly friendly and the place is so nice! Make sure to get either the banana bread or the apple turnover too read more

The coffee is great, the snacks are tasty and vibe inside is super chill and cool... love this place. Hidden gem in Montclair.

Tried for the first time today. Great coffee; great service; beautiful space - a great addition to Montclair.