My wife and I stopped by the First Street Sidecar location in Cedar Falls this past weekend. Unfortunately, this location does not appear on Yelp, so I am leaving a review for the College Hill location (which I have visited in the past). Here are our thoughts below! Food/Drink: Monster Cookie (Yum! This cookie was HUGE, soft, and delicious. Rating = 8/10). Hot Cinnamon Roll Latte (This tasted nearly identical to a warm, gooey, cinnamon roll! Be warned - it is a very sweet beverage. Rating = 7.7/10). Iced Hazelnut Latte (YES! This is basically almost as good as it gets when it comes to a latte. Absolutely scrumdidilyumptious. Rating = 9/10). Service: The service here could not have been better! Our barista's name was Brianna, and she had a phenomenal attitude. She looked excited to help us out and appears to love her job. Her passion for her job truly shined through during our time in the shop. Ambiance: As mentioned above, this review is based on our visit to the First Street location in Cedar Falls. It has a much different vibe than the College Hill location. The First Street location is not quite as "homey" as the College Hill cafe and has more of a coffee chain feel (not as much unique character that I typically enjoy with local coffee brands). The College Hill location, on the other hand, has much more personality. It is an excellent place to get some work done, read a book, or meet up with friends! All in all - we undoubtedly had a 5-star experience at Sidecar this past weekend. Excellent food and drink and some of the best service we've received in a while! read more

Sidecar Coffee - Iced Hazelnut Latte, Hot Cinnamon Roll Latte, and Monster Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

White chocolate latte was delicious, smooth not too strong or sweet. Cinnamon roll was the gooey kind in the middle, loved it. Cute shop, staff were very friendly and service was fast. I'll be back probably go through the drive through tomorrow! read more

Sidecar Coffee - Cinnamon rolls - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Great coffee wonderful service! We also bought some coffee cups and they are the best in my collection. They also keep cold drinks cold !

Cool place on College Hill. Has that campus coffee house vibe. I tried the Christopher Robin (honey-lavender latte). I would try it again. Told by a local that the artwork rotates. Reasonable prices! read more

Sidecar on the hill always has the best "vibes" of the cedar falls coffee shops. Service is almost always fast and friendly. Coffee is pretty good, I wouldn't say it's exceptional high end coffee, but way better than any sort of chain place. 100% my go-to when in town read more

Sidecar Coffee - Large Iced Latte and seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

The best sidecar location by far!! The best ambiance and the staff is wonderful!! Best espresso in town.

Great coffee with a smile. Fun seasonal drinks with rich espresso. Delicious homemade pastries. The protein bites are a great option when on the go. Sip your coffee inside or drive through. You won't be disappointed. read more

I found this place on Yelp and needed an afternoon jolt so I strolled into the Sidecar. What a fabulous coffee shop on College Hill. The smell was heavenly. I had heard that the Frank Sinatra was the local favorite. I asked the Barista what she liked and wouldn't you know she loved the Frank Sinatra also. I must try this Frank Sinatra which is chocolate, espresso, milk, and piercing blue eyes. This is a wonderful espresso, so full of flavor, yet not bitter and not too sweet, it was perfection. The chocolate was like a velvet cover for the espresso that worked wonderfully together and brought a smile to your face. The Barista was very helpful and friendly. They offer more than just coffee. I hope to return for another Frank Sinatra and to sample the food. read more

See all

I come here on Mondays most of the time between 2 and 4 and it's pretty chill and not very busy. Their coffee is great you get options for drip coffee between light and dark I like to mix them at Friendly prices I think $2. Also just today I bought one of their Pop-Tarts for 2:50 the feeling is Blueberry Lemon really takes the not too sweet in my opinion the pastry itself is a little crunchy very tasty all around. I've been here many times and I'm a non college student I'm 28 with a family and I've never had a bad experience here at this sidecar or the others for that matter. I love my sweet so I recommend these Pop-Tarts they're very tasty coffee here is good too. :-) read more

See all

Lavender latte with oat milk!!!! Sometimes decaf... cuz too much caffeine gives me the scaries!

I have only visited once but the iced coffee was decently good for a coffee shop on the hill! I loved the environment and how it was decorated, it would be an amazing place to do homework or talk with friends. They also have outdoor seating on the sidewalk in front of the shop! read more

Cedar Falls hotspot and local gem. Serving as an epicenter for the Cedar Falls community, Sidecar has more than just a good cup of coffee. With a warm, friendly staff and clean, comfortable atmosphere, this is a place where you can plant yourself for hours to work or just to relax. Not sure what to order? The Van Fleet is a local favorite and Sidecar classic, with a smooth mocha flavor and subtle hint of orange. If you prefer something less sweet, their cappuccino is sure to please. So if passing through, don't hesitate to park yourself at Sidecar, grab a drink and enjoy. read more

Sidecar Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

It's been great having a coffee roaster local to Cedar Falls. Since this is a coffee roaster, there aren't regular open shop hours, but they do deliver in the area usually by the next business day. Orders can be made on the web. Beans can be obtained at various stores around CF and Waterloo, as well as the College Hill Farmers Market. I primarily make espresso at home but do some pour over and press brew. Sidecar has quite a variety of Central and South American as well as African and South East Asian single origin beans available. Their espresso blends have also been great. They have also collaborated with a local microbrewery (Single Speed) on several coffee beer projects including stouts and ales. Sidecar can also be found on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/SidecarCoffeeRoasters read more

Sidecar Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

I would keep coming back for the Van Fleet latte alone! Look at this: Rich chocolate, espresso, steamed milk of your choice and...is that orange zest? Um, YES! And it's awesome! If I could have this latte at every coffee shop, it would be the only one I would drink for the rest of my life. Yup, it's desert island good. The breakfast sandwich I had (#1) was made to order, as they all are here. Croissant with bacon, egg, and cheese. They make it on a panini press. Very, very good. Add to those a convivial atmosphere and friendly staff, and this place is awesomely outstanding! read more

Sidecar Coffee - The delicious menu at Sidecar Coffee! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Great little place on the Hill. Friendly staff and amazing coffee. Unique creations like a Smoretado! Fantastic Almond Milk Latte. Wonderful quiche and bakery treats. read more

Sidecar Coffee - a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows on top - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

See all

A couple of years ago I wrote a review for Mohair Pear; "An anthropological study on the natural habitat of the wily and illusive Hipster." Since then, I have continued my research. And, more than a year ago, the local tribe of Hipsters began to migrate to a fresh new place. The rest of us had not heard of it yet; it was called Sidecar Coffee, and it had moved in right next to their home at Mohair Pear. Wanting to observe from afar, without interfering with their cultural practices in their natural environment, I set myself up on the roof of Social House across the street with my handy field notebook and a pair of mainstream binoculars that I feared made me stand out. I saw mostly what I expected; a large number of Hipsters were Hipstering about the coffee shop with their properly Italian portioned cups of their favored beverages with artfully done drawings in the foam. But, there is only so much I could learn from a distance. It was time to . . . walk among them. Having studied traditional Hipster ceremonial attire at Mohair Pear, I dawned my most appropriate outfit for the occasion. Squeezing myself into an obnoxiously tight pair of jeans that raised my voice an octave, I grabbed a stocking cap and plaid shirt. Accessorizing with a long scarf and pair of thick-framed plastic glasses, I put on a fake bushy lumberjack's beard. I was ready to go in. Taking a deep breath, and getting into character, I stepped inside. I was walking among them. I made up a fake band, "The Ironic Llamas" that I began talking to the Hipsters about. Seeing as they never heard of it, and couldn't find it through google on their iPhones and MacBooks, they knew it was super underground and they accepted me right away as one of them. I sat and sipped some freshly ground coffee that they redundantly assured me was freshly ground locally in town. It wasn't especially good, but I suppose that's just ironic. I observed my surroundings. I admit to having been somewhat confused by what I saw. Of course the Hipsters seemed happy, each of them working on a different screenplay on their Macs. But the drab, colorless environment seemed almost too . . . mainstream for them. At least the awful paintings on the wall, which were little more than splashes of random paint on canvas, were just terrible enough to be appeal to the Hipster sense of irony. In my travels to Sidecar Coffee, I have noticed a continued trend of normal people patronizing the establishment. This, coupled with over 5,000 likes on Facebook, has taken Sidecar into the realm of Mainstream. Hipsters will soon be flocking away, I suspect, and moving on to more underground pastures. Perhaps they will return to their roots at the more colorful Cup of Joe, where the location and vintage tables will appeal to their ironic side, or better, they may still be looking for the underground and illusive Bad Llama Coffee, a gem that I told them about, that they just can't seem to find. read more

This is a newer coffee shop over on the Hill in the campus area. It's always full of students for a cozy, warm atmosphere. I do feel like their cup portions are small and overpriced. However, they do have delicious beans for sale, according to my fiancé. He likes to make French press coffee and grinds his own beans. He did say that the beans made quite exceptional coffee. It's definitely worth popping in and checking out! read more

Now that they have been around a while, I needed to upgrade my rating. Quality high-end espresso beverages/ period! They also do many different coffee based options. Wonderful bakery options as well. read more

So I'm back again after several weeks. Have asked for same drink plus getting a beautiful guiche warmed. And it is incredibly good choice. Americano 6 shot and honey...same. Cold evening and all this was/is perfect. read more

Excellent coffee selection here! All-time fave drink is The Optimist: espresso, chocolate and blackberry. I love that they circulate local artists' work in the their shop. Every now and then they have musicians come in and play a show. Its so nice and personal. An overall excellent place. Meet up for a lunch, a coffee date, study up, or drop in for a show... Good for all occasions :) read more

Come for the coffee, stay for the friendship. We've all seen Cheers, Seinfeld and Friends. So we already have a familiar format to follow. You show up with your friends and a small camera crew and the director calls action. The baristas foam at full locomotive speed, the owner hugs the customers for hours and no one can't find it if you aren't when I think I could've been around. Since circles aren't the same as they are and were in a familiar Jamaica, let's just say "ahoy!" I haven't found this to be basking in silence unless you can't tell me under that price you'd fall sadly around my palms. Around and around. But seriously, what a great place. read more

Best local coffee shop. They always play the best music at a reasonable level so you don't have to worry about shouting or awkward silence. The atmosphere there is always so lively and the employees are always friendly. Try the breakfast sandwiches because they're not your typical fast food greasy ones. Way better in my opinion. Always have to try their seasonal drinks. Overall it's the best coffee shop for meeting with friends, church groups, studying, dates, etc. I am never disappointed at Sidecar. read more

Ok, the coffee was excellent. Presentation was a work of art. The staff, made you feel like family. Looking forward to the next cup!! read more

Local hotspot, and likely the best cup of coffee in Northeast Iowa, Sidecar is a must stop if you're passing through Cedar falls. If you're a local, the warm environment, friendly staff, and of course fantastic coffee and brews will keep you coming back week after week. If you're looking something classic, give the espresso a try. For a sweeter tooth, try the Van Fleet: a latte flavored with a delicious blend of dark chocolate with a hint of orange. No matter what you choose, Sidecar is sure to please! read more

REALLY want to love this place because it's so dang cute. However, I've had a couple of lattes from here (hoping the second would be better) but they both had burnt aftertastes. They have a delicious blueberry ice tea though! read more

I've been having coffee at Sidecar Coffee Shop (SC) since they opened on college hill at the end of 2013. Loved it, great coffee & a nice place to try to meet people which is optimal as I live alone and don't have much going on. I suppose having aspergers/autism can make life a little difficult especially in the social realm. It's nice to go to a coffee shop & get myself awake, try to meet people, & be a friendly person. Never had much of an issue with the coffee shop until last year around Aug 2016, I'm not entirely sure what happened differently then that changed the way the staff, well the manager to be specific in their treatment toward me. I've been a great customer since they essentially opened-looked in my notebook of debit transactions, since Oct 2014 I had made 251 transactions for a total of 913.20 -not sure I will spend another dime or even penny at Sidecar, not even for coffee they sell at the grocery store. In Aug 2016 the manager started having these small little talks with me on a few random occasions ... he would ask to speak with me at a table in the back hallway. Felt like the manager was treating me like a child sitting me in a corner to discuss an issue he had or someone there had-a 33 yr old child, felt as though I was being scolded about the issue. I guess they had an issue with me talking to people there in the coffee shop because they felt I was distracting people from getting work done. I guess I try to be a friendly individual to people & I try to meet people who might be interested just through a small conversation. The second issue was about me talking about relationships, can't think of anything inappropriate I've said, maybe there have been a few things like asking someone if someone is single, I'm 33 yrs old & people seem uninterested in having anything to do with me. I try to watch what I say, I don't make crude or inappropriate remarks or sexual references, I think most of the time my talk with the employees there is about life & I mightsay I had a meeting with my psychologist or my antidepressant pills don't seem to work on days I feel down & wish I could get ahead in life, find a decent job, & a girlfriend/wife someday. I have a difficult time comprehending what exactly I've said especially in recent weeks that has been construed as being offensive/inappropriate. The SC employees I've felt seemed to enjoy having me around so I'm unsure where I've gone wrong. I remember when the manager first set me aside, said he wanted to lay out some ground rules-the first was about talking to people I'm not there with-I'm unsure how they'd be able to know if someone I talk to there is someone I know who is there or even a family member-just for example, I don't think my family goes to Sidecar at least not often. The second rule was talking inappropriately about relationships. I think I have done pretty decent on the relationship talk, I don't see anything I've talked about that often as being inappropriate. Last week-I was talked about a meeting I had scheduled there to have coffee with a beautiful woman, not a date but I suppose something for me to look forward to hopefully or maybe. Maybe that is or was an issue. I don't know? I remember a few months ago I was sitting at the bar counter drinking coffee & this college looking couple was sitting there as well so I just started talking with them like what they study & about college-they left, shortly afterward one SC employee told me he knew about these rules the manager discussed with me so he said I need to follow the rules. I feel like they are a bunch of a holes at SC treating me like I'm a 33 year old child. They never really told me what specifically I said about relationships that has been deemed to be inappropriate/offensive & falls under their rules. I guess having aspergers/autism these issues are difficult for me as I have a hard time accepting huge life changes (selecting a new coffee shop to go to) . Luckily Cottonwood Canyon (CC) coffee shop in downtown Waterloo recently opened a new location in the 400 block of Washington St in downtown Cedar Falls. Extremely nice guy owns CC, his new coffee shop is only a block away from my apartment. With aspergers, this situation seems slimey to me by the manager of SC, I'm unsure they really understand the issues of aspergers/autism-sometimes I say something, then I realize shoot that wasn't good & people look at me puzzled or confused-or I think of something to say about a conversation that occured a few minutes ago-sometimes I think of something I should or shouldn't have said several hours later & immediately think or feel like an idiot like I should have said this or shouldn't have said that-I suppose social interaction seems awkward at times. According to the manager I'm now banned from going to Sidecar Coffee Shop. I'd love it if everyone banned SC-Cottonwood Canyon has been roasting coffee locally for a decade or so, definitely doesn't treat customers like 33 yr old child. read more

Sidecar Coffee - Drew this coffee mug there at Sidecar a few weeks before they banned me from their coffee shop. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

See all

So so coffee served up in a whimsical trendy shop that's become almost cliche for these sorts of places. Prices and offerings are reasonable though, and service was prompt and friendly. Not horrible, and not great. read more

The trifecta: coffee, people, and environment. Sidecar has it all. Not only do they roast their own incredible coffee, but the concoctions they make with it are even better. Their lattes, cappuccinos, and teas are incredible as well (real flavor, not fast-food style). The bakery is also the best in town, they even whip up their own home made pop-tarts every now and again. They have a few locations all around Waterloo/Cedar falls, so you're never more than a few minutes away from a relaxing coffee shop or drive-through. read more

This coffee brings it.... tasty and worth every drop and or bean. New storefront is as classy as it gets....and has helped the Hill out like no other. thanks for introducing Cedar Falls to the world of handcrafted coffee! read more

I make a point of getting to try coffee in every city I roll through, and on this trip Sidecar was my destination. As such, I've been to well over a dozen craft coffee shops all over the country, and Sidecar has far better coffee than most I've been to. I started with a double shot of espresso, which had nice crema and was caramely. I then moved on to a pour-over which was an Ethiopia; light, citrus, tea, very nice. Staff was knowledgeable, and I did appreciate when the one barista asked for assistance in describing the coffees. Only caveat is that they don't list their current pour-over offerings on a menu. read more

No one ever says thank you. Even if you say thank you (unless you're obviously from money) it feels like you're interrupting their conversation with their favorite customers. if you ask For room they fill it to the brim. The coffee tastes good though. Thank you roasters! read more

This is definitely my favorite place in town, period. All of the baristas are kind and know my regular order. All the tables are clean and well placed so it's not crowded, and the menu is diverse and original- it's not your average coffee shop! I always feel at home when I walk in the door and I never want to leave! If you're new to the shop I recommend an Iced Christopher Robin! read more

Gluten-free and vegan goodies, nice coffee, selection of beer, good atmosphere to hang out or study. read more

Sidecar Coffee - Loose leaf tea and a gf, vegan brownie! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

Delicious espresso drinks (I love the honey latte), good drip coffee, friendly staff, good nibbles, good tunes. It's a good thing this place isn't within walking distance or I'd be there every day. Best coffee I've had in Cedar Falls. read more

This was a great place to be, I am not much of a coffee person. But the drinks and the snacks were good. But then the environment itself was good in which it was nice and calming read more

As a student, it's always a treat to find places around campus to get good coffee, some peace and quiet, and an excellent place to get work done. Sidecar offers all of that and more in a perfect location right on the Hill. The coffee is delicious, unique, and there's something for everyone. The food is affordable, filling, and tastes amazing. There are couches, tables, and even a bar with outlets for those working on computers. The service is always efficient, and the workers are helpful. Since my first stop into Sidecar, it has become one of my absolute favorite spots in town. read more

Always a great coffee or pastry, can't go wrong here ! Have been here so many times and it doesn't disappoint

wanted to try somewhere near the trailsni just spent my morning on, and decided to finally try. very friendly staff. enough people here and I don't feel crowded a bit. ordered an iced chair and the number 2, egg white breakfast sandwich. this has to be the first time I didn't really care for a house made chai..... but regardless I feel great after my experience and would come again to try more drinks. read more

Sidecar Coffee - egg white sammie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Cedar Falls, Iowa

I come to Sidecar quite frequently because it's only my way to class and today I stopped by to get a suitcase of coffee and a piece of quiche to go. I ordered it and gave them 15 to get it ready. I wasn't really in a rush and tried to give them plenty of time to get it done. When i came to pick it up, the quiche wasnt ready, they didn't heat it up or give me silverware for it so I had to eat sad, cold quiche for breakfast and they didn't give us the cardboard things for the coffee cups so everyone was burning their hands trying to drink their coffee. I was extremely disappointed with the overall experience. read more

The latte van fleet was not disappointing, it was fantastic, as was the cranberry orange zest scone. I asked my local coffee shop to add to their menu it was so delicious. I visit family in Cedar Falls and will definitely be back. read more