For a truly unique experience of coffees, teas, and other beverages this is the place to visit…read more With three locations to choose from they're easy to find! And it all started way back when being sold from a bicycle that was converted to dispense coffee! My spouse had an Americano and I had the Amalgamation cold brew tea when I saw someone walk by with it. He said it was very tart, but I thought I'd try it anyway. It's Very Heavy on the hibiscus tea, which is all I could taste, in spite of lemongrass, peppermint, orange peel, and cacaco nibs being in it too. I had some honey added, but that wasn't enough to temper the tartness so added some sugar, which only had a little effect. It wasn't until I added some half and half that it became better. That's my taste buds. Anyone else's may be different, but with or without the cream, it's a very pretty drink. We brought the cinnamon roll home to have later, but it smells divine. BTW, I love the small tables. Colorful and very intricately painted.

got this Al Mokha latte which had 70% single origin housemade chocolate sauce and cinnamon. it…read morewasn't on the sweet side so I didn't have to adjust for sugar! I loved it!! the latte art was beautiful too. I also got this sunbutter espresso oat ball and it was pretty good too! a bit crumbly and hard to eat but I really enjoyed it as a little sweet treat to start off my morning :) service was quick and friendly!

Very cute new coffee shop! They have a small lot and plentiful Brightleaf parking across the street…read more(although you do have to pay for that lot, and they aren't able to validate since they aren't technically part of Brightleaf). I got an iced decaf americano with vanilla, which was delicious and came in a glass since they knew I was sticking around. They have a lot of seating and the whole place feels bright, airy, open and clean. They also have a cute store on the left hand side of the space that sells outdoor clothing, shoes and gear. A welcome addition to the area!

It took me more than a year of coming here to write a review for Yonderlust, mostly because I'm…read moresurprised by how much this place grew on me. Yonderlust is more than just a coffee shop--it's one of those spaces where you can easily spend an entire afternoon without realizing how much time has passed. It's a fantastic study and work spot: a mix of table sizes, plenty of outlets, and a relatively quiet, calm environment that makes it easy to settle in. It has solid coffee: Drinks here are consistently pretty good. I usually go for their Campfire Latte (a signature for a reason) or whatever seasonal syrup they're featuring, and their matcha latte is reliable too. It has actual, warm food: simple but satisfying sandwiches with enough variety to make for a perfect study snack or light lunch. I am often disappointed when coffee shops only offer cold pastries. It has entertainment: I love taking a quick study break to browse the shop's outdoor gear and clothing; it honestly feels a little like being transported to the West Coast for a moment (give me some Oregan vibes!). Service has always been quick and friendly. I wouldn't say any single thing here is the best in Durham--but together, it is special! There are many days when I find myself craving a few cozy hours at Yonderlust, followed by a quick dessert next door at Rose's.

Really cute coffee shop located in downtown Durham that has ample seating, WiFi, and extended…read morehours. I enjoyed the butterfly pea lemonade and appreciated how many tea options they had. Quick service and nice ambiance. Would come back!

The lavender latte at Oak House was delicious and perfectly sweetened. My friend got the vanilla…read morecold brew, and it was also delicious. Inside with plenty of seating and lots of choices for coffee and other drinks. Was great and the inside was great.

Highly recommend the cardamom churros with chocolate sauce! They also have some fun seasonal…read morechurros; currently they have an orange hibiscus flavor that is delightful. They even have a cinnamon churro that has a sugar replacement if you're sugar free! Service was quick and it's a nice ambiance for hanging out with people. The location is perfect if you're in the mood to go thrifting (the Scrap Exchange and Scrap Thrift are across the street!).

This cafe with churros and chocolate-based creations has a menu that offers about as much variety…read moreas one can within that limited ambit. A small order of churros is four, which is still a lot for one person. They come covered in flavor and sugar and dipping sauces are extra. I got a holiday-themed sugar coating with cinnamon and some other spices. It was nicely aromatic, and the churros were freshly made in plain sight. Ordering a drinking chocolate got me a fairly strong and straightforward beverage. I might have been better served adding some extra flavors for the chocolate or getting some dipping sauce for the churros might have been a good idea but would have been overkill for me on this occasion. The location has communal indoor seating which was quite crowded, as well as several outdoor tables in a suburban part of town.

I got an orange blossom matcha latte and I'd say it was decent. The orange blossom syrup was very…read moremild so I could taste it very well. The matcha wasn't very strong and a little overpowered with milk. I didn't try any of their coffees but they looked to be pretty good! I'd give it a 3/5 for the matcha because it was decent but I don't think I'd order it again. The space itself was really nice though and the staff was friendly.

I have come into Joe Van Gogh multiple times, and although I like their drinks, I don't love the…read moreambiance. The restaurant could do a better job at positioning their tables in the space to allow for more patrons to do work (and have access to outlets) without being in the way of those queuing in line for ordering. I have sat here and read a book before, and despite liking my drink, I did not love that I felt "in the way" of others. I also think the bathrooms could be a little more well maintained. However, I do enjoy both the matcha and coffee here, and think that this shop around the Triangle does coffee extremely well. The baristas are knowledgable and can provide insight into various menu options, and are also extremely kind. I will likely be back but just for a grab-and-go coffee.

A long-time favorite of mine here in Durham, particularly for anyone wanting a place to study. They…read morehave a ton of tables, free coffee refills, and lots of outlets. The lighting is good, the music is at an appropriate volume, and the seating is comfortable (particularly in the back room). During the weekends and on holidays they can be quite full (particularly during the school year), but generally speaking I can usually find a seat here. Baristas are friendly and competent. They are well-staffed, and even when there is a long line things come out quickly! There is also free parking available in the parking garage around the corner, which is certainly a bonus. My go-to here is simply an iced americano or coffee, but their seasonal drinks are also delicious. Can't recommend enough!

It's time for "second coffee" and my office for the morning, landing at Foster Street at around…read more8:30 am. Parking wasn't easy since I can't fit into a parking deck but a metered space opened up and I was able to jam into there. Warmly welcomed and my cortado was ready before I'd even finished plugging in the laptop. Strong coffee that had a deep flavor and I'd already had breakfast so I was able to resist the pastries. An hour in, another cup of drip was all I needed while I did the Internet thing. Foster Street is conducive to laptop but it did get a bit loud in there with the talking, the music and the sound of the espresso machine. But if you can handle all of that, it's ideal. I stayed about two hours this morning. [Review 943 of 2025 - 4346 in North Carolina - 24498 overall]

When I was on vacation with my family we stopped in here during a downpour for a quick coffee and…read moredesert! The people were very nice and friendly! I loved the way the cafe looked! It felt almost like if I were in a movie :))) Decor was absolutely stunning!

My first time trying Cocoa Cinnamon after hearing about it for years. I came with a friend. I got…read morethe Al Mokha and cranberry scone, and she got the vanilla bean latte and the morning bun. They source their pastries from Ninth Street Bakery. We both enjoyed our iced coffees and pastries. The inside seating area is small with a funky, industrial feel. They have a large patio with outdoor seating that has a good amount of shade, so you won't roast in the summer sun. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a morning cup of iced coffee with a friend. One quick note: finding parking in this area can be a little difficult and you may have to walk a little bit from where you park to the cafe.

English: TL;DR: Beautiful atmosphere, fantastic coffee and…read morefood, thoughtful modern Latin flavors, amazing breakfast/dinner spot, and Fernando, the manager, is awesome. We've been to Aaktun in Durham multiple times for both breakfast and dinner, and it's honestly become one of our favorite spots. I'm Peruvian and grew up with Peruvian cuisine, so seeing lomo saltado -- a classic Peruvian dish -- on the menu immediately made me happy. Having also grown up in Mexico and lived in places like Miami, I really appreciate what they're doing with the menu: a modern, delicious take on Latin flavors that feels creative without losing what makes those cuisines special. The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful. You walk in thinking it's a stylish little coffee shop, then head toward the back and the whole place opens up -- gorgeous bar, tropical touches, cozy alcove seating, really cool vibe. One time we went with friends for a special dining experience they were offering, and it was excellent. The food, drinks, and whole experience were made even better by Fernando, the manager, who has always been incredibly warm, helpful, and accommodating. Highly recommend Aaktun for breakfast or dinner. Still haven't made it there for lunch somehow, but at this point we'd be shocked if it wasn't great too. Spanish: TL;DR: Lugar precioso, café y comida excelentes, sabores latinos con un toque moderno muy bien logrado, y Fernando, el gerente, es increíble. Ya hemos ido varias veces a Aaktun en Durham para desayuno y cena, y sinceramente se ha vuelto uno de nuestros lugares favoritos. Soy peruano y crecí con la cocina peruana, así que ver lomo saltado -- un plato clásico peruano -- en el menú me hizo muy feliz. Además, habiendo crecido en México y vivido en lugares como Miami, me encanta reconocer cómo integran sabores latinos con una propuesta moderna y de fusión. Se siente creativa, diferente y sobre todo riquísima. La atmósfera además es espectacular. Entras pensando que es una cafetería bonita y acogedora, pero luego caminas hacia atrás y el lugar se abre por completo: un bar hermoso, detalles tropicales, mesas tipo alcove... una vibra buenísima. Una vez fuimos con unos amigos para una experiencia especial de cena que estaban ofreciendo y la pasamos increíble. La comida, las bebidas y toda la experiencia fueron aún mejores gracias a Fernando, el gerente, que siempre ha sido súper amable, atento y servicial. Recomendamos muchísimo Aaktun para desayuno o cena. Todavía no hemos ido para almorzar, pero honestamente nos sorprendería mucho que no estuviera igual de bueno.

"Part Dos - Mostly great, with a few exceptions"…read more Food temp is major in my book. While many of the food options were hot, several were not, and I believe that impacted the overall dining experience. We ordered classic breakfast and jerk chicken lunch options. For drinks: Cappuccino and Mango Refreshers. The good: (1) Fried rice - which accompanied the jerk chicken (served hot). While simple, the slightly earthy and bitter (in the best way possible) from the braised/steamed baby bok choy perfectly accompanied the earthy mushroom, and complex soy inspired fried rice. So good - this could be a vegan or meat side entree unto itself - IMO. (2) Scrambled Eggs - If you enjoy large curds of gently scrambled eggs - this is for you. While we enjoyed the remaining options for portion size and flavor, we did note that the temperature was cool to mid - which impacted overall flavor. Jerk Chicken: we understand this is a jerk inspired interpretation. With that being said, the most interesting flavor was limited to the crispy skin. Perhaps the chicken was immersed in a salt brine and basted with a jerk flavoring? We loved the white (perhaps mayo based sauce), and accompanied pickled red onion. But baby, the food temp. Yucca fries - if you're unfamiliar - are the baby of a green plantain and white potatoes. While good, they were not hot. Maybe could have benefited from a unique sauce? Food service good. But the biggest miss was the cheese hash browns and Mango Refresher. Hash brown (cheese) room temp, and tough - Mango Refresher - too tart and not worth the cost. As far as ambience: Customers were Hip, sexy, multi ethnic , and included old and young. We loved our waiter. Overall, a little disappointing especially considering we loved our first coffee breakfast visit so much. Not sure if it was an off day or we just prefer other menu options. However, we'd definitely visit again! Brunch/lunch: 4.2