I ordered the chai, half expecting something thin and overly sweet. What arrived instead was a…read morewarm, fragrant testament to restraint--balanced spices, just enough milk, and a whisper of quiet joy. I sat back with K.W. in one of the window-side chairs, letting the mug steam gently into the late-morning light, and took in the interior. It's the kind of place that rewards attention: reclaimed wood, soft colors, seating that invites rather than insists. This was not an Instagram café--it was a Christian coffee shop. And I mean that as praise. I don't just mean it had a verse on the wall or worship music humming faintly behind the grinder. I mean the place carried a spirit of care. You could feel it in the details, the warmth of the baristas, and--most of all--in the baby shower happening quietly in the side room. From what I could tell, it was all women--close family friends of the expectant mother--gathered in soft tones, with gifts, cake, and affection flowing. There were balloons. Laughter. Maybe a tear or two, but the joyful kind. I thought about the holiness of childhood, the ridiculous courage of parenting, and the spiritual stubbornness it takes to keep loving in public. There are many ways to do Christianity poorly. But when it holds space for reflection, for the protection of the vulnerable--children, the poor, the disabled--it becomes something rare and tender. Guest House feels like one of those places where such values are quietly lived out, without announcement or ego. I'll be back. For the chai. For the ambience. But mostly to support a place that, in its own gentle way, remembers what a gift life is.

Be our guest and stay awhile…read more.. What once used to be By the Bean is now and has been for awhile Guest House Coffee and Pastries. This has been on my list for awhile now and with Emily and I heading to St. Louis to catch a flight to Colorado, it was the perfect time to get some caffeine before we embarked on a long day of traveling. We popped in a bit before lunch and were greeted by a friendly barista. He took our order fairly quickly and then we took a seat while we waited... and waited... and waited. There was 2 people ahead of us and it took about 10 minutes for our drinks to come out and a few minutes after that to get our baked goods. I got a peanut butter cookie and Emily got a lemon blueberry thingy. Sorry, I'm not great at knowing which is which when it comes to baked goodies. Once we got our goods, we made a beeline for the interstate. This is when I decided to try their cold brew and wow... it was the punch of bitterness that I love. Sometimes places pull back on the bitter but not at Guest House. After a few sips, I tried my peanut butter cookie and found it sorely lacking. I thought it was going to be soft but it was hard, crumbly and dry. I'm not sure if they can warm them up before serving them to you but if I could've had that, it may have helped a lot. I eventually ate most of it but really wish I had some milk to dip it in. I don't remember what Emily got but she seemed to really enjoy it. As for her lemon blueberry item, she said it was dry but that's normal for what it is. I tried a nibble and the flavor was definitely on point. It's not something I would've enjoyed but she seemed to really like it. As for the Guest House overall, I liked that they kept a lot of the decor from By the Bean. I was happy to see the doors that were previously there still there. If we weren't trying to get our stuff and get out ASAP, the wait time wouldn't have been a problem and with that in mind, I don't factor it into my score. We did leave wondering why there was one guy up front and what seemed like 2 employees in the back. But that's neither here nor there at this point. I would definitely come back to Guest House and maybe try to see if they would warm up their cookies before devouring them.

Stopped in for a cold brew on our way to Peoria . The drink was delicious! The service was great,…read morevery friendly! The shop was very appealing and nice decor! Nice stop!

wish I could rate this a big zero. My husband bought the wrong brand and she wouldn't let me trade…read moreit. Where did customer satisfaction go? At least she ground the beans for me. Give a teenager alittle power and it goes to her head.

My husband and I love to explore little towns in Illinois. El Paso was adorable. This coffee shop…read moreoutshines any I have ever been to. The ambience was A+++, the avocado toast was so yummy and my vanilla ice coffee was perfection. The service is warm, friendly, and fast. I will come back.

Java Café is such a cozy little spot in a quaint town. I had the veggie avocado toast and it was…read morefresh and flavorful. The veggies are served raw per the kitchen and it worked well, though I do wish there had been a little more avocado. Still, it was delicious and satisfying. I paired it with the rooibos hibiscus tea which was light and refreshing. They also have self serve water and a clean up yourself setup which keeps the vibe laid back. Food is served during breakfast hours only, but they do keep a grab and go refrigerated case stocked with premade items if you stop by later. Staff were friendly and kind, and the atmosphere is extremely inviting with plenty of nooks to settle into. One of the highlights is a painted chess table that adds to the artsy charm and is perfect for a photo. They also have a shaded outdoor patio if you want to sit outside. Definitely worth stopping in if you are in the area and looking for good food, tea, and a comfortable place to relax.

Visited 2x while in town... had the Colombia pour over... amazing! Friendly staff, great space!…read moreKinda wish I had work to do so I could stay and hang a bit!

STILL my number 1 of ever, after hundreds of shops working coffee by cold brew, espresso,…read moresparkling, and more between Philadelphia, St Paul, Miami, Denver, and San Diego, Zion remains the crowned! I am in love with their wildly wacky tonics, most recently this spring pomplemousse! The tea cake latte is fine too but I miss the old vibrant mixes that were more adventurous. There's a wholesome obnoxious vibe between pure white walls, dirty disco and thumping music, a polite and talented barista troupe, posh and perfect menu both alcoholic and food. Avo toast will convert the most hardened of appetites! I've never tried a cocktail yet a bit intoxicated with their methods for putting together java and espresso. I wish they offered discounts for personal cups, a more inviting and fair rewards program, and the bright big space suddenly becomes a small noisy circus on busy weekends but overall this is the ideal. Peoria should be proud!

I don't usually go to any sort of coffeehouse, usually for environmental energy purposes. This…read moreplace may be my favorite. I really wanted a chai and ordered a regular vanilla chai with white chocolate, and it is absolutely amazing. The environment inside is also amazing as well, very quick and very polite. The staff also welcome you and tell you to have a good day too. I'll have to see about coming back. :)

The flavor of the espresso is good, the hot lattes are pretty aerated and are more like cappuccinos…read morethan lattes.

Yellow bird can be categorized as your typical coffee shop but everything still feels authentic,…read moregenuine and well thought through. The quiche is always amazing, the service is always friendly and the cappuccino is always hot.

I always have an awesome experience here! I am a coffee lover, but the breakfast food ? It's…read moreamazing! The staff are always cheerful and welcoming. This is one of my favorite local coffee shops.

A super bright and beautiful cafe for studying!…read more I went there earlier today for work. It was located in Heyworth (how cute the name of this little town is! lol). Since it was a little snowy today and it was so cold outside, the road in front of the cafe was frozen. I was struggling with walking inside as there was ice everywhere, but it really made my day when the baristas warmly greeted me and said they were sorry about the slippery road conditions! Also, their coffee was nice (I ordered an iced latte w/ oat milk) and I think it's medium-dark roasted (which is my favorite). The environment was super nice. They have a big windows at the front, where the sunlight comes in gently in the afternoon. The ceiling is pretty high, so you'll feel spacious and even de-stressed when working there. Not so many tables inside (only about five, each for four people), and rarely were people coming inside for a long time staying, thus it really is a hidden gem for me who is an introvert and loves privacy and silence when studying. Though their prices were a little high at least for coffee, I would regard it as reasonable since they don't make money by attracting a huge number of customers, but providing a decent environment for guests to chill'in. Love this cafe and wish they all the best! :)

Passing through on a road trip, usually stop at Starbucks but wanted to try something new. Have…read morenever had a smoother latte, staff was incredibly helpful and shop was I super cute and clean. Try the Carmel apple butter latte! You'll be glad you did!

Came on a Saturday during the farmers market. The shop was very crowded and the line was super…read morelong- all the way to the bathroom. Took about 40-45 mins to finally get our coffee after walking in but the baristas were all super kind and apologized for the wait despite it being out of their control and them working diligently. They have a wide assortment of pastries that look absolutely delicious and of course, coffee, with syrup options (they use the 1883 brand), and a seasonal menu. We got the vanilla and the caramel latte, and both were the perfect amount of sweet and had good flavor. Would absolutely recommend!

PUMPKINQUEST 2025 CONTINUES! I am in search of the most yummy sessonal goodies in the area…read more Todays travels took us to historic downtown Bloomington to a favorite watering hole, The Coffee Hound on Main Street. Famous for their amazing coffee,teas and homemade baked goods, today's search was for the ellusive Pumpkin Spice Latte with real Pumpkin! (Don't be fooled by chain restaurants who advertise pumpkin spice but have spice but no pumpkin. Shame on you, giant chain restaurants!) I ordered an iced pumpkin spice latte with an extra shot of espresso. It was a perfect blend of espresso, pumpkin, spices and cream! Very refreshing after a day of errands and just what I needed for the mid-afternoon slump. I eyed the pumpkin cake but will have to try that next time as too full from lunch. My friend got a loaded hot chocolate which he pronounced, "yummy!" The Staff as always, friendly and helpful. I love the ambiance of this location with the origial artwork and downtown charm. If you are looking for a nice spot to spend a little time during your busy day; stop and smell the coffee. I highly recommend The Coffee Hound, you will not be disappointed! Kate the Artist