Caffe Tempo
42nd and Grand Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55409
www.cafetempo.com

WiFi











(612) 824-8593
7:00am - 9:00pm daily

12 oz. cuppa joe - 1.40
Latte - 2.55

Quaint. Quaint is the right word to describe Cafe Tempo. I am envious of the residents in this area of South Minneapolis that can get out of bed and stroll down the block to sit and have a fresh pastry, a nice FTO java and read the paper. Or they can sit outside and watch the infrequent traffic on a cool quiet Minnesota summer morning...ahhh!

There is really nothing out of the ordinary about Cafe Tempo, besides the great location. This shop is the kind of shop you may discover by accident from getting lost in, or taking a shortcut through those wonderful South Minneapolis neighborhoods. I found it by accident.

Cafe tempo offers FTO, a nice assortment of pastries, a short list of eats - both breakfast and lunch - along with WiFi and a cozy atmosphere featuring local artists. The bathroom is always clean and they have just done some remodeling. Now there is a wood burning stove on the eastern side of the shop and a more open floor plan.

The staff is nice, although I once asked where the pastries came from and I got a deer-in-the-headlights stare. But overall it is very friendly in the many aspects I mentioned above and is very kid friendly (scores high marks in my book just for thinking about the kids), which any neighborhood shop should be.

No wows here, but a lot of comfortable Aahhhs!

Harvest Moon Coffeehouse
5101 Minnetonka Blvd
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
952-922-BREW (2739)
http://www.harvestmooncoffee.net

-WiFi

Cuppa Joe $ 1.45

Latte $2.55

Note: My obvious bias is that Harvest Moon is my "local" shop, although I live a couple of miles away.

There is not enough wonderful things I can say about the Harvest Moon Coffeehouse. It truly is the cleanest-of-the-clean. The decor is modern classy and they offer a patio for those nice warm summer mornings to relax in the sun after a nice brisk bike ride on the SW Corridor and around the Chain of lakes.

If I could fault Harvest Moon, it would be the limited FTO coffee offered. For a local shop as popular in the St. Louis Park community as Harvest Moon, they certainly could go with Peace Coffee or another local roaster of FTO.

With that judgement aside, the atmosphere is warm and friendly. You can sit is a variety of cozy seating with low classy music that doesn't blare you out of the shop, as many other TC coffeeshops do.

The owners are local (and very nice also) and are committed to their community, with local art, local entertainment and a nice large space offered in reserve for your knitting club, environmental organization, or monthly neighborhood meetings.

Harvest Moon offers a limited, but enticing sandwich and soup menu that doesn't steel your wallet. My kids and I truly love the quesadillas.

As with any successful local shop, Caribou Coffee (sucks) and Starbucks (double sucks), have moved in within blocks of Harvest Moon like a couple of money sucking leeches whose only goal is to unfairly outcompete the locals, send your money out-of-state, and in the end offer you only corporate choices. Support Harvest Moon Coffeehouse. It is worth the stop!

UPDATE!
The Harvest Moon Coffeehouse has extended their Fair Trade options to include an evening FTO and two choices in the daytime, instead just one available choice. Thanks Harvest Moon!

Dunn Bros (Minnetonka Mills)
12934 Minnetonka Blvd.
Minnetonka, MN 55305
952-935-5471

• Free WiFi Access
• Live Music • Patio Seating













Cuppa Joe - $1.60

Minnetonka Mills Dunn Bros carries a limited variety of Fair Trade Organic, according to a long-haired Phish throw-back barista.
The clientele ranges from the grumpy-old-men category and soccer mom's, to your typical briefcase suburbanites, and some regular folk mixed in.
This Dunn Bros location is cozy. The unisex bathroom is clean, but you have to get the key from the wall next to the counter. I've always been weary of those keys that everyone touches after they've done their duty. It makes a person want to eat their apple fritters before nature calls.
Did I just say apple fritters? It is worth the trip into the suburban boonies for an apple fritter. Dunn Bros apple fritters are like french bread - crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. My tummy is growling just thinking of it.
Before I give it a thumbs up. Don't forget your "support the troops" magnetic ribbon, because this places' decor is jingo-all-the-way.
Besides the "blind patriotism" feeling of Minnetonka Mills Dunn Bros (and I enjoy dipping my toe into the other side of the political spectrum), I enjoy a cuppa joe in Minnetonka Mills.