Hello Bison! Welcome to my first coffee shop review of the school year. I have nearly exhausted my options, but I somehow have not reviewed Black Coffee and Waffle Bar. For those of you who know me, this might be a shock to you—I have actually been to this coffee shop quite a few times. Alas, here is my review (finally).

I am going to start this chronologically. Let’s talk parking. The parking situation at Black Coffee and Waffle Bar is not the best because it is right in Broadway Square. However, depending on the day/time, parking is possible; it just requires a bit of a hike. There is parking directly in front of the store, but it is infrequently available. Parking might take a few trips around the block, but I promise it is possible.

Although the parking situation is less than optimal, the location of this coffee shop is very convenient. It lies only two turns away from campus. Hop on University going south and ride that until Second Street North, where you will turn left. Stay on that road until just after the Broadway intersection and Black Coffee and Waffle Bar is on your right. There is plenty to do in a short distance of this shop, so the short trip is more than worth it.

The seating situation in this shop is incredible. Visitors are left with plenty of options, between the high-top tables, bar seating, lower tables, booths and benches. In terms of wheelchair accessibility, there is a slight step up into the store, but the seating definitely leaves room to accommodate wheelchairs. There is also an alternative exit in the back of the store for wheelchair accessibility, in which case you would just have to enter via the alley to the left of the store. There are plenty of chairs, so I doubt anyone visiting this shop would have trouble finding a place to sit, no matter what time of day.

The staff at this coffee shop are incredibly friendly and helpful in deciding what to order. As is obvious by the name, this is not just a coffee shop. The waffle selection at Black Coffee and Waffle Bar is—unsurprisingly—incredible. There are plenty of toppings available for waffles, so you can follow one of their combinations or make your own. 

I will briefly touch on the quality of the waffles, although it is not the main premise of this article. The waffles are amazing. They are perfectly fluffy, melting in your mouth along with the amazingly paired toppings available. My favorite waffle they offer is the Fat Andrew, consisting of peanut butter, bananas, cinnamon, powdered sugar and whipped cream. Is your mouth watering? Mine is. Black Coffee and Waffle Bar also offers gluten-free waffles, perfect for anyone who has missed the luxury of a fluffy Belgian waffle due to gluten intolerance. I have taken my mother with celiac there and she has not had any problems with digesting their gluten-free waffles.

The last obvious must-discuss about this coffee shop is their coffee. Their espresso has a quality taste. They do not have the widest variety of flavors available, but they do offer seasonal beverages. My one complaint is that the coffees I purchased recently were not fully stirred, but a simple straw action can fix that problem. Problems like that are also usually based on the person making the drink, not the company as a whole. My usual coffee order, a Cafe Miel, is perfection at Black Coffee and Waffle Bar. The honey tastes so natural and is complemented perfectly with a delicious cinnamon powder. My barista even put some honey on the side of my cup, which was adorable. My other drink, a Maple Cinnamon Latte, was also crafted beautifully. The maple was not super prominent, but each table is equipped with maple syrup (for waffles), so I just threw some of that in. I will also note that other coffees I have tried at this coffee shop have tasted incredible. This coffee shop truly keeps me coming back for more.

Next time you are craving a coffee and a decadent sweet treat, try out Black Coffee and Waffle Bar. They also have two stores in the Twin Cities, so stop there if you are ever in the area. They’ve got seating. They’ve got bathrooms. They’ve got coffee AND waffles. Take a trip to any of the locations if you have the chance. You won’t regret it. And, of course, don’t forget to tip your barista.