Caffe Aroma

Do Buffalo a favor and get your coffee here. There are a few competitors in a close vicinity (Starbucks, Ashkers, Elmwood Market…), but Aroma is comparable to Starbucks in price and taste, buts it’s locally owned. The owner for caffe aroma is also the owner of trattoria aroma (an amazing local restaurant).
The caffe itself is small, but still functional. They offer coffee, tea, freshly made pastries, cakes, pies and food that changes daily. Also, the offer beer! During the warmer Buffalo months it’s wonderful to sit outside and sip on a cold one. The location is also very convenient. It’s located on the corner of Elmwood and Bidwell.

Caffe Aroma always has fresh coffee, baked goods (made in house), breakfast and lunch items to order on the spot!
The flavors of coffee alternate and my favorite is cinnamon bun! Tastes just like the dessert! If you really want to indulge, make sure you order their tiramisu dessert. I split it with Dan and it always satisfies my sweet tooth.
This is a perfect location to «people watch» when its warmer out. The only down side is the smaller interior can get a bit cramped. Its definitely a cozy spot and they also do offer beer and wine with local Nickel City Cheese plates!
Go support local coffee shops! Café Aroma is da bomb ;)

This is my café of choice while visiting Buffalo. The espresso drinks are always on point, their tea selection is delicious, and their house coffee is pretty decent, too. The clientele has basically remained the same — families on weekends, intellectuals and grad students perched at all other times. Their baristas are top-​notch and friendly, too. Heck, you can even spike your coffee or grab a glass of wine/​beer and pontificate about the Buffalo of yesteryear — and what’s to come.
Prior to moving out of Buffalo, I spent quiet a bit of time (and money) coming to this coffee shop — now that I’m no longer in the area, it’s one of the first stops I make whenever I am back in town. Some reviewers have noted that the café can get crowded and loud — and to be honest, sure, it gets busy on weekends and it’s tough to get a spot. However, it’s a small space, and high traffic is expected on weekends.
Just come with an open mind and a craving for coffee to experience a part of the Elmwood strip. If it’s snowing as you sip your coffee and think about life, it’ll make your experience magical and Buffalonian.

Aroma is exactly what your mental health needs. First of all, there is alcohol which I often need after work because I need to do more work. They serve Peroni on tap as well as two other draft beers, one of which is usually a Southern Tier if memory serves correctly. There is also a good selection of bottled craft beer, wine and liquors.
This is a really busy café, it isn’t the place to try to get work done if you need a quiet place or mandatory outlet access. But if you’re like me and enjoy the low din of voices & music and the hiss of an espresso machine this is the right place for you.
Speaking of espresso, its not all that great here and the coffee is marginally acceptable — you get one free refill on drip coffee to stay. What kind of saves the mediocrity of the coffee drinks is that you can add a shot of liquor such as Frangelico (Italian Hazelnut liquor) to whatever your heart desires for an extra spring in your step.
My favorite thing about Aroma though is the frittata, there is rotating daily selection of two different kinds (meat, cheese and veg or veg/​herb & cheese) and its absolutely delicious AND served all day or until they run out. Basically I wish every meal was breakfast and Aroma helps that reality come true for me on weekday nights.

If you’re looking for a place to sit and quietly get some work done, this is not where you want to go.
If you’re looking for a place with a unique, sports-​driven atmosphere to grab a cup of coffee or a local brew with a friend, this is the place to be.
I’d recommend not running in for a quick cup– the food/​drinks often take some time– but worth the wait.

I believe the only reason Aroma stays in business is due to where it is located and they serve alcohol at anytime of day.
I’d like to say first that the staff deserves 5 stars. They are all exceptional. Having said that I don’t know how the manager has her job. She’s brutal to her staff. She is condescending to them and I’ve heard her scold them in front of patrons. Awful. So unprofessional. She is blatantly rude to some customers and blatantly kisses the asses of others. She worries more about customers moving her tables than her staff (or herself) cleaning them. The tables in Aroma are filthy. It is rare you see anyone who works there clean one. The customers do it. The manager also discusses business issues as if we can’t hear her. Example: A barista told her about a complaint from a customer about the price of wine and the amount in the glass (a common complaint), I didn’t need to hear her responding about how ignorant a customer is about wine needing to breathe. The place is small. We can hear you. Poorly handled.
The place is loud. Depending on the staff, who chose the music and the volume, they are oblivious to what the room is subject to. Note: they will turn the volume down if you ask. What they won’t do if you ask is turn off the air when it feels cold in there. The place is cold. Buffalo gets so few warm days and you can’t enjoy them at Aroma unless you sit outside.
If you’re hungry go to Ashker’s. The food at Aroma is at best mediocre. The eggs at Ashker’s are cooked. The eggs at Aroma are microwaved. The desserts are disappointing. I don’t know who their baker is but wow… It’s either over the top sweet or just literally unpleasant. Some cakes have been so ugly people are afraid to try them. The staff will try to sell the desserts by saying, «it tastes better than it looks.» This is acceptable? Does the manager or owner even know this? I don’t know how they could not know. It’s commonly said. Why are the customers and the management so complacent?
I think Aroma is riding on location and their liquor license. They put very little effort into improving your experience or putting money back into it. They need the perspective that the customers deserve it. Like fixing the bench. Getting chairs that aren’t falling apart. Sealing the windows and fixing the door. Hiring a good pastry chef. Poor a little more wine in the glass.
I go because it’s convenient and I’d rather support a local business. I am waiting for the day something will come along and give them some competition.

being from portland oregon i am a bit of a coffee shop snob. but my local source urged me to give aroma a chance. it’s not necessarily hip or cool on the inside, and the regulars seem to be a smattering of elderly folks and college kids, rather than the hip lumbersexuals i’m used to. BUT the staff here was super nice, helpful, friendly, and even a little sassy.
i splurged and went for a mocha, which was perfectly chocolatey without being too sweet. i also got a hefty slice of frittata which was super delicious, came with a very nice salad, and ONLY COST $ 5.
there is even a bottle of frank’s hot sauce next to the coffee fixins. perfect. i couldn’t ask for more.

Amazing Italian food. High-​quality, carefully cooked and sometimes utilizing local ingredients. This is about as good as it gets.

I j-​walk here almost every Saturday after hitting up the Elmwood-​Bidwell Farmer’s market. I believe here is where you can get the best cup of coffee in Buffalo. The lattes and every other specialty drink I’ve ordered have been excellent. I usually stick with the house coffee because it’s that good. The line is out the door on Saturday mornings… for hours. I commend the workers for handling the steady crowd.
If you’re going here to study, don’t. If you want space for your laptop, chord, phone charger, backpack and whatever else you’re hauling around town, stop. Eh, do it. But know that you’ll be boiling with frustration and regret.
Their pastries taste day-​old at times, but when they’re fresh, they’re awesome! The almond croissant and butter croissant are among my favorite treats here. They usually have vegan pastries too.
Caffe Aroma offers delicious light meal options. The atmosphere is the deal maker or breaker. Ya gotta be okay with crowds, noise, and tight spaces. They also have alcohol.

Pretty good cup of coffee. My bagel breakfast sandwich and the chicken panini were just ok. A little pricy at $ 20 for a medium coffee, small cappuccino, chicken panini and the bagel sandwich. Too many bees outside to make that enjoyable.
Next time, I’ll just sit inside and try a lavender martini or take my coffee to go!

I’m pleased to have found this is a delightful, tasty place! Caffé Aroma has a great location next to the green-​grassy Bidwell parkway, and has been buzzing with activity each time I’ve gone. The café’s interior is cozy and inviting (albeit a bit over-​crowded with tables) but the outdoor terrace is where it really shines! It’s a great spot for conversation that also provides for some top-​notch people-​watching in the quirky Elmwood Village.
The menu is solid, the staff friendly and efficient, with an atmosphere that somehow manages to be both relaxed and energizing.

This is a cute coffee shop on Bidwell and Elmwood, connected to the Talking Leaves Bookstore. Ive never been here when its been super busy, but even when not busy many table are occupied. They are so close together that if you want to have a private conversation you may not be able to, the next table will be right on top of you.
The coffee is fine, if you get it in a mug you get a free refill, always nice.
Street parking.

Best cappuccino with great service and excellent croissant with Nutella it feels like being in a caffè in Italy.

Caffe Aroma is the first coffee shop I walked into in Buffalo. Currently, they are my last choice for a place to enjoy a cup of tea.
On the positive side: their drinks are typically good and they have something for all hours. Prefer a beer or cocktail to coffee after work? No problem! Also, drinks come out quickly and without checking up with the baristas every five minutes (I’m looking at you, Sweetness 7!)
On the negative side: There is NEVER a place to sit. If you arrived at the most off-​coffee time you can imagine? Still no place to sit. So it is terrible for meetings or for get togethers. Also, the bakery items are extremely questionable. They don’t feel fresh to me and often we are asked to use our imagination. If you squint hard, what passes for Cassata Cake may allllllmosttttt remind you of the real thing. But truly, that’s the pathway toward getting a migraine. Why go there?
In the end, I choose some place a bit more consistent. I’d prefer to have a drink some place I can sit down and have a decent baked good, rather than to stand in the corner with a stale brownie hoping that the couple I’m staring at gets the hint and leaves.

I love that this places has soccer on frequently. The last time I was in here, it was very crowded, but it was Saturday afternoon around 2pm. I was looking for a seat and they were all occupied. I ordered my drink to go as I was out and about job searching and needed an afternoon caffeine pick me up.
I settled on my usual skinny Caramel Macchiato. Which was just the right temperature. I hate when it’s too hot to drink. Frothy and with a little dollop of whipped cream and I was on my way. Way better thank StarBucks any day. I have gotten the Chai Tea as well before and I would say the Chai is by the best I had, even over SPoT and I’m a huge fan.

Great cup of coffee. i will walk past Starbucks to go to this place any day.
Very nice coffee, very friendly service, very good price $ 2 for a refillable mug of good coffee. Most of all its a real neighborhood coffee shop.
They bring in lost of fresh baked goods and make a great sandwich too.
Must stop by if you are in Elmwood Village.

Caffe Aroma is probably my favorite coffee shop in Buffalo, but it can be difficult to find a spot to sit. I appreciate that they have a good selection of beer, wine and ability to make cocktails. They also have a consistently decent selection of salads, sandwiches, delicious baked goods, and other snacks. Their coffee, tea and specialty drinks are not going to be as sweet or homogeneous as the Starbucks just yards away, so don’t go in thinking you can order an caramel iced frappé or chai latte with Oprah’s signature on it.
My date and I were joking the other night about the regulars we often find ourselves surrounded by when we’re here. I said something like «people order a drink, wait forever and chat with a barista, finally get a seat, take out their fancy computers and go on the internet, then get out cigarettes and go out to smoke a few…» I was kidding of course (I’m from Buffalo, I love this type), but in reality, Caffe Aroma has created a cult following of Elmwood Villagers. It’s probably because the staff is good, food and drinks are solid, and it’s comfortable despite limited space.

Stopped in before doing some Christmas shopping in the Village. The place was packed but the service was good and the drinks even better! I was surprised to see the selection of food, it’s certainly a step up from cafes I’m used to.
The hubs and I ordered lattes and they were excellent. I did a Mocha latte and was plenty pleased with how it turned out. No regrets I insisted we stop in here instead of wandering down to Starbucks a few doors down, it was worth it, I’ll be back!

Dropped in here for some coffees and snacks last night.
Was a perfect night out and this place has some outside seating. Right across Bidwell green area and on Elmwood so the people watching is outstanding as there are so many freaks that walk this area. Kind of a strange mix of hobos, locals, bohemians, artsy people, hipsters, young couples, and creative types. On one corner we had an aspiring rapper performing badly, across the street an older weirdo screaming at him some other song, and on another corner two guys with guitars performing for spare change.
Saw many here using the free wifi. A decent selection of bottled beer here too. Staff was friendly and set up our iced coffees and snacks quickly. Plenty of spots to park in the area. Seems like an ok place for the locals in this cool part of town to kick back at.

This may be the strangest Unilocal review I have ever written because I did not love this place. HOWEVER, my subjective review might be really appealing to others and I expect it will be judging from the rave reviews this place has on here.
My intention was to stop by and log in a few study hours. Upon entering I instantly felt cramped. I approached the counter and immediately a woman appeared to assist me with my order. Had no idea what to get so I took a step back to scan the menu. I was checking out the teas and was stumped. Many to choose from but when I inquired with the worker about which were caffeine free, she wasn’t sure. Luckily some fellow on line next to me recommended one of the green teas and mentioned it had very light caffeine. Cool. I liked that this guest knew what he was talking about because that meant he either A) Worked here B) Came so often so he knew what he was talking about or C) Was a tea connoisseur. I’m going to go with B.
I had a lot of junk. Laptop, notebooks, textbooks, chargers, purse, etc. I needed to find a table with a lot of room but there weren’t many options for that. The tables along the back wall were taken which left me with small ones in the center or the hightop bar near the window. I decided to head outside. Internet was touch and go once I headed out there however, people watching was lovely. This was the best part of my experience. There were about eight tables outside with an overhang that almost made it all the way over my able. Unfortunately an hour into my studying it started to rain so I headed inside. Snagged a seat at the hightop bar along the front window. The table is too high or the chairs are too short. I had to strain to reach the counter which made taking notes and typing rather difficult. The windows were completely open which might seem like a great idea except when the guests sitting at the tables outside want to have a smoke or nine. My entire day spent at Caffe Aroma was filled with cigarette fumes and it sucked. I thought this was against the law? Perhaps I imagined it. Big no no though and was a major deterrent from what could have been an enjoyable afternoon. Oh, the tea was good but the mug was really small and it needed two tea bags instead of one, definitely wasn’t strong enough.
Alright so here I am, sipping on tea, doing homework, soaking in cigarette fumes and in walks about twenty soccer fans. It was at that moment I realized this place served booze. Wait, this café attached to a bookstore serves booze? I didn’t know how I felt about it at first and after the idea sunk in I decided, GENIUS. A part of me was like, seriously? I am trying to study and thought this would be a perfect environment to have some quiet with a side of light music. Then the other side of me was like, I freakin’ love this place. It was like a family in there. Not sure if the people knew each other or not but they were all chatty and friendly and the camaraderie was pretty awesome. 100% distracting for a serious student, 100% awesome for people who want to watch a game, meet new people, share some good times, have some delicious drinks and hang.
I didn’t try any food but from what I could see the portions were small. The music was perfection for the vibe. Feel good songs, not too loud. There were pretty lights hanging from the ceiling which gave it a cozy vibe. In conclusion, I look forward to coming back without the textbooks.