Kava House

Delicious! I had the pumpkin spice latte which was absolutely scrumptious:) not super sweet like most lattes I have had

When the hangover is real and I don’t feel like dressing myself well enough to go to Terra or waiting two hours for Wolfgang’s on a Sunday, I find myself getting a delicious pastry and some sort of coffee here and relaxing in the ambience that Kava House provides.
That’s definitely not the only time I come here, but it is an alternative to my usual route. Friendly business chats, working on my laptop, or getting coffee with friends and family are all things I do here. It’s a great place to chill without getting bothered in the busy Eastown neighborhood. It stands its own ground as a unique and important marker to the locals an an established local business. We cannot seem to get by without our doses of caffeine or sugar here.
The variety of drinks here is absolutely amazing. There is everything from coffee to blenders (like a drink called the starburst which is made from various juices.) you can bring a non-​coffee lover and not have to worry a bit! There is also outdoor seating for those days it feels great outside. You can set up your laptop anywhere next to your photogenic cup of whatever and work with free internet for the days you want to escape the house or office. Oh, and the pastries are great!
I am pretty sure the bus stop is very close to here, and it is a central spot in the Eastown neighborhood if you are in the area.

Kava House nails the coffeehouse thing. They are everything I think of when I think of a coffee house. They are centrally located in a thriving, bustling neighborhood, playing chill, indie type music. The baristas are friendly people who you can image being friends with. At least I would like to think they would be friends with me. They offer a wide selection of coffee and drinks like smoothies, and Italian sodas along with various treats and scones.
They have a great outdoor seating area for when it’s nice out. You can walk your dog here and relax with a coffee in the morning. The enclosed porch is typically used for those that need quiet and the main restaurant area is used for socializing. If you get the spaces mixed up when I happen to be working on the porch, I may shoot you a passive aggressive stare to dial it down. Nothing personal.

A strong and stable pillar of the Eastown community, the Kava House delivers all you could want when it comes to coffee. The prices, reasonable, nothing too special, but the ambiance, baristas and baristos, quality coffees and baked goods– are the driving force behind this community meeting house. Seating is ample and environment relaxed. Students come to work on their studies, bicyclists come for a post ride jolt, cute old men come with dogs and read the paper, moms meeting to catch up when they have a break from the kids.
The Kava House is one of the least pretentious coffee houses in town– all are welcome– all are welcomed back. Give them a try.

I absolutely love Kava House, but today altered my opinion just a little bit. I have always stopped in and gotten baked goods because they’re so amazing. As a matter fact I ordered two dozen of their Apple turnovers when I have friends coming in from Connecticut… Lest I forget the amazing zucchini bread which I’ve also ordered. So today I decided to stop in and see if there’s any zucchini bread. I didn’t see any which was not a big deal so I asked the gal behind the counter if there was any rhyme or reason to when they had things. I guess I should add that I didn’t get a smile and her personality was less than friendly… She simply said «some things are seasonal». I asked if I could order zucchini bread, she stated I’m not sure… Depends on if we can get the stuff to make it. REALLY? The last time I checked zucchini is in the grocery stores currently. There was absolutely no effort on her behalf to take an order or simply find out if it could be done. I walked out very confused and very disappointed. I love to support local so I guess I have to take my business to Wealthy Street Bakery, Nantucket Bakery or somewhere else. What a shame. Maybe squeeze out a smile next time and ACT like you want my business.

Phenomenal drinks in a great atmosphere that is both vibrant and relaxed served by some of the friendliest baristas you will ever meet. I have never had a bad experience here and highly recommend any of their delicious and refreshing summer drinks.

This place is amazing! It has the best coffee and scones! I would come here for any occasion! I really love this place!

Prices are not much different from your typical Sbux run but the coffee is SO. MUCH. BETTER.
I usually need a bit of coffee creamer or milk to like coffee and not find it bitter, but I drink this stuff straight up and enjoy every single second of it.
Service is fast and friendly, and the ambiance is great. They have some outdoor seating at tables, or just occupy yourself in some plastic Adirondack chairs that face Lake Street for fabulous people watching.

East GR has a few coffee shops this is a very likeable place. The parking situation kind of sucked since I couldn’t find any right away but hey it’s east GR, it’s always packed. The place was almost empty when I was in so the service was prompt to say the least, staff was happy and we came in with 3 people and 3 different people made our coffees.
I love the atmosphere and decorations at this place, can’t say I was upset with my Café con Leche, although my grandma makes it better. Theres other coffee shops in the area I would have rather gone to but I liked it here overall and decided to come back a few more times.

This is a nice little place in Eastown. I liked the Cuban Coffee that I got served up. It is a great spot to go and enjoy a nice coffee in a pretty quiet environment.
One detail that got my attention was that they have a chalk board that has some local current events. I am a big basketball fan and they had the latest sports news on Lebron James and the Miami Heat. That was a very nice detail that stuck out to me. I look forward to going back when I am in the area.

The décor in here is ok, but it’s pretty cramped. If it’s the least bit busy it feels like a madhouse and isn’t good to sit down and have a conversation.
As for the drinks, they were ok. To be fair all I had was a tea and my friend had a coffee, but you should be able to count on both of those being good since they’re a staple. Maybe I’m too much of a snob, but I just found the quality here lacking in comparison to so many other coffee and tea places in the area.
I’d save yourself some time and go somewhere else.

I had a girl break up with me at Kava. I had another propose.
Was good to be back after a few years. Dig that they haven’t changed much of their comfortable service, great menu, and the staff look you in the eye.

Fast service. Cool view to people watch. Origami and art all over so its eclectic and interesting space! Great fresh scones. I had the chai and cider (chaider) which was excellent.
Desserts look fantastic. They had cookies, butter cake, pumpkin bars and more!!!

This is where it all started for me. Drinking coffee, that is. That was when I was 28 years old in 1993, and believed coffee was the worst-​tasting stuff on the planet.
But Kava House turned me into a diehard java convert of the kind who lingers over a candy-​coated dessert coffee. Kava introduced me to all of the traditional types of coffees, such as Café con Chocolate (made with coffee, chocolate and milk) verses the Mocha (espresso, chocolate and milk), along with newer concoctions like Peppermint Patty (espresso, peppermint, whipping cream) and their own Snickers (a caramel-​flavored latte) and so many more. They will customize whatever you want, because they pretty much have it all.
Eventually, Kava taught me to enjoy the non-​sugary coffees, too, such as the Latte, Cappuccino and Café con Leche (the coffee and the milk are served traditional-​style in two separate containers allowing the customer to mix the two as one wishes). But I’m still a hold out on espressos and coffee sans dairy or a dairy substitute, such as soy milk.
If you’re not up for coffee, Kava has a great selection of other drinks. Their French sodas and Italian sodas are just as you would imagine they would be traditionally made, and what I recall from my childhood. Steamed milks and a wide variety of teas, traditional and herbal teas.
Have I mentioned their scones? They are to die for. You can get their large triangular ones or smaller ones. Years ago, they used to have a cranberry scone, which was my favorite, but today the popular scones are French Apple and a long-​time favorite, White Raspberry. Other current baked goods are carrot cake, a moist, delectable brownie, Chocolate Caramel Oatmeal Bars, Kentucky Butter Cake and a variety of cookies. All of their baked goods are made on the premises.
With all of that said, all other coffee houses are measured by Kava House alone. If it doesn’t live up to the Kava House test, then it’s not a true coffeehouse.
The place has gone through many incarnations since it opened in 1993, but it’s always been for the better.
When they made their smoking-​only area, and sealed it off from the rest of the café and the outdoor patio, we all cheered … smokers and non-​smokers alike. We both had our cool space, and none of us suffered. Now that GR is a smoke-​free city, the former smoking room is another great space for all patrons to hang out.
The baristas over the years prove to have personality and solid customer-​service skills mixed with zany coolness. Their tip jar says it all, along with the long line pushing out the door in the morning and afternoon rush hours.
How fortuitous that I’d decide to write a review for Kava House during it’s celebration of 20 years in business. I just got back to New Mexico after spending several days in Grand Rapids, a trip only complete with a stop at my all-​time favorite coffeehouse. Here’s to another fun-​filled and successful 20 years, Leigh and mom, Pam! You both helped to make the Eastown business area blossom beautifully.

Great coffee, friendly people. They offer seasonal flavor combos that are always fun. Pomegranate tea is refreshing. Jungle chai is a unique combo of fruit and chai. Also great for carrot cake and desserts. Good place to study or people watch.

As if Kava House weren’t great enough with quality beverages/​pastries and amazing desserts– they have some of the VERY best service and staff! Both Tyler J. and Joe W. always make it worth coming in here.

Awesome, friendly staff. Amazing specialty drinks. Delicious baked goods. Great local establishment.
Starbucks and Biggby diehards should definitely give this place a try!

Friendly staff, good crowd, three distinct seating areas (indoor, windowed liminal space, and covered outdoor space), and — most importantly, of course — fantastic drinks. You get a great independent coffeehouse vibe, but they’re not trying too hard for it either.
I get the latte, which is the best I’ve had in Grand Rapids. The presentation is a bit unconventional; instead of a saucer, the latte comes in a tall glass. If you’re not feeling especially stoical, grab a paper sleeve to shield yourself from that hot glass.

Nice place. Great spot to get some work done. Bring some headphones if you want quite though.
Must try the pumpkin spice cake.

I had high expectations when coming in here… maybe that was my problem. I was brought here by a local whom highly recommended it… and the flags should have come up when we sat down with our drinks and he had a chai tea — confessing that he doesn’t drink coffee. Doh!
Well I went simple, I just like drip. I ordered a drip and the kid looked at me funny. Sign number 2 that this will be trouble.
Sign #3 — the coffee could actually be seen through. Ruh-​Roh.
The confirmation: Yup, for some reason they serve coffee flavored tea? Not good. I couldn’t even finish it.
The «good» here? I didn’t pay for the drink since I was «treated», although I would have been happy paying them to take it back.