Cafe Diem

I visited here a month ago, and had lunch and a coffee. I had the chicken panini it was good. My coffee I felt was bitter but it could have been the flavor of the month I got, but I wanted to try something new so that was on me. They had free wi-fi, nice bathrooms, and the staff was very nice. I was there killing time while my husband was at a training. I was able to do book keeping and crochet comfortably. And it looked like there was many students there throughout the afternoon doing group studies together while socializing.

Came here for a quick breakfast and really loved everything! We both got breakfast sandwiches and coffee. I got the seasonal Bourbon Caramel Cold Brew with Coconut Foam. Both the food and drinks came out quickly. The sandwiches were super tasty and filling. The ingredients tasted fresh. Love the little bit of outdoor seating that they had since the weather was nice! Some cool merch inside, too!

Today, I had the best drink I have ever had, and it was at Cafe Diem. I indulged in the iced strawberry cold foam matcha latte. It was perfect. Cafe Diem is a great place to study or catch up with a friend. It is so cozy and the baristas are very friendly. I also had the pleasure of having a chicken salad sandwich. Thank you to whoever cheffed that up! New favorite coffee shop in Ames! 💯

Delectable dishes! Rueben sandwich and the Black Bean burger were great. Very flavorful and the chips were good. Baby carrots are straight from the store but that’s the expectation and it is nice to have that option. I’ll come back.

Turned out to be a solid experience as I needed to find a place for about 90 minutes between meetings in downtown Ames on a Friday. Great customer service, tasty lunch (chicken salad sandwich), good WiFi, and quiet safe setting.

Great place! Fun atmosphere & lots of seating. (Nice to have some food options too, but there aren’t a ton. Understandable being a coffee place, but worth noting!)

Lovely place if you want an amazing coffee or smoothie! My girlfriend had a coffee that was amazing and I had a smoothie with banana and strawberry. I’m not a big coffee guy, but I’d rate 5/5 simply for having something for us non-coffee people! Definitely will return! Bonus points for playing some Zach Bryan and other hits that fit the mood.

I went with my wife for a quick lunch today during my lunch break, it took them 30 minutes to prepare a sandwich and a salad. I ultimately asked them to change the order to takeout and after all that waiting, the grilled chicken was basically half raw, very chewy.

My wife and I came here on a busy Saturday morning (seemed like there was a farmers market). She got an iced house made vanilla latte and she said the espresso had a burnt taste to it. The mango smoothie was good! I thought it was well blended and not too sweet. Overall good experience.

Stuck with 90 minutes between meetings in downtown Ames on a Friday afternoon, I fell into Cafe Diem on Main Street, and it was a terrific experience! It's a quiet place to get some work done (yes, they have WiFi), and their chicken salad sandwich was delicious. It was freshly made and tasty, with grapes on wheat bread. I needed about an hour of focus and productivity to accompany my lunch, and they checked every box!

Wanting to some coffee, I decided to go to Cafe Diem. My first impression was that the spacing and the lighting was inviting. I really like the layout and there was a lot of seating. They have board games for those staying and meeting up with friends. Cafe Diem has free wifi for those who are planning to study which I think is beneficial! Looking at their menu, they mainly had your run of the mill coffee options and specialties catered to the cafe. I got a hot salted caramel latte and my friend got an Irish cream latte. The price of the lattes were on the normal to "expensive" side. I think the service is fine. It took a while for my friend to get his latte despite the place being at a steady pace. The lattes came in a a carryout cup and they tasted rather sweet. I feel like they pumped too much syrup into mine to the point of being a bit sickish after a few sips. It's more than likely just my preference of taste, but if you like sweet drinks this place could be for you. Overall, if you want more of a classic taste, there are more options in Ames Town that cater to that than Cafe Diem.

I enjoy the consistent, friendly service and the cozy ambience. Cafe Diem is not only a great place to grab a cup to go, but it also a great place for a casual business meeting.

If you're looking for an actual breakfast, this would not be the go to place, selection is limited to breakfast sandwich, waffle and one other item (I forget). It's great for coffee. After my daughter and I were served this tiny sandwich, we actually went ahead and drove to another breakfast place to eat.

The ambiance is the best, great service ! Vinyls just take me back and the decor is perfect

They have a lot of good looking pastry and lunch options at solid prices, and their chair and lattes are good, but nothing extraordinary. Not too ideal for college students to do work at if you need an outlet, because to my knowledge the only (two) places in the joint that have outlets are the high tables next to the walls, and I don't think any of the booths have outlets. It can also get a bit loud. The servers and cashiers are really nice and welcoming! I would come here more often if I didn't need to constantly use outlets for the technology required for my studies.

Edit: I didn't mention this, but had someone heckling me about not reading the menu. They erased all the prices off the menu so there was no way of knowing what they were going to charge you. Stam across the street has way yummier drinks at almost half the price. So I guess they decided to raise their prices without telling anyone. I spent $8 for a drink and by the time they told me it was $8 it felt too far to back out. I love supporting small business but not for $8 drinks.

I really loved the breakfast sandwich here and the coffee was good too! Cute little spot where lots of local hang out. Would definitely go back here

The coffee is always great (one of my favorites in town) and I normally have no issues studying here. Today, 2 employees were extremely loud laughing and screaming for at least 30 minutes. Me and my colleagues could hear them through noise cancelling headphones. This to us was very unprofessional and we had to leave due to the extreme disturbance!

Delicious iced matcha with oat milk! Great spot for studying or coffee/tea with a friend. Will definitely return when I'm back in Iowa

Used to be good but has apparently been spoiled by success. The last 2 times I was there I recieved a latte that tasted like hot milky water. The 2nd time they made me a new drink, and it was just as bad. Food and pastries are okay. Often ong lines, long wait. Overpriced. Atmosphere is so-so.

By far the best coffee and service in town. I stop in two or three times a week and everyone knows my order and usually start it for me even if I'm third in line! I love supporting local small businesses and this is definitely my top and totally worth the patronage. Where else do you get points for a 10th cup free?! I also love the name, as it was borrowed from Eureka, one of my favorite TV shows. I just can't say enough about the staff and service. Also, there is a great ambiance to the shop, which none of the competitors bring to the table. I could (and have) sat for hours when I have work to do, or just want out of the house for a bit. I've purchased a thermos and other merch (that I absolutely didn't need!) to help support and advertise for them. I highly recommend Cafe Diem over the chain stores any day!

Review based on hot chocolate & butter rum muffin. Hot chocolate was meh. The muffin was spongy & tasted very similar to a coffee cake. A bit pricey though.

Love the coffee here! They make it pretty strong so be prepared for that extra kick of caffeine, that aside I've never had a bad coffee from them. There isn't a large selection of food items but I've liked the soup of the day when I have had it. The coffee shop itself is cute and usually it's a pretty quiet place to get work done. It can get really packed on weekends in the morning and tables fill up quickly so maybe plan on taking your coffee to go if you visit Saturday or Sunday morning.

It's a mood. It's in downtown. It's a meetup spot for the graduate students and grownups in town. Coffee, tea, and baked goods galore. It's not exactly the most tended to in regards to clean tables and chairs. But, ya know, aesthetic and vibe is what matters most to many.

Cafe Diem is a great place to grab coffee and bring your laptop or a book. The ambiance is just the right combination of noisy and quiet that is great for conversation or getting work done. The coffee drinks are great as well. Their food is hot or miss. Nice staff and clean

The best spot on Main Street to grab a coffee!! A variety of smoothie, tea & coffee drinks, as well as bakery items & lunch options. As a tea lover, I would recommend mango iced tea w/ raspberry. Their bakery items are made fresh so I'd be sure to grab one of those too:)

Delicious latte, cute building, kind and helpful staff. Plenty of parking and definitely worth a second visit.

It's been 15 years since we have been here and it was so good to be back and see the transformation from the "olden days" Staff was super friendly, environment is warm and cozy, and our fall lattes were delish! Wish we lived closer and we would be here more often

I really wanted to like this place. And just like some of the other reviews, I feel the drinks didn't not do this place justice. 10/10 for the atmosphere, for being in a colleague town they did it right. So much seating and tables, wifi, great study/reading spot. The baked goods are so good, the 2 times I've been I'm never hungry but somehow drooling over what they have. But the drinks!!! I've ordered something different each time. First a iced vanilla latte, it was ok. Second a hot mocha. Both times the espresso tasted almost burnt. For being downtown there's not an overwhelming number of options for coffee, but I wouldn't choose this place over somewhere else.

Ever item I have gotten here is wonderful. I wish I lived closer to get a salad every day. The owners are super nice. And I love the atmosphere. The aromas are heavenly.

Loved the cappuccino! Can't believe I've missed this all these years. Knock it down to 8 ounce sizes as an option and you're really cooking with gas. Great spot!!!

1.) non-gendered restrooms 2.) vegetarian selections 3.) good lattes, not the best in the world 4.) specialty coffees, scones/muffins/etc, light lunches 5.) great for studying/working, meeting a friend, reading, etc... I go when I feel like getting a coffee drink and spending time on my computer, reading a book, or meeting a friend to chat. It is a comfortable place on Main Street and I feel welcome there. I have been going for 5-ish years, maybe averaging once every 5 or 6 weeks over time. Yesterday I for the first time decided to get some lunch and tried the black bean burger; it was super delicious! I think my eyes may have rolled slightly up into my head after I took the first bite. It was moist (lettuce, tomato, ciabatta) and had so much flavor, I absolutely loved it. It also had a bit of a kick to it, which I wasn't expecting but is very welcome! I got it with chips (or could have had carrots) which were kind of blah, I didn't finish them, but so what the burger was fabulous. But there is a big downside to this place. I see in other reviews that they have actual ceramic coffee cups, but I have not once seen one or ever been offered one when I was there. They only give me to-go cups and I really hate using up cardboard cups when I want to drink there. Not only for renewable reasons, but because it is nice to sit in a coffee shop and have an actual coffee cup. This doesn't at all seem to fit with the vibe of the place. For me it is part of the experience of going out for coffee, ya know? Lattes don't taste as good in cardboard.

it's a ~vibe~ there are lots of tables and booths making it a great study spot without the fear of fighting tooth and nail for a table. the booths are fun because the holes in the brick wall are filled with fun notes from past coffee shoppers. i ordered a hazelnut latte with oat milk. bonus point for having milk alternatives that aren't almond or soy. (i personally stan oat milk) the latte was very tasty and made at the perfect temperature for immediate consumption. they also have a large vat of ice water you can serve yourself with. however, there are plastic cups so i would recommend having a water bottle on hand as to not contribute to the plastic waste that is plaguing our environment. there are two neutral gender bathrooms. they are clean and stocked with extra rolls of toilet paper so you're never in an awkward bind. as far as noise level, it's pretty chill. the music is pretty present but also not so loud you can't talk at a comfortable level. overall, cafe diem is top notch.

This is a great local spot. The service is fantastic. They are always very kind and patient. Accessible and good spot for people with disabilities. The food is great and the vibe is chill. The coffee isn't my personal favorite but I love their other drinks.

cafe diem is a awesome place to sit down and study or do work. There are lots of space with tables and chairs with outlets next to them. Very college student friendly. Their specialty/seasonal drinks are really good. The usual drink stuff is mediocre. I got a chai tea latte once and it legit tasted like warm milk.... Multiple times... The food is expensive for small portions but it's a cafe so what do ya expect. It does get really crowded sometimes and we can't find places to sit.

They had me at the first sip of my frozen blended latte. Yum! But what really sold me on this place (besides the ambiance and great decor) is the charging stations at the tables. There are two plugs and two USB ports on a special power strip on top of the table. All lit up so you don't have to sneak around bending over, searching under tables for a plug and feeling guilty if your device is plugged in too close to another customer's space. Pure genius. All coffee shops should have such brilliant features. I stopped here on a road trip after reading Yelp reviews of local coffee shops in Ames. I'm SO glad I made the detour off I-35 to enjoy this place, as well as the fabulous Main Street. I'm a fan for life.

New to Ames and needed a new environment to do some studying. Right when I walked in I was able to find seating to work at. The booth I sat in didn't have an outlet but I noticed other areas with multiple charging outlets. I went up to order my food and beverage and it took them about 5-10mins to have my latte and burger ready. I'd say the service is pretty fast. WiFi is available and they have the password up on the wall. The lighting and environment was calming. A great place to catch up with a friend and socialize. The food was average and I wouldn't say it was the best latte I've had. Not a variety of food options. Prices are reasonable.

This little coffee shop was so fantastic. We were drawn in by the honey pistachio cold brew advertisement and we were not disappointed. So perfectly prepared, and when the waitress joked with my girlfriend and I about disagreeing about wanting whipped topping or not, she charmed us by putting only half on top. Wish we had gotten her name so we could thank her!

This is my go-to WiFi café on the weekends as I continue my writing projects at a frantic pace. First timers should know that this café has a warm and inviting atmosphere, where a good mix of students and families make up the transient traffic that comes in and out of this downtown hotspot. Students tend to sit nearby the wall plugs that are scattered alongside the wall where local artists' display their proud accomplishments. On the opposite side, one can find couples on double dates and the best of best friends seated in the booths animated about the latest and the most enchanting parts of life in Ames. One late afternoon, I discovered a father sharing a fresh homemade Cinnamon Roll with his son. The five year old took big messy bites while the smiling dad marveled at his son more than the piping hot gooey sweet roll that melted into a heap of sweet sensations. Then there I was, mixed in the crowd of students, families, couples, and besties with my newest laptop where sometimes something was gonna inspire the next sentence or a few simple clicks of the delete button with a line that sunk deeper in between my eyebrows. Their coffee has been the talk of the town. The beans are not roasted in-house, not handmade, and server didn't seem to know their origins. None of this matter in Ames, where reviewers were still right that this might just be the best in town. Never in the same league as Blue Bottle or Philz but solid, especially their creamy dreamy Soy Pumpkin Spice Latte that gives a smooth, frothy, flirtatious flavor before a final pumpkin punctuation that hits the spot on a chilly afternoon. I've also had their Green Rooibos Plantain Coconut Tea that introduces a light red rooibos flavor with a banana backdrop and light bursts of coconut. Their Vanilla Coconut Tea isn't as robust in flavor and the overall selection is steep for teabags as they're served in a teapot. It's never clear whether they give hot water refills, but I would have appreciated if they naturally extend it as an invitation rather than having one to guess or ask for it. As for food, their hot pressed Three Cheese Melt that brings together a messy construct of provolone, American, and Swiss. The pressed wheat bread was crispy with good moisture, and the cheeses were sufficient and flavorful. Their Chicken con Queso soup was non-dairy and perfect for those looking for a light meal. I've also tried their freshly made Cinnamon Rolls, that was soft hot soft hot as the melt in your mouth qualities disintegrated into a sweet endnote. Depending on the day, the café can smell like an upgraded Cinnabon or roasted coffee beans. Service is typically friendly and their staff does a great job at keeping the place clean. With their comfy chairs and surroundings, I expect to make this place my next home office. Their limitation is their hours of operation as the kitchen shuts down at 8pm while the rest of the café remains open only till 9pm. I'd be interested in trying Café Milo on the other side of town before finalizing the order of my coffee places in Ames.

I'm so disappointed in this place. I used to love it here, but I went in today to get a coffee and was baffled. NO masks, NO social distancing. The place was packed. It was honestly terrifying. I'm so bummed, I've never left a bad Yelp review before, but this was just awful. Two stars, because at least their coffee is still good?

Free WiFi here. Great coffee. Are you here yet? If you are alone as I have been you are likely to have someone introduce themself. People are THAT friendly downtown Ames! Lunch is fresh and made to order. Getting something under $3 and using plastic- they will charge you extra! ****Limited power sources for computers.

Cafe Diem never fails to impress me. I always can find something I enjoy, especially the strawberry smoothie! It is also an excellent place to sit down with friends, family, or even for a study spot. Love this cafe!

On Easter me and my friend went there and have lunch after church very good food very nice help the girls were very nice I well be going back my friend goes in there all the time. The brownie pretzel Carmel is delicious have to try that then bean burger is very good too

First the cost for the coffee is about 20 to 40 cents more than other shops in the area. The 12 oz coffees are single shot. Where other places will serve double shot. The people working behind the bar seem to have been hired for 'personality' not ability to serve food and drinks. The servers are unable to steam milk without a ton of foam. The coffee is not properly made and tastes burnt with little or no emulsion on the oil. I have been here multiple times. I have had to meet people here and it was the only option late at night to get a coffee. The atmosphere is nice and the place is clean. It is open late. They have nice chairs. Everything said I did go here knowing full well how bad the coffee would be.

I drink coffee. LOTS of coffee. Over the years, coffee has become my friend. Through college and now into my adult life, coffee has been the constant. People, jobs, money and sanity at times have all come and gone, but coffee has always been there. Needless to say, I love it. Cafe Diem in downtown Ames (229 Main) serves up arguably the best cup of coffee you'll find in Ames. I really like everything about this place, from it's cozy atmosphere, to the food and bakery selections all the way down to the cool little stickers that you place over your lids so they don't spill while you're walking away (not sure if those things actually have a name...), I love what Cafe Diem has to offer and how it makes me feel when I'm there. Cafe Diem makes me happy. VERY happy. Up until recently, Cafe Diem was buying in the coffee that they sell, but recently they bgean roasting their own, which is also available through sale on their website. They have all the basics when it comes to coffee, including the wide variety of drinks, both hot and cold. They have a nice bakery selection of fresh-baked goods, including muffins, scones, cookies and bars. If you want a meal, they can do that too! Their sandwich menu has several good choices and you can also get soups, salads and a few other specialty items from time to tim e. Most importantly, the coffee is great. If you find yourself in downtown Ames (or in Ankeny or at one of their two DMACC locations) drop in, say hello, grab something to eat or a fine cup of joe to sip and relax for a bit. Cafe Diem provides the backdrop and goods to keep you relaxed and/or rejuvenated. There might be a better cup of coffee somewhere in Ames, but if there is, I haven't found it. www.cafe-diem.com

Cute little coffee shop in downtown Ames. Love the atmosphere and the coffee was great too. I had a latte and it tasted like rich espresso not just milk, which I like. Pumpkin muffin was delicious. Breakfast sandwich was good but I think it was just a ready-made one heated up. I was hoping for one on a fresh croissant. Nonetheless it was a nice place to chat or do some work. They even had some games. Will def be back!

They have been in business in Ames since 2000 and continue to serve good coffee and basic food such as salads, sandwiches and desserts. Most food items cost $7.50 and a large coffee is $2.55 and there are the usual specialty coffees and tea. There is free WiFi and plenty of tables and ISU students can be found here until 10 pm every day. If you are shopping in downtown Ames, this is the place to go for a quick coffee break and a bite to eat.

Cafe Diem has a nice chill atmosphere. Their coffee is pretty basic nothing crazy mostly traditional choices which is nice. The coffee itself is done very well. I wouldn't say the coffee is better than average but it's still an enjoyable cup of coffee. The best part is probably the inside of the cafe with its really cool layout and nice design. The people that work there have also been fantastic each time I go. It is definitely one of the better places to get coffee in Ames.

Diem used to have excellent coffee and coffee drinks, but the last several times I've been there my mocha/latte has been like hot, milky water with virtually NO taste. When I said something about it I got a drink that must've been 1/2 sugar. It was so sickeningly sweet as to be nauseating, but it still didn't taste like coffee.

In the 27 times I've been going here, they've never gotten my order wrong, and have amazingly friendly staff. Where other places might have lazy staff, here they have an awesome and amazing staff who are always kind and helpful.

I loved this place. I constantly came here to work and catch up with friends. They have seasonal coffee drinks like pumpkin spice latte and Irish creme. Cafe Diem also offers non-dairy milk. Because of co-vid, I still stop by to my fix, but I noticed the amount of students working in Cafe Diem. They have tape separating tables and "x" to mark where to stand, but I felt uncomfortable with the amount of customers in the shop during this pandemic. The people sitting at the tables didn't have masks on. On top of that the entrance only has room to walk by one person at a time. It's a 4/5 because of the amount of people in the cafe didn't make me safe.

I've been a long time customer of Cafe Diem, since I moved to Ames. Usually stop in 2-3 times a week. I usually like to go around 2 or 3pm because that place can get very crowded at times, there's a reason: the coffee is good and the atmosphere is very relaxing for work or talking with friends. Just a funny side note, all the Baristas are attractive working there, guess it makes getting my coffee that much more fun.

Good coffee. No soul, much like most of Ames. Soulless :( I like the brick walls and seating, but the decor and overall vibe is missing crucial elements of soul. Music and decor needed badly. But it is where I go for coffee in Ames just cuz I haven't found anything better

Café Diem is a cute reasonably priced coffee shop located in downtown Ames. As soon as you entered the café, it has a very cozy atmosphere with wood decoration and artistic paintings. There are plenty of seats and booths that make you want to stay for hours. It is not the most well-lit coffee shop but it is enough to enhance the homey and relaxing vibe. As far as coffee, they have a typical menu for a coffee shop. I have tried different types of their coffee: iced coffee, latte, mocha, etc. and it is usually pretty good and consistent. They also have many types of smoothies for the non-coffee drinker. However, they don't have a wide selection of pastries, limited to scones, muffin, cookies, and a couple of cakes. I also heard their sandwich is good but I have not tried many of them. The WiFi here is pretty quick. You will just be directed into their agreement page to access the WiFi. Overall, it is a nice place for a meeting or conversation since they also provide board games, books, and newspaper. It is also a good place to study but beware that they do not have many outlets. There are only a couple of outlets on one side of the café with a table for 1-2 people.

Met up with a Bumble date here and had a great time! food and service were great, definitely a date spot!

Visiting Ames after many years and found this place on Yelp and loved it. I didn't get any food during my (multiple) visits so I can only comment on their coffee selection. My go-to drink is a dry cappuccino and they made it perfectly. I went there every day for 4 days straight and the quality was consistent and excellent! Nice atmosphere that seemed conducive to studying or hanging out which is perfect for a college town. Great spot!

Nice little place with a Midwest country grunge vibe. Its not modern and a bit eclectic but the coffee is great and the seating is exceptional. They even have an area to charge stuff. Really cool service and space.