The Penguin drops a few tips for enjoying the rich coffee and luscious desserts at Kefa Cafe.
1. Order the large cup of joe.
The coffee served inside this small, sometimes crowded Bonifant Street cafe is smooooth, the polar opposite of what’s served at some chain coffee shops. The beans are roasted to the point of ultimate chilax, resulting in a round, full-bodied flavor without the acidic bite.
The baristas (sisters originally from Ethiopia) are also masters at steaming milk, for those who don’t take their coffee “regular”. Even soy milk, which can be unpalatably bitter when overheated, comes out rich and creamy and oh so dreamy.
2. Get the cake — any cake.
Yeah, Kefa doesn’t make its own cakes, but so what? If it’s in the display case, chances are it’s good.
During one visit, Penguin taste testers indulged in a silky chocolate mousse cake that tasted and felt like lush pudding on a soft, fudgy base layer (below).
They also went for the berry tart, another masterpiece of smooth vanilla mousse topped with plump and playfully tart raspberries and blueberries (below).
Both desserts were like buttah!
But adding cake to the tab leads to tip 2-1/2: Be prepared to dig deep. Some of Kefa Cafe’s desserts cost $5 per serving. Add at least $3 for a cup of fancy-shmancy coffee, and you’re looking at a ten spot for your afternoon treat.
3. Get there early.
Kefa’s early closing hours (6:00 p.m. during the week, 9:00 p.m. on Fridays) means it’s not an after-dinner joint, or even a before-dinner joint. Still, find a way to squeeze it into your schedule.
Kefa Cafe, 963 Bonifant St, Silver Spring, (301) 589-9337.
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Been eyeing that place for awhile… Kinda picky about my coffee. Thanks for checking it out! I’ll hit them up asap! :P
What – no comments about the gelato? That’s why I go! (and the coffee, of course)
Editor’s note: I hit Kefa on a cold, dreary day earlier this month. Not exactly gelato weather. Anyone want to comment on the goods? — JD (Apr 23, 2008)
Support a great local business. They set up shop over 10 years ago and have managed to stay afloat. Their cakes may not be baked on the premises but their sandwiches are made as you watch.
Once I start posting, I can’t stop. All I can say about Kefa is: Best. Coffee. Ever.
And with summer coming up, try their iced coffee. But be careful… I took a friend there and she liked it so much she drank two large iced coffees, and was shaking from the caffiene rush for hours.
I’d love to see them stay open a bit later in the summer. I always find myself wanting to stroll down for a gelato after dinner, but I never seem to catch them when they’re open.