We opened the door to Mammitas Coffee and were instantly greeted by welcoming staff and a warm atmosphere. From the outside, we assumed it was a small, traditional coffee shop. However, Mammitas Coffee has a rich heritage and a lot more to offer than just coffee. It has both classic espresso drinks and Latino favorites that you are sure to love.
Mammitas is a family owned and local business found on South Linn Street. The owner, Jacqueline, started the business in February 2020 to share her family’s culture with downtown Iowa City. On her website, she says she wants to, “re-create those [Latino] flavors at Mammitas.” Some of the Latino inspired menu items are Horchata, Dulce de Leche, and Pan Dulce (a Mexican sweetbread).
We experienced the mid-morning rush as lunch time approached. During the rush, we tasted both the Horchata and Pastelitos de Guayaba and we were pleasantly surprised by both items. The Horchata, one of their signature iced drinks, is made with white chocolate and cinnamon, all topped off by whipped cream. The Pastelitos de Guayaba, one of their popular house-made pastries, features fresh guava fruit sourced from Florida, combined with cream cheese, wrapped in a flakey dough. Some people would compare this pastry to a toaster strudel on steroids. If you don’t like coffee or pastries, don’t worry! They have a wide range of menu options for you. Mammitas Coffee has several lunch foods, smoothies, and energy drinks available. While the lengthy menu can be a little overwhelming, the staff members are more than happy to provide recommendations of their favorite items.
Mammitas offers coffee, floral arrangements, and student study spaces making it unique from other coffee shops. While we were waiting for our coffee and pastries, we explored the building and stumbled upon Flowers by Jacqueline, a shop owned by the same family. The flower store offers arrangements for weddings, quinceaneras, and other special occasions. We were surprised to find out that they make special arrangements for guys too. Angelina, Jacqueline’s daughter, said that they put the arrangements in a model Mustang to appeal to a larger audience. After getting our refreshments, we ventured into the outdoor patio. Even though the shop appears small, there is outdoor seating located to the left of the shop through a wooden gate. Despite being located on a busy street, the outdoor patio is a peaceful retreat with a cloth canopy, plenty of greenery, and comfortable seating. Jacqueline encourages college students to hang out, study, and enjoy the outdoors.
Mammitas Coffee works hard to be accessible and accommodating to University of Iowa students. Not only does the coffee shop have free WIFI, it is also working to expand its hours. Currently, they are open Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 3 pm. However, they recognize college students’ need for a late night caffeine fix and are working to extend their hours during the approaching school year. Mammitas Coffee also partners with delivery services such as GrubHub and Chomp to provide easy access to their menu items.
We expected a small, unremarkable coffee shop, but quickly realized this family business had so much more. A chain coffee shop cannot provide the same level of hospitality and passion for their business. They even have adorable merchandise such as hats for you to rep around campus!
We came into Mammitas as strangers but left feeling welcomed and excited to go back.
Primetime Iowa City Guide 
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