Makwa Coffee is an Ojibwe and queer-owned coffee shop at 2805 Hamline Ave. North, in Roseville. It is special not only because of its top-notch coffee but its strong community involvement. 

The heart of Makwa Coffee is its commitment to community-based events. This includes a quarterly puppy rescue with Safe Hands Puppy Rescue and a large shelf with many books that serve as a free library for all customers. Makwa Coffee allows customers to borrow these books as long as they return them and add their own books to the collection.

To accommodate various events, the shop extends its hours on Thursdays. That evening, they hold a bi-monthly book club that reads pieces written by Indigenous authors. Anyone is welcome to participate, even if they can’t attend the meetings. 

Thursdays are also open for Craft Nights, where people can come in and use materials that the shop provides or bring their own to make their own art pieces. 

Additionally, almost every Sunday, local artists set up pop-up shops in front of the venue. These include candle making, nail care, paintings and pottery vendors. 

I tried their newest drink, which is called Honey Bear. It was served as a latte with cinnamon, whole milk and honey. The drink has a prominent cinnamon taste that reminds me of fall. At first, the drink has the bitter taste of coffee, then it gives way to the cinnamon and the sweet-tasting honey, with a touch of creamy whole milk. It leaves a fall flavor in your mouth, reminiscent of popular pumpkin spice lattes sold in chain coffee shops nationwide. It was thicker than regular coffee because of the foam, milk and other flavorings, adding to the appeal. 

Next, I tried one of their more popular drinks on the menu, the Ziigwan Sugar Maple, a caramel cold brew with oat milk. It is their most popular drink for a reason. This drink, unlike the Honey Bear, is served iced and is perfect for a sunny fall day. For sweet iced coffee lovers, I highly recommend this drink. The first sip delivers the “sugar maple” namesake and leaves the aftertaste of that cold brew. The oat milk comes through right at the end, giving it a creamy and sweet flavor. This was my favorite of the two drinks, but the Honey Bear would be the way to go on cold days. The Honey Bear and Ziigwan Sugar Maple were each around $5.50. Although the prices are a little higher than what you would find in chain coffee shops, the quality of the drinks makes up for it.

Along with its wide selection of drinks, Makwa Coffee also has baked goods. They sell pastries and packaged snacks like Milano cookies and chips that pair well with coffee. 

The shop had a pleasing brown and blue interior and many fall decorations. There were many pumpkins everywhere, along with silly art pieces made by the staff and other customers. The employees were very welcoming and kind and shared their favorite drink recommendations for me to review. Makwa Coffee is the perfect place to catch up on homework or to grab coffee with a friend. I highly recommend Makwa Coffee. You can find them on Instagram at @makwacoffe to see all their activities and newest drinks.

Verdict: 5/5