On the corner of Linn and Bloomington in downtown Iowa City’s Northside, Kindred Coffee fills its sunny, plant-lined space with lattes, cappuccinos and the occasional troupe of dancers. (In May, it hosted a show by University of Iowa dance students and DanceWorks Chicago performers; more recently, IC Dance Company put on a “Dancer Social” in the space, open to any and all). The airy café with floor-to-ceiling windows feels like a community living room, with a mix of heavy tables big enough for a group meeting and quiet corners where individuals can perch peacefully.
During my visit, the atmosphere was quiet yet lively, with room to breathe and linger without feeling rushed or crowded — a welcome change from the packed corporate coffee franchises. Their location is flexible enough to host everything from dancers and open mic nights to baby showers and rehearsal dinners. And they do!
On this Tuesday morning, folks tapped away on their laptops, others leaned into books and newspapers, and a golden retriever wearing a bandana padded happily through the door. Meanwhile, my daughter and I plopped on squashy mustard-yellow chairs to play chess at a coffee table with a built-in board. (Well, as much as you can really play chess with a 6-year-old nonprodigy.)
Behind the counter, barista Alie pointed me to the chalkboard menu: “Dog Days of Summer Specials.” The Peach Jasmine Shaken Tea was the current crowd favorite, she said. Made with organic jasmine tea and peaches — “half puréed, half chunky” — it arrived frothy from the shaker and balanced sweet and fruity without being syrupy. With lots of ice, it was easy to sip at 10:30 a.m. and exactly what I’d hoped for when I requested something seasonal.
Alie highlighted additional summer hits: the Blackberry Pie Latte, topped with vegan blackberry cold foam and gluten-free pie crumbles, and the Strawberry Milk Matcha, with housemade macerated organic strawberry syrup. New drinks come up frequently, she said, so I should be sure to “stop back soon.” (I will!)
Kindred’s intentionality extends beyond the menu. It’s designed as a flexible event space, available to rent at an accessible price point, no deposit required. From their wall of fliers, I learned Kindred has recently hosted an Iowa City zine swap, a clothing drive for Shelter House, a fundraiser for Palestine and a series of pop-up art markets, from tattoos to a “Craft and Yap” social. Queer poetry readings and small music sets share space with café patrons of all ages.
You can also find Kindred at the Iowa City Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Roughly two years before the brick-and-mortar cafe opened in June 2024, co-owners Molly Kirby and Connor Jenkins launched a mobile street food operation called Nomadic Foods, which served read-to-eat items at the farmers market, Iowa Arts Fest, Iowa City Jazz Fest and other downtown gatherings.
Everything on the food menu is vegetarian and available vegan and gluten-free, reflecting the founders’ own experiences navigating food intolerances. They added a mobile espresso bar in 2023, and were soon experimenting with coffee offerings. According to Alie, popular food items include the Pesto Breakfast Sandwich, Vegan BLTA, an egg or tofu “scramble” and various takes on avocado toast. All complement the rotating menu of beverages, such as this summer’s “Juliet” in honor of Riverside Theatre’s Free Summer Shakespeare production.
Streetside and within its Northside space, Kindred Coffee seems to be carving out a role as a connective hub for Iowa City’s movers and shakers.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s September 2025 issue.
