ILSE Coffee

35 Railroad St, North Canaan

Recent Reviews

Sort by
Sierra Grossman

Amazing coffee, vibes, and customer service. One of a kind.

Bryan Scibilia

My wife and I stopped in for coffee and a bagel/cream cheese at 1:30, they close at 2:00 and would not serve us as they had put ‘everything away’. They did offer if we wanted them to go although we have no way of heating them or spreading the cream cheese in our car…We walked down the street to Home Grown Cafe and got delicious coffee and bagels there :) . Must be nice to not need business these days.

devaleena sen

The best coffee experience I have had in a long time in the US and abroad! Barista’s service to the quality of coffee and the atmosphere in the shop- more than a 5 star!

S Sen

An authentic barista experience. Learned quite a few neat things and the coffee was easily the most flavorful that I’ve had. I could actually taste and appreciate the flavors/ notes I was supposed to (I’ve got minimal experience and can barely find a reason to complain about commoditized coffee).
But this experience was eye opening. The espresso, the pour overs, and the mocha were absolutely on point to the descriptions. And comparing/contrasting was entirely possible— not something I thought I had the experience or palate to do.

Pastries were the only thing I can find some minor fault in. But they’re clearly not baked on premises. Croissants and double chocolate cookies were somewhat flat or overly sweet. Wouldn’t have been an issue except for the fact that the coffee is so far above the level of the pastries.

Lucas Swann

Exceptional coffee and a very thoughtful approach to sourcing. They set a very high standard. My favorite place to go on the weekend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Dana Domenick

Best coffee in the northwest corner.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Hadley White

As two Australians travelling around America, I’ve had some disgusting coffees, so we were EXTREMELY excited to find this place. A delicious latte and Americano, made with love and a decent crème. Highly recommend.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Bri Keasbey

If you're serious about coffee, from how it's grown, harvested, and processed to the way it's brewed and served, this is the shop for you. I'm impressed every time I'm there, and wow, is the coffee delicious. The presentation is top notch, something I'd expect in the most exclusive establishments in a large city, not what one expects in a little café in Canaan, CT.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Thomas Taylor

In a world dominated by large coffee chains, it's easy to overlook the little guys. But nestled among the giants, you'll find this small-batch coffee roaster that consistently punches well above its weight. Prepare to be delighted – this is a small name delivering big.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Avery Tolboe

Good coffee!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Erika DaSilva

Delicious caffeinated beverages in an airy, relaxed atmosphere. This spot is a treat, where you can sip your expertly-prepared beverage and peruse local zines and goods.

ILSE is a fave in this neighborhood, and their bright and expressive beans are a beautiful host gift for visiting friends!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

callahandsome

This place is slowly turning me, a grown man who prefers flavored coffee with milk and sugar, into a real coffee lover. Unfortunately, it’s ruining my taste for less quality beans. Good thing they’ve got bulk options!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Drip Coffee

Matt Marino

Ordered beans for delivery a few weeks ago - Decaf Colombia (Monkaaba) and Honduras (Guillermo Tercero Espresso). Both were freshly roasted and the flavor profiles were as described. Loved their coffee, especially the decaf which was more flavorful than the usual decaf roasts. Will look to order from them again in the future. The only thing to make sure you take into account is their roasting and shipping schedule. Not an issue really, but they roast Sun/Mon so if you miss the window you'll have to wait until the following week.

Paula Licitra

Best coffee with the cutest shop selling local products. Perfect place to relax on your computer or with a book. 100% worth stopping on your way to or from the Berkshires. Get a great cup of coffee that is roasted locally while supporting a young family and growing business. You won't be disappointed.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Mike Mc Dermott

The coffe itself is absolutely WRETCHED! It's nasty and it has an awful cheap tea taste. Almost made my GF vomit

Loading...