KEFA Cafe

Wonderful little coffee shop tucked away off of the road. Fresh roasted beans, delicious morning cappuccino and pastries. A must visit if in the area!

I was in DTSS running an errand, had a hankering for breakfast sandwich and stumbled upon this charming cafe. The women who took my order and prepared my food was refreshingly kind, warm, and genuine. The bacon egg and cheese croissant was hot, fresh, and perfectly prepared with REAL ingredients. The latte was delicious and put Starbucks to shame. I will gladly return to this small business anytime I’m in DTSS. Oh and the pastries looked delectable. Regrettably I didn’t get to try any.

Kefa is my favorite coffee spot around--it's like an oasis in a coffee desert. The coffee is really beautifully done, locally roasted, carefully crafted, always delicious. I think they get the balance of smooth and acidic flavors better than most shops, and the preparation / delivery makes you feel special-like your cup has been made just for you by someone who deeply cares about what she does. I'm writing this at their library location around the corner from the original shop, munching on an anise biscotti dipped in coffee, enjoying the view and procrastinating a little before doing my school work. Really, no better spot to spend the day:)

It’s been a really long time, but I was just thinking about how the ladies would take care of me when I worked across the street. I was a very broke counter girl and sometimes I couldn’t afford food until I got paid at the end of the day, so they’d let me pay the next day. So generous and kind. Also the muffins and coffee were SO GOOD. I’m so happy to see they’re still open, but I’m not surprised

If you want to enjoy an authentic aromatic coffee in a quite comfortable environment, this place is for you. Do you want to break the connection and have some humanly connection, this 'NO WIFI" coffee shop will give you what you may have missed on the net. This is my favorite spot in town, and I proudly invite others to come with friends and family and enjoy the best coffee in town. Your barista goes above and beyond to make your experience as delicious as their coffee.

Love Kefas! Great espresso that's very reasonably priced and the owners/employees are clearly very caring of their customers. They also have a dessert case that always looks amazing every time I'm there!

Absolute best coffee shop in silver spring. The sisters who own the shop are two of the nicest people I have ever met. The coffee tastes great and the food options from pastries to sandwiches are all delicious. An absolute community gem for the area.

Excellent espresso with a depth of flavor that embraces what coffee can be. Bring cash as it's a small business and they'd rather not pay credit card fees if they can help it (cc min $10, which is 3+ cups). Also have a storefront at the library, which is just as good.

Super nice local coffee shop. The owner was kind enough to let me sit and work for a few hours, in such a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. Absurdly pleasant owners. Will definitely stop by again if I am ever in that town!

A special place for people without rush. For the real humans that enjoy peaceful and humbles santuarios. Place to seat and sip a cup of coffee made with love and craftsmanship. Also to connect with other "ALIVE" humans. Not for zombies.

This is my favorite place to get coffee in Silver Spring. The friendliest owner, the best coffee, and such a relaxing atmosphere. Usually there is a delicious selection of pastries as well.

I've walked past this place dozens off times but was always in too much of a hurry to check it out. I regret waiting so long! The staff was friendly, coffee was excellent, and my croissant was perfect. The place has a nice relaxed atmosphere, good service, and fair prices.

Really good sandwiches, pastries, coffee, and chai!! Nice people and service, and they also sell raw local honey from Koiner Farm (great for seasonal allergies!). Next time you want a coffee and a bite, ditch the Starbucks and go here instead. You’ll be way happier!

Love me a cozy, friendly and creatively thought out cafe! My cafe mocha was perfect and my breakfast sandwich was delicious and big! Exactly what I needed after commuting from Frederick to my new office in downtown Silver Spring. Thanks again, I’ll be back for lunch very soon!

I have frequented just about all of the coffee shops around downtown SS, and Kefa Cafe is by far my favorite. I am a chai tea drinker, so my review is based primarily on the chai, but I have had everything on their menu from eggs to pastries and the food is always fresh and good. I agree, it’s one of my favorite spots to sit even when I don’t have the time :-) it’s very inviting and the owners are warm and gracious, a vanishing commodity these days. I’ve been frequenting café for years, and realized I had never left a review, so here it is.

Unique and cute little Cafe in silver springs. The owner is so sweet and friendly. Their cappuccino and pastries are delicious! Definitely worth braving the construction to get to and help support a great local small business!

I am kicking myself for overlooking this local coffee shop for as long as I've lived in the Silver Spring area. I was initially going to order to-go but loved the decor (humble with gorgeous plants and decor, some funny too) so I dined in. Ordered a Cafe mocha and egg/bacon/cheese croissant. It sounds simple, but the croissant was flaky and the seasoning used made it unique. The espresso w/ chocolate was a perfect combination. Run, don't walk, and support this great business 😁

A nice authentic Ethiopian coffee shop, vibes and atmosphere make it feel like you're in their home. Service was superb, very nice lady. Breakfast is available and coffee is tasty, no flavors needed. The real deal here.

This cafe have the cutest owners who are so kind and hospitable! I got a regular coffee with a splash of oat milk. The coffee tasted amazing and the overall environment of the cafe was so cute. The breakfast sandwiches look so good as well and made to order. There is a cute outdoor seating area which is great! Tip: $10 credit card minimum

The coffee at Kefa is reliably delicious. Iced coffee, hot coffee, espresso drinks...I also love their biscotti! Very safe for COVID, I’ve been coming here for 2 months during the pandemic and the owner is always, always wearing a mask. 10/10 recommend

Delightful Ethiopian coffee shop located in downtown Silver Spring and also in the Wheaton Rec Center. The pastry is delicious and my hot chai tea latte is always well made.

Some might argue that this place is a "real" coffee house, considering the owner told me "the only flavor they have is flavoring it with love." 4.9/5 for bold, fresh taste. Maybe a haiku will tell the story best: A bold coffee day Nostalgia like the wind A winter away

The coffee & tea is nice, I also like the simple setups facing the glass wall to the streets which you have a very good look. The service is really nice. This is my choice of using laptop.

Delicious! She prepared exactly what I asked her and the flavor was amazing, is a beautiful restaurant with really good coffee and food!

fabiola llanos

I am kicking myself for overlooking this local coffee shop for as long as I've lived in the Silver Spring area. I was initially going to order to-go but loved the decor (humble with gorgeous plants and decor, some funny too) so I dined in. Ordered a Cafe mocha and egg/bacon/cheese croissant. It sounds simple, but the croissant was flaky and the seasoning used made it unique. The espresso w/ chocolate was a perfect combination. Run, don't walk, and support this great business 😁

Tracy Fitzgerald

Unique and cute little Cafe in silver springs. The owner is so sweet and friendly. Their cappuccino and pastries are delicious! Definitely worth braving the construction to get to and help support a great local small business!

Gurvinder Singh

A nice authentic Ethiopian coffee shop, vibes and atmosphere make it feel like you're in their home. Service was superb, very nice lady. Breakfast is available and coffee is tasty, no flavors needed. The real deal here.

Elizabeth Hung

This cafe have the cutest owners who are so kind and hospitable! I got a regular coffee with a splash of oat milk. The coffee tasted amazing and the overall environment of the cafe was so cute. The breakfast sandwiches look so good as well and made to order. There is a cute outdoor seating area which is great! Tip: $10 credit card minimum

Ellen Greer

The coffee at Kefa is reliably delicious. Iced coffee, hot coffee, espresso drinks...I also love their biscotti! Very safe for COVID, I’ve been coming here for 2 months during the pandemic and the owner is always, always wearing a mask. 10/10 recommend

Mich Elle

Delightful Ethiopian coffee shop located in downtown Silver Spring and also in the Wheaton Rec Center. The pastry is delicious and my hot chai tea latte is always well made.

Rick K

Some might argue that this place is a "real" coffee house, considering the owner told me "the only flavor they have is flavoring it with love." 4.9/5 for bold, fresh taste. Maybe a haiku will tell the story best: A bold coffee day Nostalgia like the wind A winter away

Lotus Wellness

The coffee & tea is nice, I also like the simple setups facing the glass wall to the streets which you have a very good look. The service is really nice. This is my choice of using laptop.

Leonardo Obando

Delicious! She prepared exactly what I asked her and the flavor was amazing, is a beautiful restaurant with really good coffee and food!

If you want a quiet place to enjoy a good cup of coffee this is a terrific place to go. You might enjoy their food, it is prepared for you when you order. Their menu is simple, but delicious. The women who run and own this cafe are faithful to their customers and community by upholding and offering space to display artwork, invest in earth friendly ways to run their business and listen to you. Each person who walks into Kefa is recognized and respected.

It can be hard to find good coffee—even at a dedicated coffee shop. I roast my own beans and have tweaked every parameter I know—water temp, pressure, grind, roast, etc.—in the pursuit of the perfect espresso shot. I know the difference, in taste, between beans from Costa Rico and Kenya. And I know that if you roast too dark, any character in the bean is increasingly replaced by the taste of charcoal. According to the owner, Kefa Cafe has used the same local roaster for 16 years, and I know why. I’ve had some of the best coffee in the Silver Spring area here at Kefa. The beans are definitely freshly roasted and the roast level is not too dark. I can taste that I’m drinking Ethiopian beans. Delicious! I also love the atmosphere here for its homey feel. (Many expensive coffee shops emphasize what I might call a pretentious decor; you won’t find that here.) Great treats as well. Kefa Cafe is a gem in downtown Silver Spring!

Chai latte + egg & breakfast sandwich were delicious! They have been in the area for 30 years and seem very connected to the community from all the lovely pictures of customers and their children hanging on their walls. The owner was very sweet. Make sure to bring cash! There is a $10 credit card, minimum but cash is preferred. This is what all coffee shops should be! Warm and a community space!

The best espresso I've ever put in my mouth. I've done coffee tastings around the world, including Italy. I know what I like: Usually it's been a medium roast, Costa Rican bean brewed as espresso with a little sugar to cut some of the acidity (that's me.) When I tried their Three-Continent Blend (medium roast) espresso, I was in heaven! Costa Ric-who? The acidity is just right and gives very pleasant fruity notes. The aroma, taste, texture and finish are all exemplary of what a cup of coffee should be. The fact that they're a local shop serving locally roasted beans--the beans that I buy every two weeks are one or two days out of the roaster!--is a dollop of steamed milk on top! Also, the owners are truly wonderful people who make the experience of visiting worth going back as often as you care to. It really is a local place that supports and is supported by the community. And they have satellite locations in the Wheaton Library and Silver Spring Rec Center. (Yes, coffee at the library.)

I have come here quite a few times over the past three years, and the service here has been nothing but top notch. The woman who runs the Cafe is very friendly, the pastries are baked (and warmed!) to perfection, and the atmosphere give off a very soothing sense of homeliness and tranquility. This is, by far, my most favorite coffee shop in the DC region, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to enjoy coffee and pastries in a simple, homely environment.

Excellent vibes, very cool and kind owner. He gave me a bottle of water on the house :) Had a delicious chocolate muffin and my brother had a lox sandwich. The owner also accommodated someone in a wheelchair while I was there, setting up a table outside for him at his request. Unfortunately there is a step to get in so it is not wheelchair easily accessible. But the owner did his best to make it work and it did. The inside has very cool cozy furniture and nice music. This place is a little gem, highly recommend you check it out!

A great local place, cool and with an amazing atmosphere. The coffee is amazing.

Stopped in for a quick drink while finishing work, ended up staying for half an hour! This place is so adorable and clean, with great service and even better drinks! I had the chai and chocolate biscotti. The woman working (I assume the owner possibly) was so nice and made the whole place have a great energy. Hopefully will be going back soon!

I had the best experience at this café! It is so adorable, great hospitality, a solid cup of coffee, and a yummy pastry! Can’t wait to go back!

Coffee is great--probably the best in Silver Spring. Decor is like grandma's dining room. Owner is extremely nice. Is a community spot--every time I've been there's always someone sitting and chatting. A very warm and pleasant place to be.

Kefa cafe was absolutely fantastic. I have worked as a barista and the iced coffee was brewed perfectly. I ordered an egg and cheese on a croissant and it was absolutely delicious. Toasted to perfection. The service was great as well. Give this place a visit. A family owned gem in the neighborhood.

Gabrielle Ortega

I had the best experience at this café! It is so adorable, great hospitality, a solid cup of coffee, and a yummy pastry! Can’t wait to go back!

Santiago López

A great local place, cool and with an amazing atmosphere. The coffee is amazing.

Sam Duan

Coffee is great--probably the best in Silver Spring. Decor is like grandma's dining room. Owner is extremely nice. Is a community spot--every time I've been there's always someone sitting and chatting. A very warm and pleasant place to be.

Jeremy Wells

It can be hard to find good coffee—even at a dedicated coffee shop. I roast my own beans and have tweaked every parameter I know—water temp, pressure, grind, roast, etc.—in the pursuit of the perfect espresso shot. I know the difference, in taste, between beans from Costa Rico and Kenya. And I know that if you roast too dark, any character in the bean is increasingly replaced by the taste of charcoal. According to the owner, Kefa Cafe has used the same local roaster for 16 years, and I know why. I’ve had some of the best coffee in the Silver Spring area here at Kefa. The beans are definitely freshly roasted and the roast level is not too dark. I can taste that I’m drinking Ethiopian beans. Delicious! I also love the atmosphere here for its homey feel. (Many expensive coffee shops emphasize what I might call a pretentious decor; you won’t find that here.) Great treats as well. Kefa Cafe is a gem in downtown Silver Spring!

mitch greene

The best espresso I've ever put in my mouth. I've done coffee tastings around the world, including Italy. I know what I like: Usually it's been a medium roast, Costa Rican bean brewed as espresso with a little sugar to cut some of the acidity (that's me.) When I tried their Three-Continent Blend (medium roast) espresso, I was in heaven! Costa Ric-who? The acidity is just right and gives very pleasant fruity notes. The aroma, taste, texture and finish are all exemplary of what a cup of coffee should be. The fact that they're a local shop serving locally roasted beans--the beans that I buy every two weeks are one or two days out of the roaster!--is a dollop of steamed milk on top! Also, the owners are truly wonderful people who make the experience of visiting worth going back as often as you care to. It really is a local place that supports and is supported by the community. And they have satellite locations in the Wheaton Library and Silver Spring Rec Center. (Yes, coffee at the library.)

Reg Ledesma

Chai latte + egg & breakfast sandwich were delicious! They have been in the area for 30 years and seem very connected to the community from all the lovely pictures of customers and their children hanging on their walls. The owner was very sweet. Make sure to bring cash! There is a $10 credit card, minimum but cash is preferred. This is what all coffee shops should be! Warm and a community space!

Kimia Turcios

A wonderful cozy atmosphere to come with family or friends. Have pictures of my kids, nieces and nephew bringing them all the time. We come from far just to share with them!

Alan Wake

I have come here quite a few times over the past three years, and the service here has been nothing but top notch. The woman who runs the Cafe is very friendly, the pastries are baked (and warmed!) to perfection, and the atmosphere give off a very soothing sense of homeliness and tranquility. This is, by far, my most favorite coffee shop in the DC region, and I highly recommend it to anyone who likes to enjoy coffee and pastries in a simple, homely environment.

Tai Davidson Bajandas

Excellent vibes, very cool and kind owner. He gave me a bottle of water on the house :) Had a delicious chocolate muffin and my brother had a lox sandwich. The owner also accommodated someone in a wheelchair while I was there, setting up a table outside for him at his request. Unfortunately there is a step to get in so it is not wheelchair easily accessible. But the owner did his best to make it work and it did. The inside has very cool cozy furniture and nice music. This place is a little gem, highly recommend you check it out!

ella jean

Stopped in for a quick drink while finishing work, ended up staying for half an hour! This place is so adorable and clean, with great service and even better drinks! I had the chai and chocolate biscotti. The woman working (I assume the owner possibly) was so nice and made the whole place have a great energy. Hopefully will be going back soon!

Marty Emeritz

If you want a quiet place to enjoy a good cup of coffee this is a terrific place to go. You might enjoy their food, it is prepared for you when you order. Their menu is simple, but delicious. The women who run and own this cafe are faithful to their customers and community by upholding and offering space to display artwork, invest in earth friendly ways to run their business and listen to you. Each person who walks into Kefa is recognized and respected.

Kefa Café is a small place with big vibes thanks to its cozy space, incredibly priced drink menu (<$4 for any coffee) and great service and banter from Ababa. Note that under $10 you have to pay by cash but if you eat you won't have a problem hitting that as the food menu prices are pretty high (e.g $7.99 for an egg and cheese on croissant).

Went there as part of a small business meetup group visit for wornen. It was just too small to accommodate us. The owner was sociable and warm, though. If you are looking to support international women owned businesses then take a friend for a sit down or a small intimate book club and enjoy a variety of Ethiopian coffee. It's also at the ground level of the Silver Spring library.

Super cute cafe with a home-y feel. The woman behind the counter was nice and clearly skilled at her job as she was multi-tasking effortlessly between a few orders, even though the shop was pretty slow at the time. The rationale behind my rating is the menu/cost of my coffee. I ordered an iced latte with almond milk. The menu said $4 and I anticipated an upcharge of $.50 or $1 however my total came out to $6.24. I asked about it and she said they charge $1 for both the milk and it being an iced coffee. I didn't like that because 1) the charges weren't listed anywhere and 2) why charge extra for changing the coffee from hot to iced? All in all, I would go back because I like to support local businesses owned by people of color. I would try other things and do some reading but I will be sure to ask about the prices beforehand.

Well at first for the way that customer in there was talking I thought it was good. But I went for a roast beef sandwich and they said did not have it, asked for a ham and cheese, same no more, then she offered me a chicken salad but it was so salty and more pepper than anything else. I think I will give another chance 1 chicken sandwich and a drink 13 bucks it was not worth it, I don't mind paying if is good i guess was to much but I will se next time

On July 26,2023 I went into the coffee shop to get a blueberry scone. I had to wait to get service which was no problem. I thank the lady after I got my scone and started to leave . She came up to me and told me her husband use a walker and that I needed to put my walker higher so I would not be bent over when I walk. I told her that my walker was the correct height .I do not know this lady and what type of customer service is that . She needs to mind her business and she does not know what issues I have been having with my health . I left the business feeling hurt and in tears . I will never go back to this place ever. .