A sign announcing the impending arrival of Kaña Cuban Coffee Roasters was in place at the downtown intersection of Flagler Street and Miami Avenue for many months (and is still noted on the company website). So it was a surprise when Roho Cuban Coffee opened in its place.
No matter. Roho is about as breezy and comfortable a spot to sit and sip joe that we know of. The indoor/outdoor space is designer Steven G.'s spin on Havana heyday decor, replete with cushioned chairs and couches and palm trees swaying on the sizable outside deck.
Roho specializes in Latin Coffees, but the house roast is a blend of beans from all over the globe. The flavor is smooth, the intensity about midway between Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks. Coffee drinks of all types are offered: Espresso ($1.50 single/$2.25 double); latte $3.35/$3.65/$3.85); cappuccino ($2.85/$3.55/$3.95 triple); and Cuban-style coffees such as colada $1.25 single/$1.95 double); cortadito ($1.75/$2.25); and cafe con leche, "chocolatte" with dark cocoa, and so forth for $3.35 to $4.35 (for a triple). Coffee of the day goes $1.65/$1.95/$2.25. Iced coffee drinks are likewise up for grabs ($3.95/$4.55). Batidos too ($4.10/$4.55).
A $6 daily breakfast special brings a panini sandwich on crisply pressed bread filled with scrambled eggs and ham (or turkey) with a cafe con leche. The sandwich was steamy hot and quite tasty. A la carte paninis include Cuban sandwich, pan con lechon media noche, and an Elena Ruth of turkey,cream cheese, and guava jam ($6.55 to $6.95).
Overstuffed empanadas come plumped with choice of beef, chicken, "pizza" and ham & cheese ($2.85). The chicken rendition had all sorts of vegetables and tasty flavors within.
A strawberry-and-cream cheese pastelito was also good, but $3.85 seems a lot for the pastry. Flan, rice pudding, and tres leches (each $2.85) are offered along with other dessert-like treats as well.
This is an unusual coffee shop in that it also serves beers ($5 for domestic and imports) and wines (by the ounce, glass, or bottle). There's live music sometimes too, but not during breakfast hours. Also: a 2-for-1 happy hour from 4 pm to 7 pm weeknights, which means half-price on those beverages as well as on pastelitos and empanadas.
So go-ho to Roho next time you're downtown and in need of a relaxing break.
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