Daytime Diner: New retro-themed Ames café serves luxury coffee
The newly opened Daytime Diner is dedicated to serving high-quality, luxury coffee in a casual setting.
Ashley Wood-Rivera and her husband own and operate Daytime Diner. The couple is originally from New York City, where they previously owned three additional coffee shops.
“We do coffee extremely well out there,” Wood-Rivera explained. “That is, in fact, our primary objective. We do not sell food or beverages; we only sell pastries. As a result, when we returned to Ames, we desired to share our passion for coffee with the community.”
Daytime Diner opened in October after an August hiring and construction process.
On the menu of Daytime Diner, you’ll find pour-overs, cold brews, espresso drinks, cocktails, beer, and wine. According to Wood-Rivera, each drink is handcrafted to ensure the best possible quality.
“We believe that high-quality foods and beverages should be presented in a friendly manner,” Wood-Rivera said.
A cooler adjacent to the register stocks wines, non-alcoholic beers, and other speciality sodas.
The kitchen staff bakes fresh sourdough bread daily. Each cup of coffee is brewed cup by cup on the coffee bar using the pour-over method.
“I know that whenever I bring it out, we’ve been working on it behind the scenes for a long time to ensure that cup of coffee or shot of espresso is the best it can be,” full-time employee Justin Rowe explained.
Daytime Diner’s interior is designed to resemble a retro ’70s diner. Inside, emerald green seating, pink walls, and gold light fixtures greet customers.
“What attracts me is the diner’s aesthetic; watching the sunrise in the morning and the light pour into the space is absolutely beautiful,” part-time employee Emma Finch explained.
According to the owners, part of the fun of opening the diner has been connecting with the community through coffee.
“Coffee is truly unique,” Wood-Rivera stated. “It connects people in an infinite number of ways.”
Daytime Diner serves as a social space for customers to catch up with friends, work on homework, and grab a cup of coffee.
