Capes Kafé

Great place to stop downtown for coffee and comics. The drinks are creatively themed and it has a great atmosphere that anyone can enjoy.

I love the comic book store with the coffee and donuts. I work nearby and i can just walk here. I like bringing my kids here to grab some cheap comics and coffee.

In terms of unique places– this is definitely on there. Definitely try this place out. The barista was friendly and provided great service. I love all the options and they don’t only used syrups for drink flavoring. Like I had real Giardelli chocolate in my latte. Yum! In the Des Moines social club

It was much better when they had the gourmet donuts.
Wish I wrote the review when I had been here before.

Cool place that serves coffee, tea, tasty shakes and other drinks. Also has a lot of comics and neat items to check out. Never knew it was so close to my work. I had their HE Man shake which was so good. If you like peanut butter you’ll like this shake. I’ll be back soon to try their other drinks.

Lots of good reviews on here for this place but no one really mentions that the coffee is what makes it worth stopping by. I’ve been to some really cute places that seem promising but the coffee disappoints. Cape Kafe however is unique and the coffee was amazing! I had an iced café meow (cinnamon honey latte) and boyfriend had an iced hellboy (spicy mocha). We’re just visiting Des Moines for the weekend but are driving 30 minutes out of the way just to grab a drink tomorrow lol. Comic books, pinball, great coffee, art in the same shared space, and the barista was friendly. Only downside was no donuts. I called ahead to make sure they were open since it was a Sunday and he gave me a heads up that either they were out or don’t sell donuts anymore? But they had muffins, chips, candy bars etc and are in a great area with lots of food options so that didn’t stop us thankfully!

The coolest café we have ever seen. They got comic books, local arts for sale.
I got the Red Velvet Shake. Oh yum!

This place is awesome. Now that I work in downtown I get to try more coffee shops than just Starbucks. This pace was on my list with high hopes with so many positive reviews and it did not disappoint!
I have now been here two times with friends and love what they do. They offer a large selection of coffee, tea, and milkshakes. I had their ice coffee last time and tried a hot one someone else had, and this time I had the HE MAN milkshake. Boy was it awesome. Super smooth and ton of peanut butter taste the way I like it.
Atmosphere is awesome too. Comics, pinball machines, and art. Oh, and friendly staff! Awesome little joint!

Came here at 3pm on a rainy Tuesday, it was an odd time to get coffee… But hey you can get coffee anytime of the day right? I ordered a small honey and cinnamon latte, should’ve gotten a large instead. It was so delicious!
This place is awesome! Their art collections are amazing. Must check them out!

Comic and coffee can’t go wrong can you? It’s wheelchair friendly on top of it. Great place to just chill and read a comic as u drink your coffee if that’s your thing.

The chill spot. Donuts, coffee, and comics in an art center, what more could you dream of? If you want to play with your drink and try something adventurous, go to Capes!

I was so relieved to know this is the famous Cup O’ Kryptonite reincarnate.
Great coffee, nice people and fun atmosphere!

I don’t drink coffee, but I eat donuts, and love them. When my family travels, we like to find donut shops in the cities we visit. I have had some pretty good donuts. Des Moines has some very few donut places outside of the chains. I was at the farmers market today and came across the tent that said DJONUTS on it. I read in the newspaper about these little delights, so I had to try them. Let me just say… WOW! His process of baking then dipping in a butter glaze works. Not to mention the different toppings he has. We tried the lemon, the Nutella, and Cherry Phosphate. Each one of them were great, but I thought the cherry was amazing! It tasted just like a cherry cream soda. They even added whipped cream and a cherry on top. When it comes to donuts, I am very picky. I stay away from the chains and even supermarkets. So I can confidently tell you, these are the best donuts I’ve ever tasted! I need to convince Joe to hook me up with a sample of every flavor to be sure, but I am confident my search for donut greatness can be considered complete!

Huge coffee and tea menu — it’s a bit overwhelming at first. I’ve had coffee and tea here — both were excellent! (They have smoothies which always sound good and I need to give a try sometime.) The real draw here, though, is Djonuts. What’s a djonut you say? It’s a baked donut with the most extraordinary toppings! Think breakfast cereals and all sorts of zany creations. It’s the Zombie Burger of donuts in Des Moines. And it’s great. A very good location. I’m glad I don’t work near here or I’d be in all the time for coffee and donuts. Located in the Social Club it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and browse the Viaduct Gallery (a rotating art gallery). Or grab a new comic and read it while you enjoy a donut. Yes, they sell comics at this coffee shop. Give it a try — you won’t regret it! But be prompt as the most popular donut flavors do sell out as the day goes on.

When I found out a coffee & comics shop was opening in DMSC, I knew it was all over. I might as well have set up a direct deposit. Show up for the goods, stay for the people: this place is owned & staffed by some of the friendliest people around. If you’ve ever been that girl, the only one in the comic shop, the one who is being condescended to by the guy behind the counter — well, you will absolutely not find that here. That is not how these heroes roll. Tons of themed, creative drinks to try, but you can stay plain if you want to, no problem. Donuts? Yeah we got donuts. Weird stuff like espresso in your soda (espressoda) or cold brew in your orange juice (Metropolis)?? ACTUALLY DELICIOUS. Ease of pre-​ordering comics? Looking for comic recommendations? Cool events, fundraisers, cosplay? DONE. Is it summer? You want something with ice cream in it? Piece of cake. Piece of donut, actually. They’ll put some donut in your milkshake, like a boss. Wi-​fi? Outlets? All of it.
Sharing the open space does have it’s occasional pains. It’s not always going to be the best place to sit and do work if you need quiet — events in the gallery, people trying to find Kum & Go Theater who are confused, folks wandering in from Malo — DMSC is still new and a LOT of people are still cycling in for the first time, so there’s sort of a tourism going on. Also, a lot of the outlets on the long bar area are blocked by the merch & local art now. But you’d be hard-​pressed to find a larger variety of drinks, and they’re open late and on weekends, including during basically all Social Club events. This is the shop that doesn’t quit, PLUS you never know when Wonder Woman will be there.
(New to comics? Check out the excellent selection of first issues on the shelf below the counter — some great stuff there, and Capes wants to help you start from the beginning!)

I’ll admit the environment isn’t my typical vibe– comic books, games, etc. but there was something about the space that made me think of a train station and I’m always down for a place that feels on-​the-​go. Aside from the tall ceilings, chess game table tops and books for sale, you’ll find that this business makes some hella doughnuts. Yes, I said «hella doughnuts» — — it seems fitting. You’ll agree once you’ve tried them.
After learning about this business on the national news — Sunday Morning with my boy, Charles Osgood, I had to check it out on my next visit to Des Moines. Located inside the Des Moines Social Club (fairly news), Capes Café makes between 100 and 150 doughnuts daily. Needless to say, the sell out in a few hours so get ‘em while its hot! The bariasta/​possibly owner recommended that I try the oreo topped chocolate cake doughnut. Delicious! What’s their secret? They dip all of the doughnuts in butter. Enough said, right? They use fun toppings like fruity pebbles and marshmallows to keep customers on their toes and mixing it up. I hear the coffee is good but I opted for a cup of milk (ya know, cookies and milk).

Keep forgetting this gem of a coffee shop is here, simply because it is more new. I really like their soy latte, as it is less sweet. Baristas are always very nice and skilled, probably very knowledgable about the comic book selection, too. I know nothing about comics but love art, and so it’s really fun to look around here! I’ll keep coming back.

Spent a little time here waiting for the Unilocal event to start Unilocal I must say they have an awesome comic selection. I ended up finding a jewel of a doctor who 50 year guide for $ 20.
Staff was super friendly and I can’t wait to go back and try some if their drinks next. I can’t wait to also being some of my fellow comic book nerd there for coffee and comics. I just wish they were bigger with a little manga maybe.

Capes Kafe is a coffee shop /​comic book extravaganza tucked away inside the Des Moines Social Club, and it is awesome. They have an unfathomably huge menu of cleverly-​titled drinks; they sell baked goods; they have cold press coffee; they take payment on credit cards via Square so I get a text receipt. All things I love. Plus you can get almond or coconut milk in your drink (and soon, I hear, cashew milk too) for no extra charge. I am usually an Americano drinker, but I always get a specialty beverage at Capes because they are just so much fun.
What are you waiting for? Go get some coffee at Capes!

CAPES KAFE is pretty sweet, located inside the Des Moines Social Club, it’s a rad little coffee counter/​comic book store! A perfect place to feel super powers from the jolt of Captain Caffeine!
Coffee can make anyone feel invinceable and this is the perfect place to feel that way while checking out some new reads!
Perfect spot of a family to hang for a couple hours! I dig it! and oh yeah the coffee is great too!

Friendly staff and nice atmosphere to stop for a coffee downtown. Selection of comics and trade paperbacks for purchase. Superhero themed coffee shop, or is it a Comic Shop that has coffee? regardless it’s good! Nice and casual. Within the Des Moines Social Club, which is an additional bonus. *RECOMMENDED*