Dining Out: Black Wax Cafe (Kokomo, IN)

 

THIS PLACE IS SO COOL

Exterior: 3/5

It's in there, I promise

Black Wax is located just a hair north of Downtown Kokomo in a building that you kind of don't notice unless you're looking for it. When I got out of the car I was a little worried I was in the wrong place. The signage on the door got me through, though. People probably aren't expecting an amazing coffee shop/record store when they're driving through this part of town, so Black Wax might do well to add some glitz to their facade, or even some kind of giant gaudy sculpture or something in the parking lot. The interior (see below) is the coolest thing in the world, but they could use some kind of homing beacon to get their target audience in the door. 

Ambience: 5/5

Order here

Sit here

Pee here, or just go in to look at the art

BUT WHEN YOU GET INSIDE YOU WON'T BELIEVE YOUR EYES! The decor here is intentional and impeccable. Literally every surface has an aesthetic purpose. I'll let the photos speak for themselves, although it's even more fun to be personally immersed in the space. The person I was meeting with said that photographers come here to take people's high school senior photos and stuff, and I can see why! I sat on a big comfy couch, which I loved, and read a book for a while before my meeting. The music was a little loud for study, but given that this is also a music store it made sense. Really the only thing that bothered me was how empty the place was. The proprietor has gone out of their way to design a great space for meeting, chatting, or just sitting and drinking, and for a long time I was the only customer on the drinky side of the establishment. (This was mid-morning on a Tuesday.) This made me sad in part because I drove by a different coffee shop on my way there - one that was much less cool - and it was packed. Wake up, Kokomo.

Variety: 4/5

Buy music here

They have really creative drink options here, and also they sell RECORDS! (I shouldn't have said I was the only customer earlier - there were a couple of older dudes thumbing through the records while I sipped my coffee.) Music aside, they offer a really nice array of flavored lattes, cold brews, teas, energy drinks, smoothies, etc. Their flavor combinations are great, and often they're the only thing like themselves in town. I'm always interested in their seasonal menu - it's new and exciting every time it changes. I should mention that I was already a fan of their drinks because I spend an embarrassing amount of money at their drive-thru stand (F-Bomb Energy) across from Meijer. This was my first time in Black Wax, though, and I was happy to see they had the same fun things to try. The only thing they're missing is something to munch on. If they had food I'd park my ass there all morning. 

Quality: 5/5 

Pink Cadillac

There's a drink for every taste here, and the options are all great stuff within their idiom. There's creativity evident in the flavor options and in the names of the drinks. I had a Pink Cadillac, which was a seasonal cold brew with strawberry and white chocolate. They'll let you customize stuff if you want, too. Now I will say that this isn't the place for you if you're looking for what I call snooty coffee, the stuff with a fancy Italian name that you have to teach yourself to enjoy. They do have their house blends and you can get nitros if you want to feel badass. But why would you want a snooty coffee when you could have a Kokomocha Cold Brew? (Seriously, the Kokomocha is great. I'm also a huge fan of their dirty chai.)

Kid-Friendly: 3/5

I came to Black Wax to chat with a student, so no kids were involved. They do sell kids' drinks here, and I'd imagine that if I brought something for the 5YO to do he'd be ok with sitting on the big comfy couch and having a Sour Gummy Worm. The 2YO would probably be less content. I'd be nervous to have a kid there, though, just in the respect that it's so nicely decorated that if they spilled something or knocked something on the floor I would be wracked with guilt about it. Maybe if you want a kids' drink from here you should do a grab and go.

Would Eat Again?: Green Light

Black Wax is wonderful and I'm very confused that it isn't more of a local staple than it is. I want it to be packed like [other coffee shop] was at the same time on the same day. If you haven't been inside, don't let the exterior put you off. Go in and get swept up in the really nice layout and fun drink options. And buy records. Records are cool and you're cool if you buy them.