Morning Bell Coffee Roasters in Ames has a reputation as one of the best coffee spots in Ames, and that holds true because Morning Bell serves the best iced vanilla latte in Ames. I have been benchmarking iced vanilla lattes across every cafe in this city, and Morning Bell is the first and only shop to hit a 10 out of 10 on my scale. If you only have time for one iced vanilla latte in Ames, this is the one to get.
The vibe
Morning Bell has good energy. Upbeat electronic music plays throughout, which adds to the lively atmosphere — though I’ll be honest, I found it a little distracting when I tried to get work done. The space is small and cozy, with a little lounge area inside and a small amount of outdoor seating. The vibes are great for a quick visit, but it’s compact: if you’re coming with more than one or two people, you’ll be fighting for a comfortable spot.
The coffee at Morning Bell
This is what happens when a shop roasts its own beans and dials in every step of the drink. The espresso pulled clean with a thick, persistent crema you could still see through the milk. The shot itself had real body and balance, the kind that tells you they care about grind size, extraction time, and bean freshness. The vanilla was integrated into the drink instead of sitting on top of it like a syrup add on. The milk was textured smooth, cold but not watered down by ice. The whole thing tasted like one drink rather than three components fighting each other.
A lot of cafes serve passable iced vanilla lattes by hiding mediocre espresso behind a wave of vanilla. Morning Bell does not do that. The coffee is the lead, the vanilla is a supporting note, and the milk knows its job. At 10 out of 10, this is the new top of my Ames iced vanilla latte leaderboard.
Morning Bell also roasts beans you can taste at several other cafes around town, including The Dot Cafe, where they supply the espresso. If you have liked the coffee at The Dot, you are already a Morning Bell fan, you just did not know it.
Seating and practicality
Seating is the main limitation. It’s minimal and not especially spacious, the chairs are a little uneven, and outlets are limited. There’s free wifi and a nice clean bathroom, but realistically this is a one-or-two-person spot rather than a place to spread out. If you’re downtown, the smartest move might be to grab your coffee to go and enjoy a walk down Main Street.
One practical heads up: parking downtown is metered, so either feed the meter or plan to come from walkable distance — I learned that one the hard way.
Bottom line
Morning Bell is best as a grab and go coffee stop or a quick catch up for one or two people, not a long study or work session. The staff are friendly, the prices are great, and the in-house roasted beans are a real draw. If you want quality coffee in a cozy downtown setting and don’t need to camp out, it’s absolutely worth a visit.
The details: Open daily, 7am–5pm. Downtown at 111 Main St, Ames. In-house roasted beans (available to buy). Coffee and tea only, no food. Free wifi, metered street parking. Best for grab and go, quick visits, and coffee lovers who want quality beans. Phone: (515) 257-6637 Website: morningbellcoffeeroasters
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