Lucero Canteen - Kitchener, Ontario

Joel D.

Probably the best coffee in KW; the baristas clearly care about and have a good knowledge of their craft. The service is friendly, and the drinks are excellent. The new shop is well decorated and cozy, but maybe a bit warm on a hot day. This is my go-to for a great coffee when I’m in Kitchener.

Michelle

Great service and atmosphere for enjoying a coffee and a pastry. The peach mango donut was so yummy. Fluffy and soft. Not too sweet. Filling was generous. I want another one already. The flash brew was also good for a hot day. Very nutty.

Shuborno B.

At 7:57 I was in my parked car on Ontario St. but a group had formed outside Lucero waiting for 8:00 am. I joined them in line - I had too many locals recommend this place to pass it up.

The place is a vibe. I'd received a bag of beans from Lucero as a gift from my brother in the past, and it made the best espresso I'd ever had at home. I grabbed a bag from the same roaster while in line to avoid getting overwhelmed by the selection.

I didn't have time to sit and enjoy coffee in the shop today but I'd come back just to sit. I appreciated the dogs in line and made a mental note that if my doodle ever calms down in public, he can join me.

As I neared the front of the line, fresh vanilla cream filled donuts came out on a tray. I was not hungry but I needed to try that donut.

I ordered the beans, a to-go oat milk cappuccino with guest roast beans noted for sweetness, and the donut.

Can I give this place 6⭐? That was the best cappuccino of my life - for an unsweetened oat cappuccino, the beans had a strong sweet and floral taste. I should have taken a picture of the bean variety to return and buy a bag.

The donut was simple and fluffy. The vanilla cream was decadent but not too heavy. Very nice.

Unfortunately I will now be craving only this coffee from now on.

Rojan S.

Lucero Canteen definitely has a charming aesthetic, the setting is cute, the decor is thoughtfully curated, and the overall vibe is warm and inviting. It’s the kind of spot you’d want to stumble into on a slow weekend or while exploring the area. The staff were also lovely: friendly, attentive, and welcoming from the moment we walked in.

That said, the experience unfortunately didn’t live up to the price point. We found the coffee and snack options to be quite overpriced for what they were. The quality just didn’t match the cost, and nothing really stood out as special or memorable. For the same price, or even less, you can get much better coffee and food just around the corner at Starbucks, which we ended up doing afterward.

Overall, while Lucero Canteen has potential and offers a cute space to hang out, it felt more like a style-over-substance kind of place. Worth a visit if you’re curious, but not somewhere we’d go out of our way to return to.

Melissa A.

Lucero is a really cozy and beautiful cafe with a calm, peaceful energy that makes it feel like a little escape. It’s not huge, but there’s a good amount of seating, and the space itself is lovely. It actually reminds me a bit of Luke’s Diner from Gilmore Girls since they don’t allow laptops, which encourages people to be more present and connect with each other 🙂 super neat.

It can get a bit loud depending on when you go, since most people are there to chat. Personally, I probably wouldn’t go there to read or unwind quietly for that reason, but if you’re looking to catch up with a friend or enjoy a lively atmosphere, it’s great.

So far I’ve tried their iced matcha and their strawberry iced matcha. I really wanted to love them, but I found the flavor a little watery and not as full-bodied as I usually like. That might just be my personal preference though, because a lot of my friends are fans. I also had the strawberry lavender cookie croissant, which looked beautiful but was a bit dry. The flavor was nice, but I couldn’t really taste the lavender, and I don’t think I’d get it again.

That said, I’ve heard amazing things about their coffee and donuts, so I definitely want to go back and try more. Their pastries tend to sell out pretty fast, so it’s probably best to go earlier in the day if there’s something specific you want to try. They also have a different selection of pastries each time, I’m not sure if it’s on a rotating basis.

The prices are a little on the higher side, but I think it feels fair for the quality, presentation, and overall experience. The staff are warm and friendly, and the service has been quick both times I’ve visited, especially when it’s not too busy.

I love the energy of this place and I’m definitely planning to keep coming back. Excited to feel out what my favourite order is 🙂

Cassidy S.

Lucero has the best coffee in the area, hands down. Beautiful rotating selection of beans to choose from, both to buy in bags and of course in your coffee. The staff is super friendly and make the whole experience of your visit wonderful. And their Doughnuts are perfection!

Andrew H.

I only work in downtown core Kitchener once a week, once in a while, and it'll either be Lucero Canteen or Matter of Taste.

I always look forward to what they have in their bakery selection and get a bunch to share. They also have a small selection of freshly roasted beans on their shelves, always fun to get one or two and save yourself shipping fees buying them online.

If the owner could settle a debate for me versus my fine colleagues: how is Lucero meant to be pronounced?

Anyway, it's a very comfy place, a bench outside looking out a small road between Duke and King, so it's nice air without too much car and foot traffic but you can still people watch. Seating is fine to bring a friend... maybe leave the 3rd wheel at home.

David G.

Oh, the coffee was grand! A most wonderful cup!
Such a cozy, good vibe as I sat looking up!
The pastries were tasty, a sweet, happy bite!
But I wish *more* food choices had hopped into sight!