Dead Poet’s Espresso Ltd

Down by the John Deere Pavilion, there's a number of cafes, bars, and eateries of sorts along River Drive and 4th/5th Avenues. I've visited this part of Moline soooo many times for Bierstube, Bent River, Rebellion, or Bad Boyz Pizza, but never visited early enough to try Dead Poet's Espresso. Well, after a hearty breakfast this morning and a newfound and robust desire to get out and try new cafes, I resolved that today was the day to get over there and get a hot beverage.

The space clearly has a carefully cultivated appearance. The dead poets theming is obvious on the surface - portraits of various long deceased authors of verse line the walls and the menu of specialty drinks bear many of their names. Beyond this, however, the furnishings and other architectural features provide additional depth to the experience. All of the walls in the space are simple brick and mortar which appear to be original to the space prior to it being a coffee house. The ceiling area has other distinct aesthetics, including stained and finished 2x4s throughout, HVAC ductwork painted a muted green color, and a mix of accent lighting from drop fixtures and somewhat ornate ceiling fans. The whole of it comes together to give the feeling that the coffee house might actually come out of mid-19th century Moline. It's a neat feeling - everything looks old, but clearly isn't and is, in fact, well kept up and clean.

I opted for a green tea (a Lavender Jasmine this time) and a brown sugar cinnamon scone. Both were quite tasty - in fact, the Jasmine Green Tea was the best I've had anywhere in a while. No joke, I would come back here just for this over and over again. I talked to one of the baristas and was informed the tea is from Tea Source, which, from a cursory internet search, is fairly modestly priced. I'm eager to look a little more.

This visit was made further unique by a gentleman playing a grand piano in the corner. All simple arrangements and light singing to songs like "What a Wonderful World", "Autumn Leaves", and " Stand by Me". It was a great accompaniment to the vibe of the place - not too loud, just slightly covered the conversation at the other tables, and it wasn't pop or country. I'd only hope other places get the memo - light live music is always going to be a great addition to your space.

Bottom line - I wish I lived closer to here because I'd be here all the time. You should definitely check this place out if you haven't yet, it's a great place to stop in, relax, have some good conversation, etc. Thanks Dead Poet's!

The shop was very clean and inviting, the staff very friendly. I got a large iced "Poe" as Edgar Allen Poe is one of my favorite poets and it was very good! I hope I get the chance to come back and try something new next time!

The atmosphere is wonderful! The staff are so friendly and helpful. My husband and I had lunch there. He had a wrap and I had a BLT. (Probably the best BLT I've ever had). We each got a coffee as well, which was delicious!. I would have given 5 stars but I'm still a bit sticker shocked. We spent $42 on a wrap, a sandwich, and 2 coffees. There are no prices for anything anywhere, but we didn't expect that. We might have gone somewhere else if we had known it would be $20 for a sandwich and a coffee each..

This coffee shop in downtown Moline is a fantastic staple. The owner is warm and approachable, and his presence adds to the charm of the place. I love the fact that they offer a coffee deal where you can buy a cup and refill it with any of the four delicious flavors of brew on the self-serve station. The ambiance is calm and inviting with seating options that include indoor and outdoor spaces. Plus, they offer public Wi-Fi, which is incredibly convenient. The coffee is exceptional, and I can't help but find myself drawn to this spot as my new go-to coffee place. Tell them Jake 1.0 sent ya!

Breakfast sandwich was great. Coffee was good. Even better iced coffee with ice cubes that are frozen coffee.
Would definitely return next time I’m in town.

What a great small town fine. Coffee is great and so many choices, breakfast sandwiches were great. Great service and very cute store plus outdoor seating.

Excellent food! Had the Chicken Caesar Wrap with the sweet potato chips! The vanilla bean blast drink was delicious as well! I would highly recommend

I really enjoyed my experience here! I ordered an iced coffee and a Caesar salad and liked both. The cheese curds in the salad were a unique touch and they were delicious. The iced coffee was also good. The inside of this cafe is super cute and it is a nice cozy environment. When we visited, there was live piano which we loved!

I normally love places like this because of the service they provide. Unfortunately service is the reason I am scoring them a 3. The sign outside said they roasted their own beans. I asked what he would recommend and the response I got was "we roast 2 medium and dark, which do you want". Then he just stood there until I responded.

Fast, friendly service. The iced coffee and blended coffee were great. Lots of coffee flavor, and not too sweet. The blended Java Chip was less sweet than the iced Shakespeare (turtle coffee)