Il Primo Espresso Caffe

Looking for a quick spot to grab a cup of coffee and some breakfast before heading to a morning meeting, we thought an Italian espresso shop sounded perfect. Arriving, we were underwhelmed by the dingy strip mall with a «drive through» window that doesn’t make much sense; you basically have to make a tight U-​turn in the parking lot. Undaunted, we went in, and right away could tell it was going to be a mediocre experience. It’s a narrow space, not at all well-​organized, and the décor is pretty dingy, with a dated paint job and an unimpressive tiny bakery case.
We didn’t have time to be picky, though, so ordered anyway: a coffee and bagel for my friend and a mocha and breakfast sandwich for me. My friend’s bagel came with grill marks on it, as if it had been panini-​pressed, and the cream cheese came in a self-​serve squeeze packet, which just made more work. However, he abandoned it halfway through, saying it was the worst bagel he had ever had — it was overly doughy and had a sweet taste that was off-​putting to someone who once lived in New York. (I didn’t get to try it, because he was classy enough to save his criticism for later. But now I’m really curious.)
My breakfast sandwich came on a ciabatta roll that I’m pretty sure was microwaved, as it was molten-​lava hot and slightly rubbery, and the bacon was burned. However, I have to admit that because 1) I like my bacon very well done, and 2) I ate the whole thing quickly before the bread had time to toughen, it was actually halfway decent. My mocha, on the other hand, was really terrible — watery and tasting of artificial chocolate. I dumped it out after a few sips. Two stars is generous and I don’t plan a return trip!

Il primo is the best place in Wichita for your daily cup of caffeine. Whether you are a chai drinker or a black coffee type of guy, il primo has made a menu designed to satisfy everyone’s coffee shop needs. Panache espresso is stronger than most around Wichita however it has a deep flavor that mixes well with any added flavors of your choice. Along with coffee and tea il primo also offers a delicious yet simple breakfast menu and the sandwiches are made fresh by your barista chefs on staff. I’ve been around this shop for a long time and I am never quite satisfied with a cup of coffee except for when I leave il primo.

Love visiting a local business with great service and exceptional products! Glad we tried this little gem. Its a great place to meet friends and chat or zip in and out on a busy morning.

This place should be FAR more than 3 stars! Unilocal is hiding about 7 of their other 4 – 5 star reviews. Their breakfast sandwiches are DELISH, and their coffee is always smooth. I also love their cappuccino, and the prices are pretty good too. If you haven’t tried this place, you’re missing out!

I don’t come to Wichita very often, but when I do, I make it a point to stop here for a couple of reasons. It is conveniently located in an area I spend 80℅ of my time, the service is always wonderful, and I enjoy the ‘feel’ of the place. Its very welcoming and cozy.
I rarely eat, due to the lack of time, but today I had the opportunity to eat lunch. I got the Primo sandwich, which was suggested by the Barista. The sandwich looked so delicious, I ate right away and forgot to take a picture :). A bag of sea salt chips came with it, plus a dill pickle. The portion size was perfect for me!
As far as drinks are concerned, I don’t really explore due to the craving of a caramel frap. (I come from a very small town, no coffee shops within a 80 mile radius)
Definitely a great place, with people that actually care about their customer service!

I have been coming here since I was really little, and have always enjoyed it. They have great breakfast food (especially their breakfast burritos) and great coffee. Many people that I have recommended it to have loved it and have told me that it was better than Starbucks. There prices are very fair and you always get more than you paid for. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for coffee or just a place to do some work.

As far as east Wichita is concerned, I hope they hold on to this place for dear life. While it may not be the most impressive local coffee shop, it definitely gets the job done. I love coming here as a hangout with friends or to get some work done. I really like their lattes too. Call me what you will, but I appreciate that they offer almond milk as a milk substitute. Things for improvement:
1) Their tea selection is pretty minimal
2) They close super early.
3) While the outside doesn’t bother me, I feel like it could probably detract customers since it looks so shabby.
But I still like Il Primo! Don’t go anywhere!

I’m always so disappointed with the espresso beverages here. I lived close by for quite some time, and they have a drive through. Such a convenient place, but I ended up driving right past it to get to better coffee shops further away. Such a shame.

I arrived in Old Town a little early in preparation for the bar crawl that would later ensue. My body was ready, but since I had some time to kill, I guess I could caffeine it up with some coffee. I’ve been to Mead’s Corner plenty of times, though, so what about Il Primo? I’ve only driven past it, like, eight dozen times since moving here, and have yet to figure out what’s going on in there.
I arrived and made my way to the door, only to find… locked. «Hey dude, we’re closed!» exclaimed a various obvious man as he was driving away. Checking my watch, I felt silly for losing track of time, and frustratingly drove off to put it back on my to-​do list.
The next day I woke up in a room that wasn’t mine. The hangover not as bad as I was expecting. I should go home, but on the way I’ll I’ll try to re-​attack Il Primo.
The sign advertises ‘Seattle-​style’ coffee. To what that means, I’m not sure. I recently took a trip to that part of the country, though, so I have some experience, and to me, it’s all about the cappuccino up there. I had my doubts, but when my order was fulfilled I was returned with a solid, dense foam that was indeed admirable. The espresso was a little gritty, but otherwise it was a fine drink.
The one issue I did have was the sourcing of the beans, which are proudly touted as being Panache beans. Panache is a wholesale coffee distributor owned by Coffee Bean International in Portland, Oregon. Judging by the amount of business these distributors pull, it seems like ‘Seattle-​style’ refers to the worldwide reach that other giant roasters like Starbucks employ. Nevermind the Spice House roasting their own beans, or Prairie Fire providing local wholesale beans to the area, part of the Seattle style is the snobbery that comes with knowing you have the best, most local, most unique place in the area.
In the 30+ years Il Primo has been in business, the coffee shop hasn’t exactly exploded in popularity, but even with the few coffee places that do exist in the city, there’s even fewer which are considered a good destination for espresso drinks. I would consider Il Primo to be among one of them.

Tried this coffee shop due to its close location to the job site we were working at. The employee must have been new as she didn’t know what the house blend coffee was. The price was a little high but the staff was friendly on the first morning. On the second morning the owner was working (picture is on the menu). When we walked in we weren’t greeted by her or the other employee as they scrambled around. As we were waiting for around five minutes another gentlemen walked in and moved closer to the counter. After the owner decided it was time to help her customers actually in the store she asked the other gentlemen what he would like (after she had seen us come in and waiting). The gentlemen ordered something she stated would take approx 15 and instead of taking our order she again left the counter. At this time we walked out. Across the street was a bakery called great harvest bread

I love it! Best coffee in town! I am all about home grown places and this is the real deal.

Excellent coffee, decent atmosphere. My favorite was done really well — mocha with blackberry. Nice to see they had blackberry as most places don’t stock this flavor. Free wifi comes up nice… though they need to name their SSID instead of just «linksys.» Ran into two people I know, so it’s nice to see that others in my sphere use it for either quiet or to catch up. Drive thru is hopping and would recommend.

Il Primo is one of my favorite local coffee shops. I started going there to support local business since I was frequently visiting Starbucks, which I also love. Their chai (David Rios brand) is excellent. Their coffee and espresso also has very nice texture and taste. They are clever and effective in their marketing tactics, too, which I appreciate. Most of the employees are very friendly and helpful. They have daily drink specials; breakfast and lunch items, including scones, sandwiches and salads; and they sell a wide variety of coffee and flavored syrups. The atmosphere is nice, too. There’s a small outdoor patio and plenty of seating inside. I believe they also have wi-​fi. My only complaint is they’re a little bit pricey, but I understand since their products are high quality. I highly recommend Il Primo to anyone who loves visiting tasty local coffee shops!