Happy Duo Cafe

Our first time in. You know how you can sometimes get an instant calm, positive vibe about a place as soon as you walk through the door? Happy Duo Cafe envelopes you like a warm wrap. Friendly staff, all smiles, and quick service. We only had one sweet, and it was great. This is a great meet up place, and also just to sit by yourself and sip and gaze out the window. Check them out. We’ll be back!

Happy Duo is a great little spot with good vibes. I’ve seen several businesses come and go in this spot and I’m happy to see them doing well. The owner is very kind and friendly and makes an excellent Cortado! Their prices are a little higher than other places, but I have to assume the rent is quite high for this location as so many other businesses haven’t made it.

Quiet, calm space with lots of tables and seating. Interior is decorated well without being busy.

Great spot in UP. They have excellent coffee currently from Olympia Coffee. Pastries and bites from Macrina bakery amongst others. Gluten free and Vegan options. They have an excellent seating area and free access to Wi-Fi.

I rented Happy Duo for an event and could not have been happier. The size was very comfortable for about 25 people and could have accommodated more. The staff were kind and attentive, and they made me feel like my gathering was the most important thing for them. Everyone went above and beyond to make it a special occasion, with tremendous attention to detail. Thank you Derek and team!

We recently attended a private birthday party at Happy Duo. I did not realize this wonderful space was available for events. Happy Duo has been such a welcomed addition to the neighborhood. Not only do they offer a great selection of drinks and pastries, but they showcase works of local artists and offer a unique collection of stationery and gift items for sale. If you're looking for a relaxing space to enjoy quiet time with a cup of coffee and a friend or a book (it's next to University Place library), this is the place. If you want to gather a larger group together, this is also the place.

When I first had coffee here I was disappointed by the drink I had received. The owner (Derek) reached out to me and asked for a second try and that my next coffee was on them. I was surprised by his quick response and amazed by the customer service!! Drinking my coffee now and it is night and day. All the workers were very kind and friendly. Second times a charm and I will be back again! Thank you again Derek!!

Nice little cafe with a relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. Good coffee (got a latte) and amazing pastries (got a cinnamon roll muffin filled with cream cheese frosting)!

What a great coffeeshop! It’s a large space, with a variety of seating options, unique decor, bright window light m, and good music vibes playing for your coffee experience.

I gave 4 stars on the service because I felt the staff could have been a little more cheerful when I mentioned it was my first time there and how I loved the ambiance. I’m a big believer in giving constructive feedback and while the staff person wasn’t unfriendly, they just didn’t seem interested in interacting with me beyond taking my order. It wasn’t a busy time of morning either, but perhaps they had other things to focus on that I wasn’t aware of… Overall, I love this place and will be back :)

I got one of the best cappuccino's I have ever had in my life! The space is phenomenal, quirky, and fun! I will definitely be returning and I recommend for everyone!!

This cafe is awesome, not only have great drinks and bakery, but also offers a wonderful environment to meet with people or study. The owner is super nice. Definitely will be back when I’m in the area.

My go to coffee shop in the Tacoma area. Would not recommend any other coffee shop in the area. The people are friendly. The atmosphere is comfortable. If you are a work from home type and want to go to a coffee shop as a change of pace this place is great for that.

Such a wonderful atmosphere. Cappuccino was delicious, and so was the boba milk tea (with freshly cooked tapioca!).

The cafe is really spacious, with tons of seating and outlets for people to hang out and study.

You can tell the owner is really proud of the space; he came around a few times to straighten chairs and check on us to see how the drinks were.

We’ll be back!

Derek (the owner) is so quick and amazing when creating friendly connections with his customers. If you’re a fan of matcha you’ve come to the right spot !! LITERALLY THE BEST.
try an iced matcha w oat milk and lavender and see for yourself ◡̈

This is my favorite local coffee spot in UP. As a former barista I care about quality. They serve Olympia Coffee, one of the best roasters in the country (they've won awards for micro roaster of the year, etc). What you get with high end coffee is often a snobby vibe. That's not the case at all at Happy Duo. The owner, Derek, remembers me and my kids by name. He's always throwing this nice little extras in for my girls, like their amazing mochi doughnuts (try them). Really thoughtful. They've recently started a scratch baking program, so some of the goodies in their case are made right in-house. The decor and extras offered are both on the eclectic side. Happy Duo hosts music and events and has become the defacto gathering place for UP residents young and old (kids doing homework after school, a group of retirees that plays dominoes, freelancers getting work done, people popping out for a quick date, etc). I love it. Can't say enough about this place.

I love Happy Duo so much. The owner makes one of the best macchiatos in Tacoma and is so warm and welcoming. Olympia Roasters are not my favorite bean but it doesn't even matter. I think he pulls an espresso shot with a lot of love. There are sweet gifts for sale in the shop which is great because UP is not big on cute little shops and the space is nicer every time I visit with all different kinds of seating choices. I really truly love Happy Duo and am so grateful it's there

Been to this place several times now and it’s so delightful! Music is quiet enough that you can hear your conversation, staff are kind, and the space is cozy and inviting. The coffee is Olympia Coffee and they do a great job with making the drinks. They have a small variety of sweet and savory foods including hot sandwiches, snack items, and muffins/scones/breads. They accept cash/cards/CashApp/ApplePay. Family friendly too! I think Happy Duo is quickly going to become a staple business in University Place.

Perfect place to study, reconnect with loved ones and clearing your mind from the everyday riffraff. 10/10 going again. The clam chowder is great too!

The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is so relaxing and inviting. Thank you for providing a space that feels like a community coffee shop!

This is one of the hidden gems in the Tacoma area. The food is always top notch, from their burritos to sandwiches to pastry - the coffee is always fresh and I've never gotten a burnt drink here. I love the atmosphere, the mismatched furniture, the music, the gift items to buy. They also display art from local artists and have it for sale all over the Cafe. And the workers are all so sweet and kind. Truly my favorite weekend stop.

10/10. Their pistachio latte is probably the best drink I’ve ever had in my life! I love the ambiance of this cafe and for the non-dairy options they even have macadamia milk!