
By Chuy Renteria, JEFAS Magazine
Stepping into Mammitas Coffee & Latin Cafe, it’s easy to understand why, for the briefest of moments, regulars may want to preserve this place for themselves. Not because of an absence of quality, but because of the exact opposite. It feels like a well-kept secret in Iowa City. Jacqueline Milian and her family created a warm, welcoming cafe that provides the perfect backdrop for a safe space where Latinos can feel at ease. But Mammitas Coffee and Flowers by Jacqueline deserve to be shared and appreciated by everyone.
“What would you like, papá?” Says Milian with a wide grin. To the next person in line it’s, “And for you, mamá?” The familiar greetings are not performative but rather, a testament to Milian’s Salvadoran roots. Her family moved to the Midwest from Florida a few years before the pandemic. Not too long after, Milian opened Flowers by Jacqueline out of her garage, then transitioned to its current downtown spot in January of 2020. The cafe draws customers to the front of the business and the scent of fresh flowers lures them to the back, a decision that has enriched and diversified Iowa City’s culinary landscape.
The menu offers various types of horchatas, dulce de leche lattes, and other hot and cold drinks. Milian’s grandmother’s flan is displayed behind the refrigerator glass, a recipe passed down through generations, and the cafe’s namesake. “When people think of flan you automatically think of Mexican flan, but ours is a little different… it’s Salvadorian flan,” Milian clarifies in an interview for Iowa PBS. “It’s my mammita’s recipe.” When mentioning her mom, Milian’s smile widens. “My mom makes it from scratch.” This lineage of love passed on from mother to daughter is evident in all facets of the cafe and its social media, where you can watch videos of Milian’s mother, Theresa, preparing various foods they serve.

Photo by Miriam Alarcón Avila / JEFAS Magazine
Their Cuban sandwich is renowned for its complexity of tangy and sweet flavors bursting between two pieces of perfectly toasted bread. The sides of rice and black beans are next level, mixed with pieces of bacon, bay leaves, and Central American seasonings. She often offers guests treats after their meal, like the choco-flan, a generous gesture characteristic of Milian’s signature hospitality. The flan is intricate, with the perfect hints of vanilla and cinnamon.
Patrons can go to Mammitas Coffee multiple times and barely scratch the surface of all it offers. Yes, it’s where you’ll find exceptional Cuban sandwiches and Salvadorian flan, but her flower shop was also the first place in Iowa City to sell marigolds for Día de los Muertos celebrations. More than a business, it’s where Milian shares her traditions through every cup of coffee and every recipe passed down through the generations in her family. In doing so, they’ve created something rare: a space that feels authentically Latino and uniquely Iowan, enhancing the community one bite at a time.