Iorio’s Gelato & Caffé

I got to say, this place really surprised me. It’s quite top notch. Very varied and delicious flavors of gelato, including more than just vanilla in milk-​free for my lactose intolerant godkids. I million options for coffee between the flavor and brewing options. But mostly the mgmnt must be doing a great job picking and training servers. Two kids were on duty and they were both extremely helpful and ridiculously knowledgeable about the production and flavors of the gelato and coffee.

Great coffee and amazing gelatos! We have been several times and have not been disappointed. The staff is very friendly and is helpful in making drink suggestions. Our kids think they have the best hot chocolate in town! We will be back.

Hands down, the best gelato shop in EL!
Maybe that is not fair to say because I haven’t tried other gelatos in town but I highly recommend this place. I first tried Iorio’s in Ann Arbor a few years ago and fell in love on the first bite. I’m really glad they opened one here.
As a hazelnut fanatic, I especially love their hazelnut flavor but it seems like they often sell out or just don’t have it when I stop by in the afternoon. So Iorio’s, please have more hazelnut flavor ready in the store. Please?
I also appreciate that the staff are friendly and attentive. Hmm, I can’t think of any negative things to say about this place.

I went in on a whim before shopping at Fresh Thyme which is in the same plaza. The shop is very clean and minimalist and looks like a good place to study with big tables and lots of power outlets, very quiet. There were a variety of gelato flavors from very typical (strawberry, chocolate) to more unique flavors. I opted for the honey fig gelato and it was delicious. The little fig morsels tasted fresh. They also serve selections of coffee from Zingermanns which is nice because you have all the coffee options of aeropress, pour over, syphon etc. that chain coffee stores just don’t offer. Will be back to try all the other flavors.

This is the best gelato I have ever had. The flavors are all unique and delicious. The owner Nick makes them all himself and was trained in Italy. In fact, it was so good that we had 6 pints shipped to us. He even made 2 custom flavors for us! Just ask! In short, if you like gelato and happiness — go here.

I love this place. So far, I think their coffee is the best coffee in town.
Also ice cream is great, too. I just wish that they will have more bakery selections.

Every latte I’ve ordered here is amazing! Maybe it’s the outstanding baristas! The gelato here tastes straight out of Italy! Iorios is definitely a go-​to if I’m within 100 miles of it

The coffee is terrific here. They have a zillion options for preparing it. The space has a clean, minimalist modern vibe. They make their own gelato and have some creative flavors.

Great locally owned gelato shop in East Lansing. They have another store in Ann Arbor that I frequented during my college days and this store is even better because they are serving Zingerman’s coffee!
The gelato rotates and there are always so many amazing flavors to choose from. They make all of their gelato in house, which keeps it super fresh. My personal favorites were the chocolate cheesecake, chocolate salted caramel, and the amaretto crunch but I’ve never had a bad flavor. It’s more just personal preference. The gelatistas are friendly and always let you try samples, so you can get whichever one you like best. Or even better, put two or three flavors in one cup.
The coffee speaks for itself being Zingerman’s, but there are so many options to chose from. I tried the Nutella latte and it tasted like I would expect. So good! There is also an awesome chart about which pour to pick with which coffee to know what kind of flavor you’ll be getting. Can’t wait to try more.
This is also a great place to come and study. There’s lots of room to sit, as well as fast internet.
Would definitely recommend. The owner is usually there and very friendly guy, not to mention pretty cute!

Review in a nutshell: AMAZING gelato made right in the café AND coffee?! Move over, coffee shops, Iorio’s is making a mark in East Lansing!
I’ve driven by this place almost every day since it opened, but I’m either in a rush to get parking on campus or in a hurry to get home and start dinner. I kept telling myself I’d check it out, but it was co-​owner Mary’s sweet, personal message inviting me to stop by that made me think, «alright, I HAVE to try this place out!» I am SO glad I did!
Gelato: I’m sorbetto person because I’m not a fan of dairy, but I couldn’t resist sampling a few of their intriguing flavors. I sampled the Guinness Espresso, which was like… eating beer but with this great finishing flavor of espresso. Very interesting combination and rich in flavor. Next, I tried the Coconut Almond Chip for my husband, who loves coconut, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the coconut flavor wasn’t overwhelming, and the almond slivers I got in my sample added a great texture to an already fresh and full-​bodied flavor. In the end, I settled with a piccolo serving of the Apple Cider Sorbetto. It’s so light and fresh and has the perfect amount of apple cider taste — not too sweet, not too bland. They have your more traditional flavors, like pistacchio, stracciatella, and dark chocolate caramel if you’re not so adventurous. All of their gelato is made right in the kitchen by their gelato chef. I prefer my gelato in cones, but it looks like they only have the cup and spoon option at the moment.
Coffee & tea: I ordered my go-​to drink, a hazelnut latte with nonfat milk. They had various other flavors and some sugar-​free ones, too. The latte itself was really full-​bodied and rich, especially for one with nonfat milk. I’m used to Starbucks’ lattes, so this was a pleasant change from the usual «darker-​almost-​burnt» kind of latte I typically have. I would definitely be getting it again! There are baked goods and tea, as well, but I didn’t get any of those options.
Service: Service is great for a just-​opened place. The newness of the store and the variety of the different gelatos available was a little telling by one of the workers who seemed to defer to her coworker for details on the different gelato flavor compositions, but she was really sweet and happy to give me my requested samples. She also was proactive about keeping the café clean, wiping down tables and the coffee table with creamer, sugar, etc. The other worker made my latte and rang me up, but he answered my questions about flavors with a smile and was the one who welcomed me cheerfully when I arrived. I love great food, but great food with great service is always far better!
Atmosphere and Location: Iorio’s has a «long» layout with seating alongside one long wall and the gelato bar, espresso machine, kitchen, cashier on the other wall. 2 individual unit bathrooms are on the opposite end of the entrance, plenty for the size of the place. There’s 4 comfy, low chairs by the entrance, 2 smaller round tables seating 2, and 3 round tables seating 4. There’s also a long 6-​seating table at the end. The round tables would be able to accommodate half the intended seating if you’re studying, but would comfortably seat full capacity if you’re just hanging out with some friends over gelato or coffee. There are outlets by the round tables, but I didn’t see any by the long, high table that could seat up to 6. The entire place is very well lit with hanging light fixtures and with windows on 3 of their 4 walls, there is a ton of natural light! Parking isn’t too bad, but it is right by Fresh Thyme, so I could see it getting a little crowded when grocery shopping hours are at its peak.
Overall, I see this place easily becoming a regular study spot for me. Everything is, in my opinion, reasonably priced and definitely high-​quality. The free and fast wifi is pretty awesome, too! I tend to stay at places for hours on end, so it’d be nice to have some sandwich options, but hey — why mess up a good thing you’ve got going? If you haven’t stopped by, you most certainly should put this on your East Lansing bucket list!

Hell to the yes, we have a gelato locale in Lansing/​EL now! And it’s so good I’d even stop by in the dead of winter.
Iorio’s prepares an array of gelatos, from lighter sweeter flavors like lemon and blueberry, to more unique and decadent flavors like a Guinness concoction and an Earl Grey Tea scoop. I went with a classic chocolate (nailed it) and the Chai flavor which was perfectly cinnamon-​y sweet.
Iorio’s is also a coffee joint (will come back to try the Nutella latte) and appears to be a chill place to study. The vibe and décor is very clean and modern and they’re in a great location across from the west side of MSU. The staff was very friendly and when I visited there was a huge rush of customers which they handled quickly and professionally which is more than I can say for most of the coffee shops in the area.

Definitely would recommend coming here at least once to give it a try. This was my first time trying gelato and I absolutely loved it! They have basic flavors such as French vanilla and pistachio, and then they change it up with sorbets, tangalong flavor, and even amaretto crunch. I got the French Vanilla and pistachio in a small cup and it was the perfect combo and just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth. When I say small I mean very small. That is why this place only gets 3 out of 4 stars. You pay $ 3.55 for a small and it’s the smallest cup of ice cream I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong it was delicious but not worth the money when you see how much you get for such a high price. I went with a second person and we were fortunate enough to find a buy one get one free coupon on the hooked app. So we actually paid for 2 smalls for the price of one. That is the only way you will get me to go back. Their coffee seems to be decent price but did not get a chance to try it since I went at 9:30 at night. Might have to go back for that. If you’re willing to spend a bit more then give this place a try!

Iorio’s Gelato & Caffé recently opened up a new coffee & gelato café in a «coffee dessert» in East Lansing. I am giving this place 5 stars because…
The location is convenient, as there is ample parking in the outdoor lot. The new grocery store, Fresh Thyme, is in the same area, so it’s easy to grab groceries before or after enjoying your gelato & coffee.
The café is beautiful. It feels of a modern Italian design with extreme attention to detail. The countertops are Italian style marble, & the Tuscan yellow splashes of color are really cool. There is a community table, which is nice if you want to stand to work. Otherwise, there are several other private tables, & some comfy white spin chairs with table.
The gelato is made from scratch onsite. It’s rich, creamy, & just like you can find in Italy. In fact, eating it makes me feel like I’m back in Italy & the gelato chef has studied gelato making in Italy. They serve 18 flavors at a time, & though they always have the staple flavors (vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, hazelnut, mango, lemon…) they also create unique flavors to keep things interesting (like Guinness tiramisu, maple bacon, & avocado). There are options for vegans or people who are lactose intolerant, since their sorbettos are dairy-​free, yet are still smooth & creamy.
The coffee is some of the best you can find. Zingerman’s Coffee sources beans from some of the top farms around the world, and all the beans are roasted in Ann Arbor. Plus, they have a nice selection of organic, fair trade teas from Rishi. My favorites are the Matcha blend & the tumeric ginger. The coffee drinks & tea are delicious paired with gelato &/​or pastries.
Menu items not to miss out on — the Nutella Latte, Affogato, & the gelato of course!
The staff there is incredibly friendly. You can sample anything. In fact, it’s encouraged. Need anything? Just ask & they’ll get you a sample, a glass of water, or even hold your baby while you go to the restroom (Seriously, I witnessed this happen!)
Definitely check this place out if you’re looking for a new coffee stop, a place to study, a sweet treat, to experience Italy without an expensive plane ticket, or just because!