They're trying hard to be a Seattle or Portland cafe, and doing a mediocre job at it. They didn't know what 'dry' meant when I ordered my drink. Coffee was 'eh', the service was over-peppy, and the attitude inside was smug. The Mocha I bought was also extraordinarily expensive. read more

Caffe DBolla - pretty latte art (mocha) covering a poor quality drink in a snobby venue - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Sat in the building for ten minutes, and was only acknowledged once. I listened to a phone conversation from who I suspect as the owner. Completely overrated read more

This place really deserves another star but.. Your choices are limited here. This place really is more for coffee than boba. Boba places usually have a long list of flavors to choose from where as here you only have a few options. They also do not make slush drinks- only milk tea. There is nothing wrong with milk tea but they do fill a quarter of the cup with ice which leaves you with less to drink. If you want less ice in your cup they charge you extra? I don't get it. I paid for the drink and if if I don't want ice then should I really be paying to NOT have ice in it? I don't agree with that concept. The owner is nice and he informed me that his wife is Taiwanese so this is the style in which they make their drinks and that's fine but I wish I had more options. Would I come here again? Sure if I was desperate for a boba fix downtown but the ones in the valley have so much more variety and you can choose the preparation of which you like. Needless to say, the owner is nice and the baked goods look and smell divine. I'll be back but not for a while. read more

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I walked in here the Saturday morning before Valentine's Day to surprise my partner with some almond boba tea because I've heard good things about it at this shop. As I walked in, I was extremely surprised to see that the barista was not wearing a mask while making an espresso drink. Given our current climate with the PANORAMIC, I was quite alarmed and immediately walked out. Surprised to see this in SLC...the other reviews are pretty positive so I don't know if I came on the wrong morning or what I also noticed as I got there they do not accept cash and that was all I had on me at the time. read more

While on the pricier side of coffee, I feel it's well worth it considering the atmosphere and the stunning espresso shot. John is extremely welcoming, and I look forward to coming back here again. If you're sick of the same old same old when it comes to coffee shops, Cafe DBolla is a refreshing change! read more

Oh man... We really dig the smaller boba pearls they put on their drinks. The flavors were good. It was heading towards a 4 to 5 star rating... until I ate a piece of plastic in my drink. It was from the lid (seal) that accidentally went in. Ahhh so frustrating! I couldn't even enjoy the rest of my drink anymore. To make things even worse, my daughter also got it in her drink. What the heck? We wanted to come back and tell them but we were already on the road heading home. Such a bummer. I really wish they would be more careful making their boba tea. I just can't see myself coming back. read more

I love his siphon coffee and his bobas! The siphon coffee takes some time but is very worth the wait. Get there at least an hour before he closes in order to try the siphon coffee. He handmakes the boba tapioca balls everyday and you can definitely tell the difference. Everything that we have tried there has been great quality and delicious! read more

Caffe DBolla - Menu as of 4/1/18 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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Rude, condescending owner that doesn't trump the quality coffee that comes from a siphon brew process. Too bad seeing that the coffee itself is delicious. Goes to show that the way you treat people has as much, if not more, bearing on whether or not that same person will be back when compared to the finished product. I will not be back. read more

Coffee was great, also had honeydew bubble tea, did not like the tea much. Recommended read more

For the longest time since I heard it set up shop super close to where I live I wanted to try out a new place for bubble tea. I've tried it and prob wouldn't go back for it. I went on a Saturday afternoon and chances are it is prob popping more on a weekday. Came in and placed an order for a medium sized original bubble tea. I appreciated the fact that I could adjust the sugar level in it. That part was great, it wasn't overwhelmingly sweet. However there was a slight lack of tea flavor. I wished that the tea shined a little more since I had the original flavor. The bubbles were also a hit or miss. Some of the tapioca was super hard and I would have to spit them out periodically where as some were perfectly soaked and sweetened. I liked the size of boba they use it wasn't huge and super hard to eat. I just wished everything was a tad elevated- tea flavor and boba quality. Maybe their other beverage options are better but for now I'm okay going to other places. read more

Caffe DBolla - Original bubble tea with light boba and almost no sugar. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Awesome espresso. You can tell the owner puts a lot of thought into it. I got a cortado and a triple iced latte. The cortado was spectacular, one of the best I've had. The latte was great too, but of course, showcased the espresso less. Very expensive, but I am already excited to get another cortado as a treat. read more

Caffe DBolla - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

The worst costumer experience. The person who was serving is rude and sarcastic. Not helpful at all. He was talk to other customer for over 20 min. He didn't realize that people was waiting for him. I don't recommend this coffee shop. read more

If you are looking for a raucous place to hang with friends with a sugary drink resembling coffee, you won't like D'Bolla. Get thee to the Roasting Company, or even worse, the dreaded Coffee Break. That said, if you actually like coffee, this is the place for you. John is a veritable encyclopedia of coffee and he has applied that knowledge to make the best coffee I have had in my entire life. My fiance and I, both pretty cantankerous people, can't help but feel quite Zen-like when having one of his lattes or siphon coffees. This is coffee that demands your attention and clears the mind. Forget meditation, I go to D'Bolla when I need to let go. Being a china (as in the dishes) enthusiast, I also very much appreciate that he serves the siphon coffee in actual teacups...it really does make a difference. I also like that John has no problem making sure I "drink it correctly" and understand why what I'm drinking is so great, and doesn't act phony with me or anybody else. John is John, and he's not for everybody (sugary drink people or the bubble-headed for instance), but for those of us sick of the ubiquitous saccharine, faceless customer service in SLC, D'Bolla is a refreshing heaven. D'Bolla is also a good place for coffee supplies or just plain old advice about coffee, something John has plenty of! A warning though, the parking can be hectic, but you won't care once you've had the coffee. read more

I gave Caffe D'Bolla a shot because I heard that it was one of two syphon bars in town (nobrow being the other). I strolled in mid-morning on a weekday and was one of three patrons. I like the quiet atmosphere. It was appropriate for the clinic I was about to attend! John, the owner, told me that I would need 20 minutes to fully enjoy the syphon coffee experience. I had planned for this. I knew that John and I would be on a journey to the end. I set myself up at the bar and was greeted with a glass of cool water (to cleanse my palate). There were two options for syphon coffee--a richer more complex blend and a more approachable Peruvian blend. Since syphon coffee is exclusively served sans dairy, I went with the Peruvian blend. (I also have a Peruvian friend I wanted to tell.) For the next 20-30 minutes I was treated to the grinding, brewing, and learning experience. Someone watching from the street might have assumed that John was cooking an 8-ball, but inside it was Coffee Science 201! John is a truly committed coffeemaster. As my coffee was readied I watched John hand select a Japanese china cup for me. They stock only German and Japanese china cups that have a tulip shape. The quality and shape accentuate the flavor notes in the coffee. (I am so ready for a new level of coffee snobbery!) He poured the cup and pushed it to me. He then asked that I wait 5 minutes before consuming it. Arrgh! I waited, but 5 minutes felt like 30. During the wait time John discussed the true nature of the coffee business, why "fair trade" coffee isn't what it's purported to be, and the pros & cons of different brewing methods. My IQ went up a point during this conversation. (Get to the point.) When I finally tasted the coffee I can tell you it was transcendent. What an amazing cuppa joe. There was absolutely no bitterness, no tannic or off flavors, and no sediment in the cup at the end. I tasted real complexity and depth. It's probably the best cup of coffee I have ever had. My next review will be for nobrow, but for now thanks to John and to Caffe D'Bolla for this great experience. read more

Hands down, best Okinawa milk tea I've ever had. I've literally tried it at every other boba (or rather "bubble tea") place in multiple states, including the plethora here in California and have been disappointed at each one of those places after tasting DBolla's Okinawa milk tea. Also the owner is very nice to talk to and you should ask him about his travels as I've concluded that is how he has obtained his enlightenment in Okinawa-milk-tea-making. Disclaimer: I have not been to Okinawa Japan before so I cannot speak to its likeliness or relative flavor to milk tea there. But the flavor here is still amazing nonetheless. read more

Everyone else is spot on here - terrible environ, but it doesn't matter in the least. Caffe D'Bolla could be located in a sewage treatment plant, for all I care. Two reasons. A) The best cup of coffee I've ever had was here. 30 minutes of siphon-brewed caffeinated love. I find it difficult to put into words how damned good it was. I drink nothing but black coffee when it comes to the heavenly bean beverage, and it blew everything I've tried away. B) As per other reviews, John is a veritable coffeepedia. Ask him anything about coffee, and he'll likely know the answer. A very interesting and genuine guy. He'll tell you all about what you're drinking unsolicited - don't blow it off. He really cares about it, and you should too, given how divorced our mindset is from what we consume these days. read more

I found this place on espressomap.com, and was NOT disappointed. They roast their own beans, and brew a great espresso blend called "Mountain Mombo". Light, but with great body. The barista also knows how to pour a cappuccino. The milk was steamed perfect, and stayed velvety till the last sip. I guess they have gelato and bubble tea too. read more

I am originally from Portland, OR. I know my coffee. That being said, John, the roaster at D'Bolla, is easily the most gifted small roaster I have ever met. Every bag of beans he makes is magic. The flavor profiles are incredible and complex and fun. Honestly, this is my favorite coffee shop anywhere. And the couple that owns it are so wonderful and remember me every time and ask how I'm doing. Fabulous, eh? Not to mention that this is where I was introduced to siphon coffee...I fell in love and bought my own, but I make sure to stock up on beans from D'Bolla for making it at home. They also offer classes on making and appreciating coffee and they are always excited to have a long, in depth conversation about the beans they're using, where they come from, the farmers that produced it, siphon vs. Chemex...their goal isn't just to make great coffee, but to transform their customers into true connoisseurs. read more

Excellent espresso pours. They really know their stuff and will tell you all about the beans they have on. Their espressos rotate so it's something different every week. Top notch friendly service. Fantastic coffee. Cool vibes. read more

Another home run from Cafe D'Bolla, even their decaf machiatto is amazing. Wife had the black cherry bubble tea with the chewy things at the bottom. Also very good! Came back 2 days later and had their siphon coffee, El Salvador single-origin. Cleanest cup of coffee I've ever tasted. "Fanatical" doesn't begin to describe Yiching and John's dedication to coffee. Amazing! read more

You know what the difference is between an idyllic morning wherein I greet the day happily, put on the music, and get productive things done while the coffee brews and my normal morning wherein I make grumpy faces and respond to all conversation in grunts until at least nine o'clock? It's d'bolla. d'bolla has the best beans in the valley. Waking up to the prospect of a cup of incredible coffee from my French press makes every morning a treat. Every bag of beautiful beans I get here is fresh and delicious, and a delight to the senses. That's a lot to put on coffee beans, but they deliver every.single.morning. Sometimes I do silly things, like using up the tail end of some old bag of beans at the back of the cupboard, and the difference in taste and aroma cements my love affair with d'bolla beans. Warning: buying beans here may complete your transformation into coffee snob, and there's no going back. Say goodbye to 7-11, and know that you will never again be able to stop for coffee at the convenience store. This is a good thing. I can't speak for any of their other products, but this place is worth visiting for the beans alone. read more

It seems that many people are still unaware that this is hands down the best coffee in Utah. No one else even comes close, and this only becomes apparent with sustained observation of John and Yiching's dedication to making the best Espresso and Siphon brew available to the public. More specifically to John's obsession with roasting coffee and Yiching's wonderful personality. I really can not think of a cafe I would rather go to for an Americano, or another that even offers siphon brew. You never get the same cup of coffee you had last week, and you never get a bad cup either. Every cup is composed of single origin beans that John chooses and roasts based on only ever thinking about coffee, and the result is delicious espresso with tasting notes that I still don't entirely appreciate or understand to be quite honest, but I now know when something is wrong coffee I purchase elsewhere. This recommendation is a blessing and a curse; you will enter the realm of true espresso aficionados simply by listening to John's history and science lessons on coffee, and you will love Yiching and Alex, but you will be sorely disappointed when you walk up to the door having forgotten that it's Sunday and you have to go somewhere else for coffee. read more

Caffe DBolla - Today's special at Caffe D'bolla: "Winter Sunrise" Pairs well with Dragon Ball Z, or Sudoku. Life in Midwinter. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

Coffee was to die for. Also had a rich chocolate cake. Adorable. Friendly guy working named John. Hard parking for a big truck. read more

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This is the best coffee I have had in Utah. When I found this place I was quite surprised there was an actual coffee shop that knew how coffee was supposed to be made. The husband and wife team know what they are doing, and even roast there beans on site. read more

Love this coffee shop behind my studio. Yiching and John are both highly knowledgeable owners that go the extra mile every time to make each experience just great. Varied espresso roasts with special blends make this place my favorite in SLC; few others come close. If you're ever stuck for what you want, defer to either owner's stellar pallet and be delighted. read more

Caffe DBolla - Delightful Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

John, the owner who is generally working here, is a bit of a goofball-- but he loves coffee and he's deeply passionate about educating customers on the ins-and-outs of what they're drinking. No, he won't make modifications to the menu that he doesn't believe in. No, he will probably not be the most chipper or chatty barista you've ever met. But any weirdness on his part is, I think, a reflection of how much he cares about his product-- and all customer service quirks aside, this place is top notch. If it's busy, service will be slow, but it's pretty obvious why: John works alone, and high volume is definitely not the focal point of the way D'Bolla is run. And most importantly-- the coffee is excellent. Skillful brewed, careful served. Delicious bubble tea prepared to the same exacting standards-- *and* they have Okinawan black sugar custard flavor, which is a.) available nowhere else in Salt Lake, b.) blindingly sweet, and c.) amazing as all get out. Cafe D'Bolla isn't going to write your name on your cup or make you something with whipped cream on it or prepare their coffee according to your particular outer space preferences. But I kind of like that about them. I pay car mechanics to know more about cars than I do, and I pay my doctors to know more about medicine than I do-- at Cafe D'Bolla, I pay John to know way, way more about coffee than I ever will. read more

Ok so my husband bought and paid for an espresso and asked for some raw sugar to be put in and the guy told him not to do that and my husband asked why and he said it distorts the flavor. Now my husband has been drinking espresso all his life and he likes the taste of the taste of raw sugar in it. The guy behind the counter had such an attitude that we just got up and walked out not getting the coffee. He should never been in business as he is a coffee snob!!!!! Stay away!!! read more

We stopped here during our cross-country trip from East Coast to California. This is the greatest place to be after a couple days out of coffee in Yellowstone. The espresso was the best as it could be. The single origin coffee made by the siphon maker was even better. So far as I could tell, this place has probably the best siphon coffee in the country (sorry, blue bottle, I really enjoy your coffee, but the siphon is a joke). It's so unexpected enough to find a great coffee shop in Salt Lake City, and it is even more unexpected to find a great siphon place. read more

Best coffee in Utah! The macchiatos are amazing. The owners are very passionate about coffee and it shows. Don't forget to grab a bag of coffee for home. read more

Always amazing and makes the boba homemade! He's always willing to sit down and chat with you making the experience so much more at home.

Caffe d'Bolla is not your typical coffee shop or Starbucks that makes flavored drinks with whipped cream or caramel drizzle. It is for the serious coffee drinker who appreciates coffee as it is without all the disguises and savors the taste of different coffee beans from different areas around the world. The slim modern design of the shop and its hidden location make it a cafe that you have to hear about in advance. It is difficult to just stumble upon it, but this local gem is worth a visit for the coffee addicts out there. The coffee is top quality with a knowledgeable owner, and when I ordered my first pour over here, I fell in love immediately. Later, I found it was difficult to share this love with others because most people I know prefer sweet or milky coffee drinks, but I will continue to come back and treat myself to amazing coffee. read more

Bubble tea is great. Very cool atmosphere. I always make it a point to stop by when I'm in town. On a side note, I've never had any issues with the owner but I did notice another customer getting treated very poorly when I was here last. If you don't mind someone being extremely condescending towards you for the sake of a great tea, try this place out. I'll still be back! read more

If you live in Salt Lake City, you only have so many choices for single origin coffee in craft brew methods and probably less choices for boba milk tea. I live in Southern California so I'm lucky to be surrounded by it. I can tell the owner cares and knows about his coffee from the short time I was there, but my visit felt off and wasn't really fun. I read a lot about how Caffe D'Bolla does the siphon method but didn't see the price or bean menu at the front counter. It's on a separate menu that's not displayed so if you're interested in that, just ask. I took a look at the offerings and decided to go with a normal cappuccino. Siphon Brew - The day I looked there were three offerings and they ranged in price from $8-$9 per brew. It is only served at the bar counter and you need to allow 15-20 minutes for brew time. I can tell you from previous siphon tastings at other places that it is a fun brew process to watch. Your coffee will come out very clean, very clear, with low acidity. The flavor notes will be clear, but if you prefer your coffee bolder and dirtier (less filtered), this brew method might not be your favorite. Overall, siphon is a great brew method. Cappuccino - Foam level = A. Foam Art = A. Temperature = A. Expresso flavor and strength = C. The beans that day just weren't that kickin' for some reason. It was hoping that it would have a stronger play with my nose and tongue. Unfortunately my visit here was not that enjoyable. As my cappuccino was brought over, I got this look that said, "Ummm... what the heck are you doing?" The owner then told me that it wasn't okay for me to eat my boxed lunch there, but I could take it to the patio outside if I wanted. While I was thinking, "Are you serious???" Verbally, I said, "Okay, not a problem." So it's not okay to eat my outside food inside, but okay to eat my outside food outside. Aren't both parts of your store? I may as well have been a smoker. Caffe D'Bolla is a little coffeehouse that has some desserts. I didn't see a full food menu, I didn't read any reviews that mentioned fabulous salads or sandwiches. There were no signs outside that said no outside food allowed. It got me thinking... Starbucks sells desserts and other food items (even sandwiches) but never asks anyone to leave if they pull out some chips or cookies or a sandwich from their purse or back pack. I searched this place out on Yelp and went because of it's reviews. I had 30 minutes to kill before I had to catch a plane out of the city, so I figured I'd grab a cup-a-joe and take a short de-stress break while I scarfed down the boxed sandwich lunch that my hotel handed to me one my way out of the business meeting. My brown bag lunch consisted of a small 5" inch x 2" croissant sandwich, a mini bag of Lays, and a cookie. I wrapped up my sandwich before I could take a bite and put the sandwich, the Lays and the cookie back into the little box. I did some reading for 15 minutes and then left. If I lived in the area, I would suck it up and give Caffe D'Bolla another chance. I've been to some great coffee places (and practically every notable milk tea joint) on the West Coast... Blue Bottle, Portola, Four Barrel, Ritual, Intelligentsia, Expresso Vivace, Philz, Urth Caffe, Kean, Cafe Moto, Coffee & Tea Collective, etc. And the only place of those that would care if you had any outside food might be Urth, but they are known as much for their food as they are for their coffee (plus, why would anyone want to miss eating lunch at Urth?). I would've gave at least 4 Stars if it was based strictly on coffee understanding and passion for the brew, but by Yelp's definition, 2 Stars = "Meh. I've experienced better..." and that's how I still feel about my experience two days later. If you're in SLC and want expresso without the drama, try Jack Mormon. But if you want a siphon brew or milk tea, then I guess you don't have a choice. read more

When I first came to Salt Lake City my friend from Taiwan recommend the bubble tea at Caffe D'Bolla. She told me this store imports fresh ingredients from Taiwan. Very good bubble tea. Recently I saw they roast small farm coffees and it was very interesting. I tried the syphon coffee and also a macchiato. Very good coffee! You can feel/taste the passion and knowledge for the coffee from the owners. I just read some reviews on this store's "minimum order one drink per person" policy and think it's interesting. In California (where I am from) it is normal for such policy in some stores and people respect it. Here some people seem angry about it when they are asked to order drinks. I respect this store and the hardworking owners! I see Rod S. says the best: "You can agree, or disagree, with any policy they have about purchasing a drink, but you can't take away their passion and skill." I hope the people that doesn't like the policy will try to see and respect this small business. read more

Cafe d bolla has the best local coffee in Salt Lake City. I've always liked the cafe latte with added coffee cubes. As far as tea, i've always liked the fresh brewed osmanthus tea and lychee red tea with added jelly on em. Enjoy it on a really hot summer day. Darn it's so good!! Also, Place just got renovated. The newly renovated place is fresh, clean and just perfect to chill. read more

I was always wanting to have some authentic bubble tea; 4 years ago, I saw someone at the library TRAX station with a bubble tea...I stared at that person/bubble tea until that person left. I immediately went home and searched online...finally, I found Caffe D'Bolla's address and got a super yummy bubble tea at the same night (I am not lying, they used to be open until 10 pm). My favorite bubble tea is matcha flavor. (In summer, I like to have mango or lychee bubble tea). My favorite hot tea is charcoal oolong. My husband and I like to stop by during our lunch break to get their Americano. I would say that it's the best Americano that you can find in town. Once in a while, I get a hot Chai tea or Mocha...I like all of the drinks I've tried so far. By the way, give their coconut toast a try! SUPER YUMMY! For the price you pay, the level of the quality is much higher than other stores. The owners are passionate about their products. read more

I recently made a sweeping generalization to some friends that "no good coffee exists between Portland and Chicago." D'Bolla proved me wrong. My dad and I drove through SLC and I found this place on Yelp. Even the negative reviews made it sound like the kind of place I like. They are passionate about making a good, flavorful cup of coffee. It's not a place to pick up a quick jolt of caffeine, but a place to enjoy the flavors in a properly made cup of coffee and spend some time. I'd come often even if it was in the densely packed coffee market of Portland. We only spent 45 minutes in Salt Lake City, but the aftertaste of the coffee lasted the rest of the day. read more

A true hidden gem in the heart of SLC. John is a mater of his craft. I have watched this coffee shop and John really come in to its own in the last couple years. This place has some truly specialized offerings: small batch single origins roasted in house, Japanese syphon pours, the best bubble teas in town, and specialty treats you can't get anywhere else. This is always a high recommend for anyone new to town. read more

I have to admit first, that I'm a sweet tooth and usually go for a sugary mocha of some kind. I find coffee too bitter for me and the mocha's at the upper end coffee places are usually too bitter as well. However with Caffe D'Bolla, I'm pleased to say it was probably one of the best mocha's I ever had. When I ordered the mocha they warned me it would be a dark chocolate. However I was blown away by how perfectly smooth it was, not at all bitter. It wasn't sugary sweet, however, it had a bold, rich, smooth dark chocolate flavor. The barista even put a heart on it. The folks working here were also super nice, helpful, friendly and told us all about the coffee they were preparing. It was a really great experience and I highly recommend it. read more

Passing through SLC we tried this place based on reviews and it didn't not disappoint. Velvety brownies for the kids and high quality coffee that needs no sweeteners - d'bolla does everything from beans to cup. read more

Caffe DBolla - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah