This place is truly a neighborhood gem: quick and friendly service, great drinks and cute latte art, comfy vibe, good selection, and never crazy busy or loud. IDK why I put off trying this for so long. I think it's gonna be one of my go-to cafes now, as I went 3 times this past week. Loooooveed the hazelnut latte and salted caramel latte. On top of it, the bathroom is nice! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 3. Sea Salted Caramel Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

$15 = 2 coffees (1 Birthday Cake & 1 Cookie Monster). Visit another location for their coffee. The only reason this review doesn't have two stars is cell phone users can't see two star reviews unless they have the app. I want to make sure people without the app can still see this review. All I tried to do: order something off their menu, give them money & be nice. I made a special trip to HCR for a very specific reason: I was expecting a great experience, but left feeling incredibly disappointed. While the coffee was delicious, the service was a bizarre mix of being dismissive and insulting while trying to hide behind a thin veil of what I'd refer to weaponized workplace politeness. When I politely ordered a Cookie Monster Latte and a Birthday Cake Latte "for here", I was abruptly told at 2:30 PM that they were "only doing to-go", despite the shop not closing until 4:00 PM. When I asked if the lattes would still look pretty in to-go cups, the cashier humored me with an irritated "yeah". After I placed my order, the cashier walked away and immediately approached another person, whispering something that appeared serious (judging by the look on their face) in the other persons ear. Another person came up and began making the drinks. But I noticed the cashier then took over as the latte artist. When the Birthday Cake Latte was ready, I was sadly confused. It looked like a purple raindrop in a brown muddy pool. The cashier, who had attempted the art, immediately said, "You don't care about the art heart, right?" When I explained we actually made a special trip just for that, they got another barista to fix it, while making a passive-aggressive comment, "Well, now you can see how good we are cause we're going from bad to great." To add insult to injury, the cashier approached the table next to ours and asked whether either of the two people sitting there would like a free Birthday Cake Latte. Neither of them had heard of the drink, but because it was free they both agreed to take it. So the person put it down and walked away. When the coffees finally arrived, as I previously mention, those were delicious. The Birthday Cake Latte tasted like frosting, and the Cookie Monster Latte tasted somewhat like a snickerdoodle. But the Birthday didn't have sprinkles, (I brought some from home just in case) and the Cookie Monster didn't have any cookies. As for ordering the drinks for here but being served them in to-go cups, a drink is never just about its ingredients. A glass mug invites attention and asks you to stay. A paper cup invites consumption and assumes you'll leave. The shop's physical space reflects this too. It features minimalist hardwood benches with no cushions and the water station doesn't even have cups. It is clearly not designed as a place to hang out. While writing this review, I found myself wondering whether one bad apple really can spoil the bunch. Or in the case of coffee can a distracted server really sour the experience when the other person making the drinks can still produce such a delicious product? The answer is most certainly - Yes. I was never rude. My name was never Richard or Karen. I wasn't demanding. I smiled and greeted staff when I walked in. I treated people with dignity and respect. And in return, no one smiled at us and I was treated like a grave inconvenience. read more

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Really enjoyed the birthday latte for which they are known for. Orders are placed electronically at a computer which kind is okay. The birthday latte would have been a little more special had it been in a mug inside of a disposable cup. That was disappointing. Not sure if there was a way to request a mug vs a paper cup but that was my only real complaint. If you're going to bring in business for something special like that, then do it better. The latte is beautiful though. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Birthday latte in a disposable cup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Home Coffee Roasters was a great stop right at the beginning of Chinatown! I got the Birthday Cake (Rainbow Vanilla) Latte which is one of their creative drinks, and it was really delicious, not too sweet! The rainbow art was super fun, and it was so cool to watch the barista make it right in front of the counter! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 12. Birthday Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

My kids love this coffee shop and it really does have some standout items but it is marred by service that gets progressively slower each time we visit . Stopped by for 2 coffees, 2 coffee drinks and 2 pastries. It was busy but not so much so that service should have taken that long! As expected coffee came out relatively quickly within about 5 minutes of ordering. The two other drinks took about 15 but the pasties took forever - one was mochi croissant and the ham/ cheese item my husband ordered took around half an hour ! It was not made fresh - simply heated ! That said the food and drinks are great - really great - but they are just overwhelmed and too busy chatting amongst themselves to speed up Tables were dirty, limited spaces to sit and the time My kids love this coffee shop and it really does have some standout items but it is marred by service that gets progressively slower each time we visit . Stopped by for 2 coffees, 2 coffee drinks and 2 pastries. It was busy but not so much so that service should have taken that long! As expected coffee came out relatively quickly within about 5 minutes of ordering. The two other drinks took about 15 but the pasties took forever - one was mochi croissant and the ham/ cheese item my husband ordered took around half an hour ! It was not made fresh - simply heated ! That said the food and drinks are great but they are just overwhelmed. -Tables were dirty, limited spaces to sit and the time means I will seek out a new coffee spot next time unfortunately I will seek out a new coffee spot next time unfortunately as there are too many good places that are faster and cleaner! Really like the products but sadly service is just lacking read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Iced coconut vanilla latte - it is on the sweeter side, coffee is smooth but isn't strong, there's a nice subtle coconut aftertaste. pretty decent but not my favorite! Came at 12PM on a Sunday and there was a bit of a line. Staff friendly, took a while for drinks to come out bc they hand brew each espresso shot. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 2. Coconut Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came in specifically for the popular pretty colorful birthday cake latte, after waiting for over 20 minutes watching orders behind mine get fulfilled I was very underwhelmed by my latte. Not only was service poor, but my latte didnt taste anything like birthday cake or even the hint of coffee at all. Frothed milk was the best way to describe its taste. It also didnt come out like the other photos i have seen, cute but not birthday cake. read more

Located right at the entrance of Chinatown, just a few blocks from Union Square, this cafe is such a gem. They offer a wide variety of unique lattes, which makes it hard to choose just one. The matcha mochi muffin was absolutely delicious. The mochi inside was perfectly chewy and not overly sweet, which made it even better. I am already craving another one!!! I also tried the Birthday Cake latte, and it was really good. I would probably ask for it a little less sweet next time, but I still enjoyed it. I am definitely coming back to try their ube drinks. The staff was friendly, the cafe is spacious, and the music selection created such a fun and welcoming vibe. read more

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This is a lovely little coffee shop and cafe, located on Grant Street, in Chinatown. It's a bustling place! The baristas and cooks are very busy preparing the food and beverages. The ordering kiosk is very well organized and easy to use. There are provisions to customize your order just the way you prefer it. It's larger inside than it appears on the street, with lots of different spaces to enjoy your order...including shared tables. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. read more

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Came by a Saturday morning around noon with some friends. The staff was super kind and attentive. They recommended the rainbow-colored birthday cake latte, so I ordered that. I typically go for the less sweet drinks, so I customized it to be less sweet. It was so good, the coffee had a smoother flavor to it which I really liked. There was sitting of all kind available and some tables with electricity available for laptops, which is always a plus for people looking for spots to work. Overall, would recommend and revisit! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 12. Birthday Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was delicious! I saw a recommendation on TikTok and I was not disappointed. Finding parking was challenging since it was a Sunday afternoon (lunch time). We walked in and were instantly greeted by the baristas! We walked in during a busier hour so we ended up ordering at the kiosk. It took about 5 minutes to get our drink which was super convenient! There's a lot of seating available inside which would be perfect to get some work done. We ordered the iced cookie monster which is described as a cookie butter latte on their menu. It was my first time trying it so I got everything regular ice and sugar. I would say if I was back in the area, I'd get less sugar since it is on the sweeter side. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 11. Cookie Monster - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sea Salt Caramel Latte perfectly prepared - perfect temperature & sweetness/salt. Efficient service and place seem like a business mtg place w/ lots of buzz. Clean, Good vibe. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 3. Sea Salted Caramel Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a pleasant and delightful experience. Our energy was flagging, we were getting spacey and delirious. We needed caffeine and a calming place to rest after a few hours of walking around Chinatown, and this place delivered! They had a large selection of lattes, and I keep thinking about my condensed milk latte--good espresso and slightly sweet condensed milk, topped with adorable latte art. There were also hot chocolates, avocado toasts, and cinnamon toasts. Clean tables, plenty of room, and a clean bathroom with a code. Sweet service. Pleasant quiet French pop playing in the background. We left with peaceful energy, ready for the next part of the day! read more

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I've been to a couple different locations in SF when I'm in town and I always love making an appearance at Home Coffee Roasters! I'm a sucker for the birthday cake latte (only served warm) - it's perfectly sweet and comforting. It feels like a party in a cup. I'm usually drinking cold lattes so since it's only served warm it feels like a special treat. Best served in a cup / here instead of a to-go cup in my opinion. I felt the need to do a review because I recently purchased the coffee beans. They were the pink Ethiopia Yirgacgeffe whole beans. It was meant to be a holiday gift but I couldn't stop smelling the strawberry notes and wanted to keep it for myself instead. I just ground the beans for my espresso machine and I can still smell the strawberries in my iced homemade latte. When I come to SF next, I know my first stop will be HOME COFFEE!! I've already made a few home made cups and the strawberry flavor naturally shines through. The service is great, I ordered at the kiosk. They can take your order at the counter but it was very busy. With the purchase of whole coffee beans you will also get a free drip brew. The inside of the shop is nice, it can be limited seating depending which location you go to. Sometimes I drink it inside the shop or other times I take it on the road. Can't wait to come back when I visit SF again! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 12. Birthday Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

What we ordered | matcha latte | avocado toast | ube mochi muffin Taste | matcha was fine. Nothing too crazy with cream tops but just a solid matcha. It's not sweet so you can add syrups or sweeteners. Avocado toast was good and had tomatoes on it. They sell third culture mochi muffins which were good too. And you can get it warmed up. Will need to come back to try their ube drinks. They had some unique coffee options and drink options with pandan. Service | took some time to get the food but drinks came out fairly quick. Parking | street, this is in Chinatown Notes | read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 4. Organic Matcha Tea Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered a popcorn latte with whole milk. Milk was steamed just right. They have a screen to order or you can wait for the barista. I waited for the barista. She had helpful suggestions and she was very friendly. They have a bathroom and the code is 4545, but the bathroom line is long. Nice designed place w plenty of seating. They have e to go or for here cups. read more

Cute coffee shop chain with small food menu but multiple coffee options. Jasmine - lavender tea latte tasted pretty mid since it was very watery (more water in it than milk). We tried the cookie monster hot and iced both, the flavors of the iced are very diluted - it is better enjoyed hot. Both croissants - probably different everyday were very well done. Avocado toast are the usual, but the bread was very good. Condensed milky way toast feels like a very homey toast, which makes it feel like comfort food. read more

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*Note: TDLR at the end of the review Ube Iced Latte: 3/10 It's pretty but where tf is the ube flavor mayn? It just tastes like a double shot latte with sugar. Imma be so fr right now. This coffee ruined my damn morning LMFAO. Because how the hell they gonna advertise this seasonal drink as ube with no ube flavor :'D and on top of that, they not gonna fill my cup to the brim. Like this drink was almost $8. I don't remember if I chose a less ice option or something, but shiit let ya girl know so I don't get heated when I see an $8 coffee that isn't filled to the brim and doesn't taste like ube. I'm not even a huge fan of ube mayn :'DD I was just like, "oh seasonal? gotta get that." Like $8? At least be good.... shit.. yall trippin... Service: 6/10 I mean the only service was the baristas making my drink. One of them was lowk mad doggin me. Maybe it was the way I was dressed :') They took like 15-20 minutes. I wasn't inna rush, so no biggie. It would have been nice to have some guidance on the line though. I never been there before so I was a bit confused because I didn't see the kiosk. Ambiance: 8/10 Interior was nice. There's limited seating with a lot of natural lighting which was very lovely. It was a tad crowded because a lot of people were waiting for their coffee, but It was spacious enough where you don't feel cramped in any way. The order kiosk is a little hidden near the counter/cashier if you're not paying attention. Theres the option to use the kiosk or order at the front, but there wasn't really someone at the register the whole time, so mostly everyone used the kiosk. TDLR: Wouldn't come back. Can't taste the ube in the ube iced latte at all. You're definitely paying for aesthetic. Somewhat long of a wait. Service is whatever. I was having such a pleasant morning and then this coffee got me so heated bro. Idk why tf this place got hella good reviews lol. read more

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The coffee here is sooo good and the baristas make such an effort to make every drink so pretty!! Its a bit small and hot inside so I wouldn't plan on working in here, but its a great space for a convo and grabbing a quick drink to walk around the city! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Iced London fog - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I got the Cookie Monster in the form of an iced mocha. I rlly liked the menu and the creative spins they offer (red velvet and birthday cake). I was content with my coffee but the cookie aspect wasn't as present as I had hoped it'd be. I went on a weekday afternoon and there was a moderate wait. I was able to order off the kiosk and the options were nicely presented to me. The staff were very nice and they were knowledgeable. read more

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Great place to grab a latte for your caffeine fix. I tried an iced cookie monster latte and really enjoyed it. Definitely tasted like cookie butter as advertised! Better to order at the kiosk to the left or you'll be standing there for quite some time waiting for someone to take your order. The place was fairly busy on a Tuesday morning (tables were pretty much full with patrons), but my drink came out at a reasonable time after ordering. Recommend stopping by if your in Chinatown. read more

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This rich, hazelnut hot chocolate was a great way to warm up after my windy exploration of the nearby Chinatown. I came in for a regular cocoa, but the friendly staff suggested I go for their Nutella hot chocolate. While yummy, I was craving a bit more of the bitterness that comes from dark chocolate. They generously scoop Nutella into the cup, so if you're a fan of Nutella- you'll love this hot chocolate! The large fluffy marshmallow was an added expense, and although it was tasty- I could take it or leave it. The drink was already sweet enough without the marshmallow. I appreciated that the shop had outlets and a decent number of seats. The music selection was also wonderful! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 2. Nutella Hot Chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This little coffee roaster shop is so adorable. Located inside of Downtown San Francisco's Chinatown. Very clean inside. The menu is located on the wall, and no wait for us. We ordered and saw our drinks being made live. Many places to sit and enjoy inside. The manager made our drinks and she was so sweet. Delicious !!! Rainbow art Cappuccino Lavender Iced Latte - fantastic! Almond Croissant Home Coffee Beans!! read more

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Best coffee in Chinatown / downtown SF!! I got the birthday cake latte (vanilla latte), and my sister got the lavender latte, which she loved. All the coffee art is pretty cool and I took home some coffee bags for my husband. It's a very cool spot, and they got a great amount of traffic coming in and out so product is good! Location is awesome in Chinatown, staff was friendly and accommodating. Happy to see them thriving!! read more

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Cute coffee shop with nice ambiance. I tried the birthday latte and it was yummy! Perfect sweet. I wish they didn't charge extra for oat milk. read more

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Packed and popular really good coffee drinks. The staff are the BOMB, you can tell they care about their customers. Pass on the bog chain bitter coffee places, buck the star and visit here instead. read more

I got their bacon avocado sandwich and it was SOO good! I probably inhaled it since I loved it so much. They also have a really great window seating corner so you can people watch and relax while enjoying your meal. The staff were super nice so please give them your patience because they were understaffed when I went and orders took a minute to come out. But it was definitely all super worth the wait. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Bacon Avo Toast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

Professionalism matters in coffee preparation and Home is always at the top of their game. Usually a delicious, though somewhat curious, seasonal offering that's worth checking out. Very cool vibe, hang out a while! read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The vibes here are so wonderful! It's a little tucked away, but super spacious once you walk in. Ordering is fairly simple at a kiosk and drinks are picked up at the counter. Things move relatively fast even during a rush. There's a lot of seating so great place to work or catch up. Drinks are on the pricey end, but they're pretty yummy! They had so many cool flavors, but I played it safe with a sea salt caramel latte. It was delicious and strong. I def want to go back and try some of their unique flavor combos. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I went here twice while visiting SF because we stayed just around the corner. The staff was friendly and their list of specialty lattes was quite long and impressive. I got her a birthday cake latte since we were there on her birthday--it looked impressive and I can see why it draws people in. But it was overly sweet for my tastes and for hers, and left something of a metallic aftertaste. On our first visit, I had the hangover -- iced espresso and sparkling water. It was pretty good, but I would have preferred less sparkling water (I'm sure I could have ordered it that way, but didn't know how much it would come with). During this visit, something went wrong with one of the grinders, so drinks were delayed by about 20 minutes and then, for some reason, my espresso with sparkling water was further delayed by about 15 minutes. For that full period, the sparkling water was already prepped and sitting over ice, so the drink was quite diluted by the time they added the double shot. Staff was friendly and apologetic about the wait (and offered a pastry as compensation -- didn't take them up on it, though.) The second time we visited, we kept the orders simple--an espresso for me, a cappuccino for my friend. Nothing went wrong with the equipment, but the wait was still pretty long--a third staff member arrived while we were waiting and things began to speed up. Hard to say if the slow (but friendly) service we experienced the two times we visited was an anomaly or the norm. (I know that the first time was an anomaly, but the second time it still took close to 10 minutes for the cappuccino--not unreasonable, but on the slow side.) There was probably seating for 12-15 people in a mixture of bar seating and benches with small low tables. The atmosphere was a bit stuffy (warm and humid), but the bench seating by the windows was comfortable. I may buy some of their beans--they smelled great and the espresso I had on the second visit was solid. read more

Came around for the Lunar New Years Parade and my girlfriend was looking for places near Chinatown to get some coffee and pastries. We ended up just getting coffee but next time we'll get something to eat too. Good luck getting parking, so I suggest parking near one of the garages and walking via the Dragon Gate. I was actually fascinated by the Coke-Espresso and was excited to try it, but it turns out it's only offered as a cold drink. I was looking for something hot as it was cold in the morning. I ended up getting the Birthday Cake Latte and man was it beautiful when it came out. A rainbow pattern of designs swirled into the latte and topped with sprinkles. This was definitely one I've never seen before, however taste wise, nothing that really blew my mind. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - 12. Birthday Cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was excited to come here because of the great reviews but left disappointed. The matcha latte was flavorless and chunky. The americano was crazy bitter, like the beans werent burnt. The baristas were very slow in ringing people up, and the display panel for self ordering made waiting in line very confusing. Inside was loud and awkwardly arranged with minimal seating and large gaps of free space. read more

Home Coffee Roasters - Iced Matcha Tea Latte with Soy Milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Love their coffee. Went there a couple of times and never disappoint. The service is also okay, although at time it was pretty busy and my order came late, they handed with a smile and the coffee was great. read more

Home coffee roasters--found this place on YELP!!! (Big shocker) my CM had reviewed it and her review sold me I had to try it! It was a short walk to Chinatown from the hotel I was staying at. I got an iced coffee and a chocolate croissant warmed. Both were so good! I've only ever really been to one other Vietnamese coffee shops before so I was excited to check this one out! It's very clean, cute and pretty inside. My coffee was delicious and the croissant was as well! I would deff come back! The menu has a wide variety of drinks and they have a good amount of fresh pastries! read more

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Not sure how I feel about this place. Service is decent, ambiance is pretty, the food / pastries is not great, and the coffee is decent. The chocolate mint latte is pretty good, but nothing crazy. The red velvet latte is not great. It lacks flavor and was really bland. The red velvet mochi was decent. The banana walnut bread was awful. Not sure if I just came here on a bad day but things weren't that great. Also the bathroom is really dirty as well. read more

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When your gate and door are open and your neon 'Open' sign is illuminated, it's not really appropriate to bark at the customer in an extremely aggressive manner that you're closed... ‍ I've heard good things about the drinks here, but there are plenty of places I can go where I won't be shouted at by just stepping foot through the (again: open) door. I won't be back. read more

Great cafe situated near Chinatown. They seem to specialize in unique lattes but I opted for the classic vanilla latte. It was a bit sweeter than I thought I would be. Service was a bit slow since the baristas were busy gossiping and I was in a rush. That's why I'm giving them one less star read more

Stopped by on my way to work around 8:30am on a Wednesday and there was no line, so I got helped right away. I originally ordered "The Hangover," but they were out of it. The cashier offered to make me something similar and said if I didn't like it, she'd swap it for anything else. I gave it a try, but it wasn't really my thing, so I asked for an iced americano instead, which ended up being really good. Even though they didn't have what I wanted, I really appreciated the great customer service. I'll definitely come back to try The Hangover next time. read more

Apparently I'll be the one person who doesn't really like this place. (Ah well.) But I think I might not be the target customer. The entire vibe doesn't connect with me. It reads like "cold, unfriendly hipster". Let me be specific. Here's what I didn't like: It was busy, yet no one was working the cash register. Everyone had to wait in line to punch in their orders, without any help or any welcome when walking in. Then everyone had to stand around awkwardly waiting for their drinks. When my drink was ready, it wasn't so much that the barista was rude, it was more a sense that I was an inconvenience and she had to move me along as quickly as possible. Then the other thing was the seating. It's like a panel of judges staring at the baristas as they work. As if the customers were expected to offer a critique of their work. I couldn't wait to get out of there. (Coffee was fine.) read more

Home Coffee Roasters - The atmosphere was rather cold to label it as "home"... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a very cute cafe in Chinatown. Unfortunately I did not love my experience here! When I saw a drink on the menu called "Hangover" I thought I was in the right place. They're alluding it to being a stiff drink, which is how I take my coffee 95% of the time. Essentially a sparkling Americano. The ratio of the sparkling water to espresso seemed off. It was not enjoyable from start to finish, and never mellowed out like they usually do for me. We were able to snag two seats at the community table. It was fairly crowded throughout our time and many of the tables are small. If you're flying solo this is the coffee shop for you. Groups of two or more, good luck finding a seat or working on your computer. There was a wifi password, though both of us weren't able to get on. Luckily I have an Xfinity account so we logged in through that since we had plenty of work to complete. They only have a single stall bathroom, which has a code on it. Literally EVERYONE in the shop was asking for the code. Why just keep it open at this point? We already have to wait in line with it being a single use bathroom, now we have to make sure we know a code too. I don't know, to me, this just puts barriers up when it comes to the overall ambiance. Maybe come here for a grab and go drink. Maybe a specialty latte with a fancy toast. That seems to be the move here. Did not feel at home here like many other reviewers have expressed. Oh well, next time! read more