Wow, what a cute little place, lots of local art, I got an awesome little purple ceramic mushroom,…read morebut they had lots of other things. And of course coffee, which was really delicious, the one I got. It was a cinnamon roll cold brew with foam and.... I don't know what else, but it was pretty amazing (iced). Lots of coffee/tea options, they have gluten-free goodies and I noticed they had some quiche and soups, so while I didn't get any food, I would not be opposed, for sure! The place was clean and bright, and the local art everywhere was really cool. The bathroom was tidy, service was great, definitely will be back when I'm in the area.

The location of Espresso Yourself Coffee & Cafe couldn't have been any better, as far as what I…read moreneeded it for. I'd just done a training run that began and ended at the shoe store across the street. At the conclusion, I was given a Paloma-flavored non-alcoholic beer, courtesy of one of my running group's sponsors, but what was I supposed to do with that? It was decided that we needed coffee. (How ironic, by the way. Receiving a free beer from your sponsor.) We seem to have gotten there just in time. There was already a healthy crowd of people who apparently weren't runners, based on their physique (lol jk), and several people from our running group arrived after we did. People apparently like this place. The vibe is quirky and independent, with a lot of random decor, including a Blues Brothers poster and a sign declaring that the Teletubbies are welcome, and a lot of local-interest signage and artwork. People in the City love to remind themselves that they're in St. Louis. You never see anything like that in my native West County. Truth be told, I wouldn't even go into a coffee shop unless someone else suggested it. It costs less at QT. But I figured when in Rome. I wasn't about to get a sandwich, in part because I wasn't hungry, and in part because I'm always wary of food from places that specialize in coffee, but I figured I'd try one of their fancy coffee drinks instead of just a regular coffee. I went with something called a Zippity Do Da, or something to that effect. It was a latte, served hot or cold (I of course went with hot), with... if I'm not mistaken, peanut butter, honey and mocha. I liked the idea that there was a peanut butter element, in part because I couldn't imagine what that would be like. Peanut butter, even the welfare version you get at Aldi, is at least somewhat viscous. Was this going to be more like a milkshake? That could be gross, and grossly caloric, canceling out any benefit of my training run. Of course I was going to drink it anyway. Turns out that the peanut butter was the element that was least prominent in the overall taste of this drink, though you could in fact taste it. I found it impressive that, if you concentrated hard enough, you could detect elements of peanut butter, honey and mocha. It's like when you purchase a fancy bottle of wine, from, perhaps, the aforementioned Aldi, and you really can taste bits of oak, vanilla, campfire and a slight nuttiness. No Diddy. These people are true coffee artists, the cafe equivalent of people who work at Subway. I'm at the nearby shoe store every once in a while, so maybe I'll return. I might even cop a bagel.

Easy coffee shop good for working in. Stopped here after an early morning flight and grabbed a…read morecoffee (seasonal coconut offering) and a cheddar scallion biscuit. I was disappointed the kitchen was closed because I really wanted protein and fresh food, but the cheddar biscuit was delicious and helped fill the void. The drink was very tasty. Lots of space for sitting inside, in the loft, and outside.

What an odd name for a coffee shop located in the lobby of a medical office building…read more Er, I'm assuming this is a medical office building. I've only gone there to have blood work done, and even then, only because I couldn't get an appointment at any of the other locations, natch. My understanding is that this building was built back in the 1980s, maybe around the time they built the Galleria, with the thought that if they built one such building others would follow. Fast forward 40 years later and not only is this the only skyscraper in the area, it's one of the only (semi-) occupied structures on this accursed stretch of Brentwood Blvd. I imagine foot traffic is minimal, but I'd encourage anyone who just got off the MetroLink on their way to stab someone at the aforementioned Galleria to stop by and have a look. This place makes a mean Strawberry Matcha. It might honestly be better than the one I had at the Upshot in Clayton, which I passed on my run from here yesterday. It took all the strength of will I could muster to not stop and have a burrito, like when Bill Clinton used to stop at McDonald's on his runs back in the early '90s. Weirdly, I'm now the exact same age, and let's just say I get it. All of it. I love the fact that they give this drink to you not stirred, so you can see the separation between the milk, the strawberry syrup and the matcha (whatever that is). A girl I was with (but not "with," natch) remarked that it looked like an Italian flag. Also, it probably ensures that you're getting the various ingredients in the correct ratio. Sometimes you get these lattes, and they mostly just taste like milk. They're not putting enough syrup in them, and the issue might be that the syrup is visually indistinguishable from the rest of the drink. It's a brown-ish liquid in another brown-ish liquid. The only way to know if it's right would be to taste it, and I don't need some of these baristas tasting my drink. I don't know where their mouth has been. (Some of them could do literally anything and I'd be fine with it.) Anyway, it was a good drink. The burrito wasn't as good as the burrito at Upshot, but it might be the second best one that I've had, and I've had breakfast burritos from all over: Living Room, Bike Stop Cafe, Goshen Coffee Roasters. They give you the choice between bacon or a non-meat option. I didn't think to specify (the heat may have permanently damaged my brain), and they had the sense to give me bacon. Kudos! I like the fact that there's potato in addition to the bacon and egg, providing variety and heft. The monterey jack cheese gives it a vaguely southwestern vibe, and then the chipotle crema that comes with it (truly a miracle substance) really sets it off. I also got a Pesto and Parm Focaccia, on a recommendation from one of the girls in our group. I didn't need it, and if the taste was any indication, this was one of the least healthy things I've ever eaten--like an elevated Cheddar Bay Biscuit from Red Lobster, if you can imagine. But it was good, and it was further proof that this place knows what they're doing, weird name and location notwithstanding.

I was remarking to a member of my running group that I've probably driven past this place a million…read moretimes and never noticed it was there. I'm not sure what I imagined it being. A Kinkos? Some place where I could print off copies of my zine about protecting the environment by committing minor acts of terrorism in America's forests? Turns out, it's a place where you can listen to truly random vinyl records while eating burritos entirely too good to be available in Clayton. Nothing about the latter says this part of town except for the price, which is almost like someone's cruel idea of a joke. I'd suggest that they're the best breakfast burritos available anywhere in the area, but what do I know? I've been eating breakfast burritos since the Reagan administration, when they were invented (as far as I know), but mostly of the microwavable variety. They have the potential to be the best food possible, because they combine the two other best foods, breakfast sandwiches and Mexican food, but no one seems to put any real effort into them. They're less likely than their lunch/dinner counterpart to cause gastrointestinal distress. People suspect that the reason Chipotle gives you the runs roughly every third time you visit is because of the cilantro, which is impossible to wash, but I heard it's really the lettuce. Never get lettuce on a burrito from Chipotle. If you're getting one of those bowls, why are you even going to Chipotle? You're probably already fat, and not eating a tortilla is not going to make a difference. But I digress. Upshot is primarily a coffee shop, and I think it's generally well regarded as far as that's concerned, though I'm no expert. I drink a nice, stiff six cups or so of whatever's on sale first thing in the morning and it usually ends up being the highlight of my day. I don't need any coffee in addition to that. I might get nervous. I've had luck lately with the seasonal selections at other local coffee shops that I've visited, so I figured I'd take my chances with an iced strawberry matcha latte. It seemed like it would be nice and refreshing after getting in a few miles with the homies, and damn it if it didn't hit the spot. You could see the actual seeds in it from where they must have crushed up an actual strawberry to make it, thus justifying the price, at least as far as they're concerned. They spared no expense with the burrito either. It's filled with surprisingly large chunks of bacon and avocado. Can they afford to give you more bacon because they don't cook it to the point where it starts to shrink? I like it when it's still kinda chewy, but I'm sure many would beg to differ. That must be how bacon is served in Clayton. They don't have the lovable old James bring it out to you, but I can understand, with this being 2026. It's not the lengthiest tortilla in the world, but it's stuffed to nearly overflowing with eggs, cheese, potatoes and what have you. I'd suggest bringing a date just to see if she could wrap her lips around it, but who's got that kind of money? It would have to be someone you've already been out with a few times, who's with the program, so to speak.

This location is built around a vinyl record/hifi music concept so music is a huge part of the…read moreexperience. Coffee is pretty consistent (similar to the other locations) with seasonal drinks and house-made syrups. I believe the food options are the same as well although I didn't try any at this location. Stylish, cozy, and trendy. Great for casual hangs or solo coffee runs (music can be loud though).

I was already familiar with Upshot Coffee's game from a visit to their Clayton location a few weeks…read moreago. I tried the breakfast burrito, and it honestly changed my life. I was able to get off drugs and reconnect with my family as the result of eating a burrito. You can imagine my excitement, then, when it was announced that a group I run with was meeting at this Tower Grove South location. I wasn't crazy about getting up early the day after America's 250th birthday, and there was the slight possibility that I'd barf during my run around Tower Grove Park (people might think I was back on drugs), but I was willing to risk it for the, erm, burrito. Actually, it occurred to me that I might try something else, for the sake of citizen food journalism. Then my decision was made for me when I saw that they carry a bagel with lox. I've eaten literally a million bagels with lox, going back to the 1980s, but only either at home or at places that aren't very good, like Einstein Bros. Alas, I was informed that the bagel with lox was currently unavailable, because they were out of lox. Which struck me as odd, given that lox is not served fresh. It's not like they had to go pull it out of the water that morning or have it flown in from Alaska, packed in ice. Was there a run on the lox due to a nearby media-industry convention? Did they accidentally leave it sitting out overnight? I imagine that would smell crazy. I went with the Everything, which may have been the better choice anyway. Named after the famous bagel seasoning, it's essentially a bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel with cream cheese and a tomato. But describing it that way doesn't really do it justice. You have to attempt to wrap your lips around it in order to truly appreciate it. No Diddy. It's the bagel-sandwich equivalent of their legendary burrito, and it might be just as good. The bacon and egg are perfectly cooked, with the egg just slightly underdone and the bacon nice and crisp but still with a little bit of chew. The helping of cream cheese is weirdly generous, to the point where just the cream cheese on a bagel would be a fairly substantial sandwich. The tomato, which was a little bit tart, made for a nice accent. It comes wrapped in one of those diapers they used to use on some of the bigger burgers at Hardee's, to keep it from falling apart the moment you try to bite into it. You'd still eat all the individual elements using your fingers, because you're a savage and because they're that good, but it wouldn't be the same. It's a testament to the thoughtfulness and the ingenuity of the kitchen staff at Upshot that they thought to do that.

Excellent breakfast burrito, iced horchata latte and atmosphere. Great addition to the neighborhood…read moreand definitely worth a visit!

Cute little coffee shop that's now known as The Press. I've had this bookmarked for a bit but the…read morehours doesn't really work in my favour so it's great that I was able to stop by and try their coffee! I got the matcha and was also able to sample the coffee. The area itself is open to stay in and do some work which is great. I would definitely stop by here again if I'm ever around the area.

First the at the Black Lab now known as The Press Cafe! I've been wanting to try this place out…read moresince it's associated with Tech Artista, a coworking community. Really enjoyed the ample amount of outlets for charging and that the seating was spaced well for gathering or solo work. My food and drink were good. Matcha was on point. The everything bagel had a slight mishap but the staff was super understanding and accommodating. Appreciate everyone there!

Stepped into this local coffee shop and it was everything great! The staff were super friendly and…read morekept things moving efficiently, even with a steady stream of customers. I grabbed a bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel with avocado... a classic, but it was perfectly made and absolutely hit the spot. Enjoyed every bite out on their lovely patio in the back. Definitely a good spot!

This is my second time visiting this neighborhood coffee shop in a residential area of Tower Grove…read moresouth. It is LGBT friendly and affirming. It's definitely a safe place. There is a one person unisex bathroom. They have an entrance with a few steps or a full ramp to enter. It is street parking only and I've always been able to get a close parking spot as many residents in the neighborhood walk there. There are scattered tables throughout the restaurant. There are plants in the front window, local artists artwork on the wall for sale and a glass case full of goodies. You order at the counter and they bring your order to the table when it's ready. On this visit, I ordered a breakfast bowl that had potatoes, eggs, cheese, spinach and tomatoes, with a side of toast. I also ordered a black pepper & rosemary scone, and a cold brew coffee. Everything was absolutely delicious. Besides this establishment having a wonderful and welcoming vibe, the staff is top-tier. They were so incredibly kind, friendly and patient. Absolutely love them!

Intimate cafe right on The Loop!…read more There are two floors with various seating. Order your selections (breakfast and lunch fare) at the counter, receive a table letter, and they bring it to you. My cucumber/hummus/veg sandwich was supreme! That bread is extra special. Excellent, fruity espresso! Timely service and helpful staff. Many university students study here; it's definitely got that vibe. And I appreciate wanting an entire 4-seat table to yourself because it's nice to spread out. However, please note it's possible other patrons in a group may want to sit together, and space on this earthly world -- and also at Meshuggah's -- is limited. Definitely will return -- lots of menu items I need to try!

Positively TRANSCENDENT French toast…read more (Also enjoyed my lox bagel and vanilla latte, but that French toast!!!)

Great coffee, calming atmosphere, healthy veg…read more Salads here are excellent and have some good sources of plant protein including garbanzo beans and egg. Croutons are especially standout, chewy and delicious. But note the menu is limited so don't expect food other than pastries and salad. The foot traffic inside is managed through seating customers as they order which does make the setting less chaotic. Nice atmosphere and decor, I will be back!

I took a chance today and was brave (drama warning...)…read more When I arrived here this morning, I asked the person taking my order to make suggestions and just went with what they recommended. Luckily, the suggestions were divine, and my trust is still intact ‍ They did ask me what I prefer coffee-wise, and I ended up going with my usual at any café (a vanilla latte). The barista recommended their house-made vanilla syrup and suggested coconut milk with it, so I decided to trust the process. I'm gonna be honest, y'all......I thought I didn't like coconut, but my god. This latte was DELICIOUS! 10/10 I also got a cheese and chive croissant, which was yummy, but I'm definitely going to try some other things here too. I do wish it had been warmed up. The place is clean and inviting. There are a lot of tables to sit at, but there's a 90-minute limit, so I assume they get busy. Can't wait to be back soon