My favorite coffee shop which is much more than that. Great coffee... wonderful owners and staff and delicious house-made specialities. Try everything and often. I highly recommend the Pastrami Reuben... and the coleslaw and the bacon... oh, and the house-made nut butter... and the special syrups... and the chai is really good... I could go on and on. I'm writing this during COVID-19 SIP.... because I miss Retrograde so much. read more

I thought I already wrote a review a while ago but apparently not. There are many coffee places in Sebastopol and many in California but never have I run into coffee so consistently amazing as Retrograde. I would have to go to Santa Cruz and go to Verve to get anywhere near this quality. Food and desserts are wonderful and the service is friendly and sweet. Buy the beans and see for yourself. We bought the Ethiopian and no matter how we made it it turned out wonderful. They always have super fresh batches as well. I give this my wholehearted approval for the best coffee. read more

Our go to coffee shop where you feel like you still live in SF, but with a more community vibe. My favorites are the honey latte and vegan breakfast sandwich! Love how they display a local artist artwork each month. It's also nice when you buy a bag of beans you get a free black coffee. read more

This was my first visit and I am thrilled with my entire experience. It's a really awesome local coffee shop! Beautiful interior with live plants and local art. Seating is a bit tight but I was also there in the Monday morning rush so that might he why I felt that way. I got the New Orleans style coffee with the house made lavender instead of chicory and holy moly guys! It is AMAZING! I am considering going back for seconds! I also got the breakfast sandwich and the yogart parfait and they were equally delicious. Very fresh, local ingredients which I love and will always support! The customer service was outstanding to top it off. All of the women who helped me did so quickly and genuinely. I will be back many more times! I am definitely a new fan! read more

I haven't been inspired to write a yelp review in awhile but this place deserves it! I don't drink coffee but love a warm and stimulating drink. This place has great healthy delicious coffee alternatives like turmeric and matcha lattes. They even make their own lavender syrup! Soooo Sebastopol in the best way. And..if that's not all they have delicious food options. Not those stale tired mass produced baked goods you find everywhere else These folks have upped the cafe bar sky high... read more

Delicious coffee. I tried a latte this time, but everything on the menu looked and sounded good! The mocha and hot chocolate especially sounded amazing, with 60% Tcho dark chocolate, but I was keeping the sugar to a minimum. Maybe next time I'm in town! :) read more

Funny story. I headed up to Sebastopol because I had a hardcore craving for fried chicken Do you know that feel? I wanted me some Hip Chick in the worst kind of way with THEIR sauces..and THEIR appetizers...but guess what? They no longer have their restaurant. My heart was crushed with sadness. I mean ya ya I know their product is still in stores..not the same..but it will have to do. But ok so here is where my story began to look up! I live in Petaluma. I know my story jumps around. But its ok. You can keep up. One of my fav little restaurants around the corner from where I live carries Retrograde coffee. And I loved having the coffee at the restaurant. Well here I was sad faced and taste bud bummed out until ta da! Right next was Retrograde! So I mosied on in and guess what?! I went from sadness to gladness! Not only did I have an amazing cup of coffee but I also took home a pound to enjoy because it is so amazing. read more

Retrograde Coffee Roasters - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

My favorite farmer's market find! Casey and Danielle offer a great coffee experience with new specials always on the menu. My current favorite is the homemade coconut cream cold brew! We follow them around the markets across the North Bay just to start out our day with one of their handcrafted coffees. read more

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Love this coffee place! Offering specialty drinks and pour-over coffees, Retrograde is a must visit in Sebastopol.

Awesome coffee. Great staff. Nice environment. Food is good but kinda limited offerings. Pretty small portions, better for a snack or light meal. read more

This is THE best coffee stand - we always start with them at the Petaluma farmers market Tuesday morning. They roast small batches, use the best ingredients, and are always happy to chat about what's new. Let them introduce you to new treats like a cardamom latte or bergamot cold brew, and add coconut milk to your pour over single brew! As an added bonus, they make the most delicious jams from the seasonal local fruit. Bring your jars back and they give you credit back! Thanks Danielle and Casey! read more

Friendly and warm staff, homemade syrups, delicious flavors! Best cup I've ever had. Live this place.

As someone who works and writes in coffee shops wherever I go, I can tell you I super appreciate how cozy and warm it always is here, so many coffee shops have it so cold you have to suit up to sit there, not my idea of fun, but not here. Open and bright with cheerful and helpful people behind the bar, wonderful home made chai and all kinds of options for the more adventurous tea drinkers, can you say tumeric latte? And I'd give an extra star if I could as one of the first times I went there, I left my portfolio with so pads full of writing in it, and Danielle, one of the co-owners sent me an email to let me know she had it. So of course I dropped off a thank you card. This last week I was back again, with a friend, for a writers morning, and Danielle came out to thank me for the card and to introduce herself, and to hand me my most favorite hat-yep I left it the last time, and she had noticed it and saved it for me. That's it, she's deep in my heart, go, she might nestle into yours too. Love my local coffee shops, and this is one of the best. read more

Great Oat Gibraltar. The staff was very cheery and fun. They sang songs and seemed to really enjoy their job. Good location in walkable downtown too. read more

These two are dedicated to honest and high quality specialty coffee. Everything I have tried at their coffee cart was excellent. Their gibraltar is incredible. The cold brew is insanely good. I loved their Arnold Palmer, so refreshing. Catch them while you can. They are going places! read more

Delicious drinks -- rocket man (iced coffee) and the turmeric/cinnamon latte. Plus a nice variety of milk substitutes. Great food as well, we had a delicious vegan scone! read more

This is a great coffee shop. They have yummy food and exciting and tasty coffee choices. Staff is friendly and hard working. They are always so cheerful- it might be the caffeine, but I think they are just good people. It's a small place but they have a little sitting area out back if it's a nice day plus a a few spots on the storefront. Gluten free options that are tasty! read more

Amazing coffee and unique menu options--I loved it, but I just wish it wasn't so packed. I've been looking for a place to do some work, remotely, I wish this place was just a tiny bit less intense, but it's a good thing--it means they're doing something right by the menu! read more

I met Casey and Danielle at the Petaluma farmers market and have always enjoyed their company and their coffee and tea. Casey personally selects and roasts all the coffee they use and the beans they sell. They blend their own espresso so it is always fresh and special. I am a coffee professional and their espresso really passes any test. Casey also is the barista and has a top espresso machine for pulling exact shots. I am always looking for something new and currently enjoying and looking forward to the next market where I can have another Gibraltar (4.5 oz) Espresso with a small amount of steamed milk. They also make super cold brew coffee and flavored ice tea. read more

First visit to Retrograde last week, and was pleasantly surprised at how great it is. Outstanding food and coffee/tea selections, very friendly staff, affordable prices, fun atmosphere! They even have gluten-free bagels! Highly recommend! Returned today, and realized it reminds me of a NYC Village coffeehouse in the 70's, when I was the same age as most of their customers! Good times, great vibe! read more

Coffee: great, not burnt, they let the coffee bean aroma to develop. Tea selection is decent with an Oolong loose leaf quite decent. Great ambiance, friendly service. We will come back when in town. read more

Retrograde Coffee Roasters - Tasty Cappucino, good Oolong tea and yummy fresh lemonade. - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

You cannot go wrong at this place. It's my favorite go-to spot and I always have a great experience. Everyone that works here provides top-knotch friendly customer service and works hard. Excellently managed, organized, clean and beautiful. I've tried lots of items, here's my favorites: Breakfast sandwich with veggie sausage (currently eating as I write this) Turkey Melt on Gluten Free Bread Gluten Free Bagel w/ House Cashew Butter Rose Charcoal Latte Vegan Paleo Macaroons Can't say enough good things, I'm slightly obsessed. read more

IF YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL GLUTEN ALLERGY, BEWARE!! This place is not actually gluten free!! Even though it says gluten free all over their menu, they make all of their food on a shared toaster/griddle that they use for both gluten free and non-gluten free. Even the frittata is on that shared griddle. So, I came here with a group and couldn't eat anything. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to at least have a separate toaster. read more

I got a latte that was really delicious. The staff was very helpful and nice. Definitely will be coming back here next time I'm in the area. read more

Rude staff totally unhelpful. First time in trying to buy a coffee, had my baby in a stroller and teacup dog with me. After struggling to weave through the very narrow isle to the register, with barista just staring at me struggling, he Refused to serve me because I was carrying my dog - no offer to bring a drink outside for me & just let me order - just "get out, no we can't serve you". (There were 2 staff behind the counter and no line) Rude!!!! Then watched me struggle back out. I'll never go back. read more

The attention to detail Casey and Danielle put into every element of this place really shows. They obviously care deeply about the science of coffee roasting (and do it better than anyone else in town as far as I can tell); they are meticulous in the design and preparation of their beverages; the food is delicious and diverse in offering; the art is beautifully curated and the atmosphere welcoming. Nicely done, guys. read more

I'm new to the area and trying out different places to eat whenever I go to town. I ordered a chai tea and vegan breakfast sandwich. After 15 mins and still no sandwich I asked and they forgot the food part of my order. Everyone involved was super kind and friendly about the situation and they comped my sandwich and gave me a free cookie. I wasn't expecting them to be so generous! There's plenty of seating, beautiful art, and a large selection of coffee and food! I'll definitely be returning! read more

Best coffee house in town! They roast their own beans... and make the syrups from scratch! Try the Sweet cream in your latte, or the pumpkin spice, made with real pumpkin! read more

A hot chai latte was in order yesterday as I biked to Sebastopol from Santa Rosa in the rain and wind! Retrograde has one of my favorite chais in Sonoma County. It's quite spicy and they will adjust the sweetness to order. Plus, the nutmeg grinder is out on the counter so I get to put on an embarrassing amount without bothering the barista. Yesterday was also the first time I've had a meal here. I ordered the cold egg salad sandwich, which was quite generous in size and flavor for the price. The bread was a nice sourdough, presumably from a local bakery and the egg salad was homemade. I've also had pastries here on another visit and they were divine. The apple croissant was an exemplary, flaky puff pastry and the salted chocolate chip cookie had so much lovely bittersweet gooeyness. I make it out to Sebastopol at least once a week on my bike, which means I'll be justifying more baked goods and chai at Retrograde. read more

Retrograde Coffee Roasters - Forgive the missing bites. I was so hungry that I started eating before I realized that I should take a picture! - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

For the TLDR crowd, try this place because it's amazing. For the rest of you, here are my thoughts: I'm a little sad I won't stumble across Retrograde at farmer's markets and random events anymore, but very excited that now I know exactly where to find them all the time (in my hometown)! I think I first found them at the Wednesday night farmer's market in downtown Santa Rosa. The Gibraltar they made me was so good that a run of the mill cappuccino from somewhere else became disappointing. So I started showing up every week and striking up random chit chat with the owners, telling them how I thought they were doing amazing things. They were genuinely appreciative of the positive feedback and so enthusiastic about all things coffee that it was obvious they were born to do this. Roasting your own beans to your own specifications so you can know you're using only the best stuff for your customers takes a special dedication that is rare these days. Sebastopol is lucky to have Retrograde in its new location. Let's show some appreciation and show up, often! read more

Retrograde Coffee Roasters - Gibraltar! - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Sebastopol, California

Great place. Awesome staff. And sure the coffee rocks. Breakfast sanny is my jam!

So, after a bit of time, I've grown to love retrograde. They are super friendly, have seriously quality products, including great options for GF people, and I don't mind paying the extra dollar to support local businesses. Some of the best chai around. Sorry for the crap review the first time around, guys. I'm really glad you've made it through the pandemic. read more

Definitely my new favorite coffee spot! Went 2 days in a row for a latte made with their in house hemp/coconut milk- SO delicious. My fiance got the turkey pesto sandwich and hours after finishing it said he was still thinking about it! The place itself is super cute, and the staff is always pleasant! Highly recommend read more

One of my favorite coffee stops in Sebastopol. Dont stop at coffee, the food is excellent and I would come here for lunch! Service is great! They have a few unique kinds of coffee and the staff helps you select one of your liking. Only problem is the seating. Kind of small space. read more

I love this spot! The coffee is so tasty, and the staff all cheery and helpful. Nice warm community atmosphere. The food is really good too! I recommend the cashew butter toast. read more

The coffee and atmosphere here is awesome! The staff is super nice too. I'm so happy to see this place thrive after years of mediocre cafes and turnover in this location. The owners have done an amazing job and are are very kind to everyone. Also, I have to say that other coffee in town gives me a stomach ache, but this coffee is consistently high quality and delicious. My favorite is the Mocha, which is the best in town, by far. read more

Good branding, bad coffee. Went here with my family, first impressions were good -- very cute and nice environment. $25 for 5 coffees and we were all unhappy. Very weak coffee, all of our drinks either tasted like milk or water. Mochas were bland, and lattes tasted like dirt. Very disappointed. read more

Wonderful service, excellent coffee and food, and a lovely and homey environment. Highly recommend!

I believe Retrograde has every potential to be "the" downtown Sebastopol coffee hangout, and I fully support it. I am writing this somewhat negative review in hopes that the owners/management will take my comments to heart and improve. My husband and I were there over the weekend before xmas, for the first time, despite being Sebastopol residents, we just somehow never got the opportunity to go in (we tend to hang out at Coffee Catz). The space was cozy and buzzing with warm neighborly vibes. Customers were hanging out at the counter bar, and small tables. The coffee menu was broad and prices fairly reasonable (not cheap). The baked goods under glass display looked yummy. I ordered a decaf espresso and a croissant, my husband just a coffee and also a croissant. I wish I can say everything we had was great, in fact, I would settle for just average. My husband's coffee was ok, not great, not bad either, but definitely acceptable. Our croissants were soggy, doughy, and tasteless. My comment to my husband was, "did they get these croissants from Safeway", as that's what they tasted like, except it was not Safeway price. The worst part was the decaf espresso, which took them 10 minutes to make, despite just an average crowd size. No problem, I waited. Upon my first taste, I almost spat it out. It was astringent, extremely acidic tasting (almost like vinegar), and had the most unpleasant mouthfeel. I passed it to my husband to taste (we both love espressos), and he said it didn't even taste like coffee (he was right). Not sure if the roastery made their own decaf, and messed up on the particular batch, or if the barista didn't get the right training, but that was the worst espresso I had ever tasted. I didn't want to make a fuss, so I did not go up to the counter to complain or let them know. Again, I do think there is room for improvements with this little roastery, and I sincerely hope that they will take my comments as constructive criticism. We will give them a second chance for sure, as we do support local small businesses in our little town. read more

Really great coffee & friendly folks working there. I had a cappuccino & parfait. Coffee is perfectly prepared. Don't waste your time at Starbucks. read more