After seeing reviews decided to give this coffee shop a try. It's relatively nice inside and staff were friendly. Those two things are good but now the bad. Prices. A medium black coffee is like $5. . What it's like 6oz maybe 8. Same with the tea. Any pastry is also like 5 and I'm talking about a small slice of banana bread or bagel. As for the coffee itself it was ok nothing special. Will not be back. read more

Love the vibe of this place. So so cool inside. The staff are friendly. The coffee is legit. I'm so tired of Starkucks not making a decent drink...Ristretto Lounge is so refreshingly great. My cortado was incredible. read more

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Great study cafe! They have two stories first story is more for study groups that like to have casual conversation or for customers just enjoying the cafe and the second floor is for those who would like to have a little more silence. I wish I had something like this near me, I was visiting Alabama and studying for midterms and I came across it! The service was okay I would say the cashier didn't make me feel a bit too welcome. The food was good! read more

Great spot to get work done. There's plenty of lighting, which really helps with focus and productivity, unlike a lot of other coffee shops. The employees are always kind, and the banana bread is really good. Solid go-to for both coffee and getting things done. read more

their cappuccino was light and airy with the right amount of foam the whole space smelled clean and the tables were spotless read more

I think this place has a Korean church or some Asian affiliation to it which I think is incredible! Food was fantastic. I think the grilled cheese could've been cooked longer in order to melt the cheese. Drinks were so delicious and we just slurped them up so fast. There plenty of room to work as well' read more

Ristretto Lounge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

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Good vibe with outdoor seating, they also have good matcha which is hard to find. The service is always timely and the workers are polite. Their specialty drinks are pretty good but their espresso is not at all impressive. For straight-up coffee I would go to Well Red, but if you just want a coffee-based drink or something else this is a good place. read more

Great place to study hangouts or chat. Always has amazing music but is still relaxed. Best coffee in auburn. Baristas are quick and kind even when super busy. read more

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Give it a try The service is very good and there is lots of comfortable seating arrangements. Service Ambiance read more

I really enjoy the ambiance of the place as there's multiple areas to sit and plenty of different seating arrangements. The food is pretty good yet maybe a bit expensive but I really enjoy their everything bagels with cream cheese. And they do have different types of Asian foods that you don't see much in auburn that are pretty good. The service is good, the workers seem to recognize you after a bit and seem to build up some type of report. I have nothing negative to say except sometimes they seem low on food items yet I understand that can be hard to prevent read more

Really delicious coffee! I also enjoyed a bagel which hit the spot. It is definitely on the pricey side. It's not necessarily an everyday day place but a special coffee day pick for me. read more

Ristretto Lounge - a sandwich and a drink - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

This cafe hits nearly top marks in my ideal coffee shop. Drinks - 5.5*/5 Food - 4.5/5 Aesthetics - 5/5 -The espressos are spot on - bold and strong. We got an iced mocha and an iced "bomb latte" (Vietnamese style latte, aka latte with condensed milk). -They also sell Korean-style breads (red bean paste & soboro bread) that seem to be baked in house. Love me some soboro, but my dad complained the amount of bean paste was too little in his bread. -The high ceiling and wood beams create a cozy environment inside and plenty of seating for all! *Brownie points for the baristas creating iced drinks where the flavors were fully stirred in, so we weren't drinking lumps of sugar on the first few sips. In fact, very little settled until we were done with our coffee. Layers are pretty at times but this something I don't see often and want to give kudos to this place for a detail well-done! Looking forward to trying the Canadian Fog (maple latte) and a Bingsu next time! read more

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Great atmosphere and avocado bagel. Covered outdoor seating is a plus when weather permits. read more

Ristretto Lounge - a view of a coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Well worth the drive from auburn to study in a great coffee shop! The food and drinks are fantastic! I've had the tomato bisque with a grilled cheese, and while being simple, it's delicious. The breakfast bagel sandwich was so good. The drinks are also great! The servers have always been accommodating and helpful! It is a bit pricey for a drink, though. Their pumpkin pie chai is worth every penny however! The location is good as well! Inside the shop there are plenty of plants and it's nice and open with plenty of natural light. There is also an upstairs room that is more of a "quiet room" which is good for more intense work. Additionally, it does get very busy on the weekends/certain weekdays & I've had to leave before because there were no seats. Overall, I loved visiting ristretto during my time at auburn! read more

Food: The food at this location is very refreshing. The meals here have more of an airy tone. For example, on the menu or Korean-American culinary traditions. The Coffee: The coffee is really tasty. There is a nice selection of coffee drinks to try. The frappacino, espresso, and lattes are normally ordered. The most common drink I've seen ordered is the latte. The coffee is freshly brewed hourly. Staff: The staff is extremely friendly and kind. When I visit Ristretto, I'm always greeted with a smile and warm conversation. I've personally met the manager on my way to Taco Mama and she was still very kind and warm. Study vibes: This is a great place to study. The chairs are comfortable enough to be used for over 3 hours. Many students permeate the atmosphere, from Auburn University and the surrounding community college. read more

Love this place! The coffee's pretty good, and they have great bagels! Very clean cafe as well.

Ambience is nice and bright. Clean modern feel. Service was good. The one guy working the counter on a Saturday morning was nice and friendly. He did tell me that they are not serving as much food anymore and only has bagels and a few pastries. I did have a bagel and it hit the spot. I'd visit again if I am in the area. read more

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Mango bingsu (shaved ice) was so yummy and refreshing. Definitely worth the visit. The place is cute, clean and pretty chill. read more

Ristretto Lounge - Mango bingsu (shaved ice) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

You can tell this place is different from the second you pull up. Something natural about the outside that flows into the inside. Chill back vibe inside with a relaxing environment and ambiance. I had the pour over with a dark roast bean and it was fire! I plan to stop back in the next time I'm in town! read more

Ristretto Lounge - a view of a living room - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Great place to meet up with friends or do homework. It was a little crowded but I found a small table to work at. Later, I realized they had an upstairs area with additional seating. I got the yummiest breakfast crepe here too. read more

Ristretto Lounge - Breakfast crepe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

The atmosphere is nice and well done. The staff was very friendly and courteous. The location is a little off the beaten path, but not to the point of inconvenience. However, the one thing that will prevent me from returning to this business is the value proposition that they offer their customers. I paid $4.90 for a 12 oz cup of black coffee. They were selling 8 oz bags of coffee beans at the high end of the spectrum for a 1 lb bag ($20). While I am sure that this business is experiencing a great deal of success, I cannot in good conscience support a business that is egregiously gouging customers. read more

Food options very limited but their coffee is fabulous! Wish there were an option for almond milk. Love the openness and the music! Very chill vibe with quick service. read more

My first time trying Ristretto. The coffee was good but be warned, the to go cups and lids are super flimsy. My son and I stopped in for a couple of to go coffees and once back in the car his lid popped off and he spilled piping hot coffee on his leg. After making sure he was OK, I proceeded to explain that he had to make sure the lid was in place and showed him how mine was. Not too long later my lid popped off spilling coffee on my hand. I called to let the manager know about the cups but he didn't call back. read more

Very spacious cafe. Excellent study or meeting location. Coffee and snacks are great. Atmosphere is welcoming. Good lighting. High quality drinks. I will be back soon. Why didn't I know about this place?? read more

Ristretto Lounge - Pepi macha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

Ristretto Lounge opened about a month ago about mid-way between Auburn and Tiger Town shopping center. The cafe has vertical windows and I knew I visited at the perfect time, because I could see the fall colors surrounding the building. I also fell in love with the high ceiling with exposed natural wood. The cafe partially has the second floor with desks, so it's perfect for college students to come and do the work. On my first visit, I was not familiar with the first item on the menu: ristretto. The barista/owner, Johan Jo, was happy to explain what ristretto was compared to espresso and lungo. (Ristretto means shortened or narrow, so it uses less water than espresso; basically, it's stronger espresso. And lungo is the opposite; longer/more water shot) On my visit visit, the place was pretty chill, so I was lucky to have a conversation with Johan. I was impressed by his knowledge and passion for Italian coffee. I learned how to make drip coffee, levels of coffee roasts, his coffee cups, and the reason why he prefers Italian coffee (which you can also learn by talking to him!). He also told me how he planned the design, materials, and the construction of the building along with his long-term plan for the cafe. On my third visit, Johan had Brazilian coffee beans and suggested to have a drink with milk. I picked cortado and had biscotti (which his friend baked), and they were heavenly. I am very much looking forward to coming back to this lovely cafe and learn/try Ristretto's coffee. read more

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As a local for 12 years, this is definitely one of my favorite coffee shops around. I'm not really a coffee person, but I do enjoy going to coffee shops to do some work or get out of the house for some fresh air. I tried the Canadian Fog under the "Special" Things and found out it was a latte, and my first sip was amazing. It had a thick layer of foam on top with a heart design, and the taste was sweet like the way I like my coffee. I also had the chai tea, which sweetener was added to make it less bitter. In my opinion, it made the tea easier to drink as I do not like bitter drinks. The owner actually added the sweetener in without asking me, and that was a great decision made by him as I already liked sweet drinks. The atmosphere was calming and light as the environment had open windows for natural light coming in, and the interior was white all around. The owner/barista was very friendly too as I continued to come visit 3 days in a row that week. There was a second floor in the building, where it was complete quiet with no sound or music whatsoever. There were large windows where you can see the first floor and the outside view. It is definitely a great place for students to come study or if you just want to sit and do work some work where it is nice and quiet. I would highly recommend this place to everyone, and I can't wait to try other drinks on the menu! The following website is how this coffee shop came about: https://opelikaobserver.com/ristretto-lounge-will-be-a-place-for-coffee-drinkers-to-relax-and-for-creators-to-hone-their-craft/ read more

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I love the atmosphere and the coffee The modern and simple interior really makes a great place for group gathering or a place to just sit and read a book Coffee is really smooth and silky - loved the matcha latte too! read more

Ristretto Lounge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Opelika, Alabama

We were surprised as we pulled up to such a large space for a coffee shop, but it does not disappoint. Such a cool atmosphere with plenty of space to catch up with a friend, read a book, or study. Large menu filled with coffee, teas, specialty drinks, and baked goods. Definitely worth a stop! read more

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Delicious bagel sandwiches, fast service, and plenty of space. Wish we had discovered it earlier. We will definitely be back!!

This could not be a more unprofessional or more toxic work environment. I worked for Ristretto for four months and I've given my heart out to this shop and here is how I was treated. The owner disrespects his employees, is constantly harassing and demeaning us not only on our work, but attacking us personally. He brings matters such as mental health totally unrelated to our work performance into his accusations. There is also no line between friend and boss to him and he takes out his personal frustration and trauma on his employees. He expects us to volunteer our time and he uses the fact that we are paid to justify his treatment. There has been an issue of missing tips even before I started. All that being said I love Ristretto, I love the guests and other employees and I truly do not wish to disrespect anyone. However, the owners inability to take any responsibility of his actions or apologize for anything is completely appalling to me. read more

Love this coffee shop! I always try to visit here when I go to Auburn :) The owner and staff are very nice.

Drinks are great, service is quick, and getting a discount by bringing your own cup is also very cool

Food was alright, chai latte was also pretty good, but it took a good half an hour to come out (and different parts of my order came at completely random and far apart times), men's toilet seat was broken (little bit of a slip n slide) and I was asked to partially clean my dishes even though I already threw everything on them out. read more

Really good place to get work done. Very open with plenty of space and big tables. Coffee was good, a little strong for my liking but I still enjoyed. Food was good though I wouldn't get it again. They were out of the burrito which I do want to try. But I got a bagel and it was nothing special. Employees were friendly. Overall, good experience! read more

Pretty nice and quiet area. I ordered a latte and it wasn't too watered down with milk. Might have to come here again and order some food

Rather overrated. It reminded me of a lego land with the colors. The drinks were okay. They were out of what we decided on. I probably wouldn't go back. read more

A clean, simple, modern lounge with incredible coffee. Far and above the best craft coffee I've had since moving to Auburn.

The ambience of this cafe was quite nice! Very spacious and clean. The baristas were kind and quick with fulfilling my order. I shared a mango bingsu with my friend and it was definitely worth ordering! The mangos were fresh and not frozen, there was plenty of red bean paste, and the ice shavings were made of a sweet milk mixture. Definitely recommend this café! read more

Ristretto has a great balance between social area and study location. Being just outside Auburn, a college town, this is great for all aspects of college life. Personally, I go multiple times a week during the day to do schoolwork. The upstairs area is very quiet and great for focus. The downstairs feels more busy and loud, but with noise canceling earbuds it's also good for working. There are plenty of power outlets, which some coffee shops in town lack. They also have a back room for working. All the seating is comfortable and they have larger tables that are great for spreading out notebooks and supplies. The staff is friendly and helpful. I appreciate the pager system because it minimizes the noise when an order is ready for pickup, and is conducive to their various rooms. It's easy to navigate, has options for location of working, and an all around good environment. 10/10, would and do highly recommend. read more