Finally tried Ugly Duck this week and I was very happy with our experience! The staff were very friendly and helpful. I always like to look for espresso specials and we were not disappointed by the selection. My fiance got The Snug with maple syrup and molasses bitters. I was too afraid to try any drinks with bitters (I hate how it tastes in cocktails) but I took a sip of The Snug and it tasted great, I would definitely try that next time. I had the B.B.L. latte which had banana syrup, it was more on the sweet side but not overly sweet (I would avoid it if you don't enjoy a sweet palate, try a latte with bitters instead!) It was something unique to try and I was happy with my choice. There was also plenty of seating which is always a huge plus in the winter in Rochester. We had no trouble getting a table. I should also note that there was a very limited food selection here -- about 3 baked goods offered. So if you're looking for food and coffee, I would recommend looking elsewhere. Overall I would happily try out Ugly Duck again! I'm curious if they have outdoor seating in the warmer months. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Seating in the back half of the cafe, there are about 3 or 4 more tables towards the front. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Delicious drinks and beautiful patio! Ugly duck is such a nice place to grab an iced latte and sit outside in the summer! I've loved every drink that I've gotten. I'm not sure I'd consider this a good place to study, but it's a nice place to catch up with friends or take a pause outside with a good drink on a patio. The seating inside is somewhat limited, but the patio is beautiful. The buildings will provide natural shade in the afternoon. Parking can also be difficult and limited. read more

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Pretentious, Soho-inspired too cool for the room vibe and mediocre iced coffee. No sign of any "to die for (or of) pastry either, even though the shop was still open for another 3 hours. The best part was the "Welcome in" greeting from one of the baristas.. After that the unwelcomeness was as thick as my iced coffee was forgettable. Next time I will just stick with my tried and true Finger Lakes Coffee Roasters and their always welcoming Canandaigua Blend! read more

A short line but was greeted with a smile and asked how my day was, which was nice. He happily filled up my water and I got the spring special (Orange Channel) hot with almond milk. The foam was sensational and sooooo smooth. Well balanced and super yummy. Highly recommend. The inside is small, cozy, quaint. read more

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Great little spot! Stopped in for a brown sugar iced latte and it was delicious. The staff was super friendly, too. Definitely would come back again! read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Cozy coffee shop with third space vibes, everyone is very friendly and welcoming! The downside is that there isn't a lot of seating space--I actually came here a while back on a weekend and ended up leaving because all the tables were occupied. To counteract the limited seating, there isn't any wifi. While I can respect this decision, it is unfortunate that I was looking for a place to do work while sipping on coffee. I got the seasonal BBL (I'm assuming Banana bread latte). The latte itself is quite strongly brewed, and the drink was very banana-forward. There is a slight hint of acidity, but i didn't mind it too much. If I'm every in the area, I think it would be more prudent to grab something to go, but I do think it's worth visiting for the coffee and the vibes! read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - BBL (banana bread latte), 8oz - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Amazing coffee and wonderfully nice staff, my new go to place since my favorite coffee shop moved out of state so the owner recommended this one. Very small and not many places to sit because they are always busy but I always get mine to go anyway. read more

Delightful little coffee shop. We had an iced chai latte and a half sweet Snug along with a blueberry. Everything was perfect and baristas were very welcoming. No WiFi and not huge inside but good spot to stop by. Plus they have cute merch. read more

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I was curious about The Snug and gave it a try and wow!! *insert surprised Pikachu face* Balanced, nuanced, and surprisingly comforting. Soft notes, smooth finish, and just the right warmth. Easily one of the best specialty drinks I've had in a long time. The shop itself is beautifully minimal with a thoughtful vibe - from the latte art to the specialized menu (they had a Back to The Future menu). Truly worth the trip to Rochester on its own. Whether you're a casual coffee drinker or a full-blown bean snob, this place is special. read more

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These folks are always at the Brighton farmers market. They provide excellent customer service despite the large lines. Their barista's are polite and work fast the barista that helped me today at the farmers market had a beautiful penmanship read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - This is a vanilla oat latte posed in front of my canvas bag full of farm fresh vegetables. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Great coffee & conveniently located near city center. I typically order a hot latte w/ whole milk (non-dairy options are available) and a sweet if it catches my eye. The wait can be long on the weekends, so I tend to stop here during the work week. The rotating art gives the place a nice flare and it's easy to grab a table with friends. read more

Such a cute and cozy coffee shop. Really enjoyed the vibe here. The baristas were pleasant and offered service with a smile. I ordered an iced matcha. It was perfectly made. Menu offers a decent variety of drink choices. The only downside I can share is seating may be hard to come by. We stopped in on a busy Sunday afternoon and the options were limited. Luckily we were able to find a seat but you are cramped next to others on bench style seating read more

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Great modern cafe. I had the seasonal chaider which I really enjoyed. They also accidentally made me the wrong drink but graciously made me the correct one at no charge which I appreciated. They have their flow down as well, there was a large line and many orders but I got my drink in less than 10 minutes. Just an fyi there is no wifi so not a great place to work, but there is seating inside. Street parking is available right in front read more

I don't even live in Rochester and I order their coffee online. But when I'm in Rochester this is only place I go. These are my people All walks of life and not just Seattle hipsters which is what I'm used to. Good coffee as I mentioned too! read more

So I FINALLY came for a visit with a friend. I remember when this area was kind of barren. All that was around was Harts (now gone), 2Vine now REDD and some nice Appartments. From what I was told this space was an art shop:gallery. The person who started this spot was originally doing Pop-Ups at Scratch Bakery when it was on Park as well as other places. This free standing space is cool and it looks like they have an outdoor space to sit outside during the warmer months. The inside is not huge but well lit and bright. Lots of plants around and plenty of merchandise for UGLY... no joke. The list of coffee/tea etc is pretty compact but that's fine. They also offer some bakery goods I guess they use different ones each cycle.. but don't quote me on that. I was not feeling the selection they had and just got a drink. This spot was busy and I can see why most people will get their coffee to go. We were lucky to get a seat and a small table. They brought our drinks to us. I had the EARL TEA SHIRT EARL GREY CARDAMOM MAPLE ICE MILK I liked it came in a large cup and saucer a nice touch and I loved the color of them. My friend got I believe a macchiato or something I can't remember but it came in a smaller version of my cup set. The drinks were good, prices are pretty much what you would expect at a coffee shop. My question and I should have answered do they have WiFi? I get the feeling people come here to visit not work. Staff is hella hustling the drinks. Would I come back, sure if they do outdoor seating that would be lovely and a lot less crowded inside. Nice staff and good drinks. If you are hoping the seating is comfortable it's not.. sorry not sorry. I had a nice visit with my friend and that was priceless. The parking situation to be frank I think is only street as I'm not sure if you can use the lot by REDD. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Drinks - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

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I LOVE UGLY DUCK. If you're in rochester, this is definitely one of the best coffee shops to visit. This will always make my top 5 coffee places in rochester due to how amazing it is. It supports cute small businesses and great causes. They are also Celiac friendly and have an amazing selection of gluten free pastries. So accessible! And the coffee is so good! read more

So busy on the weekend, would def go earlier before 9am if you want some peace. Nice outdoor seating. Matcha latte w/ vanilla syrup was yummy but tasted mostly like my choice of milk. Would love to try their hot drinks once it's colder out! read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Matcha latte with whole milk and vanilla syrup - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Cute little coffee shop with unique flavors and unique flavor names. Very busy when we went in. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

This is my favorite coffee shop to visit when I'm in Rochester! The cutest, quaint shop with coffee that is clearly made with love and attention. The baristas are very friendly and welcoming. Service is always fast and great. Their croissants are good too. I recommend ugly duck to anyone who loves a good pastry and coffee to go with it! read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Iced caramel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Nice, clean cafe with friendly service and a small menu with excellently crafted drinks. There is not a lot of seating and no wifi so it's less great as a study spot. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - exterior - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

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It's a great and welcoming place! The price is a bit higher than expected, but not too much. The modern vibe is really nice. The coffee wasn't my favorite however, It was my first time there, so I'd recommend checking it out. read more

Best coffee in Rochester along with an overwhelming selection of vegan pastries. I mean come on. Almost sounds too good to be true. No wifi? No problem. The atmosphere is chill as hell. Super friendly baristas too. Grateful to live a short walk away from here. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Latte with oat milk and some vegan pastries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

We decided to stop by this Cafe after the one we wanted to go to had closed. We found this one online and wasn't sure what to expect. Upon entering, we were pleasantly surprised with the cafe feel of the area. This time, we just wanted to grab something to head back on the road. In the future, we would consider sitting here for a cup or two of a delicious cappuccino, latte, cold brew, etc. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

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Looking for high quality coffee, lattes, or kombucha from Happy Gut Sanctuary - look no further than "Ugly Duck Coffee" by East Ave in downtown Rochester. The service is friendly and fast! I tried the specialty espresso drink with molasses bitters and maple syrup (wasn't overly sweet which I appreciate) and Dan ordered a cappuccino to go. We look forward to returning to Ugly Duck Coffee! read more

They had a delicious earl grey tea special drink (the cenobite) that was well flavored and spiced. Their vegan chocolate chip cookie was to die for and a perfect dunker! Friendly service and a nice, cozy interior. No wifi so not a great place to work read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - The cenobite, the snug, vegan chocolate chip cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love this little spot tucked away behind the little... They offer a few specialty drinks as well as coffee tea hot chocolate and Matcha Usually a rotating art display there is plenty of seating inside and a few seats outdoors when the weather is nicer. Lots of plants and a very Scandinavian feel inside read more

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Very busy place! Good coffee and nice inside the building. Looking forward to my next visit!

This coffee place is the best! I dont like sweets but they have this pistachio croissant that is absolutely amazing! Also their coffe is delicious and always make it look good too which seperates them from the rest :) read more

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One of the highest quality coffees in Rochester! Always my go to downtown. A bit short on seating and no WiFi available, but I love it for a to go iced Americano. read more

Cute place ambiance is nice! The staff is friendly and helpful. We go the green tea and it was delicious. Also to top it off they have a dog friendly outdoor patio. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Green tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Some of the best coffee in the area! I have frequent appointments a few streets away and always make sure to stop in at Ugly Duck! Great staff and great coffee! read more

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I loved it here! Delicious coffee made quickly. Their coffee is great, the interior is adorable, and there is a bunch of seating. Staff is very friendly. I got a mocha latte which was great. They have a variety of pastries, coffee beans, and merch for sale. There is parking around the area. Only downside is no WiFi. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love their speciality coffees. Gets packed on weekends so definitely go on a weekday for more ample seating. Only downside is they do not have WiFi but I think that's fits what they want to portray. read more

5* coffee, some of the best I've ever had. (It makes Nation's Best lists.) Indoor space is a little cramped but we found seating. Outdoor space is great. read more

La Marzocco and Mahlkonig brought together perfect harmony to this coffee shop. I would definitely recommend this place if you take coffee seriously. I noticed their workflow was flawless. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Cap and croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Every time I want to try something new.... I can't. Their Chaider is just too good - and it's a mix of my two favs- chai and cider. Maybe one day I'll branch out. But I'm also perfectly happy just as is. read more

ON POINT. First, I love that they recognize COVID is still rampant. All the employees had masks on and encourage masks on their patrons. Second, everyone was super nice and welcoming. But most importantly, the lavender latte is DELICIOUS. And they add little tiny rainbow sprinkles on top! The espresso is so smooth and delicious. I just wish they carried bigger cup sizes. Probably one of the best coffees I've had in Rochester! They have some outdoor seating as well. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Iced Almond Lavender Lattes, one with rainbow sprinkles! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

One of the best Carmel lattes I've ever had. The Carmel was the prefect blend of sweetness without over doing with. My husband got the "the snug" and despite the warm weather all I wanted to do is curl up under a blanket. This is a great place to catch up with a friend and or catch up on some work. The coffee was some of the best I've ever had and will definitely be back read more

Loved the vibe here. They offer interesting coffee options and a small assortment of baked goods. I had a delicious maple scone. Friendly staff. read more

Ugly Duck Coffee - Coffee and scone. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Rochester, New York

Tasty coffee and friendly people. The cortado is luscious and smooth. Excited to try the bag of beans I bought there too.