21st Street Coffee and Tea

Recommends

cozzolongo

Joined 2 years ago

Best informed hot-drink enthusiasts in town!. I could not disagree more with the previous post.

My first impression was at their location in the strip district probably about 4 years ago. I was greeted with a fantastically cozy atmosphere and a chipper guy wearing a Hobokon, NJ T-shirt. He took the time to inform me about the different coffee flavors of the day and offered tea recommendations for my wife. I was a little struck by how long it took but figured it was a busy Saturday morning. Then I watched them meticulously grind the beans, and brew my cup individually using some crazy chemist's brewing method (chemex). I never knew coffee could be naturally sweet or to look for flavors like apricot or pineapple in a cup of coffee until I had theirs. My wife's loose tea was also delightful.

I visit them in the strip every chance I get and when they opened a store downtown across the street from my office, I began to talk it up to my co-workers who have also been extremely impressed with the quality and the service. In summary, I'm convinced their espresso is actually the tears of angels.

I'm shocked to hear that the previous reviewer was treated badly by an employee. In my dozens of visits I've yet to hear an employee be disrespectful to a customer.

As far as the "bathroom for customers only" that's pretty standard for all (American) establishments that I know of.

Doesn't Recommend

corndog42

Joined 3 years ago

Rude staff and horrible coffee. The worst experience I have ever had at a coffee house!

Snooty staff who think they are selling a great cup of coffee that actually tastes like DIRT! The service is absolutely HORRIBLE!

On a separate visit, during a rare bathroom-emergency (which I am sure we have all had at some point in our lives), I asked if their were any public restrooms in the area. They acted as if they were doing me a huge favor by letting me use their bathroom and demanded that I pay them for the priviledge. I gave them a buck and they still had the audacity to try to lecture me about their bathroom policy. When I left the store, rather than listen to them rant on and on, the guy followed me out onto the street and called me an @ssh0le in front of my little kid.

Seriously, Dunkin Donuts or McDonalds actually have better coffee than this place...and a lot nicer staff without a ridiculous bathroom policy.