BLEND COFFEE Roasters — Restaurant in Graz

Really good coffee and a great location. I like the urban touch of this café. The upstairs balcony seating also looks nice. Overall trendy.

Unfortunately they don't offer WIFI (at least there wasn't any on my visit) which could be a type of statement about de-digitalising an already overly digital world, or even just an effort to prevent people from hogging seats for extended periods. However, I'm afraid this fact could keep people from stopping by more frequently. – Especially considering other very established and popular Graz coffee chains nearby that do offer WIFI, this could prevent customers from switching over in an already competitive local scene.

Conclusion: I'd love to use Blend as a more regular pre-work coffee & email stop, especially as it has a modern and upbeat texture to it. I can recommend this coffee shop for breezy downtown coffee pitstops and casual meetings and am curious to see how Blend will continue to establish itself in the Graz scene.

UPDATE: I felt the need to give this coffee shop second take the following day (also to enjoy another one of their great cappuccinos ;) ). Upon my arrival at approx. 10 AM I wanted to give the food a review, that was advertised prominently on a little plaque at the cashier. (Breakfast sandwiches, Avocado toast, the usual suspects.) Sadly, I was told in a surprisingly short manner, that the sandwiches are only available in the morning and then aren't remade. A bit of a shame to advertise them nonetheless / to discontinue the service after only 3 hours of operation. – Unless the availability depends on the owner's mood? Ended up settling for a presumably pre-made pain au chocolate. Average.

In any case, I want to continue to hold my 4 star review and support Blend and the local coffee culture, even though I can't seem to fully warm up to the owner's slightly condescending vibe yet.

Give Blend a chance, it might be for you, but some visitors may be deterred from...

The location is great especially if you enjoy people watching from the terrace.

The main hall is not inspiring (It lacks design and feels like a hospital waiting room in an Eastern European country from the 1980's)

The owner invested a lot of money in an expensive and excellent espresso machine but the blend used is mostly robusta beans which taste buds can easily detect.

This probably explains why some reviewers (I speculate people in their twenties who spend a long time there on their laptops, never learned to prepare good quality coffee at home and only drink it in cafes) praise the coffee ; robusta beans have a higher caffeine content.

The pastry selection is limited. The items are fresh and not expensive but they are also not...

One of the best coffee places I've been to - Why? First of all the Barista knows his stuff, which is currently not the norm anymore. So if you ask for a specific bean they know what they get you, they know how to prepare it and have found knowledge to give you recommandations as well. Furthermore the price is more than reasonable compared to comparable coffee shops in Graz especially when you consider the quality of the coffee. I like the roof terrace in the summer and just the vibe you have in the shop of coffee enthusiasts! The store is fairly hidden but definitly...