Dreams of Beans — Restaurant in Peterborough

I have been a few times to Dreams of Beans and I wanted to share a review of my most recent experience. This will be a long review; I write this with all due respect to the management, who I hope will consider what I have to say.

Pros:

Right off the bat, I love that the cafe has a no tipping policy! This is refreshing and removes the pressure of tipping as a customer. The employees are apparently paid a living wage of $25/h which is great corporate social responsibility. There is a also pay-it-forward system which helps people who could not otherwise afford to buy some food.

The natural light in the space is beautiful; I could imagine spending some time reading, studying, or just relaxing and sipping a coffee while enjoying the big windows and street view.

Cons:

The americano was weak. I ordered a double, expecting a nice strong coffee but I was disappointed by how dilute it tasted. The oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, while having nice flavour, was pretty dry and maybe a bit stale.

I did not see any regular/drip coffee indicated on the menu, despite it being available in carafes (which I only noticed after I had already ordered). It's possible I missed it, but I would have liked seeing it clearly displayed on the board.

Cleanliness. This is the main reason for the 2 star review. The floor was really dirty. My impression, as someone who works in food service and cleaning/maintenance, was that the floor had not been mopped in a very long time. The bathroom was dirty, and the tables and benches were sticky and in need of cleaning. It was apparent that there was a lot of dust up on the ceiling, piping, and ductwork which made me feel as though dust was going to fall on me and in the food.

Lastly, the service was relatively slow and unfortunately not very friendly. Maybe just a bad day.

I have mixed feelings writing this because DoB has been a staple in Peterborough for a long time and is a valued business in the community, but I think it is important to give an honest review for the benefit of the owners, management, and potential customers.

In conclusion, my opinion is that the current state of Dreams of Beans is not great. It has some cleanliness, food, and service issues, which I feel need to be addressed before I'd be comfortable being a patron again. That being said, I believe 100% that DoB has the potential to become a 5 star cafe; it just needs some work.

I look forward to coming again in the future and having an enjoyable experience, because I know it is possible.

Thank you for your time, and I wish you all the...

EDIT: After my disappointing experience the first time i came here, i decided to give it another chance and i must say, i am impressed. the staff was incredibly helpful, the beverages were very good, but my only complaint is the lemon poppyseed muffin was pretty dry and flavourless. i am changing my rating fro 2 stars up to 4 stars

ORIGIONAL: I am very disappointed. I heard great things about this coffee shop and I was looking forward to trying it, so I went there to study and try the chai latte I've heard so much about. when i got my order, the latte tasted kind of weak, but i just couldn't figure out why. unfortunately it took me until about half way through my drink to realize that it was literally just steamed milk with no chai tea, or even chai tea flavouring. i really regret not causing a scene about this. The atmosphere and decorating, as well as the friendly staff are the only reasons why i can't give this place one star. I am planning on trying this caffe again and i hope for better results.

EDIT: After my disappointing experience the first time i came here, i decided to give it another chance and i must say, i am impressed. the staff was incredibly...

5 Stars Our New Favourite Spot! 🌟 We had an incredible breakfast at Dreams of Beans and will absolutely be coming back! We ordered the Short Stack with fruit and whipped cream, the Big Breakfast, and a side of sausage every single item was packed with flavour and cooked to absolute perfection. Everything even the drinks are all made in-house, and you can truly taste the difference. It’s comfort food done right with love, quality ingredients, and care in every bite. The staff is amazing, warm, genuine, and they clearly go out of their way to make your experience special. The atmosphere is cozy, playful, and full of personality (we loved the comic book table design and being able to play jenga during our stay!). And the fact that they don’t accept tips but offer a pay-it-forward system to help someone else enjoy a meal? That alone deserves a standing ovation. This place clearly stands for kindness, community, and quality. If you’re in town, don’t miss this gem. It’s more than just a café—it’s a feel-good experience from...