Brew Garden — Restaurant in East Hertfordshire

This was my favourite coffee in Herts but it depends what staff are serving now. Staff are really nice all of them, but coffee very downhill now. I was in a little while ago and there were staff training other staff, saying a flat white only has one shot of coffee in. Flat white and latte tasted really bad. Had them remade and they were just as bad.

Gave them a week and went back, discussed the flat white and was told yes they have 2 shots in, a 1 shot flat white would just be a small latte.

Unfortunately the flat white and latte with extra shot were even worse than before. Partner said the flat white tasted worse than nescafe 3 in 1 and my latte tasted worse than an off brand petrol station and definitely had no extra shot flavour let alone any real coffee taste.

Seems like staff training and quality control isn't where it should be, really sad considering we would go out of our way to come here before. The staff that made such nice coffee before haven't been on the machine recently when we've been.

Seems others agree as the place was consistently busy while coffee lab across the road was nearly empty before. This time it had switched and coffee lab was busy and there was only one other person in brew garden and nobody else came in while we were there even though town was busy.

Really sad, I'd rather get a wetherspoons or high street chain than risk spending best part of a tenner on watery piss...

This is going to be a harsh review, and maybe it's me who's at fault and being unreasonable here.

I came here yesterday and had a great 3 hours enjoying my book, the friendly staff; comfy seats and the relaxing music.

Had another fantastic time, at first, today. Some of the same friendly women behind the counter from yesterday, whom I had delightful conversation with. And was even impressed by the younger girl who remembered me, as well as what coffee I drank.

However, after just over 2 hours the male staff member comes to my table; tells me their weekend policy prohibits use of screen devices, like my laptop I am using, during busy hours. But that he was willing to let me keep using it for now.

I certainly respect that, it's a nice way of creating an atmosphere in which people are more engaged and connected with one another.

But not 5 minutes later, he comes back and tells me, and I quote: "since the café is getting very busy, I'm afraid you're going to have to move on".

It seems like me buying only 1 coffee/hour, means I bring in too little revenue for them to justify me taking a seat from other potential customers.

I have never experienced this before at other cafés, and this unpleasant experience has left me with a very poor lasting impression of Brew Garden. It is unfortunate, as the other staff members has been...

£3 for what's nothing more than an expresso with a bit of foam on it, for which I was charged an extra 40p because it was made from oat milk - It was foam, not milk for goodness sake. Sorry, but that's just taking the Mick!!!

There are a lot of coffee shops in Hertford with more planned for 2025. I am far from tight, but I'm not going to be ripped off again at this place.

Also, the counter staff could be a bit more welcoming and the guy making my £3 coffee shot was just miserable. If you're going to fleece your customers, you could at least do it with a smile!

As they say on that famous TV program, "Not for...