Coffee Aroma — Restaurant in Lincoln

Great decaf tea. Great general staff team. Awful owner. This is a really mixed review. I spent a lovely couple of hours on the top floor of Aroma drinking several pots of decaf tea and a cinnamon swirl served by polite and cheery staff and enjoying the warmth of the sunshine through the window. I was on my own for most of the time, and then I was joined by 2 small groups. When I arrived, I'd turned of the music coming from the speaker, as I'd found the music selection irritating and preferred to listen to the busker outside. After an hour and a half, suddenly a person swoops in who I'd not seen before, walks straight in, reaches over a customers head, turns on the speaker and goes into the store cupboard, so clearly a member of staff. A minute or so later, dashes out again and goes downstairs, not saying a word! So I turned to the other customers and explained that I had turned the speaker off and would it be ok to turn it off again and all agreed. With one saying, yes, it is quite annoying. Peace resumes. 15 minutes later, the 2 groups leave, and the same member of staff swoops in and again turns the speaker on and starts tidying up. I explain that I'd like the music off. He replied that they were now very busy and this floor would be filing up. I said ok. But I was the only one here now, and when I'd asked the other customers previously, they were happy to have it off. He muttered something and left. So I turned the speaker off again! By now I was thinking about my lunch. I had planned to stay and buy lunch there, but the person made me feel so unwelcome I decided to leave. On my way out, I wanted to speak to the person, but they weren't there, so I spoke to the staff team behind the counter about the person I described, and they said he's the owner. I explained what had happened and why I was leaving they looked uncomfortable but didn't say anything. At that moment, the owner bustled through the front door, and I asked to speak to him. He walked away, starting to go up the stairs. So I called after him saying that he'd made me uncomfortable upstairs, that I would have stayed and bought more, but I was leaving because of him. He kept walking up the stairs and said, "Bye then." I appreciate music is personal choice and can add to the atmosphere of a place, but if a customer asks to turn it off, I don't really see what the issue was, especially when I was on my own! A sad end to my visit to a great little place in the spring sunshine that served great decaf...

Called in here randomly as oh desperate in need of a coffee after walking around Lincoln, sightseeing (it is beautiful and highly recommended btw).

The atmosphere appeared to be quite studenty at first and we kind of felt out of place. However the staff were very friendly, helpful and absolutely lovely in every sense!! They made us feel so at home and welcome. I had a dark hot chocolate with marshmallows and my oh had a cappuccino.... We also had a slice of cheese cake and a cinnamon bun.

The hot chocolate was actually heavenly! It looked very well presented and tasted perfect. The oh said his cappuccino was excellent and attention was paid again to presentation... And he should know, he drinks enough (high quality) coffee to be able to assess it.

The food was again very well presented. The cheese cake was nice enough but the oh's cinnamon bun was the star. It was delicious!

A young chap helped us carry our food and drinks upstairs, which we were grateful for as the stairs were a little steep. However, once on the first floor, the decor was fabulous!! There are drawings stuck onto a full wall of the room. I loved looking at all those. Different people, some amazing artists, some comical. All equally beautiful memories and leaving their mark. The ceiling was cool with a mural type poster and the room was light, airy and spotlessly clean.

We enjoyed walking down the stairs on the way out and seeing all the photos of groups of friends/colleagues? stuck to the walls. Reminded us of our student/younger days (some years ago!). Brilliant, and showed that bond, friendliness and fun the atmosphere there has.

We left a bag inside with oh's shirt in it and didn't realise until about 15/20 mins later. Went back. The staff had retrieved it and kept it behind the counter. Again, very friendly, helpful and sweet.

We would very much recommend this fantastic coffee shop!!! Thank you to all the staff there. You make the...

I recently visited Lincoln from the USA. Before my trip I did a bit of reading up on the local coffee houses and marked a few as "must visit." Oddly, a not-so-flattering review of Coffee Aroma is what made me decide I must visit. The reviewer sounded entitled, self-centered and unctuous...they had no problem with the coffee, the service or the ambiance. Apparently, they didn't like the music and kept turning it off so they could listen to their own. Anyone who has the audacity to walk into someone's place of business (or home!) and think it's OK to take control of the playlist or mess with the sound equipment shouldn't be allowed out in public. I found the music at Coffee Aroma to be absolutely perfect. As was the coffee, the tea, the hot chocolate, and all the cakes, croissants and toasties I consumed over the course of two weeks while I was in town. My only regret was not asking if the playlist is available on Spotify (if it's not, please consider it!) I will definitely be coming back--every day-- when I'm back in Lincoln this summer. I will miss not coming...