Acton Coffee — Restaurant in Acton

We chose this place over Starbucks to support local. We had just arrived in MA on vacation and were excited to visit a small quaint town.

We placed our order and then stood with others to wait. One of the women making drinks would bring them up and set them in the counter, but her call-outs of the drinks was so quiet, no one knew what they were.

The next drink she set out after the smoothie my son ordered looked like the milky way blended that I ordered, but we couldn’t hear what she said. There was writing on the cup, so I stepped up and turned it so i could read it. It simply said “M blcoffe” so was it mine or not?

I stepped back and another worker with green hair loudly announced, “Just for future reference, don’t touch other people’s drinks because it isn’t sanitary.” THAT was certainly loud enough for all to hear. By the way, both the workers had touched the cup, no gloves. The creamers and other accoutrements sit on a counter for common use. But don’t touch any cups. Okay…

I asked her what the offending drink was, and she thought it was mocha. By that point, we had already been waiting for 15 minutes and I had been publicly shamed, so I just wanted to get out of there. I said I would just take that one, after all I’d already touched it. She replied, “Well, it’s probably someone else’s drink you’ll be taking and that will mess up other orders. We will remake yours.” I said it’s fine, and she said, “If that’s what you want to do, go for it.”

There were only a few people in there, and no one had made a move for that blended drink so it was most likely mine they messed up. I settled for a drink I didn’t order or want and I get a, “if that’s what you want to do?” No, what I WANTED to do was receive the drink I actually ordered. I guess that’s asking too much. Can I get my $5 tip and $15 for three drinks back?

Not great introduction to Massachusetts for this Midwestern girl. Next time, we’ll just go...

Pourover please? Sorry can't do it now, I was told. Pressed juice? Sorry can't do it now, I was told.

Constructively I should have simply been informed that staff was low, and it might take a while. I would have been okay with that.

Croissant? Almond croissant I ordered was fairly un-fresh tasting at opening time. This was my experience. Edit: rewrote to stay factual from my POV

Then some loud music starts, upsets a guest, and they just don't care (edit: as in staff did not offer to lower music?). He left.

Edit: oh and (edit: many signs) say what you cannot do. Every table marked with what you can't do (edit: as in, with a plastic holder with rules). Signs saying don't move tables. Even if those are valid requests... Consider how it makes guests feel when you have huge (edit: 8*11 seemingly, with large red font to fill paper) signs and negative requests all around...

Edit: on last point, for example, I have seen signs, usually with humor, wooden perhaps, hanging on wall informing about the desire for rules regarding table time limits or cell phone... I find those places more agreeable.

I appreciate that you took the time to respond, I do hope you sincerely realize there are observations that are valid here, nothing was made up. I have no simple other recourse as a consumer than to share to others, in order either to support other locations that "do better" or perhaps causing some introspection, which if it improves the establishment,...

Last month I walked into Acton Coffee Shop. Seemed pretty cool. What really caught my eye was the Java Crunch smoothie, which was excellent. Few coffee shops have such an interesting product. It was a blended coffee drink with choccolate covered espresso beans. I bought two, one for me and one for my wife. To be honest, it was extremely good and I was very appreciative. I was excited to come back and order the same thing again next time I was in Acton.

I came here today. There was a long line, maybe 10? I waited in line patiently to order what I wanted. When I got to the front of the line, I ordered two Java Crunches, and the person working there said that they weren't making them because the line was too long. He said I had to order something else.

At the very least there could have been a sign on the door. That would have been the bare minimum. At least I wouldn't have stood in line waiting for something I couldn't have. If you can't handle making something when your restaurant is busy, you shouldn't have it on the menu at all. This is not really an acceptable practice, so I think Acton Coffee Shop should make a hard decision. Sell the product or don't, but don't bait and switch me. You can't refuse the customer a product you sell because you...