Amavida Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Alys Beach

My family will never be back! The barista yesterday was incredibly rude and even though the quality of your coffee was amazing, it’s the quality of customer service that complements the business. There were zero people in line when I approached the counter when the barista told me she would “take my order on the other side of the register.” I literally took 3 steps over to the other side before she’d take my order. As she totaled my one item, she asked if the water I had in my hand was mine. I explained that I had previously purchased it at the cupcake shop around the corner. She gave me an odd look as if she didn’t believe me. I offered to show her the receipt, but she just ignored me. As we were about to leave, she asked again about where exactly we purchased the water. It was clear she was accusing us of stealing. My husband took out the receipt again to show her. She just waved us off with a smirk on her face. I understand how she would question us once about the water, but twice even after we tried showing her a receipt? A simple situation that could have been easily resolved. We’ve been coming to Rosemary Beach for years and have enjoyed coming into your coffee shop until yesterday. Perhaps the loss of one customer isn’t enough for your business to notice, but it’s enough for us to notice a new business with quality...

My family and I come down 6-8 weeks per year. I walk down to get coffee and breakfast food 5-6 times during each of my weekly stays. Getting 3 coffees and 3-4 pastries spending between $26-$36 each day.

Today I walked down as usual with my family and came in as we usually do. Got everything and sat outside and ate with our dogs. As we got done my partner said he wanted to get a glass of water, so he walked inside and waited in line and they said it would be .50 odd cents. He did not have any money, so he was unable to get water. He came back out to us and said you have a dollar. All I had was a credit card so he did not go back in. It ruined our morning.

I several restaurants and bars and a cup only cost pennies even if it has a logo on it. I think it is being extremely short sighted to not take care of your customers. Are you worried a stranger will walk in and ask for a cup of water and you are going to lose .50 maybe think that person might be a future customer.

I only take the time to write you because I really do like your business but we will not be coming back in and supporting your business until you change your policies. From my math of how much we support your business its between $780-$1200 a year. Thats a lot of glasses of water. Do be blinded by...

Extremely unfriendly staff today who didn’t jive with the vibe of Amavida. Amavida means “Love life,” in Spanish, and from the jewelry and chocolates on sale it was obvious the company wants to benefit women from other lands, similar to other coffee shop initiatives such as Pachamama or even Starbucks.

But these two people behind the counter today were unfriendly, even with each other. At the end of 10 minutes of observing them, I asked, “What’s the mission statement of Amavida?” The unsmiling lead barista said, “Amavida is a coffee shop.” “But…you have bracelets you’re selling for native artisans…so do you benefit indigenous women?” “Yes, those are bracelets,” she said with raised eyebrows. “But doesn’t Amavida benefit those women?” I asked. “Oh…yes,” the person waved at the plaques on the wall and said, “You can read about that there. And if you still have questions you can go to the Amavida website.” The barista with long hair was also unsmiling when I asked for sugar and she waved dismissively toward the shelf by the door and said, “You put it in over there.”

To cap it off, the barista with long hair brewed the cortado incorrectly so that it was super acidic.

The overall impression was these two people torpedoed this coffee shop experience...