Highland Coffees — Restaurant in Baton Rouge

Today was my first time here. I dropped off my sister in New Orleans and on the way back I needed a calm spot to finish up homework and grab a drink, which led me to here. I got a matcha latte with cold foam, and it was very strong and ended up tasting great with the added mexican vanilla and sugar at the front. The place was stunning and filled with plenty of students and plenty of tables for them to study at. However, later in the evening a friend also visiting Baton Rouge had dropped off food leftovers for me to eat later. Not knowing the policy of outside food and drink, an older man I assume was a manager or owner gave me a short lecture on hurting their business by not buying anything and bringing outside food in (my matcha was long gone so he had no clue I was a customer) and how people like me often come in for the space and not for the business. It was a very valid and understanding perspective as a store owner wanting people to pay for their services, but the way I was spoken to for the others studying around me to hear left me very anxious and uncomfortable so I had to leave. Overall, amazing pastry and drink options and very comfy-cozy space, definitely come here for a relazing study or chat with a friend. However, as a student, idk WHO has hurt this business or cause the projection that I witnessed but just know if you don't have a product of theirs on the table I guess someone will lecture you for it. I was excited to come here the next time I need to take a trip out of Lafayette, but for this being my first time I wouldn't say I feel very welcomed...

I visit this location this morning around 11am. It was semi-busy and we didn’t mind. I was excited because I was about to get coffee. This soon changed. The young lady that helped us either had a long night or no sleep because she was leaning on the corner and yawning. She took our order and made our drinks. So we ordered two coffees (ice lattes both with oat milk and one with flavor) which would have came to $4 & change which I rounded to $5 each. That came to $10 for coffee and my daughter got an fruit ice blended drink which was $5 & some change and I rounded it to 6. So my total before tax would have been $16 plus tax. She charged me $22.25. Of course I paid. I ask if she can explain how did she come up with the price she informed me that it was tax. After going back and forth with her clearing it wasn’t making sense to her and she couldn’t figure out how she over charged me. I left feeling cheated. If she just wanted the tip she could have just said that! There were some more other things that happened this morning but I just don’t have time to list them all. Very...

Coffee was pretty good, baristas were nice and the actual seating areas are nice, plus great range of home brewing equipment at a pretty decent price (not that it matters to me, I'm passing through haha).

Knocked off a star for two reasons;

1. espresso could've been better if they weighed their shots. I worked at a specialty coffee shop for a few months and doing this takes seconds, it wouldn't affect a busy period.
2. like another reviewer said, the steam wand was caked in dried old milk. Other than it tainting the taste of any drinks made with it (and it potentially against health and safety regulations), it just shouldn't happen if standards are high enough. Again, takes a second or two to wipe and purge a steam wand after use. BUT Those aren't enough for me to seriously downgrade a place. Literally everything else was pleasant and I'm probably going to pop back over there in an hour or two to grab another drink before the...