Tacoma Java Co — Restaurant in Bonney Lake

UPDATED 04/2025 [!] Everything about the previous is still true and it's working towards getting better.

Why? Well, there used to be a girl there that was an expert at being a barista. She made the most flavorful drinks. How? I can't really say. I can say the new staff needs some training on performing the service of making a drink. The drinks started off as too hot, lacked flavor, and were also extremely watered down. After a bit of talking with staff, we figured out something close to what the previous barista did and we've gotten on course to better drinks. [I got two bad drinks at the start.]

Now, the second time the staff were given a heads up because I figured the first time I'd give them a break and chalk it up to needing more time and training (which I'm working on just giving it time and it's working well).

I still like the atmosphere, and the drinks are getting much better. What was wrong was that there was too much flavor dumped into the drink, which (haha) made it taste like water flavored syrup OR the drink was too hot to drink for like thirty plus minutes (despite being asked not to make it scalding hot.) Silly things happen. Eh. I just didn't want to be parched for an hour. Though, it was kind of a bad combo of both at one time.

I think something changed up, because it went from a consistent problem to being resolved after a few visits. I'm not sure if it was because I spoke to staff, or if it was the review, Idk. Either way, I appreciate the proactive attitude (which is tough to do in retail, don't get me wrong, retail is rough) because either the staff, owners, or both seemed to have made a turn around!

Previously, I wrote my update to my review in hopes that the owners would come and look at the staff training to fix some of these problems, but I don't see that issue anymore. I really like my drinks here and they have the best variety of flavors, so I just... Yes! Keep it up! Thank you guys so much!

PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED: I love meeting people here. It's quiet, though it has its busy hour. I like the garage door that opens and closes. The seating arrangement is cozy.

My only tiff is sometimes the AC will ice you out and sometimes the open bay door.

Otherwise I love the banana bread, lotus energy drink combos, and the bagels are tasty (though there's not enough cream cheese for both sides for some odd reason). The in store food trays are cute (stoneware).

They have a whole section of board games for families (even little kids) like giant janga, chess, magazines, and more.

They have local artist little magnets, beautiful coffee cups for sale, and free bags of used coffee grounds that you can use for your garden. 🥰 The employees are usually in great if not fantastic moods. They're polite and personable.

What's...

I wanted to enjoy this place, I’ve given it many chances, however the quality is inconsistent due to high turnover, the drinks are WAY overpriced for minimally trained baristas. Every time I come in there’s a new face that mentions it is her first day, I stop by 2x a month and haven’t seen the same baristas more than twice. Also, back to the drinks being overpriced, why should I pay over 10$ for a 32oz Redbull???? I highly recommend Forest Canyon Coffee in Lake Tapps over this place. At least there a Redbull is only $5.

I also looked through the clothes rack last time I stopped by and they were selling a very visibly used sweatshirt (heavy wear in the armpits) for 40$. What type of business associates themselves with these low standards and care for clientele?

Edit to owners response: The sweatshirt in question is a blue zip up hoodie, unlike the others available for sale in your establishment. I was browsing for my wife, as she enjoys your coffee. Due to the defensiveness of the reply to this honest review however, she will also no...

I visited here rather than my normal café and was appalled how a manager treated the staff, it was entirely inappropriate how she reacted by itself but infront of customer made it all the more awful. Not everyone has what is needed to be a manager and she most definitely does not have it. I can't remember her full name but it was something like Lisa and she was a red head. Very unprofessional and disappointing to see someone verbally abuse workers under them and try to use public humiliation as a tactic.

The situation: The manager was training what seemed to be a new employee on the register. The other woman on bar (long curly black hair) kindly asked her if I wanted cream or sugar. Rather than answer her, she told her “let me do this you need to worry about you” essentially telling her to mind her business. The barista was simply trying to make sure my order was perfect and I appreciate that. However, I won’t be stopping by here again and neither will my relatives who...