Flatiron Coffee — Restaurant in Boulder

I've been a regular customer here for about 7 years. After my experience today I won't be going again. While we were waiting for them to make my girlfriend's drink I pulled down my mask to take a sip of my coffee. Before I'd even finished taking a sip one of the employees scolded me and asked me to keep my mask on while in the store. I pointed out that I was drinking the beverage they'd just sold me, and she said that if I wanted to drink I could go to the other side of the room. There was another customer sitting at a table without a mask on not much more than an arms length away from me when this happened. Based on reading reviews that describe experiences similar to mine, I'm left to conclude that the employees here (I can't serisouly call them baristas) are two things: very eager to assert their own self-righteousness, and not of the highest level of intelligence. It follows that the owners/management of this place either are oblivious to how their employees treat loyal customers or are complicit in this practice of alienating patrons through mask policing. I'll gladly support your competition from now on. By the way, I'm fully vaccinated and not an anti-masker or whatever. This happened the day before Boulder dropped their mask mandate, lol.

Edit: It occurred to me that there's a third possibility, and that is the owners/managers engage in mask policing because they are genuinely concerned for their safety and/or the safety of their employees. If this is the case I am only left to conclude that the owners are also not incredibly intelligent folk, since instead of creating a situation where they willingly alienate more and more of their own long-time customers they could simply set up their store to be window service like in the early days of the pandemic. What other reason could there be that they don't realize that their deliberate and needless rudeness will be remembered long after the pandemic is over and their previous customers will support their competition? Surely they know that their customers would understand their desire to keep themselves and their employees safe while still providing polite service. Or maybe they don't know. Maybe they just aren't mentally tenacious enough to understand that people don't like paying for...

I've been a customer here since I moved to Boulder back in 2012 as I walked/biked by every day on my journey to/from work. The staff was always friendly, even at 7am on a Monday morning (I particularly liked to come on this day as the coupons/inserts from the Sunday paper were often still up for grabs in the paper rack) and I really appreciated that they took the time to get to know me even though I probably had the most boring order they had each day I came in (iced black coffee with no room for milk).

Flatiron often posts awesome coupons in local publications, most recently buy one get one beverages (which I'm using today with a friend for one Bhakti Chai and one Bluecoat Malware Blaster - which is a quad shot and a snarky comment).

Within the past month I've begun coming here to do computer work and have not yet had a problem finding a suitable space/table. There is music playing but it isn't too loud or distracting (today it's disco music, and I do love me some Donna Summers). There are frequently a table or two of folks catching up/chatting/laughing but I find it nice rather than bothersome.

Flatirons as other local shoppes now carry Cholaca (read - liquid cacao, yes, liquid cacao) enhanced beverages. My favorite being the "Crackti" (Bhakti Chai with Cholaca). There are loads of suggested combos but you are welcome to add a shot to your drink of choice for just $1.20).

Snacks are numerous and I'm always pleased to see an array of Colorado made products such as: Noosa yogurt, Cocomel candies, Chocolove chocolates, and Bobo bars.

If you are inclined to ride a bike or park your visit will be much more relaxing as some other reviews have noted the spaces are shared with many other businesses in the same strip mall.

I'll be coming back soon with my computer and a friend...

I have never received customer service as bad as I did at Flatirons Coffee. During a severe windstorm I entered without a mask and was immediately yelled at by one of the baristas. She was very rude when I put on a mask and tried to get the wifi code and get some coffee, and my friend said, loud enough for the barista to hear, that we should just leave because of how rude she acted. The barista immediately hid behind a wall and ignored me while talking with another staff member who said nothing the whole time. I said in their general direction that the service was terrible, she looked at me from behind the wall and said “yeah, so?” like I was threatening their health. I felt so terrible as a customer and a person to the point where I needed to leave and spend my money at Brewing Market on baseline (much better service and coffee). With the distress of the wind storm and the fires in Boulder county on the same day, I just needed some coffee and internet because my home lost power. Flatirons coffee clearly cares more about regulations than the needs of a paying customer. 0/10 recommend this rude establishment unless you want to be treated less than human or like a criminal. I wish I had time to see the name of either barista before being glared out...