Rivers Edge Coffee Company - Shop — Restaurant in Mechanicsville

My husband and I visited River’s Edge for the first time in a while after seeing their Facebook post celebrating their 4th birthday! We went with a mission: to sample the delicious Funfetti crumb cake and the indulgent Birthday Cake latte. We had been to River’s Edge a few years back, when they were still called Little Bean, and they are still at the same location. We noticed immediately that they had added chairs and tables for a more cozy environment.

When I took my first soul-warming sip of the Birthday Cake latte, I felt a burst of childhood memories flood my senses as the classic yellow cake flavor paired up with the decadent fudge icing notes. This smooth, creamy latte had a thick foam layer on top to seal in the warmth and joyful birthday cake goodness. River’s Edge really brought me my own birthday party with this beverage! It was interesting to note that I was the first person to order this coffee drink hot instead of iced that afternoon, so don’t be shy when it comes to your preferred latte presentation - you’ll be pleased with either.

My husband and I shared the Funfetti crumb cake, which was necessary since it was the last one there - not because we chose to. I would have been so grateful to have an entire slice to myself, and here’s why. This dense, moist, vanilla cake with fresh apple and sweet cinnamon flavors throughout, topped with a crispy cinnamon oat strudel (complete with luxurious brown sugar), was packed with playful rainbow sprinkles and drizzled with a vanilla icing. This Funfetti crumb cake melted in our mouths and each bite begged us to come back for another. It was truly a fresh baked good and we enjoyed every morsel.

We are looking forward to a return trip soon, to see what other flavors they have...

A small, strip mall coffee shop that is lacking in atmosphere. The Good: great service, friendly staff, and my cup of drip coffee was very good. The Bad: There is a general lack of atmosphere in this place. It’s a long , poorly lit box with very few tables and a “lounge area” at the back that didn’t look very inviting to me. The lighting is your typical office building fluorescent, overhead set up. Cold and bland. No warmth. And a general lack of art work. Signs that say “But Coffee First” and “Worlds Best Cup of Coffee” just don’t add much to the atmosphere. Additionally, there was pop country playing in the shop. You might enjoy pop country early in the morning, but it’s not for everyone, and it’s certainly not for me. I’d rather hear jazz, classical, or yacht rock in the morning. Save the pop music for the afternoon. I really wanted to hang out in this place, but it was just not going to happen. Would I return to this location? It is highly unlikely. If they were to create a more inviting vibe in the coffee shop, then I would return, but as it is now, I can’t see myself coming...

The coffee tastes good, but the overall experience leaves a lot to be desired. After visiting, my family and I all came down with a virus—can’t say for sure it came from here, but the cleanliness of the tables didn’t inspire confidence, as they don’t seem to sanitize thoroughly between customers. The AC doesn’t work, the toilets were out of order, and the place just feels neglected.

Something else that stood out: this location used to be an old ice cream shop, and they’ve left the old ice cream buckets behind a glass case, still covered in frozen ice. Instead of refreshing the space or making it feel like a proper coffee shop, it looks like leftover remnants from the past, which comes across as trashy rather than charming.

The drinks themselves are tasty, but the lack of upkeep, maintenance, and overall presentation really holds this place back from being somewhere I’d want...