Story and Soil Coffee — Restaurant in Hartford

In a late-19th century brick building on Capitol Avenue, where faded brownstones and empty storefronts tell tales of urban struggle, Story and Soil Coffee provides a verdant counterpoint to Hartford's Frog Hollow neighborhood. The emerald-painted storefront, with its clean white lettering, signals something different is happening here.

Inside, the contrast becomes more pronounced. High-ceilinged with exposed brick, wooden accents, and a subtle lavender wall, the space feels simultaneously historic and contemporary. Wooden slat walls and white subway tiles create texture, while hanging plants cascade from the ceiling near the window seats. A neon sign glows against bare brick—modern touches in a space that respects its architectural heritage.

The café serves as more than just a place for caffeine. A rainbow flag tucked into a monstera plant and local art adorning the walls signal its progressive values and community commitment. Tiny details—a rainbow rubber duck in a planter, carefully positioned pendant lights—reveal the owners' attention to both aesthetics and inclusivity.

At the counter, a gleaming La Marzocco espresso machine commands attention. This isn't a place for ordinary coffee. While their matcha latte appears conventional—a pleasing leaf pattern in vibrant green—it exemplifies their approach: familiar beverages executed with precision. More adventurous offerings like coconut honey lavender lattes and espresso tonics rotate seasonally.

Founded in 2017 by Michael Acosta (a neuroscience graduate turned coffee enthusiast) and the husband-wife team of Michael and Sarah McCoy, Story and Soil has earned its national recognition from Food & Wine magazine not through gimmicks but through commitment to craft. Their multi-roaster approach showcases beans from various sources, prepared with scientific attention to extraction methods.

The limited seating—window counters and a few wooden tables—creates an intimate atmosphere where conversations between strangers seem natural. For a neighborhood with limited gathering spaces, this cozy café provides both refuge and connection point. While you sip your expertly prepared beverage, perhaps paired with their cheekily named "Rent Money" avocado toast, the sense of purpose is palpable.

In a city fighting for revitalization, Story and Soil represents hopeful resistance—a small but mighty testament to what passion and community focus can create, even as vacant buildings loom nearby. The contrast between this thriving, carefully curated space and its surrounding urban challenges makes every cup feel like an act of...

I hate leaving bad feedback, but i feel the owners could learn from my experience. My husband and I are making the rounds of CT coffee shops while doing a KETO diet. Went to Story and Soil excited from all the reviews we've seen. I was shocked to see that a place that promotes "community" has barely any seating. There's literally no place to sit inside and a two uncomfortable old school picnic tables outside. I'm not sure how this is promoting "community." They could could take a page from the ice cream shop next door, which has a bunch of smaller, more comfortable tables. The interior and whole vibe is hipster - small menu, focused on excellent coffee. I got an iced coffee. I was shocked to find the "prep" station contained only a shaker of raw sugar...and that's it! Maybe the focus is on coffee but no place should control how people like their drinks! It reminded me so much of a Louis Lunch type deal, no catsup for you! The cream was behind the counter, so you had to ask for it. Maybe it was due to a hot day, I'm not sure, but people like options, and generally don't like to ask for them. That's coffee shop 101. Soy milk, regular milk, half and half - people have different dietary needs and likes, it's not so hard to put a few carafes out. I was shocked to find no sweeteners other than the raw sugar. As i said, i'm on KETO, which is no sugar. I would have taken any other sweetener, monk fruit, splenda, anything. If it's chemicals of artificial sweeteners that's an issue for the shop, i'll take a natural non-sugar, ANYTHING! I like my coffee sweetened, as does a huge percentage of Connecticut! When i asked, i was off-handedly offered simple syrup - which seemed like a bother for the cashier to even mention. Really really frustrating. I ended up drinking half of my almost $4 coffee and throwing the rest away. The coffee itself was not one i cared for, i think it was ethiopian, but it had some flavor notes i wasn't a fan of, hard to describe, sort of wine-like but with a sourish finish. My husband kept saying his coffee tasted like a Porter beer, and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not. Overall, it really makes me sad to leave this review, but i was so incredible frustrated and it actually ruined my afternoon mood, as we drove from another town to try Story and Soil out, and i ended up wasting both...

Saw this place ranked in the top 100 in the US, and now that I finally moved back to the area was excited to try it out. However, I was left extremely disappointed by the staff. Although there was only one customer in front of us, already checking out by the time we walked in, it took the staff more than 5 minutes to even talk to us. The entire interaction made us feel like our presence was the worst thing to happen on this earth. We put in the order and waited about 15 minutes until our drinks were ready. I watched the barista remeasure the milk about 3 times and use her bare hands to level the espresso. Not sure where it’s considered sanitary to put your fingers into people’s espresso, but that’s not what I would prefer. Then we got the wrong pastry brought to us and when I asked for the right pastry, I was met with so much attitude. Watching the barista pick up the pastry with her bare hands made me want to just walk out of the store. Overall, the pastries and coffee were decent, but certainly not top 100. The restaurant itself had an interesting multilevel set up, but the politically charged fliers and symbols on the wall also made me feel unwelcome. Afterwards, I looked more closely here on google reviews and saw that many people had a similar experience, which is unfortunate. I know the owner reads these reviews so I’ll give it another shot later to see if this place improves, because it has a lot...