Convive Coffee Roastery — Restaurant in McCandless

It's long overdue for me to write a review for this place. As somewhat of a "regular," I have to say that this is my favorite coffee bar in Pittsburgh. Every single person that they employ is both knowledgeable about coffee and friendly, a reflection of the owner IMHO. Their sourcing philosophy is simple: do not settle for something you would not want to drink yourself. Keeping in line with that, they tend to source higher-quality beans from reputable farms. And to top it all off, they complete their offerings by roasting the beans themselves, opting for lighter roasts that bring out the most interesting tasting notes: fruity, herbacious, floral (depending on the coffee).

Yes, they specialize in coffee and take it seriously, but don't think they'll look down on you for ordering a latte. Quite the contrary! Each season, they work on developing unique drinks that you won't easily find anywhere else: Salted Maple Latte, Pumpkin Spice Draft Latte, Speculoos Latte, to name a few. Not your style? You can also settle for a classic Vanilla or Caramel Latte or a Mocha, which they'll happily finish with some fun latte art.

The atmosphere is great and "Euro" in layout. They feature wood-grain tables positioned along a lengthy bench opposite to the coffee bar itself. At the other end of the cafe, they have a fun standalone fireplace that has a 60s retrofuturism vibe, and its complemented by a couple of couches. Seating is - unfortunately - limited, but there's really nothing that can be done about that. It could be mitigated to a degree by implementing a table-sharing policy; however, that's hard to pull off without looking cheap (i.e. some places have a table-sharing sign that detracts from the ambiance - poor font, poor location, written as an imperative, etc.).

Convive is almost out of place in a location known for its chain stores and fashion brands, making it a hidden-in-plain-sight gem of the North Hills. It's well worth a...

Love the atmosphere at Convive. The staff is super friendly. And, for those who have a problem with the prices, consider this. How much do you pay for a bottle or glass of wine? Think about the work that goes in to that. Think of the artistry and craftsmanship of developing excellent wine. Think of all the work it takes to get you that bottle or glass. How much do you pay for that? The same level of artistry and craftsmanship that goes into your most expensive favorite wine...Ryland puts into sourcing and roasting and preparing his coffee for you. And the coffees that Ryland produces are excellent. He produces a specialty product. It isn't the garbage that this country is accustomed to. (i.e. Starbucks, Dunkin, McDonalds, Folgers, or Maxwell House etc...) It's more than just coffee. And, he isn't some big business roaster like Intelligentsia, Verve, or Counter Culture. Those are all very good reputable roasters. But, Convive is right in your backyard. You are supporting a local business and your community when you get coffee from Ryland. In that light, don't you think that the prices Ryland asks are more than acceptable? I know I do. And, I will continue to support Convive as often...

I rarely review places, however I was so disappointed with my coffee that I had to post. The place is cute, has a good vibe, free WiFi... lots of attributes. THEN I ordered a pour over. First, with tax I paid $4.17 for a mug of coffee... $4.17!!! That is ridiculous. Second, the guy said four to five minutes. I sat directly in front of the register. No one bothered to call me, signal me or bring me my coffee. I finally noticed it sitting on the edge of the counter. When I asked if it was mine, I got a nod that said I am too busy to interact with you. Third, the coffee was COLD! $$4.17 for a cold mug of coffee. And lastly, the coffee was terrible! Way too green. A waste of coffee beans to be honest. Don’t say your a roaster and then half roast the beans. Totally disappointed with my experience and even though I am in the area often and like to support small businesses, I...