Trumpet and Drum Coffee House — Restaurant in New Orleans

Has been the disappointment of Louisiana Coffee Culture since … Covid. It can remind you of a nice, cozy library but in one moment they would blast music or a Star Wars movie. At an ask to lower the volume we was told, “they can’t”. Not sure the vision has been clear of what they want this place to be. But yeah, it a coffee house but I wouldn’t want their coffee to touch my mouth. Please take this criticism for the sake of what’s good here. You are only few steps for being a pillar in the New Orleans culture but you are so far in the smallest of ways. Reward kindness in your workers, research coffee and pick a roaster that cares more for the taste than just having the name of New Orleans on their bags. There is a lot of small yet mighty and talented local roasters (cherry, congregation, mammoth, etc) and if you give them a call I promise they will see it as a win for the culture to help you out. I love the ambition to try to start a shop. I am revenant to the fact that this is a hard business but I plead from a customer point of view to review the quality of your product from an objective view. Who is wanting a movie blasting while they study? Is this a movie theatre after 5 or a rave? Are people buying coffee because they will anyway or they actually think it’s good? Do you have a value for people to say “this is best coffee I’ve had?”. A lot of thoughts. Ultimate the one stars is the response to the “I can’t” to lowering the movie in a room of people are studying. Awkwardly cringing with a stranger in disbelief that this was happening. Also seeing others walk out. I won’t be coming back. I’ll just let my friends tell me that something has changed then this blind-hope visit thinking, “of course they should have gotten better since the first month it open”. When I could have did this review in the beginning but gave the benefit of the doubt.

Edit: I commend responding back to criticism! I hope this isn’t seen as mean. I know many people have different taste when it comes to coffee. I hope you have more dialogue around what makes a good cup of coffee. This is coming from someone who drinks coffee black but also knows good coffee does stand out they milk and whip cream. So it’s worth it I believe. You have a great opportunity here and I know it must be hard to do business with such opinionated customers. But I hope the path you take from the criticism leads the success of...

Would give 5 stars, but after frequenting this cafe for weeks I was disappointed when I had a negative experience of having to essentially make my own drink.

I asked for an Iced Tea Latte with earl grey and oat milk, and I was told that they usually don’t make the teas iced because the tea is not pre-made and takes too long to steep it. I responded that every cafe I go to simply steeps the tea for 2-3 minutes and then pours it into a cup full of ice immediately after steeping, adding more ice if needed. It’s a very simple process. She stated she’d be happy to do that if I did not mind waiting for it to steep. Of course I didn’t, this isn’t McDonald’s.

Then a different barista proceeded to make the tea latte and gave me a cup of ice on the side, which was not what I asked for, but Okay. This would have been something to not make a big deal out of; however, first, the barista gave me a glass cup of ice instead of a Togo cup. I asked for a Togo cup of ice and then I immediately poured the tea into the cup of ice, which obviously melted it down within seconds and needed more ice to complete the tea latte. I then asked for more ice. The barista poured more ice in the cup so the tea latte was perfectly cold and icy and then handed it back to me without a lid. I then had to reach over the counter to grab my own lid.

This is an extremely disappointing and subpar experience for such a simple drink, that did not require all of this unnecessary back and forth, when the barista’s entire job description is to mix and prepare drinks, one that I paid $10 for after tipping $4 and had to do half of the work myself.

Needless to say this left a bad taste in my mouth, for a place that is otherwise a very unique cafe with amazing pastries, decor and, before this experience, amazing service. I hope management sees this review and re-trains their baristas...

Perhaps the hippest coffee house I've found in NOLA, Trumpet & Drum Coffee House is clearly a very popular meeting and gathering place for the Garden District coffee culture (Touro area). T&D is a place to see and be seen while spending several hours on your MacBook or iPad (Windows devices likely illicit side-eye) in assorted comfy chairs, sofas, love seats, wingbacks, two-and-four-tops, barstools and dining tables in large and small rooms and spaces and outdoor patios. Many utilizing what must be the most powerful Wifi in NOLA as internet galaxies are being traversed by the patrons, some/many of whom are not content to live a moment free of technology. Kidding aside, T&D is def a place that caters well to a variety of Garden District locals and visitors, artists, designers, trend-setters and like-minded metrosexuals. There were a variety of arts & urban culture oriented magazines on a small table next to the POS alluding to the collective creative mindset within. I can see why it's so popular. The coffee drinks may not be appear at a glance to be that special, but the espresso I had was quite tasty beans and other seasonal and specialty drinks are quite unique. T&D is a very comfy space to hang out for an extended period of time whether meeting, working, surfing or living in the moment with a friend. A well-curated and artistic gem in The Garden (er, Touro/East...