Verve Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Palo Alto

March 2024 Edit:

After my original review (that you can find in the paragraph below this), Verve reached out to me, and asked me if I would be open to trying some more of their coffees. They did not attempt to change my mind at all, but simply wanted to present a broader sample of coffees to me. I tried some of their other coffees that were more specifically roasted for manual brewing, and I have to say those coffees were fantastic. I have been buying more of Verve coffees since then for making pour overs, and I am very pleased with the quality and roast of their coffees. The person who reached out to me, and talked to me also gave me a very detailed view of their roasting process, and now I recommend their coffees to everyone. In hindsight, the couple of coffees that I tried from Verve were recommended to me by an in-store employee and perhaps that person did not have the best knowledge about the coffees that would be more suited for manual brewing. I am glad that someone reached out to me, and I got to try more of their coffees, and learned about their roasting process. I now highly recommend it!

Old Review:

I went to Verve with my friends, and it was a little late in the day so I wasn't drinking coffee. I was, however, very interested in buying some beans because I make pour overs at home, and I am always on the hunt for new(good) beans to try. One of my friends ordered a pour over, and while I was looking at the large variety of beans that they sell, an employee offered to help me pick out the best beans. I told them that that I make pour overs, so she recommended single-origin Colombia. I bought the beans, and waited with my friends for their coffees. When my friend's got his pour over, I asked him if I could smell it before he put the lid on it. It didn't smell like anything. That was a bit of a disappointment but I thought to myself that he probably ordered a different roast. The next morning, I made myself the Verve pour over, and I was thoroughly disappointed. It tasted a lot like the pike roast from Starbucks. But I didn't pass any judgements just yet because I thought I need to play with different grind sizes, coffee/water ratios, bloom times etc., before I make the final call. For the next three days, I tried every which way to make the coffee taste any better but It.Just.Would.NOT!

I understand that a coffee shop in Palo Alto downtown isn't going to be judged based on their pour overs because not many people drink pour overs, but I was thoroughly disappointed in the way the coffee was roasted. I appreciate the 'thoughtful sourcing' of the beans, but they still need to be roasted properly for that sentiment to translate into the 'thoughtful' enjoyment of...

What a beautiful Saturday in Palo Alto. I always love the energy at Verve. Kind of the only packed cafe I enjoy going to often. My Gibraltar was absolutely fantastic. Smooth, full of body, and had a great bite at the end. Everything I love about my signature espresso drink. I was so pumped about this drink and a three day weekend that I went back to the counter to order a pour over. I tried to read the “By the Cup” menu, with a line forming behind me, I felt a little pressured to pick from it so I asked the cashier what light roast they’d recommend for a pour over. She immediately turned around to ask the barista who said, “They’re all light roasts…” confused, I point at one. When my name is called, I’m excited, until the barista says to me, “Next time, order another roast that tastes better. People don’t usually like this one poured over.” 😑I’m so bummed they’d pour me something they know doesn’t taste good. And they’re right, it totally didn’t. Flat AF. I don’t know how you’d brew that bean the right way. Thanks for not recommending a good roast to pour over when I asked. Took my 5 star Gibraltar down to a 2. If you know something doesn’t taste good poured over, don’t pour it. Simplify the pour over menu for an excited patron in...

Disclaimer: I'm very persnickety about my coffee.

Back in the day (like a decade ago), I used to drive down to the Verve roastery in Santa Cruz next to the rock climbing gym and get a coffee and a pastry because they were so good.

Verve has grown a ton since then, and sadly, some of the quality has really fallen by the wayside in the growth.

I'm in town for a couple of weeks and my first stop for coffee in the PA area was this Verve location. The place is PACKED with people. For my first visit I ordered a cappuccino.

It's a 6 dollar coffee with milk. The get props for serving the correct sizing and the staff being super friendly, but the coffee was off. The art was lackluster and the cap was okay at best. Maybe too long a pull on the espresso? Not sure, but just not tasty.

Thinking it was a fluke, I came back the next day and got a one and one. The espresso this time was actually okay. Nothing exceptional, but pretty decent, but the machiatto was trash. The milk was WAY too hot, burnt my mouth and ruined the flavor.

If I were come to a coffee shop for sugar drinks, I would just go across the street to starbucks get a carmel macchiato and have a enough space to sit and enjoy it. Sad to say, this verve is...