Theory Coffee Roasters — Restaurant in Redding

This review specifically addresses shipped coffee ordered from the web site, as I have never been in the cafe. I order from roasters all over North America and love trying new roasters that are recommended, so I was excited to try Theory after reading about the acclaim they have received for their beans.

I ordered three bags. Two were whole bean as desired, but the third was ground coarse. I have never ordered ground coffee from a roaster before, and I am not sure why my order was modified. I grind only at brew time, never in advance, and the coarse grind does not work for the pour-over methods I use that require a medium to medium-fine grind.

While the coffees I tried were well above average, my inquiries about the error in my order were completely ignored, and that is the basis for my review: four stars for the coffee, zero stars for customer service, for a net two star rating. I've become used to getting absolutely fantastic service from virtually every local roaster I have tried in recent years, and it is rather shocking to come across one that cannot even be bothered to respond to my inquiry. Even if they were not willing to make good on the error, it would be nice to actually get acknowledged as a customer who spent $50 on beans.

Update: Within two hours of posting this review, I magically received an email from production in which I was offered the opportunity to spend more money with Theory for a 20% discount, which I declined. I wanted nothing more than what I paid for: a replacement for the one incorrect item in my order.

Since Theory would not work with me, I tried to salvage what they had sent me by digging up an old French press, but the coffee they sent was so coarse that it didn't even work well for French press, which calls for the coarsest of grinds. In other words, this coffee would have been useless to ANY customer, not just me.

There are too many great roasters out there who take care of their customers to spend hard-earned money with one that does not. It is absolutely mind-numbing to me that a business would rather be "right" and lose a repeat customer than to replace $20 worth of coffee and make an impression by giving a new customer the benefit of the doubt. I hope that other customers have better...

We recently visited Theory Coffee Roasters in Redding and it was an absolutely fantastic experience. As soon as we walked in, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel right at home. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, with a great energy that made it a perfect spot to grab a quick bite. We ordered the breakfast sandwich and it was super yummy. The bread was perfectly toasted and had a wonderful crunch, while the egg was cooked to perfection and the cheese was melted just right. The bacon was crispy and flavorful, and the aioli spread brought everything together perfectly. It was a truly delicious breakfast sandwich that hit the spot just right. But the real star of the show was the espresso. It was rich, smooth, and had a deep flavor that was a true delight to sip on. The baristas clearly know their stuff, and the attention to detail really shone through in the finished product. All in all, I would highly recommend Theory Coffee Roasters to anyone in Redding or passing through. The friendly atmosphere, amazing breakfast sandwich, and exceptional espresso all make for a truly...

Decent cup of coffee and oh boy the pastry...sooo good!! I'm on my way moving from Portland to San Francisco and I'll say the pastry here still ranks among the best in those two metropolitan cities, while their prices still stay very reasonable.

I had a hard time to order because literally I wanted them all. So I got A breakfast sandwich (bacon and egg in a "croissant" style pastry) and it is terrific. I don't know how they did it but the bacon and egg are well warmed up while the "croissant" is still super flaky. A Bourbon Cardamon Knot that was recommended by a barista and I loved it. A perfect combination of sweet, savory and texture. A Kouign Amann which scores high in both the look and the taste. That's 3/3 and I feel like you just can't go wrong with the pastry here.

The store opens pretty early and has lovely seatings both inside and outside. It's actually a coffee roaster plus a bakery, both are in-house which is super cool. Overall I had such a wonderful experience, I will be stocked to come back whenever I pass...