Open Air Coffee — Restaurant in Richmond

[Update] now no longer open on sundays, so it's The Saturday bike ride coffee stop!

Also it is under new ownership kinda like a co-op. The old owner/Baker got sick and the staff took over - which to me is cool!

Unfortunately, since the old owner was the baker and because of soaring costs they no longer make their own pastries and the pecan torte that stole our hearts last time likely will never return. On the positive side, their state bakery veggie quiche is umami with lots of mushrooms and the oat date breakfast bar is coconut-y yummy. Coffee is still great (ask for a shot in the dark if you want something REAL strong) and the people love dogs which is a plus for us dogpackers :)

Lastly, I just saw they responded offering to make it up to us next time we came. We never took them up on it but good for them for offering!

OG post: Great coffee and strong. Def recommend the shot in the dark (coffee with a shot of espresso)

Walnut caramel torte is TO DIE FOR. But seasonal. They didn't have it last time I came.

The one negative was last time we came, one of the people in our group ordered a quiche and requested reheated. They must've forgotten or something and brought it out burnt at the very end. Not cool. If it was burnt during the reheat process shouldn't they replace it with...

Burnt Coffee, Stale Butter, and a Side of Snobbery

A very small cup of drip coffee set me back $4.50. Though sourced from a reputable roastery, it had lingered far too long in the industrial drip machine. When I told the barista it tasted burnt and suggested brewing a fresh batch, I was left waiting. At last, she offered the explanation—delivered with hauteur—that “it’s light roast, it’s supposed to taste burnt.”

I told her, calmly, that I am an experienced coffee taster.

The two miniature chocolate croissants ($5.00) were equally disappointing: their butter tasted old, bordering on rancid. Out of hunger, I ate them.

A refund for the coffee was eventually offered, but by then the impression was sealed. I left and walked to a nearby brunch spot, where I had a fresh, generous meal and a perfectly ordinary cup of coffee—$2.00, refillable, and very reasonably priced. Proof that freshness and honesty outshine...

This is the worst decaf coffe I have had in years. As you can see from the photo.super weak. When she had poured half a cup of water into the espresso I asked her to short it on the water cause I could see already. It was going to be weak.

Look how watery it looks in the photo with no milk. I don’t understand how the barista could have missed this.

The chocolate croissant was excellent as you can see from the photo

The scenery is industrial. As you can see...