Roots Roasting — Restaurant in Saint Paul

Had a rare treat at Roots Roasting last Wednesday- a great double shot of decaf espresso. Sweet, roasty, and a buttery finish. Rich crema, deep heart, and the body of the shot had the consistent flavor telling of an accurate pull.

While this may not be a common drink I believe it’s a great gauge for a quality shop because it’s a core ingredient for many coffee drinkers- a specific request that speaks to

1. roasting quality of the beans
2. barista rudiments of espresso pull & pouring execution
3. barista attitude

I have found that quite often my barista’s reaction let’s me know ahead of the drink whether they value decaffeinated coffee or not. My barista had a friendly demeanor and greeted me promptly. We had a short chat as they were weighing and pulling the shot and they seemed genuinely interested in having a pleasant connection. They handed me the drink, transitioned into working with another guest. As I walked to leave we exchanged a small smile that seemed to thank me for the business.

The floor plan here is very straightforward- a visible, behind-the-bar work space for roasting and brewing, bar with high top seating and potted plants, wire shelf for brewing supplies, small seating area with tables, decorations showcasing coffee growing methods- a no nonsense approach with plenty of attention to craft basics to encourage efficiency. And the bar seems to be open enough to accommodate two or three baristas; I hope I can visit during peak sometime to see how traffic feels.

Staff seems poised for high volume business as well as genuine connections with regulars- important in this neighborhood. The layout is able to handle more decorative flourishes without weighing the flow down, but honestly the level of simplicity is organic and fresh, free of presumption and pomp. This shop is doing great core espresso work and I’ll return again to see how they steam milk...

One of the best in town. Good coffee. Decently priced, especially for where it's at. Staff is always friendly. A bit cramped of a place, but also super easy to get in, get your fix, and get out

I recommend the swirly-dirly-twisty-little-tenticled-cinnamon-bun-thing—with the glaze(it's always on the bottom shelf of the display box on the counter where the register is)

You won't be disappointed no matter what you get—unless you don't like coffee, tea, or caffeine, but that's more a matter of your poor life choices and not Roots Roasting's fault, so don't take your frustrations out on the great barista bros and gals: they have regular liquid water to you can drink.

Now everyone is happy, and my job is done here. Don't forget to thank your bus driver, tip your baristas, and fight everyday to find something around you that you can find even the slightest enjoyment or happiness or contentment or thankfulness in simply because it's the way it is in that moment (and just that moment) and that world, bad as it is, won't feel so for a little while (results may vary, void were prohibited, side effects include smiling, laughing, not taking it out on others or yourself, and seeing that there is good that should be saved and promoted and shared even in a war-torn world as bad as ours.....get up every day for the rest of you life, touch...

I don’t know how I have been a regular this long and not left a review. I go here everyday for several very good reasons.

1.) the coffee is top notch. I’ve had espresso from almost 60 different coffee shops around the twin cities & I hate to cast shade but I swear that they are the only ones that can do it correctly. Most people are used to burnt, flavorless or bitter espresso; at Roots you get the exact opposite. You get espresso done correctly.

2.) further building off of reason 1 but their specialty drinks. They offer a fantastic rotation while keeping good staples around. They offer several substitution options for those non dairy folks.

3.) the people. If you like getting to know who makes your coffee & share in a bit of banter, this is the spot. But on the flip side of that, if you want quick, in & out, down to business they can do that too. The staff here are one of the biggest reasons I come here. Friendly, genuinely funny, and I always feel good after I leave.

I could write plenty of more reasons but the TL;DR is you WILL like the coffee here, trust me.

Oh and the...