Alpha Coffee Cafe - Salt Lake City — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

I’m here in Salt Lake City visiting and I was excited to try this coffee shop. However, I’ve been waiting for over ten minutes for my basic drink with no line and nobody that was before me, with EIGHT people working. Yes, you read that right. EIGHT.

In fact, I’m still waiting for my drink as I write this review.

15 minute wait. No person in front of me. No person behind me. Eight employees actively on the clock.

The staff was joking around and talking (not about work) while I waited. When the barista handed me my drink, there was no apology. In fact, she appeared annoyed that I was annoyed.

The staff appeared to be younger and this may be their first job. Hopefully they can take this review and use it as a learning opportunity to make sure you put your job first and to take accountability when you make a mistake. Also that 15+ minutes waiting for a coffee with an empty shop is poor customer service.

That’s just unacceptable. I won’t be coming here again. If you value your time or need a quick coffee, this is NOT your place.

P.S - the drink was also $8 which seems pretty expensive for a normal sized, basic Frappuccino. I’d...

Great coffee, great atmosphere, and caring staff. A friend recommended I try Alpha Coffee and I finally got around to it this morning. I was immediately greeted when I walked through the doors and when I ordered I took the cashier’s suggestion to get the Honeybadger. It was tasty and not too sweet!

While I was waiting for my coffee, an unsheltered man came in and asked the staff behind the bar if he could use their phone and offered to pay them. One of staff members said yes, told him to keep his money, and handed him the landline phone to use. The man put his loose change back into his pocket and went into the corner of the cafe to make a call.

This interaction was significant to me because I work downtown and I often interact with unsheltered people and sometimes it’s uncomfortable. I applaud the Alpha Coffee staff for being so kind to that man by letting him borrow their phone. It wasn’t a necessary gesture and they could have turned him away, but what they did instead speaks to the core values of community at Alpha.

Would highly recommend you...

Stopped in after getting to town on 30 minutes of sleep—desperate for a good espresso. A quick search pulled up Alpha Coffee, and their menu and logo (I’m a sucker for skulls) drew me in.

After a recent coffee letdown in Minnesota, I decided to play it safe and ordered a doppio to test the waters before committing to anything more. Unfortunately, the barista didn’t weigh the beans and gave a quick tamp, so I wasn’t surprised when the shot came out overly acidic and unfinished. Not ideal for anyone who prefers their coffee black or straight.

That said, I grabbed the Amazonian next to cover up the bad pull and get the caffeine I needed. It was good—definitely drinkable—and probably great if you’re into flavored or milk-based drinks. If you're not a coffee snob(like me) you’ll likely enjoy most of what’s on offer here. Just maybe skip the straight espresso.

The space itself is clean, wasn’t busy between 11am and 1pm, and has plenty of seating. The downstairs is spacious, and the upstairs is a great spot to work or take meetings—good vibe for...