Josie's Coffee Shoppe LTD — Restaurant in Town of Saugerties

On Saturday morning, we visited this establishment to pick up breakfast. Our order was quite large—approximately 10 items along with 8 lattes. As we were placing the order, the employee at the register visibly rolled her eyes, conveying an unprofessional and dismissive attitude, as if our sizable order was an inconvenience.

My friend had requested that the lattes be prepared last, but I asked if I could have my latte while we waited. The barista, with a noticeably insincere smile and tone, informed me that this was not possible and that we would have to wait until the entire order was completed due to her workload. While it was evident that the staff seemed overwhelmed, their response lacked basic courtesy and professionalism. Instead of managing the situation with patience and respect, they made us feel as though we were a burden for simply placing a large order.

Additionally, as people of color, we could not help but feel a certain discomfort in their demeanor. Although I do not wish to make assumptions, it appeared that our presence may have contributed to their unease.

Overall, the experience of being in the establishment was unpleasant and left a negative impression. Based on this encounter, I would advise caution, particularly for people of color or anyone placing a large order, as the service may not be welcoming or accommodating.

Update to the business owners response since google doesn’t allow us to reply :

Vanessa, Were you actually present during my interaction with your staff? It’s interesting how confidently you describe my demeanor as “unpleasant,” given that all I did was politely say, “Hey, my friend already placed an order and I have a question.” In reality, I was ignored twice by your team, which is what prompted my feedback in the first place.

I have over ten years of experience in the service industry, so I fully understand the challenges of busy periods and the importance of treating every customer with patience and respect. My concern is not about the workload—it’s about being acknowledged and treated fairly.

I’m not interested in going back and forth or being gaslit into thinking my experience was anything other than what it was. Instead of taking accountability, your response shifts blame and fails to address the real issue: your staff’s lack of awareness and sensitivity when dealing with customers who may look different from them.

After reading other reviews, it’s clear I’m not alone—many people of color and larger groups have reported similar negative experiences at your shop. Whether you were present or not, this pattern suggests a broader issue that needs to be addressed.

Rather than focusing on saving face, I urge you to reflect on why there’s a recurring disconnect between your service and the experiences of customers who feel unwelcome. Listening, acknowledging, and taking meaningful action would go much further than a defensive...

I wanted to add to my friend’s review and share my own perspective from our visit. I was the one who placed the large breakfast order—about 10 food items and 8 lattes—on a busy Saturday morning. I completely understand that’s a lot to handle, and I always try to be polite and patient in these situations.

While I appreciate that the staff commented on me being a pleasure to assist, I honestly didn’t feel that same warmth from them while placing the order. As I mentioned to my friend, the person at the register rolled her eyes as I ordered, and the barista was quite curt when my friend asked if her latte could be made as our order was being completed. To clarify, she never asked for her drink to be prioritized over other customers—she simply waited for an appropriate moment at the register to make her request, after we had already paid.

We understand it was a busy morning, but our main point is that the staff could have handled our interaction with more courtesy and a gentler approach.

After seeing the owner’s response to my friend’s review (and learning that the owner was also the barista), I can definitely sense the same hostility we experienced in person, which only further validates our impression...

I went as a group with my fiancée, her sister, and a few old friends to celebrate her graduation. At first Josie’s seemed like good place. But then the issues began… first, the coffee was weak and cold. Then, we found hair in our sandwich—disgusting! The BLT was soggy and unappetizing. These things could be forgiven.

The real issues began when they brought us the wrong drink. When we alerted them to this, at first, they seemed amenable to bring out the correct drink. But then a manager angrily accosted us and demanded that we pay for the extra drink. They pressured us into paying for their own mistake, showing us that they cared more about making an extra buck than being decent hosts. We came to have a fun meal, not to be shaken down. What should have been a celebration turned into a stressful morning for all of us.

This is my first time posting a negative review, because I understand that running a restaurant or café is difficult work, and everyone has different preferences. But I cannot imagine anyone who would want to be treated as we...