Urban Bean: 33rd & Bryant

Urban Bean

Sunday, July 8th, 2012

First Impression: Hey, that guy working is really cute. Outdoor seating–nice! I like their logo on the door. They’re open until 11 PM. Located on the corner, close to my friend’s work.

Appearance/Atmosphere: Color scheme of red, brown, and white, which work well and looks awesome. Really nice coffee bar/ordering place. Wooden, old floors. (I love them) Tables and chairs are a bright, slightly distressed red. There are lots of windows, and is a nice open space. There’s a second room which is similar. Cool mural on the wall. Nice lights.

Music: Nice mix, but not overpowering. I recognize some of it, but overall it’s a really good coffee shop soundtrack. Very chill music.

Service: Cute hipster worker! He was really friendly and good at his job. They have an iPad to read credit/debit cards–sweet!

Coffee: I had an iced coffee. They have liquid sugar. Woo! The prices are high though, which is one thing I didn’t like. $3.50 for an iced coffee.

Notes: It’s a very nice place, and I can see myself coming back. The bus drives by here. The worker reminds me a little of Jared Leto. One of the tables has a fan on the floor right next to it. Sit there if you get hot!

Spyhouse: 25th & Nicollet

Spyhouse Coffee Shop

Saturday, July 7th, 2012

First Impression: There’s outdoor seating, and I really like their windows.

Appearance/Atmosphere: They have a color scheme of white, mahogany, black, and grey. The lights are white/cream and are different styles but still match. They have a wide variety of seating: booths, booths/tables by the windows, high-top tables, stools, and a bar around the center where the coffee is made. Black is the color that ties everything together. The columns, pipes, and ceiling fans are all black. Windows are open.

Music: Happy, and unknown to me. Music doesn’t overpower conversation, and is a nice background. It sets a good mood.

Service: Nice, nothing exciting. The barista almost seemed bored.

I was nearing the end of reading a mystery book by Lee Child. The book ended awesomely. I always expect great customer service at a customer-service type job, and got only OK service. Hmmm. Also, the guys here are too young for me.– Mary, guest reviewer

Coffee: Pricey. They charge $0.75 extra for soy. I had a mocha, which was good. Our drink came in these awesome cups that were black on the outside and white on the inside. The small cup is 10 oz.

Notes: I can see myself coming back here to hang out or do homework, but not very often. This is a good location and the bus drives right by.