Ken Potter
Google
I usually give folks the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they're having a bad day. But when someone's every response to my questions lands with a condescending tone as if I've offended them, I think that the owners need to know.
I stopped by today to meet with some folks in a business networking group for a cup and some conversation. Side note: I LOVE coffee. I do a lot of pour over, espresso and Aeropress at home and, like many of you, have gone down the rabbit hole of "the search for a better cup". I've had many enjoyable conversations with baristas around SoCal about different beans, roasts, processes, etc. so I was excited to try a new place.
I asked the lady behind the counter (a tall, short haired blond woman) if they sold a lighter roast that's gone through anaerobic fermentation. She said they don't sell those beans but that their "natural processed beans are basically the same thing." She then explained to me why that was. Of course she was was wrong but I didn't offer a rebuttal.
My next question was, "If I buy a bag of beans will you comp me a cup of coffee?" I often like to take home a new bag of beans to try something different. Most of my favorite roasters (Moongoat, Insit, Hidden House, Sur, High Tide, etc) will comp a cup if I buy a bag so I didn't think that was a bad question. She responded with a condescending "yah, we don't do that." So, I said "OK, how about just a cup of your lightest roast." I asked if they'd could put a small coffee in a medium cup and add their roomtemp water to the top. She responded with her most condescending tone yet, "you know, how about you let me be the expert here. Why ruin our coffee. I'll just put in an ice cube."
There you have it.
Needless to say, I won't be back.