Amber F.
Yelp
I stopped into Coma Coffee looking forward to trying something new and interesting--a strawberry matcha latte with a shot of espresso. Unfortunately, my experience from the moment I walked in was uncomfortable and disappointing.
I was greeted at the register by a staff member who was dry and disinterested. I placed my order and sat near the bar to wait. While my drink was being made, I overheard two baristas talking about it. One barista began preparing the drink by adding strawberry syrup to the milk, while the other mixed the matcha and espresso together. Midway through, one said to the other, "Why are you doing it like that? It makes the drink not as pretty."
Despite this comment, they continued anyway and handed me the drink, fully aware it didn't look right. It ended up being an unappetizing brown-green color. That interaction alone made me feel like I was being handed something they weren't proud of. It felt careless and awkward--especially as a customer who paid for a specific, customized drink.
Feeling uneasy about the whole thing, I went back to the register and explained what I saw and heard. Instead of an apology or any attempt to make it right, I got a half-hearted explanation about the "buoyancy" of espresso and matcha--something I know isn't the real issue. It felt dismissive and insincere, like they were brushing me off rather than addressing my concern.
At the end of the day, it's not just about how the drink looked (though it looked bad)--it's about how I was made to feel. If the staff openly criticize how a drink is being made in front of the customer and then serve it anyway, it sends the message that quality and customer experience don't matter. I left feeling unwelcome and disappointed. I won't be returning.