Flat Black Coffee

Rode shotgun with a coffee drinker who loves this place. Tea is more my lane and here the loose leaf peach ginger was very good. Love the unbothered vibe of the space too.

I was excited to try the coffee and the tea. I threw both out as soon as I got home. I love Sencha. This Sencha tasted like soap. I enjoy a good latte with soymilk. I think the problem here was that either the soymilk used is incredibly watery or skim milk was used instead of soy. It tasted like watery coffee, and not good coffee either. The muffins also tasted like gas station muffins (vegetable oil and cake mix). I don’t want to assume all the tea is bad or all the coffee is bad. Maybe this was an off day. I will say that whoever works the espresso machine made so much noise pounding the grounds out of the tamper-thing that it was incredibly loud. Having owned my own cafe before, I would tell baristas to make use of the rubber on the canisters for coffee grounds. If this place doesn’t have one with rubber, you should get one. If you have it, but it’s not being used, you should use it. I am sensitive to noises, but to bang stainless steal on stainless steal in a cafe is entirely unnecessary and, in my mind, rude to customers. Put some rubber on the corner of your counter if you must but the noise was just awful! They have such a wide selection of teas that I was sure I’d love the place but it truly was awful. Hoping my first impression will not be my last and that some redeeming factor is found. Also, I find it odd that the teas they advertise on the shelf are not the teas they actually use or sell from the counter. I wanted to try the calendula tea but was told those teas were just for retail and a different brand was used for the cafe.

Great coffee roaster. I tried their light roast black in three instances, which was originally from Guatemala, and it was consistently great every time. This is probably the best coffeeshop you can find in South Boston. Apparently they have won 2nd and 3rd place in an Espresso competition in the US. Plus, they have a nice variety of coffee making gear such as kettle for pour over, etc.

This local spot is great! Customer service is friendly and welcoming when coming in they have great selection of banana bread, blueberry bread or muffins fresh baked! The coffee or signature drinks are delicious and the barista will make you a cool design on your coffee selection! I went with the Gingerbread latte with oak milk, a large it’s delicious a must try! Support local businesses! The store is clean and very unique it has a tables to seat at if you like and it has a certain charm about it! It’s very nostalgic!

Friendly People, Good Coffee A New Zealand Staple, bringing their Flat Black/Flat White Coffee to Dorchester. A small but nice location with the tools of the trade up on display inside and a single table outside to sit and sip. Right along two busy roads, so it is not the quietest place to sit, but close enough to Dorchester Park that you can take your brew for a stroll or to sit there. I grabbed one of their cakes on display and it was average. Its an expensive brew, but you can drink the coffee black and it tastes quality. Easy walk to shops in the area, the old chocolate factory, the park, and the Neponset trail. Parking are street, at the CVS or in front of Dorchester park.

We have visited multiple times and the coffee is good but the staff is consistently UNfriendly.

I’ve been coming here for many years. Best coffee in town!

An absolutely amazing hole in the wall coffee shop. If you love supporting local business that ethically source their coffee this is the spot for you! Some of the best coffee I’ve had in Boston. The shops is filled with a variety of micro roasted beans from Africa to Guatemala. They sell ethically sourced spices as well as products made by local artist. The coffee muffin we had was absolutely amazing and paired perfectly with our coffee!

Headline: Tasty coffee. I ordered an americano and they perfectly made the espresso - zero burnt grounds flavor. Service was lackluster. Not overly friendly. Space is cozy. Small. Warm.

A very cute coffee shop with yummy coffee and great vibes! Local spot to catch a great cup of coffee with some beauty in this little coffee shop! And there's free wifi so triple win!

This has been my go-to coffee shop since 2012. I highly recommend their iced flat white. Their micro-roasted coffee is top tier.

The second visit was just as great as the first visit. How do they get their lattes so creamy?

Not bad, okay place, not enough seating. The owner was a bit dismissive and came off as cranky but still answered my questions. I didn't see any food there, just some prepackaged snacks. I'd say give them a try but don't expect a warm experience, it's very transactional.

This local spot is great! Customer service is friendly and welcoming when coming in they have great selection of banana bread, blueberry bread or muffins fresh baked! The coffee or signature drinks are delicious and the barista will make you a cool design on your coffee selection! I went with the Gingerbread latte with oak milk, a large it's delicious a must try! Support local businesses! The store is clean and very unique it has a tables to seat at if you like and it has a certain charm about it! It's very nostalgic!

Coffee is the best in the Dorchester area... possibly all of Boston. I grab a coffee here whenever I get the chance. Coffees consistently on point. Usually get an iced coffee or an iced Americano. No breakfast sandwiches or anything like that but some fresh pastries and muffins. Parking can be tough but that's about it.

I have been going there for years and the coffee is very high quality their pastries aren't bad either

Honestly, flat black's coffee is definitely number one on my list. I believe I bought a large ice coffee, about $7. It tasted high quality and delicious. Will come back for more delicious coffee and possibly some coffee beans as well.

The aesthetic of the hole in the wall coffee store was there. It was cute, had two folks working, it was a vibe. With that being said, the service was very slow. So off bat would not recommend this to someone who is in a rush, especially if there are other customers in there. However, this shouldn't be used to discredit a coffee store, especially small ones as they typically (from my experience) still do a pretty decent job. I ordered two drinks my go to Chai and a random latte. The Chai honestly tasted like water, I do not recommend and could hardly get past a few sips of it. The latte was decent, nothing to go crazy about but it was also not horrible. They had an assortment of "tea" pastries, I tried the banana bread and it was alright, nothing remarkable but the other pastries looked delicious and might be worth a try. Overall, I would honestly recommend folks go and give it a try, but if you are a coffee enthusiast I definitely recommend looking elsewhere.

Good coffee and absolutely charming atmosphere. This is obviously a popular local place, as the man running the shop greeted many customers by name and knew their usual orders.

There was a gentleman who was working there on 4/14/2021. He happily and warmly greeted other customers, but he was very rude and short with us. We were curious about this place since we've never been here before, though we've passed by it sometimes during work, and asked him some questions. He did not want to interact nor answer any of the questions. We were socially distanced and had our masks on. We were just saying how nice this place looked. Why? I felt so upset by the whole experience. Did we not dress nice enough? Did we not fit the ideal customer demographics? We had already ordered, so we picked up our items and left quickly. Never returning again.

Excellent lower mills location despite parking and seating limitations. 2 outdoor tables on sidewalk. Coffee is superb I'm partial to the flat white iced and purchased some Guatemala beans with lemon accents for home brewing. Bakery items dont do it for me but this business needs support, I hear they have other Boston area locations

Found FBCC on Yelp and thought I'd try their chai latte. The barista was very knowledgable and assured me it was home-brew chai rather than pre-fab Oregon chai sludge or a powder. And right she was! I ordered a 20 ounce cup with soy milk and it was a perfect blend of spices and thankfully not at all sweet. It's also not heavy on the cinnamon bite and is a totally delightful taste. Lovely funky coffeehouse too with a very cool vibe. I'll definitely be back for their chai latte and atmosphere!

I recently moved to the area and I've been on the hunt for a coffee shop with decent coffee. After seeing the other good reviews, I visited Flat Black in the Lower Mills area of Dorchester and was happily surprised by the quality of the coffee they have there! I got a double macchiato and a slice of their pumpkin bread. The macchiato was delicious and so was the pumpkin bread! It is a little shop with a lot of atmosphere and they roast their own beans in the store, which means the whole place smells amazing. The barista was very friendly and was patient with me while I took a few minutes to figure out what to order. I will definitely be back soon!

Went to use a gift card my husband had gotten me a few years ago (we moved out of the area shortly after so I still had it) the guy at the counter looked at it and said no, it was a few years old so it wasn't valid. Seriously? The money was still spent there. He wasn't even nice about it. For mediocre coffee, I won't be back.

I was lost and landed at this place a few months ago and haven't been able to leave ever since. I hide behind the international burlap bags like a dormant little mouse with an insatiable thirst for good coffee. After they close at 4p.m, I sway and jiggy my way out and start a coffee party, and then repeat the next day. Not true.. but at least this is how I imagined it while I enjoy my cappuccino when I am sitting there, besides thinking about the origin and journey of each coffee bag before their final destination. I love going here because it's cozy and personal without the boisterous crowd and long line, like Starbucks. They offer an extensive selection of coffee and the owners are on-site roasting the beans every day to ensure quality, making sure this important cup of morning magic will set the right tone for every patron who leaves the door, sending them off with a smile and caffeine to conquer their day.

Cozy lil coffee shop. Adorable decor that captures the industrial history of the lower mills section of Dorchester. Try the iced coconut mocha. Clerk gave a jogger a cup of water and did not charge! I will be back soon!!

I'm not one to write negative reviews, but I'll start with the good: 1) Awesome service, very friendly. 2) Delicious muffins and pastries. The bad: 1) Small location, not a place to hang out 2) Not many selections of drip-coffee, they had Light, Medium, and Dark roast. The ugly - the coffee: 1) Sip 1 - "Oh wow this is bad. Maybe it's my taste buds 2) Sip 2 - "Oh... still bad. Tastes like Maxwell house cheap coffee ... I wait a while for it to cool off... 3) Sip 3+4 - "Yep, still bad. I'd rather have Dunkin Donuts". 4) Threw out a full coffee Maybe it's not my style coffee, but I was thoroughly unimpressed. It tasted cheap, acidic, and lacking flavor. Out of the 10-20 coffee places I went to in Greater Boston, this is by far the worst. Couldn't pay me to go back there.

This place gets 4 stars because I applaud any coffee shop that isn't Starbucks or Cosi. I believe they have wifi, if you're into that. There aren't many seats, so I'm not sure it's a destination if you want to sit a while. But the place is spotless, and they use fair trade coffee--both pluses for me. While there are some Australian roasts for sale and kangaroos on the walls, I'm not sure what makes it so Australian. The woman behind the counter had an accent and they use Aussie terms like Flat Black. But there are no meat pies or Vegemite on the menu. Regardless, it's a nice place with good coffee. It's a bit expensive, and there aren't a lot of places to sit, so I don't think it will become a habit. But when I'm in the area I'll visit again.

I'm really glad that Flat Black is in Dorchester, because it means I can usually get a good shot somewhat near my work. They carry tasty pastries, including New Salem tea bread, which I love. The reason I give four stars (technically three and a half) for now, though, is because the shots I've had at Flat Black have been completely hit or miss. I know, I shouldn't expect amazingness when my only other option for coffee nearby is Dunkin, but Flat Black has such potential for being a top notch coffee destination, and they really, really need to train their staff better in order to get there. If there's only one person working the bar, they should know what makes a good shot and what doesn't, and when not to serve a shot that won't taste good. Overall, though, the staff are super friendly, coffee on the whole is great, and I'm so happy to support a local coffee business in Dorchester!

I don't spend a lot of time south of Boston, but work brought me to the Lower Mills area and I felt like having a relaxing, cozy afternoon at a coffeeshop. In fact, it's one of my pastimes to visit new coffeeshops and see what they have going on. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like Flat Black - I did not. And I'm not sure if I would give it a second chance. Firstly - this particular store is VERY messy - coffee bags laying everywhere. The woman working that day was an older woman who I'm sure is a lovely person, but she has NO CLUE what she is doing in terms of pulling espresso shots and making drinks with steamed milk. I've worked as a barista in independent 3rd wave coffee shops for several years and while I do my best not to be a snob, there are just some things that shouldn't be done. I ordered a large "Peppermint Patty" latte form their "seasonal specials" list. Usually, I'd go with something more classic and coffee-like, but I felt like going a little decadent today. She started by dosing out the espresso grounds by just letting the grounds run into the portafilter while she fiddled with the syrups. The drink should have been a light pump of chocolate and mint - that's it. I could tell she was sifting through bottles, but I figured she was just looking for what she needed...meanwhile - the portafilter is OVERFLOWING with espresso grounds. When she finally turns back and shuts the grinder off (it was not set to automatic dosing) there is a MOUNTAIN of grounds everywhere. She doest settle the grounds at all, skips straight to grooming (briefly) tamps it down and then connects it to the espresso machine...she then prepares the milk while the espresso grounds are being exposed to heat in the machine (wrong move)...finally starts to pull the shot into DIRTY shot glasses...keeps steaming the milk which I try to be optimistic about since I can't see what's up yet...but then I notice after over A MINUTE that she STILL has not stopped pulling the shot. It had to have been at least a minute and a half and she looks like she's waiting for the shot glasses to fill up to the top to "know that it's done." If you don't know - a shot of espresso pulled properly should only be pulled for about 28ish seconds depending on other factors. So this shot is EXTREMELY over pulled which means the taste would be horrible - especially on its on. At this point I'm so glad I didn't order a straight espresso shot - I'm thinking its fine because the sugary syrups I ordered will hide the espresso taste anyhow. She finally hands me the latte and the milk is also poorly steamed. Barely warm but with big airy foam on the top (unlike the silky, dense, air bubble free foam you'd expect as a thin layer on a latte). She rings me up for practically $7 which I think it COMPLETELY ridiculous for a large latte, but oh well I say. That's what you get when you try a new place. So I sip into my latte and almost start laughing because OF COURSE, the flavors aren't even correct. There's freaking raspberry syrup in my drink...and like, *maybe* some mint and a small dose of chocolate? But 100% lots of raspberry...I can even see small red syrup dots on the top edge of my cup. And it is very, very sweet. I know I ordered sweetness - so I get that. But this is sweetness in a way I never wanted. I wanted mint and coco. That's it. I decide to have a good laugh and make the most. I get up to use the bathroom and OF COURSE there. is. no. freaking. bathroom. GOODBYE FLAT BLACK. I might go to another location to try your black coffee, but I won't be going out of my way anytime soon to do so. clean your store. train your baristas properly and put a toilet in the corner.

This was incredibly experience. I ordered the Bali full body coffee, which was spicy with a sweet after taste. The staff were informative and helpful, in particular I presently use crutches and they were very accommodating. I will most definitely return and sample more of their wide range of coffee products.

Great local coffee shop. I had the Japanese cold brew and it was one of the better cold brews I've had. All 5 of the guys in my group agree we will definitely be returning!

They do not offer a public restroom. At least not to people who look like they work for a living. Maybe if I had been carrying a designer bag and wearing heels, then I would have been allowed to use the restroom. I know that because the manager looked me up and down before he answered my request to use the restroom, like he had to decide or something. It's not even like I was covered in dirt, it was a pretty low key day gardening, working outside for me. I was going to get lunch there as well, but I walked out. God forbid anything other than a rich housewife be allowed to use the facilities.

I don't care how good their coffee is, they don't let you use their restroom. So, this is how it apparently works, they want me to buy their coffee and give them my money, but when my bladder is full because of it, it's my own problem as to how to empty it. UNACCEPTABLE! Having a restroom for your PAYING customers shows respect for basic human dignity and needs. Not having one means...well, you figure it out. My advice to the owners is to shut down immediately. Then they should, by law, be forced to open the restroom in their home to passersby. I'm serious. I would even drive out of my way to indulge.

Flat Black is up the street from where I work. At least one of the owners will probably be around if you visit during the day. The bright red coffee roaster in the corner is usually in service cranking out both massive amounts of heat and tasty, tasty coffee. I make a point of getting in there to get a drink any day that I've got the time - and the fresh roasted beans cannot be beat. Downsides, the space is small and you'll usually get conversation with your coffee. Sometimes I don't *want* conversation with my coffee. Sometimes I wish that the person in line in front of me had a shorter conversation with their coffee. The clientele can be eclectic. Welcome to Lower Mills. It's how we roll. The pastry selection is small but tasty, and they're close with some local vendors of breads, soaps, and other stuff. They are usually hosting is a single-artist show on the wall,

Let me begin with 3 words: Banana-Split Latte. If that doesn't make you run right in the door let me tell you just how good it was. I'm a coffee drinker. A big one. I even worked for Starbucks for 5 fun-filled years. But this. THIS was the single. greatest. cup of coffee I have EVER had in my entire life. Hands down. bar NONE. It drank so smoothly, there was no bitterness, no harsh aftertaste. The milk and syrup and chocolate came together with the coffee in a way that was pure poetry. Now let's get something straight I don't usually talk like this. But I actually felt these feelings. I held off on finishing it for 2 hours until it was ice cold from the air conditioning in my office because the thought of it being gone was nearly heartbreaking. Now someone else has commented that their drinks are expensive. And that's true. My medium seasonal-flavored latte cost $4.50. But I don't regret a single penny of it. I would gladly shell out an extra dollar or two for the kind of happiness that this cup of coffee brought to me.

when i think about a really great cup of coffee, my mind immediately goes to Flat Black. While I frequent the Ashmont station location, the coffee is consistent across each store. The lattes are well balanced, strong, and perfectly frothed. With a sprinkle of cinnamon, I've yet to taste a better one in Boston. The iced coffee is strong but not bitter and a large is truly a large. Clean, friendly but not over the top staff, and free wifi!

Darned cute little coffee shack, conveniently located upwind from the nearby Dunky's so you can be lead by the delicious odors off the wayward path and slightly uphill to really decent joe. On-site roasting but traditional scalding water machine preparation, but really quite above average and worth a detour. We were there during a roast which is always the tell-tale, as far as I'm concerned; the roaster was doing a careful hand sort. I suggested they take their wall of coffee bean burlap bags and turn it into a couch, so there'd be _someplace_ to sit, but the bags aren't even bling for show, that's just where they had them piled up. I like it, although I'm going to patent the idea for a coffee bean bag couch, since they've declined to take the idea.

I read others' opinions here and, agreed, I wish it would stay open later, and had more seating. [btw - I think its nifty cool that artists live & work in the rehabbed Baker Chocolate Admin bulding across the street.] but what propels Flat Black to 5 stars for me is that they are opening another in tandem with the new Wainwright Bank branch in the new Carruth building at Peabody Square, Ashmont. that is one of the reasons I posted this weekend's Carruth open house as an event here. odds are the new one will have more seats, and a bathroom. maybe it will stay open later, too.

Because I moved away from Boston some years ago (kicking myself ever since), I hadn't been back to Flat Black's since 2009. Well, I had to make an impromptu visit back up there... decided to go to Flat Blacks because I needed a smooth cup of coffee to soothe my wary soul... Just Fantastic. I can't get over this place's coffee. They roast their own beans daily (roaster is right in the store for all to see) and purchase quality beans, so I'm sure that's why their coffees are so good. I got an Americano ... Sweet Jesus. That is the best Americano I have ever tasted - ever. The place is way too small to kind of hang out unless you come during an off time, but grab your coffee and go... it takes them a bit of time to make it, but remember that you are getting quality. It's worth it. Love this place and wish there was a place like it close to where I am now...

Can I give someone 7 or 8 stars? If i could, Flat Black would have them. I heard about this place through the Australian American Association of New England (phew! That's a long name!), and I figured I'd give them a shout because I love all things Australian. I don't even like coffee, but I get an iced mocha here EVERY DAY (lucky me! I work .2 miles from the Broad St location and live across the street from the Lower Mills location!). Did I mention I don't like coffee? These iced mochas are a dream come true. It took me a while to learn their secret. My boyfriend suggested that perhaps it's that non-fair trade coffee's taste is affected negatively by the sweat of the badly treated/paid coffee pickers, so of course anything made with fair trade espresso would taste better. I wasn't convinced, so I went ahead and studied the process. Yes, it is partly due to the ingredients used, but here's the real trick: half regular chocolate syrup and half DARK chocolate syrup. So now that I discovered that, I can sit back and enjoy the art-like layered presentation of my mochas rather than racking my brain trying to figure out what makes it so mind-blowingly delicious. GO HERE. The employees are awesome, the prices are good, and the coffee is delicious.

I just was at Flat Black for the first time today, and can't wait to go back. There aren't many places that I can't wait to go back to - especially coffee places. I can wait a lifetime to go back to Starbucks for burnt coffee and overly sugary pastries. But, Flat Black... It is in a nice neighborhood in Dorchester, Lower Mills. The decor is warm and inviting, managing to be bright but also mellow. There are lots of coffee choices, as well as delicious-sounding specials like the Honey Bun Latte, and the pastries looked good. My fave, free WiFi, but no bathroom. (There are a couple places nearby that will let you use theirs.) It's a good place to do work, bring a friend or colleague, have a small business meeting, or take kids for a treat.

Really impressed with this place! Love the kangaroo design and overall set up. My dark roast coffee was superb as was the almond orange tea bread. The guy working behind the counter was super friendly and helpful and made some great recommendations, even though he said he just started there. This will be my new go to coffee place in the area. Loving it!

Good coffee! Nice flavor overall. Went to the state st location and good layout of the shop. Cozy place to study but not too much seating.

Delicious latte on a grey winter afternoon. We are new to the neighborhood and found FlatBlack on Yelp. The shop has such character and warm and engaging baristas. If you are in the hood- visit! Will definitely make this a regular weekend stop!

(4 stars as a coffee place, obviously) It's more than a bit ridiculous to drive from Needham to Dorchester just for coffee, but this is great coffee. The fact that they were roasting beans in some giant open roaster machine right there when I walked in the door certainly didn't hurt either. This is a kind of a cramped spot, with a few tables and chairs and maybe a half dozen bar stool type seats in the window. Free wifi. Baked good are only okay. The pound of beans I took home were still warm in the bag - sweet.

I'm glad this place is here but it also frustrates me. They have sugary unhealthy juice-type drinks (as opposed to real juice). This morning after my coffee order going through 3 people it was screwed up (cost me $7 for that plus a croissant, by the way), and another time I called to ask if they made decaf lattés (I can't have full caffeine ones) they said they did but it would take 5 minutes or more to make due to their "process." It really is the only real coffee shop in the neighborhood, but I wish they would get their act together.

The coffee is phenomenal. Roasted on premises, one gets the chance to really taste what fresh roasted coffee can taste like. Great neighborhood vibe. Yes the coffee is a bit pricey but it buries Radio Coffeehouse in quality/lack of creeps. The service is great, but on occasion the owners can come across as a bit bothered by questions or ordering. But no big deal, the coffee is great and the employees are super friendly, enthused and knowledgeable.

Great coffee

I like this place a lot, really great coffee & tea with a wine-like approach to coffee (single origin brews, etc). It's good, but you pay a premium for it. But hey it's way better than Starbucks and is a small, locally owned business. I am kind of ashamed of myself at how often I spend $5.94 on a Flat White (4 shot latte) here. The service can be a tad slow when there is a volume of customers. The staff are all generally friendly and accommodating, there just isn't a whole lot of room behind the counter and that can slow things down a bit.

Stopped by for a quick drink and ordered a potion 9 latte. It was good but a bit too much milk for me. Service was OK. It wasn't very busy in there though we still had a good 10 minute wait for our turn to order. Small with limited seating. Not sure if it's worth going back to but would like to patronize local businesses.

Great coffee, but staff not so much! Had to wait for them to count the cash drawer at 11:30!?! Had to insist my espresso be served in a porcelain cup rather than paper! It's is a specialty coffee place! No restroom!?!

I have no issues with the coffee (lattes) Super yummy and definitely better than the chain stuff. But I have to say...I have yet to be treated very...how should I put it...warmly. Not that I have been treated coldly necessarily but I feel that I've been there frequently enough to warrant a smile or feigned interest in my inquiries about different coffee types, etc. It just seems like some of the men there can't be bothered with such petty things like suggestions for new flavors to try. But then I see some "regular" customers being treated so warmly...like one would expect from a small neighborhood establishment. So I know it's early in the morning gentlemen but please...at least pretend that you value ALL customers and not just the regulars. I know that coffee can be a snobby business but come on...it IS just coffee people. Don't take yourselves TOO seriously.

Delicious coffee. Staff isn't that friendly. I'd still recommend it. Gave it 4 stars because it's the closest place near my apartment with delicious coffee and a nice place to sit with it. The seating area is smaller than small but it's always warm and sunlit and smells delicious. I like all the coffee bean bags they have on the opposite side of the wall. *I've only been to this location.

BOOM!!! Best coffee around. If you are looking for a great cup of coffee look no further. Coffee is roasted on site. Not much seating here but hasn't been a problem for my wife and I. Expect to pay a bit more for your JOE but in my opinion it's worth it. If you are coming from D&Ds, Starbucks, or other "chain" shops brews, the taste of FB coffee will be a noticeable improvement, compared to the others. As one other reviewer stated, this has also ruined my Starbucks habit and it's literally a 3 minute walk for me to Sbucks. I don't mind the extra effort in getting to FB... Totally worth it. I will be purchasing their packaged whole beans at the Fruit Center in East Milton Square and making coffee at home when I'm just too lazy to get in the car to drive over. So if you just love great coffee and know the difference between EXCEPTIONAL and JUST OK brews, FLATBACK Coffee Company is the place for you.

Great coffee, but expensive. Also, they consistently close early, can't count on them being open if you show up 10 min before closing time to grab and afternoon coffee or a bag of beans for the morning.

I love Flat Black. It's my go-to spot for good coffee. I have noticed in the last year that the baristas have changed over frequently. When I see certain baristas working I know I'm going to get a good espresso drink. I can't say that about all of them however. The older woman who used to just work the register, now makes drinks. She's not very good and so I get disappointed when I see that it's just her. There is huge turnover though. The owner who is there roasting the beans or sometimes behind the counter isn't very friendly for someone who owns a coffee shop. Perhaps he's part of the reason no one stays.