Jenna O.
Yelp
Actual museum :
The Mingei Museum is a very unique museum, I have never been anywhere like it. Being an art museum it is always super exciting to see things that have been created, but this one being focused on international pieces of work is just amazing to me. One of the people I've as speaking with afterwards, mentioned that this museum being a "folk art" museum, she truly felt like this showcased art from her home and her heritage, and I can't imagine how others may feel as well when they get the chance to go. Sometimes being far from home, you miss the simplistic pieces of folk art, but this is a place for people to go here in California. I am not an art critic so I won't go into crazy details, but I will say that I have a lot of international friends and I do intend on bringing them if they ever visit me here.
Coffee side of things :
Their coffee shop is quite small, with access from both the museum and the outside, it has no inside seating but it does how outside seating available, as well as having plenty of seating in the museum's first level when it is open.
The actual shop itself has plenty of food options, and their pastries are exquisite. They use a few different vendors for their cookies and their pastries. I've tried a few different ones now and I have got to say they are AMAZING. I tend not to go crazy on getting pastries when I go places but I've been here a few times now and I cannot pass up their strawberry scone, it is probably one of my favorite treats right now. Other amazing ones they have are their lemon lavender cookie, oatmeal cherry chocolate chip cookie, and I'm trying their gluten free double chocolate one today.
As for their coffee itself. They use dark horse roasters, which is a great roaster, their espresso is not acidic at all, it does lean on the more burnt side so be aware of that when trying it. They have great brands for their alternative milks, and while I personally don't use them on my drinks, I do recommend them.
The baristas are fairly new so I have held off about a month before writing this review, to give them time, but we are at that point where I feel they have had enough time to practice, and quite frankly they are going to need more time. They are considered a craft coffee shop and I wouldn't recommend them as that. They have amazing flavors and great ideas, but haven't quite pinned down the actual craft of making the coffee. I will say their pouring of shots has heavily improved over the last month, but the steaming of milk has been off each and every time I've been, some over poured, too milky, inconsistent temperatures, just overall poorly done milks.
I have been able deal with many issues from coffee shops, because I truly believe there is room to grow, both in practice and supplies. But the worst time I've been to this shop I was handed a cup of just a batch brew, and the barista (I actually think it is the coffee shop manager, but not sure) looked into the cup and noticed their was grounds in it and still tried to hand it to me. I am sorry but this is supposed to be a craft coffee shop and I know for a fact not even Starbucks will hand you something they know for a fact has grounds in it. If it was an accident, I wouldn't be as upset, but he looked at it saw it handed it to me and then turned around quickly as though he thought I wouldn't complain if he turned around. Definitely not a very good look.
As for the baristas themselves, they are new, but they don't seem very passionate. I haven't ever been welcomed when I come in. They have always tried to answer my questions but usually they don't seem to want to or even know the answers. It would be nice if they cared just a little bit more about their role as a barista.