Very clean and modern ambiance. Has a play area for kids and plenty of seating options. Lots of fun…read moreseasonal drink options along with their own secret menu options. The Barista was super friendly in sharing some of the popular and favorite drinks. Already planning coffee/play dates with friends here.

Note: not to be confused with Ember Coffee Co. in Big Lake…read more That said... excellent coffee here. This place is actually kind of awesome. If I describe the environment as being half of the lobby of a new suburban apartment complex, that doesn't do justice to how pleasant it is. Homey, quiet, clean, intentionally designed. When the apartment people give tours to prospective tenants, my confident assumption is that they DEFINITELY show off this area and it probably convinces people to move to this building. The baristas are serious coffee nerds, rightly proud of their single-origin sourcing from farms in Honduras, Costa Rica, and Colombia. My iced vanilla latte tasted great; the mild sweetness from their house-made vanilla was perfect. My friend got a pourover that he loved; he stayed there for about an hour doing some work and was impressed by how long that container stayed warm. If you're arriving by car, there is street parking around the building, but there is also the option of going into the building's garage. They confirmed to me that the ground-level parking spaces are available to customers during their open hours. Also, this is right across the street from the Helmo Ave. station on the new Gold Line. If you're taking that route before 4pm, consider hopping off for one of their impressive coffees!

We were in the mood for a local coffeeshop visit, so we headed over to this spot for a cortado!…read more Small parking lot available to the side of this spot, otherwise nearby street parking! The space inside could use a bit of a facelift...behind the coffee bar was a bit dingy, but there are plenty of tables for various groups to hang out! We got ours to go, so we didn't hang around. The staff were very helpful and friendly during the visit! The coffee was tasty, and well made, although, I was disappointed with the lack of art atop my cortado. My cousin had the matcha latte, and said it was super tasty! Not a standout or destination coffee spot, but if you need a cup, it will suffice!

Honestly I forgot what drinks I ordered exactly, but they were both holiday specials. One was an…read moreegg nog and the other was festive too - I think like a carrot cake with cream cheese cold foam. I remember the cold foam being amazing and the drinks being fine. What was the worse part was the customer service. We walked in about 10 minutes prior to closing. No welcome. No appreciation. Just short lipped service. That's what I remember most. I bought a bogo coffee book for 2026 and see this company in there, but I won't head to this location again. What was the most unwelcoming gesture the baristas did was shortly after walking in, one came over and shut off the lights. There were still about 10-15 people in the store. Mind you, this was 10 minutes prior to closing. I view that as disrespectful. I've never worked a customer service job where that would be deemed reasonable.

I went right when they opened at 8 am on a Sunday's morning. Small parking lot, but plenty of…read morestreet options. We got our order to go and were in and out in less than 10 minutes. Food 4/5: we got the breakfast sandwich (sausage,egg,cheese,spinach on a croissant) and plain bagels. The breakfast sandwich was well seasoned and flavor balanced and I'd absolutely come back for! The bagel didn't seem the most fresh, but they did have other pasties I'd try. I also got the cold brew with maple syrup and a splash of milk and would absolutely come back for! Service 5/5: the ladies that helped me were so nice and helped answer all of my questions. The food/drink was made quickly. Ambiance 5/5: this place has plenty of seating inside and out and has a more cozy aesthetic. Definitely worth a try if you're on the neighborhood! I love that they have more than just pastry options for breakfast and we will definitely be back.

I went to try this cafe because of the coffee passport I purchased for 2026z…read more Cafe with all organic coffee and creative drinks. There is plenty of seating inside and outside. The cafe has some gluten free and vegan backed food options too. Service was fast and my iced americano was average- I prefer it a little stronger. Price point for drinks is a bit higher but I assume it is because they are organic.

I didn't realize that Backstory opened up where Fiddlehead Coffee was a few years back. The…read morelocation is not far from the MOA nearby many apartment buildings. There is some street parking as well as some paid ramps. I came in on a Saturday morning around 10AM. By then, it was busy, but I was able to still find a seat. The staff were kind and I think as pleased with the number of drink options as well as pastries - gluten free, too! I enjoyed a seasonal lemon bar latte (yum!) and a gluten free banana chocolate chip muffin. I will likely be back. The coffee is great, the parking situation is just a bit weird.

It's funny how poor customer service completely changes your attitude towards a business you used…read moreto enjoy. I used to live in the area and when the small coffee shop opened I was so exited to have that in our community and was happy to support them - even if some coffee beverages were top dollar. I was in the area today, and decided to stop in since I no longer live in the area and wanted to enjoy a good brew. Unfortunately, the experience I had left me leaving with a bitter taste in my mouth - and it wasn't from the coffee. I thought it goes without saying, but when a customer greets you, you should greet them back, not just stare. It would be even better if your staff would greet each customer first - make them feel welcome. Maybe I'm a millennial channeling boomer energy, but for years I'm noticing the customer service disappearing from a lot of businesses. I love that connection, but I'm understanding that some people see only a paycheck and skid by with minimal customer service and that is the new way. I don't plan to visit this establishment again. I wish the barista with star tattoos would have put in enough customer service energy that she did with her impeccable makeup.

I ended up at this coffee bar after a little digging. I learned that Curioso Coffee Bar's approach…read moreto sourcing beans was shaped by the founder's time in Panama, where he roasted his own coffee using beans sourced directly from local producers and sold at his café. I know firsthand that coffee is king in Panama, so I figured anything inspired by their incredible coffee culture had to be worth trying. I visited Curioso on an early Sunday morning and immediately found it special. Not just for its coffee, but for the ambiance, service, and overall vibe. Curioso is a large, welcoming space that's part coffee bar, part brewery. I was immediately impressed by the variety of entertainment for all ages: arcade games, pool tables, dart boards, a skee-ball machine, board games, and even claw machines. Seating options are abundant, from cozy couches to tables and high-tops. There's a toddler play area and a library filled with books for all ages. The space feels family-friendly and is warm, welcoming community gathering space for all. I noticed flyers for free community events Curioso hosts, like Sunday Morning Yoga and Tuesday Trivia nights. The service was equally warm! The barista, although managing a busy Sunday morning solo, took her time to explain coffee options, highlight weekly specials with her own recommendations, and describe the pastries in partnership with Fruit & Grain and Bagels from St. Paul Bagelry. Oat milk is the standard for all their drinks! (Which I loved) We tried two speciality lattes: the "Butter Luck Next Year" (iced) and the "Blue Ribbon Peach Pie" (hot). Both were exceptional! Strong, robust, and delicious. Alongside, we also enjoyed an "Everything" handpie and a "Blueberry Lemon Curd" pop tart. Both pastries were out of this world delicious! I loooooved this pairing. I'm a sucker for savory, so the "Everything" handpie reigned supreme for me. Although I don't have a fur-baby (yet), I would like to include that Curioso is fur-friendly. I'm looking forward to returning several more times!

I visited Curioso recently as part of my 'Sip Scouter' coffee passport book…read more Knocking off just one star because the barista didn't know anything about this coffee passport book (but also giving them benefit of the doubt as they may have been new) and it seemed to take a bit for my drink even though the place was empty. I ordered one of their seasonal specials--the banana cream pie latte. It was very good. The ambiance was OK. Smaller seating area and located in a strip mall. Although my drink was good it wasn't necessarily something to write home about. I might come here again if in the area and in need of a coffee, but probably not a place I will necessarily seek out.

Such a cute local coffee shop with friendly staff and fast service. My favorite drink is the…read moreSandy's latte. Their breakfast sandwich's are also very tasty!

Iced latte was good. Bit on the lighter side. Skip the matcha if like your matcha on the darker…read moreside or ask for extra scoops of matcha. Cute place. Assuming a local hot spot. You can tell who the usuals are because they all know each other and will chit chat in the early morning.

A small but mighty coffee shop on the west side of Saint Paul. The menu is nice with a little bit…read morefor everyone. I tried the Lemon Bar Latte and it was AMAZINGLY good! It was smooth and not overly sweet. I also tried the French Toast Breakfast Sandwich and it was quite good. Total was a little over $$22 for the two items and a 20% tip. Free street parking available. They are also doing great things for the community and that is worth so much more than great coffee and breakfast sandwiches.

Totally forgot how close I live to this spot! Backstory Coffee was the perfect little stop before…read moreheading to the MN Yacht Club Music Festival with my bestie. We rolled in a little before 1:00 PM and had no trouble finding easy street parking (huge win!). The vibe inside? Mixed. While the space was cute, relaxed and inviting, the service was... not so much. The guy at the front counter barely looked up from his screen, and let's just say, enthusiasm wasn't on the menu. Definitely not the warm welcome we hoped for and very unfortunate. BUT--shoutout to my bestie for treating us to a coffee date, because the drinks were solid. I had the piña colada cold brew, which was super sweet at first, but after a quick stir, it hit just right. My bestie went with the strawberries & cream cold brew and a matcha lemonade. Both were surprisingly good, but the matcha lemonade really stood out to me; so refreshing and unique. All in all, Backstory was a convenient and tasty pre-concert stop. If the service matched the drinks, this would've easily been a 5-star visit.

Their coffee always hits the spot as well as the delicious bakery & food. The atmosphere is so cute…read moreand perfect for studying!

Absolutely delicious coffee and breakfast sandwiches were also on point !…read more Got a latte with a Black Sea salt rim and it was absolutely delicious! They also have homemade stickers and coffee beans from different countries ! The service was quick and the ambiance was very cute -- highly recommend the salted caramel bourbon latte ! Yummyyyy!