While I enjoyed the coffee I got from Roasting Water, I don't see myself making a return visit here. Ever have one of those times when you're waiting for your order, and then suddenly, something causes you to want to get out ASAP after getting your order?
I arrived at Long Beach Towne Center just past lunchtime on a Saturday. I needed a pick-me-up before volunteering somewhere else. Driving around and parking at the shopping center by the 605 freeway can be quite a hassle. Luckily, I found a spot close to the Promenade and wanted to do a little exploring on my own.
At first, the line for Roasting Water was kind of lengthy, so I decided to enjoy the scenery at the Promenade and the surrounding area before entering the shop. There was a group of three girls in front of me. Two of them had already ordered, and one hadn't yet. However, it took a while for the female cashier to ring up the last girl; I guess the cashier was helping to prepare the drinks for the other two girls. While we were waiting, I had to stand kind of close to the register so I could see the menu. I didn't see the menu posted anywhere else, and the menu at the order counter was kind of hard to read from a distance.
I knew I wanted a coffee, and they only had about six choices of coffee. All the coffees are the same price. After reading the descriptions for all six, I chose the Café Sua Da, which is supposed to be rich in flavor. It definitely sounded like something that would help me get through a busy afternoon, and so that's what I went for. I asked the cashier if I could have it hot, and she answered affirmatively. In fact, there was a note underneath the menu that said to let the cashier know in advance if I wanted my coffee hot. I suppose by default, the coffees come iced if you don't say anything, so I'm definitely glad I mentioned hot.
After paying for my order, the cashier gave me a sticker. "Oh what's this?" I asked, but she never actually responded.
While I was waiting for my coffee, I was taking in the scenery inside. I can't really describe the inside because it seemed to be a theme that I was not familiar with, but I can say that there was a bed of some sort at the near corner of Roasting Water. However, it was during the wait that I told myself I wouldn't make a return visit even if the coffee tasted great.
During my wait, which lasted about 5 minutes, I heard a male staff member throw an F-bomb 5 times! He wasn't exactly rude, but his choice of words was incredibly poor for working in an environment that directly serves the customers. I wanted a family-friendly atmosphere that would treat me like family, but that one staff member alone made me want to get out of there ASAP with my coffee and never come back. At least the cashier seemed to appreciate my business when she handed me my coffee.
How did that coffee taste? It was pretty good I have to say! Rich in flavor and bold in taste. This was one of the best tasting coffees I've had. However, it wasn't as hot as I expected. Either that or it cooled down so quickly that by the time I returned to my car, I was almost done with the coffee.
I got through the afternoon easily with that coffee, but after hearing such foul language on my first visit, I don't think I will want to step foot inside that shop again. What if there were kids inside the shop that heard all that??? I know we're still going through these tough times, but we need to show that we care about one another to help us get through these tough times. Even if the profanity wasn't meant to be harmful, it still made me feel unwelcome as a first-time customer. As a result, I tore up the sticker and tossed it in the trash without even taking a photo of it.
Sorry Roasting Water, but I'd rather take my business elsewhere. Your coffee was great, but the environment just felt toxic to me when I was trying to seek positive vibes. read more