I stopped here for matcha on the way back to STL. Not too bad, pretty decent. Hours are good as they were still open a bit later than most. The staff is really nice and accommodating considering it was near closing time when I stopped by. Plenty of seats inside and good place to study. I didn't get to try the coffee yet and probably will if I'm ever around the area again. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

LOVE the underground vibe. Busy place but TONS of seating. Would be a great place to connect with a friend or study. Really good coffee and tea options. read more

Cute coffee shop downtown. There are 2 locations within like 1 block of each other. I have had good experiences at both. Staff has been friendly. Coffee has been good each time. - Dirty chai (4/5): quite delicious, not too sweet - Spiced orange latte (4/5): This was a seasonal special. It was different but the orange did pair well with the coffee. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Dirty chai - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Hard to find! But once you do - they have great coffee! Excellent iced latte. Lots of college kids inside with headphones on laptops. Very quiet for being like an underground concrete bunker that also happens to dust coffee! Service was very quick, too! read more

Shortwave Coffee has a great location - a corner shop in downtown Columbia. It has a large cafe with lots of seating and phone charging stations, which didn't work, but were a great idea! The barista was friendly and accommodating. I ordered two shots of espresso over ice and my son got an iced chai. Both were good, but the espresso was pretty acidic for my taste. The merch is cute and we ended up buying a t-shirt, the perfect souvenir from our trip to Columbia! read more

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* editing to add I finally got refunded, they did not respond any further or apologize but I appreciate that they finally made it right. definitely solidified that I am not coming back though. Shortwave has declined steadily over the past year or so. I used to like them as a decent option with pretty good espresso, not my fave but if you got a solid barista it was a pretty good experience overall. not the case any longer, as the last 3-4 times (spread out over a few months) I have gone it has been worse each time. the espresso is burnt, the steaming if you get a hot drink is usually subpar, and one time I got their beans and they quite honestly already tasted pretty flat and old (off-gassed for 24-48 hrs before use). now here's my biggest frustration, and why I'm done going for good. I had not complained the last few times, even though my lattes or cortados were consistently not great. this time, I got a latte with their autumn spice as last year I had liked it a lot. the espresso was so burnt it genuinely tasted like charcoal, the drink was terrible. I had already left, so I emailed their customer service email which they encourage at the bottom of their receipts if anything is unsatisfactory. they tried to insinuate it might be me not liking the autumn spice syrup, which is quite honestly felt quite undermining. then they essentially dropped off the grid with no offer of a refund. receipts of this email thread attached below. I genuinely should've stopped wasting money on them a while ago, but was overly hopeful that a barista was having a bad day/bar wasn't dialed in properly. this was a very sour end to my patronage at Shortwave. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Cool local spot. Got the latte. Would be real busy during school year. Came during Thanksgiving so it wasn't busy at all. Great place to hangout and work. read more

Shortwave is and always has been one of my favorite coffee shops. I started coming here with my dad before school sometimes in the morning when I was young and ended up frequenting it all the way until moving out of Columbia. It's still one of my first stops when I return for visits and the place I recommend to everyone who asks. Their service is top notch with a focus on quality and personal touch for every customer. The coffee itself is fantastic and roasted in house. They make all their own syrups and brew a mean tea too. The owner Munir obviously cares very deeply and he and the baristas curate a very special space that gives that feeling of home and community. I love the newer space on 9th street with a full bakery and big open spaces, but the cozy alley location will always be my favorite. read more

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Something about the vibe of this place gets me. It's ultra-postmodern and it can be a nice place to veg-out and work or study, unless you have loud Midwestern women who go on about whatever they want to share. Inside voices please! Anyhow, I enjoyed the fresh drip coffee. The service was really good too, friendly people. The only thing that I was disappointed with was that they didn't have much to offer in terms of something to eat. I ordered an apple Danish, and it was about the same type that I would have purchased at a grocery store. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Coffee and Danish - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

We watched the girl making coffee talk to her friend for 20 minutes and make coffee very, very slowly. Ridiculous, focus on your job and customers read more

I absolutely love Shortwave Coffee!! My favorite drink to get is their Iced Matcha Latte's with Oatmilk and 1 pump vanilla. Their cheese danish's are literally so delicious. My server today was literally the nicest person on this planet. She recommended to try their hot matcha latte's. She even made me one to see how they make them! This store gives cozy rainy day vibes. /10 absolutely recommend!!! read more

Shortwave Coffee - This is their logo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Excellent vibe at both locations of this coffee shop in downtown Columbia. They feature a modern, hipster interior, comfortable seating and lots of outlets, making it an idea place to meet and chat or work. The standard coffee and cold brew were a bit bitter for me, as I prefer a lighter roast, but I got an Ethiopian pour over and it was delicious. The aptly named "secret recipe" chocolate chip cookie had a little something extra that made it extra addictive, worth every bite! Baristas at both locations were patient and speedy, despite being very busy. read more

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There are two Shortwave Coffee shops within a block of each other. One in an Alley, and one in a corner. Both had Students studying , Coffee , Music . Corner had sunlight and high ceilings. Alley had darkness and very low ceilings, and a homeless guy in front smoking a cigar. I picked ... the Corner. They claim awards for their coffee; it was very good. The coffee! I did indulge in any caffeine frou frou accoutrements. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Alley - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Sat on their outdoor seating to take a phone call, while a friend went inside to order drinks. An employee told me I couldn't sit on the patio unless I was a customer, I told them that my friend was getting us drinks. He persisted and said "it's better to just get a drink before sitting down." Super rude, nobody was even sitting out there and I wasn't taking any seats from anyone else. I went ahead and told my friend that we should get coffee somewhere else. read more

Good coffee spot with a stellar environment. I see why this spot is a hit! Despite being sworn college rivals with the university in this town, we were glad to explore Columbia and especially take in the downtown by bike. A coffee was definitely in order, and this was the highest rated place that we saw. I loved the big, open space that looked ideal for getting work done. We opted for some cold brews and then sat outside before saddling back up. This is a bit odd here, but I do have to make note of it.. I always get a little pick me up, sometimes a BIG pick me up from cold brew, and I found myself as tired as ever after drinking this. My leading theory is that perhaps we accidentally were served decaf, or maybe the coffee just wasn't that strong on that day. Either way, I really liked the vibe of the space and taste of my drink, and would recommend anyone to check this one out. read more

Quality of coffee is fantastic. Has to be the best in the area. Service was a little slow but might have just been a random occurrence.

Literally in the alley. We're from out of town and it took a minute to find this on Apple Maps because it is literally in the alley along with several other businesses. A very cool idea for a college town. It has the feeling of a speakeasy. The coffee was very good. I usually just get coffee with milk and this coffee was very flavorful. My daughter enjoyed the lavender latte and homemade blueberry muffin. Will definitely visit again if we're in the area. read more

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I have to say I was unimpressed. Not many milk options or non-fat milk options for your coffee or really many options at all. No food aside from like two pastries - this particular location is very bare bones. I had a spicy dirty chai and it was pretty good. So the coffee is good quality but if you want anything at all to eat - this is not the spot. It's OK but it was very basic with no decor inside and an industrial feel and low ceilings making it feel cramped for some reason. This isn't a shop I'd want to spend a couple hours in hanging out. Not my vibe. read more

Lavender latte! I wished the iced lavender lattes came in larger sizes! The caramel latte was also tasty.

I stopped by Shortwave while driving across the state, and was so glad I did so. Excellent beans. Unique vibe. Enter through the alley. When you buy a pound of beans you can get a cup of coffee for free. A quintessential college town coffee shop. read more

Shortwave Coffee - a view of a coffee shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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It would be my dream come true to own a coffee shop & roastery like Shortwave Coffee. I love the location and product. It's located within an alley (Alley A), which should be normalized in this country. Meandering through an alley filled with businesses and NO cars endearingly reminded me of being abroad. This shop is trendy, has a lot on their menu, a lot of different seating, and roasts their coffee onsite. I got a Special latte that had vanilla and sage, which was super good. We also got a bag of whole beans to bring home to MPLS. I believe when you buy a bag you get a free latte or cup of coffee? Nice! There are also baked goods and snacks for purchase. I bet this is a gem for local students to meet, study and enjoy this space. I'm kinda jealous! read more

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I asked for something off the menu and they accommodated!! Ordered: Flat White Cold Brew Double Chocolate muffin I love how this is located in the alley. I love that downtown has made the alleys into part of the experience. Plenty of outdoor seating. I didn't see any indoor seating. I was surprised that they didn't have flat white on the menu but I asked for it and they made it. The coffee had such a smooth taste and a tad sweet but that could have been the oatmilk. I don't usually like straight black cold brew but I tried my husbands and it was good. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Outdoor seating and small flat white. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

I love short wave!! I graduated but spent a lot of years studying and in my opinion they have the best matcha (if anybody knows what they use please let me know). Great service, everybody's so friendly. And a great atmosphere for studying. read more

It wasn't good coffee at all. I feel bad saying that but it's the truth. I couldn't drink mine and decided to go to another close by place. read more

Great study spot! Went here on a Saturday at around 3pm and it wasn't busy. They have a really relaxed atmosphere and the design of the place is simple and not distracting. I was able to order my drink really quick and tasted really good! I recommend the iced matcha tea latte. There are a lot of places to sit and the music they play isn't distracting to your focus. I usually bring headphones when I study anywhere but I wasn't worried about it the longer I stayed. Definitely a spot staying if you're trying to get work of any sort done! read more

Shortwave Coffee was the western most point of our roadtrip from Brooklyn, hitting up specialty coffee shops all the way. I tried both a cold brew and a drip coffee of their Guatemalan single origin. They were both great. The cold brew was super satisfying and I just wanted to crush it. I asked what was in it and they said it changes all the time, which is kind of cool. I was happy they were doing an SO as drip instead of a blend. It had a good creamy body without being too full and some nice fruit, but there was a little bit of an ashy finish. Cool fun alleyway where they are located, which had great outdoor seating and lots of shade. read more

Not sure how the coffee was as when I walked in it was 1 min before they opened so was asked to come back. Then the staff had to wait for a manager to come in so I would have to come back again For those that got to get coffee hope it was good. read more

The shop is tucked away in alley A, but it's easy to get to. The coffee is great here - they only have light roasts to maintain the fresheness of the beans, but they have a large variety and always make it well. They only have one size for most drinks, which makes the choice easy. There is plenty of space to do work here. They have couches, tables, and a backroom where it's quiet. I can spend a full afternoon here without realizing so much time passed! read more

Went here twice today! Lovely place to work and study. Also crazy good playlist this afternoon!! I spilled my whole latte and the staff was so nice and helped me clean it up. Also the cashier had really cute strawberry earrings. The mint mayday is my favorite drink and the danishes are great too. Slightly pricey but worth it. read more

Shortwave Coffee - Iced white mocha and hot caramel latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

I really like this place! Studied here a few times and love the atmosphere. However, I think the lattées are a little overpriced for the taste. Good, but not great. read more

Under"ground" (so punny) coffee shop hidden in an alley between two buildings. Very cool modern space inside. Offer a bunch of different varieties of coffee. I got a vanilla iced coffee and it was fantastic. Looks like a great place to do work. Doesn't look like they have too many food options however, just a few pastries read more

Shortwave Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

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Had a very nice coffee, smoothie and croissant at Shortwave. They have a very nice, big seating space and calm environment that is great for working/studying. I highly recommend them as a study space for students. read more

I popped in for a cup of coffee late one Saturday on the way home to Saint louis. On a whim I picked up a bag of whole bean Organic Columbia Nariño. I was shocked at the cost when I checked out. When I got home and tried it I haven't regretted the "splurge" once. I have a burr grinder and have gotten into collecting and grinding different beans over the last year. This coffee and small batch roaster quickly climbed to my top three. Bravo. Excellent product!! read more

Shortwave Coffee - Small Batch Coffee Beans - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Words can't even describe how uncomfortable the barista made my friend and I. I don't even know how to describe it but she didn't know anything about customer service. We wanted to order but had to wait because she was asking her coworker about what to make for dinner and then told us she wanted to go home. It was also so uncomfy because her coworker clearly didn't like her, I understand why, but it was very awk. And then she said "can't you tell he doesn't like me?" Very unprofessional and I am also a barista so I get that ir sucks sometimes but don't let the customer know that! read more

I was going to give my experience at Shortwave two stars but I will give three because the coffee is good, as it should be for nearly $10. The issue on my end was the customer service and general vibe towards customers. I love the location, seating, and lighting of the place so kudos for that, however, my first time (which will be my last time) going I was obviously unfamiliar with their menu. The menu above the counter is not very extensive so it requires new customers/those unfamiliar with coffee to ask questions to the staff. I arrived at the counter and I stood there awkwardly for about three minutes with two girls standing behind the counter conversing with each other the entire time. I had to get their attention after waiting, and when I asked a question about the menu the barista seemed irritated to answer my question. I got my coffee and made my way to a table, and saw a bunch of signs taped up saying things like "Only Customers Welcome" (which I get), and a purchase is required every 1.5-2 hours (I can't remember exactly) in order to remain in the coffee shop. As a college student, I spend upwards of four hours in coffee shops around town, and I am a coffee sipper. After drinking several espresso shots in my first beverage I really don't want to drink another with more caffeine, so I had to settle for a bagel to pick at so I could remain in the store regardless of the purchase I already made. Then, the restroom dilemma. I went to one of the two individual restrooms they had and both were locked with a number code lock. You have to go to the counter and ask for the code in order to use the restroom, which again, leaves you standing there trying to get the attention of one of the workers. I get that you don't want random people coming in just to use the bathroom but it just makes the entire experience uncomfortable and I think it is a bit much for a coffee shop in Columbia, we are not in New York with lines out the door or an excessive amount of people coming in. I think the shop should reconsider their signs taped to the wall around the store which just have a negative vibe towards customers who are enjoying the space. It's not that serious at the end of the day, and I think the signs and a padlock on the restroom door is a bit much for a local coffee shop with a large customer base being college students who visit regularly. I will continue to go to Lakota Coffee across the street which I highly recommend. read more

My absolute FAVORITE coffee place in como. The owner is an awesome guy and the coffee is such high quality. The syrups are all homemade so they taste absolutely delicious and in the winter I love studying there as the atmosphere is very cozy. In the summer the outdoor seating is great. read more

Great Coffee, I hope you enjoy the three drinks you get for $5.15. I asked for a cappuccino with a little bit of caramel, normal sized Taco Bell gift card for scale. If you feel like paying $5 to wash your mouth with the taste of coffee, come on in read more

Shortwave Coffee - $5 worth of cappuccino next to $10 worth of tbell - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Columbia, Missouri

Cute, little coffee and tea place down an alley. Wish they had some sugar free flavors for their coffees but I did enjoy a berry hibiscus tea. Friendly and efficient worker. Nice, clean and quiet place. read more

Nice location downtown and right near a college with plenty of seating. Stopped in because we always like to try local roasted beans. They go out of their way to make in-house syrups and flavorings. I did not enjoy the coffee I ordered. Too sweet and roasted a bit too light for my palate. It tasted like sweetened milk. read more

Amazingly good coffee. I was surprised just how fresh and rich the coffee was. How often do you find in a small city a real roaster.