I just had to come out of Yelp retirement to write this review…read more
We visited New Hope, PA for a few days and decided to hop into this coffee shop before heading home. The interior is very nice, with a lovely communal table, impressive bonsai trees, and bright lighting. But, I certainly would not include the cold and prickly barista as part of the nice vibes. It was early morning when we visited and this man seemed to don a perpetual frown on his face, coupled with an air of annoyance. There was not a single friendly exchange, and as a customer, you almost feel unwelcome in there. It's kind of strange when they don't want your business. I can let all that slide if my beverage was up to par, but, sadly, that was not the case.
I paid an arm and a leg for mid-tier lattes that were barely above room temperature. The menu is quite interesting and I have no doubt they use quality ingredients, but even in an economy of heightened or runaway inflation, there is still no excuse for such an exorbitant upcharge, regardless of whether you use ceremonial grade matcha or provide cashew milk as an alternative to dairy. In no world should my two lattes cost over $20.00 unless you sprinkle them with edible gold dust.
I'm used to paying a little for high-priced coffee and I see it all the time at the artisanal and hip coffee shops I visit at home in NY. Brooklyn alone has some of the most curated and vibey ones you could ever imagine, so I'm done batting an eyelash when it comes to such coffee shops. Shockingly though, Amsterdam Coffee Bar was even pricier than those spots! It made me suspect if some of that upcharge is to fund their obsession with bonsai trees (which in turn, they flip and sell here). I don't think I need to tell you that peddling bonsai plants and gemstones is a little on the tacky side.
Another surprise is that this place is not even in the downtown area so high rent doesn't seem as though it would be a factor. I wouldn't say it's located in the sticks, but, it's certainly a bit more remote and not in a touristy or prime location. A hyper local coffee shop like this should not be charging as much as they do. It's a shame that the locals are being priced gauged all for "decent" coffee.
Now I've read some of the snarky Google responses from the business owner and I'm sure he's got an obnoxious retort in the chamber to unleash on this review, but, no bother. I know that they care about customer feedback or else they would not have that Instagram follower counter hanging on their wall!
To the locals and visitors here's a PSA; you don't need to go to Starbucks or run off to grab the coffee special at Wawa if you're looking for a respectable coffee shop. There are alternative spots where they respect you enough to appreciate your business and charge reasonable prices for their goods.
I would highly recommend Native Cafe in Doylestown, PA (less than a 15 min drive from here), and that place was 100% fabulous. Expect immaculate vibes, service, coffee, and a delicious menu. You won't find bonsai trees or gemstones for sale there, but you'll get a warm and cozy Hygge atmosphere all for free and chances are high that they will even smile at you for your business.
