love there hot cocoa love the interior decor love the bakery I have been here soo many times. I'm always immediately greeted & the baristas are always friendly The ambience inside is always so laid back. The interior space is wide but not too many seats. It's location is great for the area. I usually walk so i'm none to complain about parking but being in VCU area it's hard to get parking. Great for tourist, college students, and coffee shop lovers. read more

Cute little coffee spot right in the center of VCU off broad st. Parking is limited but on weekends it's mostly free around the surrounding areas. I ordered an iced latte with hazelnut and my partner ordered a dirty chai. The barista was super kind and handling everyone's order by herself. Very laid back environment and attentive!! The barista said all the syrups are made in house which is amazing!! Hazelnut latte was 8/10 Dirty chai was 8/10 read more

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It was cute. The croissant was pretty decent, I mean how good can cafe food really be. The tea was yummy I need to try the coffee though. The service was good. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Tea,coffee,ham and cheese croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Terrific latte at the lab at Alchemy. Did a beautiful job, perfect temp, kind of unusual flavor of the beans themselves...really nice to have something a little off the beaten path. Great stuff. read more

I have loved Alchemy for years! Seriously pro coffee, pro art, pro people! I love it. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Cortado in the afternoon sun - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Cute little cafe, although parking can be hard to find since it's just street/alley parking and majority are only 1 hour blocks Mon-Fri. It's on the smaller side so seating can run out quickly but there was a table open for me to sit at. I ordered an iced dirty chai with almond milk which was yummy, and it cost almost $7. The barista was super nice. Wi-fi is free! I didn't see any restrooms inside though. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Great coffee and friendly service! Seems like a college spot, but it made for the perfect morning walk while we were in Richmond for the first time. read more

First time trying this coffee shop. After I arrived, I noticed that they only offer whole, soy and oat milk (the last had an upcharge). I've only been in Richmond for about a year and a half, and this is one of many coffee shops with such limited milk offerings. I always have skim or low fat milk in my coffee drinks and cannot drink whole milk because it's too fatty. I wasn't impressed with almond milk when I tried it, so this time I opted for the oat milk. It's better than the almond milk, but has a bit of an off putting taste. The barista was friendly, it's just too bad that I'm not a fan of these limited dairy offerings. It's a cool little coffee shop, but the available dairy options would prevent me from returning. read more

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Came by on our way to Dinner Sunday night. Very cool vibe, ambiance set by the music was GenX, and of course a good iced espresso thing my wife got with blueberry infused in it somehow. It's a loft atmosphere with great signs from all sorts of coffee places posted, and I noticed power strips placed strategically all around. We sat on a love seat, there was a checkers table too, benches, and other varied seating. Really nice. Great service. Forgot to take pics--sorry. Oh yeah...I sae a spot for maybe danishes, but it was near close so empty. We'll be back. read more

Good vibes to be had! The barista (don't know her name oops) is awesome. She seems so comfortable and in her element. It's definitely somewhat busy in here and she's just doing really well keeping calm and focused, yet friendly and helpful. Pour over (Ethiopian) is quite good. The flavor is very round at first. Sort of like raisins and burnt butter. Bitterness at the end. Would get again. Didn't try any food items here. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

A delightful place in a busy space - lots of foot traffic coming in and out of this place per its proximity to VCU's campus. Loved the modern vibe with lots of natural light and seating. Solid coffee too :) read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - love the customized mug and plates! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Theeee best coffee in RVA as far as concerned. I no longer live in VA but whenever I'm in town visiting family, this is a must stop for my husband and me. The service is always kind and friendly, and the Yama tower cold brew is EVERYTHING! We get that with oat milk, lavender and vanilla. 10/10! read more

Super close local coffee shop to VCU. Service was amazing, the decor and theme is on point. They serve a delicious chai, and I got a hot chai because it was raining. It's authentic, spicy, and flavorful. There's some couches and a lot of tables/chairs for studying or lounging. I wish they had a cup sleeve lol. read more

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I've had this on my list of RVA coffee shops and it exceeded my expectations! I loved the overall vibe and atmosphere as soon as you walk on. Music was playing so there was a slight upbeat energy but still a chill and relaxed vibe. I like they have a food menu beyond just pastries. I got the pumpkin chai latte (lite syrup) which was perfect and not too sweet. read more

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I really liked The Lab by Alchemy Coffee! This super hip place is serious about their coffee, and it shows! The menu offers drip, espresso, pour overs, cold press, and even chai, cocoa, and tea as other options. I had a cafe au lait and a chai latte (homemade), and both were served super hot, super strong, and super delicious! Absolutely no bitterness, graininess, or any -nesses! There was only one barista on shift, but they were super welcoming, informative, and very kind! The place has plenty of tables and some counter seating, and it seems as many locals come here to do some work and/or to enjoy their beverages. I'd love to go back and try out the rest of their coffee menu. Parking is available on the side streets. +well-made beverages +friendly staff +great space to enjoy/work/catch up +parking on the side streets read more

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This place is amazing! I always come here and get an Iced Matcha Latte (which tastes great btw) and if I need to finish some assignments, I'll do it there. I love the vibe here. The employees are so friendly and welcoming. 10/10 would recommend to anyone. Thank you for being amazing!! read more

I came here on a cold afternoon with a few friends, and they have said good things about the coffee here. The interior is cute and hipster, definitely a great vibe for college students since there are sizable tables perfect for studying and working. I also love the plaques and posters they have of other roasters from all over the country! I got a cortado, which is my go-to espresso drink. It was only $3.52, which is pretty cheap for a double shot. The espresso uses beans roasted from Recluse, which I hear is a great and popular local coffee roaster in Richmond. There is an 88 cent up charge for oat milk which isn't too bad since it complements espresso shots well. At first sip, the espresso was strong and juicy like a fruit explosion in your mouth. Then, the after taste transitions into something more nutty and chocolatey. Wow, absolutely delicious. The oat milk merely complements the espresso and did not overpower the drink. I have no complaints about this cortado. One of my friends got the cold press latte with vanilla syrup which was good but a bit watery. The overall flavor is solid, but it's on a watery side (instead of milk), which is probably what a cold press is. The coffee taste is not very strong but prominent enough to be enjoyable. My friend said she would prefer an espresso over cold pressed coffee. My other friend got the hot chocolate, and he thought it was good but the medium size was extremely small for what would normally be considered "medium". I would say this looked like an 8 oz. cup so we wonder what a "small" size would look like? Overall, because of the mind-blowing cortado, I'm giving this place a 5/5. We all thought it was delicious and definitely the best drink we got here. 101% would recommend the cortado here. I definitely need to check out Recluse for their beans sometime! read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Finally got to go in as we missed it out last two trips to Richmond. Enjoyed my Mocha as it was a perfect temperature and not too sweet. Just like I love it. I also love that they use Vigilante coffee and support other brands like coffee culture. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Wall of (Coffee) Fame - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

One of the best cappuccinos I've ever had! Love the light, the vibe, and the amount of seating in this coffee shop. Very spacious and cozy and really good coffee read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Cappuccino with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Amazing spot for coffee! Unfortunately they were out of food items when I went but it was later in the day so it makes sense. The ambiance is small and cozy with comfy seating at the front. The barista was very friendly and this has to be one of the best coffees I've had in a while! Parking can be a little difficult o find but so worth it. read more

Cool vibes and delicious coffee Seems like a university hang out Lots of students in their computers Cortado and cappuccinos done to perfection with great foam artistry! read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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Nice little piece in the RVA to get a really good cup of coffee. Always fresh brewed to the taste read more

Received the nicest service from the barista on a Memorial Day right before they closed. The iced black coffee had a great quality taste and the caffeine I needed to stay awake. There's street parking around the corner that looks like an alley. It was easy to get to on a holiday and the store itself looked like a great study spot with many individual tables. read more

We stopped by for a coffee at Alchemy Coffee when we were in Richmond for a weekend. The service was great, and my coffee (americano, as usual) was good. It's not huge, but it had a good amount of seating for the space. Parking is hard, so I'd probably only stop by this coffeeshop if I was doing other things in the area. read more

This small, not flashy coffee shop is what I consider to be *the* exact kind of place I want to find when I go out for coffee. On our travels South, we stopped early and were so happy with the result. This place is about high quality! Not a lot of food options (but some pastries which were delicious), and it wasn't about a loud vibe or a musical hang. It was just about some amazing espresso drinks created on a Strada. I had my usual latte and it was made exquisitely! Milk was perfectly textured. Espresso came out thick and syrupy. The resulting latte was amazing and the barista drew some very nice latte art. Overall the drink was smooth and tasty and exactly what I was hoping for. Overall, this is a 5 and the kind of espresso place that I tell everyone about. Do yourself a favor and if in the downtown Richmond vicinity and want an amazing espresso drink, visit The Lab! read more

Loved this place so much! It was such a beautiful space with lots of natural lighting. There is limited seating and it's located on VCU campus. The service was fast and I enjoyed my iced chai latte :) read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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love the matcha lemonade which had lavender as well i believe that was recommended by the barista. very friendly staff & chill place to meet or study. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - matcha lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Always in search for the best espresso drinks on my travels and The Lab by Alchemy Coffee is definitely the winner! The baristas are friendly and eager to provide you with an artistic and amazing coffee drink. I will be back read more

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Perfect little place to get coffee in downtown Richmond. Our barista was super sweet and gave us amazing recommendations for cute dinner places to try in the city. The coffee was a Peruvian roast and was spectacular and perfect to drink black. The decorations were warm and welcoming which was perfect for getting some work down. This place isn't too big but big enough to hold about 20 ppl on a busy day if you wanted to come in and "coffee shop work." I'm a sucker for checking out new coffee shops in different cities and this one hit the jackpot! read more

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My main goal visiting Richmond was to find a local coffee spot. Preferably a spot that locally roasted its own coffee, but since my committee didn't release us until after many shops closed, I had to make do. A coworker and I took our rental down here and we had to switch drivers once we arrived because I am awful at parallel parking. We had to drive around the block a couple of time to find a spot. Not my thing, but hey, we got here and that's what mattered. We separated (she went into the bookstore next door) and was pleasantly surprised by the interior and also a little shocked by how empty it was. There was one girl working away on her computer and one barista manning the counter. He was very kind and friendly and suggested a cold brew. It was a hot day, so I went with it. They have a fairly simple "no frills" menu with all your basics, and a super cool sciencey drip coffee thing that I found utterly fascinating. I also asked if he had coffee for sale, and he pointed at a few bags. I was super excited until I learned it was roasted in Columbus, OH. Darn! I would have liked some Richmond-roasted coffee for my coffee club back home at work, but alas. I managed to get a free mug, though, so that was cool. And my cold brew was made with the coffee I bought, anyway and it was an absolutely delicious cold brew. I drank it down pretty quickly. This was a really neat shop, fitting in nicely in the neighborhood, and looking a lot nicer on the inside than the outside. Parking is tricky, but if you can get past that, you're in for a treat with some good service and a cool atmosphere. read more

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Just average. You have to be really committed if you want to drive here. Parking is extremely difficult as there is no parking lot and one way streets on either side. If you are a VCU student and walking it might make more sense for you. They had no bold roast on this Saturday, so I settled for a weak mild roast. Nothing of real note about this place to differentiate it or making more interesting...except for maybe the name. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

If you've visited the South of the James Saturday market, you may recognize Alchemy Coffee from their mobile trailer. It's how they stated in 2012. They then set up a brick and mortar shop along West Broad Street in Carver. Here's why you should go: 1) Vibes: It's a fun, small shop in a cool area close to other businesses and galleries. The space is allowing limited indoor seating as of May 1, 2021. There's a bathroom in the back. 2) Coffee: They have a full coffee menu that includes drip coffee, espresso, etc. I opted for a vanilla latte and it did not disappoint. It was very smooth. They also make tea for non-coffee lovers. If you like good coffee, stop by this shop! read more

Best mocha I've ever had! The drinks took a bit of time, but I didn't mind waiting... Especially while being able to sit in the sun, with the stools by the window. There is also plenty of seating outside, which is nice. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

Went there with a colleague to have a work chat. Ordered a chai latte and oh my gosh, the spice is just perfectly string but not too strong. It was delish. The place is spacious, the staff is friendly, and the price is just. Recommend! read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - a bari serving a cup of coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

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I really enjoyed my visit here. The coffee shop itself is smaller but cute. I tried a cheese danish and chai latte while my husband chose a drip coffee. All were great. Alchemy Coffee is a must visit if you live in or are visiting Richmond. read more

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I hate to left unpleasant review but for the YELP hype, of course I set some expectation up in this piece. Not quite friendly but not rude. I didn't start conversation anyway, so no complain right there. No greetings whatsoever when it had only 3 total customer. Okaaaaay, who cares all of that if they served special and good coffee. For 8 oz Latte caramel I paid $5.00 & expecting something worth $5.00, but I'd prefer 12 oz Wawa for almost half of the price. Not to mention the messy cup looking. I also assume that they only offer you whole milk? Which I don't mind personally but would be nice if they'd have various options. Anyway... here you go, 2 stars for the foamy whole milk & now quite friendly barista :) PS : for the price you set, as a customer we expect something better. Thanks read more

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Love this little shop! It's always nice to come in to anywhere with smiling faces and this definitely takes the cake on that!

I really love the idea of this place, the ambiance and the friendly service. And I love supporting local businesses. However, I don't really know much about coffee or bean profiles or brewing styles, so I usually feel lost when it's time to order here. I'm not even sure what coffees there are to choose from on any day. I asked today if the coffees on the counter were all that was available, and I was told yes. I asked about the flavors and she didn't have any info. You can see from the picture (hopefully) that only one of the four tags described the coffees at all, so, I just picked a random coffee and ordered it without a clue as to what it was or how it was brewed (I picked Columbian Geisha which I overheard was brewed with the dragon?). I really WANT to love this local shop and I want to learn about coffee profiles and brewing methods so I can be an informed coffee drinker, which is what the owner seemed to have as his mission. Unfortunately, after visiting this place over the last two years or so, I don't feel like I've learned much (besides the special elite event where the owner was present) and I'm still ordering random coffees, some of which I pour in the sink because I dislike like the taste. While I still think this is probably one of the best coffee shops around, especially for the coffee connoisseur, I'm finding myself at DD more often than not because I know what I'm ordering and what I'll get, it's cheaper, and I'm not pouring money down the drain. IMHO, visit if you know a lot about coffee or want to try something random, but if you want to learn about coffee profiles and brewing methods, feel informed when ordering or have a cup of coffee you know you'll love every time, you may want to keep looking. read more

The Lab by Alchemy Coffee - Today's coffee options. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Richmond, Virginia

(4) ~ very good overall coffee & service. Note: Street Parking nearby. MENU: ** Yama Tower (Cold Brew) = (4) very authentic *** Dragon Brewed (Hot) = N/A - Not Available:( Hope they bring this back, especially since they advertise it on their Home page as a Youtub video;) lol read more

Few coffee shops in Richmond could offer international delights such as the shakerato from Italy or Yama Tower cold brew from Japan as effortlessly as the Lab by Alchemy does. If you thought only a foreign owner could bring such sophistication to our city's coffee scene, then you would be half-right. Eric Spivack, the owner of the Alchemy Coffee, prides himself on integrating the latest in international coffee trends into the menu at his small shop on Broad Street. His dedication to the integrity of coffee began during his childhood in France. As a dual citizen, Spivack grew up surrounded by the refined simplicity of French coffee culture with its focus on harnessing the natural taste of the bean through technique rather than diluting its flavors with excessive milk and sugar. When he moved to Richmond in 2012 from the Pacific Northwest, he realized there was a gap in the market. "I was making better coffee at home than what I was getting when I went out," Spivack says. that same year he launched his brand with the coffee trailer Alchemy Coffee still uses to cater to farmers markets, corporate events and film crews. Just two years later his business found its current brick and mortar shop, the Lab. Spivack's critics would charge that his pride in his product can come off as pretension, but his dedication to making the shop accessible refutes this. "We definitely want to overcome the perception that we're elitist," Spivack explains. "It may seem like that before you come in, from our aesthetic on Instagram, but the only way we lean into that is our focus on coffee." Instead, he sees the shop as a way to bring people into discussions on coffee with him and his baristas. "Once folks discover that they can come in and ask questions, they're surprised how much we want to teach them about coffee," he says. "But we only want people to come in if they realize that we can brew it better than they can at home." The Lab by Alchemy trusts in the mantra that savvy consumers create brand loyalty for quality producers. That brand rests upon three pillars: consumer education, an approachable tone and a scientific approach to quality. Even the shop's name exudes Spivack's analytical over artistic perspective on coffee. "Everything done needs to be intentional and re-creatable so all baristas do the same thing every time. I want to be able to defend every step in the process." The Lab by Alchemy offers a lot of processes to brew coffee too: French press, V60, Chemex, AeroPress, siphon, Kalita Wave and even an obscure German pour-over method known as the Walküre. As one of Richmond's few multiroasters, the coffee selection is just as varied since the shop's beans change every four to six weeks. "Our lineup is always changing, so we constantly have to recalibrate our offerings, but for us that's not a challenge because working with new coffees is what we love," Spivack says. For those looking to learn more about their daily brew, Spivack suggests a tasting flight of three different single origin pour overs to experience the full taste differences in coffee. If you would rather have a barista-guided experience, simply answer three questions for the Lab's staff: hot or cold, espresso-based or no, and with milk or not? As for what customers won't find, Spivack is clear. "We don't pretend that we serve frappuccinos, and we don't do decaf at all because the best coffees in the world will never be decaf. We're not going to settle on coffee." styleweekly.com/richmond/scientific-method/Content?oid=15193639 read more