Empire Tea & Coffee

Was in town earlier this week and eager for a good cup of coffee. Stumbled upon the Empire coffee shop and got a cup of their medium roast with almond milk. I enjoyed coming here because everyone was really friendly. The shop roaster was experimenting with some new coffee roasts along with the owner or manager (I think?!). They gave me a sample of a new brew to taste test and chatted with me about the coffee roasting process and answered all my questions. I enjoyed the coffee and the friendliness of the team and will stop by again when I’m in town again :)

My boyfriend ordered two of the same latte’s today (French vanilla…simple right?) and one was made wrong. Instead of remaking it the barista insisted it was correct and argued that it tasted right. It wasn’t right, I tasted both. I then asked it to be remade and instead they refused. We’re local to town and try to support local businesses but rude and unprofessional is still rude and unprofessional.

I stopped by yesterday to grab a cool drink and a bite to eat and was impressed by their above-and-beyond customer service and general friendliness. Their breakfast sandwiches are amazing as well. Definitely recommend!

I’ve been to Empire too many times to count since 2009 - so maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic about the Empire I remember with comfy seating and a lite-brite table.

Came back to this location for the first time in a year or so, and bummed to see they took down the art and replaced what was very cozy chairs with a big standing area.

Menu seems smaller. 8 dollar breakfast sandwich was a little cold, but also burnt on one side. Coffee was fine. Overall a weird impersonal ambience, expensive, and not nearly as good as I remember it being last year or the years before. Hoping this was a blip. Staff was nice though!

Good spot to chill out and enjoy the ocean breeze. The drinks are good the staff is nice and friendly. Definitely try it.

I used to come here pre-pandemic nearly 4-5 times a week to get work done throughout the day, and I loved that more than anything. The greatest staff, amazing coffee, all around great experience. I truly believe that this cafe from 2016-2019 may have been the best cafe in the state. However, I'm not sure what seems to have changed after re-opening post pandemic, but it is not the same Empire I loved before (notably, a lot of the staff from before do not work here anymore). Every time I go in there are minor issues. Little things like forgetting the vanilla in a latte, or mixing up hot and iced drinks.

Today I went in with my girlfriend for 1 large iced latte (made correctly) - 1 small iced vanilla latte (made as a small hot latte with no vanilla) - an acai bowl with peanut butter - and a bagel with cream cheese. For some reason instead of calling out my order by the name they had asked for, as I assumed they would, they left it at the mobile / online order pick up station for 15 minutes until I had gone up frustrated that something so simple was taking so long when it wasn't busy.

I'm not one to write reviews, and I still do think that the coffee is good when made to order, but it feels like I'm falling out of love with my favorite coffee spot and it's heart breaking

My daughter loooves getting boba tea here 1-3 times per week. Our favorite batista is David because he's always extremely friendly & makes her drink perfect every time. It's much appreciated!!

Loved my chocolate chip cookie and blueberry banana bread. Both where super moist and tasty. Next time I'm in the ares I know where I'll be going for my baked goods.

Post pandemic empire is just not the same! It is extremely irritating that they stop serving food at 1. They are open for 2 more hours after that! Also the seating they've put in is strangely cold and uninviting. There used to be a cozy seating area with a couch! Also as another reviewer pointed out, they've stopped calling your name and started putting it all in the mobile order station? Overall bizarre experience lately and feeling nostalgic for pre pandemic Empire.

A+ all around. Particularly had good black dip coffee.