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Urban Bean
Rating Details »
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 6:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 7:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
16 reviews for Urban Bean
Solid internet connection.
Solid coffee products, with a little lower quality than Dunn's.
But, it is a well known fact that somehow the girls working there are complete bitches, and for some reason the guy is the nice one.
If you don't want to work there...don't.
WARNING: this is NOT the coffee shop to have that first meeting with TwinCitiesGuy from Match/OKCupid/eHarmony/FindLoveOnline. The inherent awkwardness of the situation will surely be magnified, just as every breath and word of your conversation reverberates throughout the expansive back room. Not that I would know anything about these things. *Cough*
Total lack of audio-privacy aside, Urban Bean is a grad student's best friend, occupying the narrow space between the library and the see-and-be-seen cafe.
Lots of sunlight from the front windows, plenty of outlets, free wi-fi, lots of decently sized tables to spread out your stuff, bench seating. Oh and the large area for seating in the back is totally away from the view of the barista...which means you can have little shame in nursing an iced tea for 5 hours. Bakery goods from Franklin Street Bakery! Not really a coffee connoisseur, so can't comment on that. Decent loose tea selection.
They could use some more food-food (not bakery-food) though. And seriously, would it be such a problem to put up more stuff - if not for decorative purposes, then at least to absorb some of the sound??? The soft indie music helps, but not quite enough.
Eh, really these things are minor...I'll probably be here a lot this summer to do work cause I'm sure that Spyhouse near my place will be packed.
First off, I don't drink coffee. Coffee gives me the runs. Therefore, I cannot postulate on how good/crappy UB coffee is compared to other coffee shops. Their tea selection is good; the Sunset in Seattle blend is delicious (and caffeine free).
I mainly go to cafes to study or pretend to study. Although I wish for the former so I can actually get my thesis done by May, I usually find myself two hours later doing something else. Where did the time go?
Urban Bean is full of other people trying to study, so it's mostly quiet. The ceilings are kind of high, which amplifies all noise; don't try to fart quietly. Most of the time, it won't work.
While I appreciate that not only hipsters go there, it's always the old people talking on their cell phones REALLY LOUDLY. Seriously? Maybe diversity is a bad thing. I kid, I kid. But I mean it, old people: STFU.
And there are a lot of outlets. Before I caved in and got a new laptop battery that expanded my outlet dependence from thirty minutes to three hours, these outlets were essential. And yay for free WiFi.
There's one surly barista there that can make you feel bad. She always looks like she hates you. Maybe she can tell that you've farted in her cafe.
I do really like the lattes here. The hot chocolates are usually not chocolate-y enough and I agree with other reviewers that this is more a to-go place - it's not somewhere where you feel encouraged to hangout and ramble an afternoon away. Full of studying/working types. It's VERY quiet and I don't love the music.
All in all, the lattes will keep me coming in if/when Starbucks is too out of the way.
This was actually the coffee shop that got me addicted to coffee! I used to come here like everyday when I moved to uptown for the first time. I absolutely love the place. I also love the fact that is right in uptown, but more in the residential area. Right no Bryant, if you don't know where it is, good luck!
I would sit here for hours doing homework...oh what surprising memories that sparks! The service is always great, the coffee is pretty good, not the best in the world by any means, but together with the atmosphere of this place, it provides the best coffee to sit and read to! I love it!
We used to live a block away so this was our regular coffee shop for about a year when it first opened. The decor is, to be honest, puzzling. It's very white and almost clinical. Not what you'd describe as "comfy." But maybe comfy is just what I'm personally partial to when it comes to coffee shops. I think they should all look like that one on Friends.
The bigger back room seating area is usually full of hipsters. Consequently they are usually playing hipster music. Consequently these days I get my coffee to go if I'm in the neighborhood.
OK, OK, I'll stop being a negative Nelly. The dark roast is tasty. I have never been disappointed by their espresso drinks. They used to get their baked goods from Butter... not sure if that's true anymore. The free wi-fi is always appreciated, as are the abundance of power outlets.
I like this place and would like to have given it 4.5 stars, c'mon yelp its about time you let us do that! The Urban Bean has a mellow vibe to it, chill music, laid back (yet friendly staff) and an outdoor patio. I think they have a couple of computers that can be used for the internet, but if you have your lappie, WiFi is free! I like how they have done it up, it certainly feels very urban.
I am so excited for the URBAN BEAN coffee HOCKEY TOURNAMENT. The folks there told me they are going to put together a caffeinated hockey tournament at Bryant Square Park at 32nd and Bryant.
I really respect places that get involved with the neighborhood. And it's a pretty inclusive place. You'll see all kinds of folks there: couples, uptown yuppies, hipsters, fixed gear kids, 50 year old liberals, construction workers, grad students, and boring people too.
I get a UB ICE with a shot everyday. I love the taste of Urban Bean's coffee way better than some of the National franchises in Uptown. I have meetings in the front room once a week and my dog gets two free treats every time I get a coffee. The space is pretty unique for a coffee shop--bright vector art all over the walls. It is a great place to get work done. Free Wi-fi Free newspaper Free dog treats.
A great place to be productive or just swing in to go.
Maybe I should not even torture myself with stopping for a Spro at local shops. I am giving this 2 stars, as the staff was friendly, way too much espresso machine for a neighborhood joint-espresso looked wet which is never a good sign, and a big dumb over priced tamper gizmo( nothing beats the craft then knowing how to properly tamp). The shot did taste a little dirty like the equipment needed to be cleaned and soaked, and the crema was sparce and a little bubbly. Did not last very long. Did not do anything really for me. That wet espresso usually signifies that its a little old, and a little maybe over roasted. Thin body, and sparce crema....some good training and craft could upgrade them to 3 or 4 stars. And get rid of the over priced crank-tamper.....
This place is still great. However, it can be either too cold or too hot. Also, Urban Bean seems to be mostly for studying so if you plan to converse over tea, bring that ish elsewhere.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/8/2008
Great place. great tea. great music and atmosphere. Chill place with a ton of outlets for the laptop… Read more »
it is hotttttttttt in this mofo- and i cant believe i brought a long sleeve shirt thinking it be too air conned- bring it people- i detect the beginnings of the dreaded tit sweat.
and coffee girl did not have to give me a look like im a dumbshit when i asked if there is wifi here. i didnt see anyone on computers and where i usually live it is rare to get.
point lost. two
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/17/2008
so far this has been my favorite place to study. I realize more and more that this has to do with… Read more »
Weirdly, I lived above this place for 10 months and only went there twice in that whole time (I've been there a few times as well since then). Why? Every drink I ever got there was gross, and the staff are never friendly. However, I'm giving it a 3 for the following reasons: it's an independent coffee house which is a dying breed, they're open late, parking is easy, and the graphics they use are cute. The ambiance is a little uncomfortable, but sometimes that's good if you actually need to get work done. Also, it's never crowded or noisy. So, go here, just be sure to order something easy like juice or tea.
I can't completely make up my mind about this place. Inconspicuously located in a residential area of S. Bryant, the Urban Bean is pretty airy and spacious with pretty much every table located next to a three-pronged outlet. Seems like a pretty regular crowd assembles here. They have live journal nights and some old timers come here to play scrabble. The music is usually pretty good and the staff is usually pretty friendly. You can get coffee/tea in a big mug or white cup with Urban Bean stamped on it. The coffee is okay, a little bitter, but the teas are good. The pastries on the other hand are not. I'm not sure where they get them. It's easy to find parking and the tables are big (except for in the front room).
My first visit to Urban Bean assured me that I'd never go back. The coffee tasted bitter and burnt, my pastry tasted days old and the clientel surrounding me was obnoxious and rude. Some reviewers like the "design" of this place, but I found it way over-designed with crappy logos splattered on every available surface. The back room felt clinical and cold. All in all Urban Bean has poor potables, edibles and ambience.
This place left a bad taste in my mouth for the rest of the day.
Decent coffee and a very relaxed work environment. Maybe it has something to do with the park being right there. Cute little patio in the back. Best part for me is the new counter area. I love is subtle slant of the wood on the ceiling and the base of the counter. I bet it's a nice place to be a regular. I second the disappointment in the baked goods though - it'd be nice if they stepped those up.
I found a coupon for a free small coffee, so I stopped in and grabbed their Sumatra dark roast to go. Definitely better than Caribou's version - and I like the red logo "stamped" on the plain white cups too...
