Starbucks

I love this place because:
— Accessible through the skyway
— Beautiful view of the IDS tower
— Busy corner — Nice place for people watching
— It’s Starbucks!

I’ve visited several dozen Starbucks locations in a number of states, and this one is easily the worst, in my experience (and I’ve been here 20+ times over the past several years). It should be at least twice its size given its central location and how busy it gets. The store is maybe 20 feet wide total, including the space behind the counter, resulting in an akwardly cramped arrangement of tables along one wall and the line in between the tables that is forced to curve around on itself due to a lack of space. This wouldn’t be a big issue if the line moved at any reasonable speed, but it doesn’t since 95% of the time only one cashier is working (despite there being two registers).
Generally speaking, it takes at least 10 minutes from entering to leaving to get a drink and can take much longer. By contrast, I can routinely get through the line at the CIty Center location in 5 minutes or less, even with a custom espresso drink. I think this is a result of the IDS location being understaffed, which has the unfortunate effect of sometimes making the staff short and unfriendly with customers. Today I walked in around 2:20 to simply get a small coffee and snack, and the one cashier working was slowly taking orders with very little sense of urgency. It would have easily been 2:35 before I left.
There have also been several experiences here in which I or someone I’m with has had to return drinks, either because they were poorly made or the cashier didn’t listen to the order (including very basic stuff like cold vs. hot, type of flavor in the drink).
If time isn’t important to you and you don’t mind a cramped, awkwardly layout and the potential for your drink to come out wrong, by all means, hit up the IDS Starbucks. Otherwise, I’d recommend one of the other downtown locations, even if it means you have to walk further (it’s worth it).

Super busy due to location! Downtown employees come here a lot. And they are very fast service wise.

If you want a Starbucks where everyone knows your name and drink, then this is the place. A regular hangout for the corporate crowd it is nessled in the corner of the IDS building on the skyway level overlooking the Crystal Court.
Location is small and noisy, if you are looking for a quiet place to have a quick meet and greet, this isn’t the place but there are plenty of benches in the Crystal Court if you take you caffeine to go.
For newcomers stay to the left when ordering… Those of us who have already put in our order are hanging out on the right side of the coffee shop. Clear sign of a newbie is waiting in the wrong line and doubling the delay of your coffee.

Really like these guys. They do a great job. Staff is always on point, doing a great job.

This is, in my opinion, the best downtown Starbucks by far. Even when the lines are long the service is always fast, and the folks working there are always friendly. It is also the only location downtown (for some bizarre reason) that brews decaf throughout the day. I just get the sense that it’s really well managed.
If you plan to stay and work or meet with someone, be aware that it’s really small and because of that, loud. There aren’t many places to sit either.

Love to visit this Starbucks when in Minneapolis for work. The line always seems long but they are quite efficient at moving it along and getting folks their caffeine fix quickly.
Very nice staff working behind the counter as well.

I met a friend of mine to discuss life over a breakfast coffee.
The Starbucks is a nice small enclave in the IDS center, the tallest building in Minneapolis. I worked here for 2 years and it was a blast to see all the movers and shakers run in and out of here.
The Crystal Court lower level is an awesome design of windows and such that make for a great place to sit on a bench with a friend and talk with a wonderful cup of coffee. They have a cool fountain that drops about two stories into a beautiful pool of H2O.
(Weird story aside, a guy threw a barbell through a window while I worked there and jumped through the windows of the Crystal Court. Selfish way to kill yourself, but unique. We were just glad he didn’t hit anyone on the way down.)
Anyway, the service at this Starbucks was spectacular and I had my java in a few minutes. Just an overall great experience.

I just spent 10 nights at the Marquette, and was delighted to find this Starbucks in the IDS. I was BEYOND delighted by the friendliness, efficiency, and helpfulness of all the baristas.
Other than coffee, the thing I get most often is a non-​fat, banana-​chocolate smoothie… minus mocha, add one scoop vanilla bean. Simple… except as I travel the country, nine out of ten baristas look at me sideways when I order it and ask questions they really shouldn’t (like, «Do you still want protein powder?» Or, «So you don’t want chocolate at all, or is it that you just want less?»). So I braced myself for whatever the baristas at this location would say the first time I ordered. But all he said was, «Hmmm…that sounds good!»
They got it, it was made perfectly, and that was my experience the entire time I was there.
As others have said, it’s a busy location – but the staff is speedy. And although there isn’t a lot of room to study/​work, they do have a lot of outlets for plugging in. Loved that, too!
Now that I’m back home, I miss them… and told my regular baristas that, next to them, the staff at the IDS location is the best!

The best Starbucks downtown, located in IDS tower. Nice, friendly baristas and they will get you in and out under 10 min, no matter how long that line appears to be. They are so fast, they will make your head spin, that is until that first sip of the amazing caffeinated drink.
Not a whole lotta of space, so if you are planning to study or work, go to the one in City Center.

Super friendly Starbucks location, inside the IDS tower as others have noted.
I’m glad that Starbucks recently launched their Blonde roast coffee. It’s definitely lighter and doesn’t have that «burnt» taste that the Pike blend has. BUT… it is kinda funny asking for a «Tall Blonde».
This location said that it’s even funnier when it IS a tall blonde asking for a «Tall Blonde».
Also, as Alexa C states — they do move the lines pretty fast here. They’re efficient!

Good Starbucks. The employees are nice and fun, the location is great for me, and it’s always pretty quick.

My favorite Starbucks in the DT Mpls area. Great service, friendly and personable staff, and they work FAST.
Don’t let the lines here daunt you, they’ll move you through quick and you’ll be in and out in 5 – 10 minutes tops!

I had a meeting at the IDS, and sprinted in here afterwards. Drink was promptly made, staff was friendly, conveniently located next to the spot where I entered the building. Mission accomplished.

FAST FAST FAST!
This is one of my favorite locations anywhere! They are so fast! This location gets crazy busy in the mornings with all of the IDS Center traffic, but they handle it well! The selection of breakfast fruit and such isn’t the most extensive, but they do have choices.
The only downside is that it can get hot in this little place! Too many lights!

Nice people — of course, who isn’t nice to your face in Minnesota? :-)
Honestly, this is a good crew, and they’re always willing to help get your day off to a good start. They move the line along pretty well, so don’t be afraid if the line bleeds out the door into the IDS Center. They’ll get ya. They will.

Starbucks has Happy Hour from 3 – 5 p.m. May 6 – 15. HH consists of half priced Frappuccinos… this is a great way to transition from winter to summer drinks! My favorite is the strawberries and cream or the chocolate chip!
I go to the Starbucks in Target at 900 Nicollet Mall, but could not locate to review.

Even with a line out the door they offer service with a smile, a kind word and maybe even a term of endearment when they hand you your drink!

I visited this place 3 separate times and each time I had a different experience.
1^st time was awesome. Friendly greeting, good preparation of my drink
2^nd time was meh. There was a line and it was a midday rush for caffeine.
3^rd time was disappointing. With no one in sight, I was standing there for about a minute, when I started calling out, «hello.anyone back there?» since the back storage room door was open. No one came out. I waited another minute more, then I left.

This is my favorite Starbucks to go to, especially in the morning. They know what I want and don’t give me hassle. They are really friendly but not at the expense of other customers.
Before we moved my bus dropped me off on Nicolette which made this on my way to the office. Now I am dropped off on Hennepin so I am trying to figure out my route to the office so I can come here instead of the one in City Center.