Purple Bean

i love the purple bean! if i have 10 extra minutes before i have to get to class, i go to their drive thru and order some coffee with a pastry. good stuff, and cheap! not to mention all the baristas are so friendly :)

I love this place! Local, cheap, and great place to hang out.
Only downside is the girls never seem to work that fast and sometimes are too chatty/​unprofessional amongst themselves.

This is my favorite local coffee joint and have always had friendly service. I just do wish at times the wait was not so long in the drive thru so I usually go inside to order. Today I waited 15 minutes, behind 2 cars, but when I got up I realized the girl was working alone, so hey what can you do? The snickers and German chocolate are a few my husband and I like to have as a treat, but I like that they offer a daily special and a seasonal special for only $ 3.65 for a medium or 16 oz. because its fun to try something new.

Wow the reviews in December took a dive! Whats up? I visit the purple bean for a cup of drip coffee to go about once a week, park and walk in with my own cup. The ladies have always been nice, the service fairly quick. It’s A-​OK and the cost is $ 2.

I’ve been going to Purple Bean for 10 years and I absolutely love the unique and delicious drinks they offer.
I go to UNR and had a final at 5:30 and wanted to grab a quick coffee beforehand. I pulled up to the drive thru window at 4:51 and the girl working opened it at 4:54. She said «Oh I’m sorry we just closed!» I was confused and said «Oh don’t you close at 5?» She said «Well yeah but it’s 5 minutes until closing and everything is washed.» That was apparently the end of the conversation so I drove away.
Okay. I work in a restaurant and I understand it sucks when people come a few minutes before closing. However, that’s part of working in this kind of industry. I wanted a single cup of coffee, arrived before closing, wasn’t helped for a few minutes, and then was told I couldn’t be helped because the dishes were done.
There’s a Starbucks right down the street and I chose to not only to support a local business but a local business that I have gone to for years. The girl working made it very apparent they don’t want business and it will be a very long time if I decide to go back.

I was going to Purple Bean a few times a week, and sometimes 5 days a week, until a few weeks ago when I got a HORRIBLE afternoon service experience. When they are busy here, especially the mornings they have 2 – 3 people working, but in later afternoons, they usually have 1 person, and I have been here at least 50 times, so you can definitely say I am a regular.
I walked in and they was a car in drive up, 2 ladies at the counter, 1 had a gun on her hip, but wasn’t a cop, and a guy and a little girl in front of me. The car in the drive up is gone in 1 minute, and the employee takes the order from gun lady, it literally took, about 10 minutes to complete her order, and I am on my lunch hour, luckily I had some extra time this day, but there are plenty of days I don’t and I have never a problem getting and out, I would say usually 1 minute to 6 minutes max. If it looks extra busy I will just skip them, but I have been here 50 times and I know that this should be done in close to 6 minutes based on how many people were in front of me.
So finally the order for the ladies is complete and I can’t see much of what’s going on because ladies bodies are blocking my view, but I imagine, they are walking out with trays of drinks, then I see a Renown marking, so the lady must be an armed security guard, but as they are walking past, there are no drink trays, literally 1 drink in each hand.
I was quite shocked, and having a WTF moment, so right before she finishes the ladies order, the employee takes the guy and little girl order, super simple, Egg Nog Latte, and white hot chocolate, so I am now about 13 minutes in, and a car pulls up. and I am now starting to get edgy, because if she takes the car order before mine, I am going to lose it. I was never greeted when I arrived, I was never spoken too, and this is a place I have been 50 times, and seen this employee at least 6 times before.
So again she’s taking her sweet time making these drinks, and I feel like I am in the twilight zone now, she greets the car, no big deal (again never greeted me), but then she does the UNTHINKABLE and takes their order before even speaking to me or taking my order and I am close to 15 minutes of waiting! UnF’N believable, I just exit in DISGUST. I went to Starbucks, down the street, ordered, and was out the door in 2 minutes.
I haven’t been back, and I am still upset and angry about this experience. I have never wanted someone to lose their job, but this was completely unacceptable and the worst service experience. I can’t believe someone can be that stupid and slow in a job that requires speed and customer service!

My favorite coffee in Reno! Kaj, Michelle and Sara always make my morning run so enjoyable! The coffee taste so good I only get espresso over ice!

Holy Smoledo! There’s real fruit in the smoothies! A few days a week my family has a pretty early schedule and we often eat breakfast on the go so I love love loved the drive thru. It was so much nicer than the Starbucks drive-​thru across the way which tends to clog up and back into the street. The girls were super friendly and patient. We ultimately ordered some smoothies and an assortment of pastries (highlight was the cranberry white chocolate scone). Everything was delicious (and an awesome break from our usual hasbrowns and donuts). The smoothies are quite large and can have whip cream added. The menu lists about 12 smoothie choices and maybe 20 coffees but the staff said they’re happy to make anything. My whole family was excited to come back soon. We didn’t get coffee today but I can’t wait to try some.

Ugh. If you want a disgustingly sweet cup of Mocha, this is for you. You can’t even taste the coffee. I had to have them make the coffee 3 times until I was satisfied and they weren’t charging me for it so that’s why they got 2 stars. They weren’t happy to do it either.

I just love this place. I have many allergies and they change my drinks to my special needs. And don’t mind adding my own protein to smoothies.

Kudos for opening at 6 a.m. and offering more than just whole milk! I recently realized that most coffee places I frequent make their coffee drinks with whole milk.
(Nutritional info for 1 cup /​8 oz. Whole Milk)
Total Fat 8 g 12% DV
Saturated fat 4.6 g 22% DV
Polyunsaturated fat 0.5 g
Monounsaturated fat 2 g
Cholesterol 24 mg 8% DV
Their coffee drinks offerings are extensive and interesting. The specialty coffees run $ 3.40 for a small, $ 3.90 medium, $ 4.50 large.
The last time in through their drive thru I tried their spicy chai and got the emerald city for my wife. Both were not too sweet and came at the perfect temp on a chilly morning. The service has always been friendly and I enjoy getting my coffee from a smiling face in the morning. Great job ladies!

Best coffee place in Reno! The drive thru is very convenient and they are very popular. Usually have a line out to the street, but the girls working there will come out and take orders before you get to the window so it’s not really that long of a wait when there is a line of cars.
I love how they have specialty drinks that they advertise on the window. They come up with really interesting names for the drinks too! If I don’t know what I want to order I just pick something fun off the window paintings and it’s always good.
They use a frequent buyer stamp card system and will also give fruit snacks to your kids in he car (if you say it’s ok). They are always very nice and their prices are great.
I’ve gone inside for my coffee a couple times but usually I’m busy and it’s just easier to stay in my car. But when I do go in it’s pretty cool inside too. Nice place to hang out.
There’s a Starbucks just down the street but the local vibe is better at purple bean. And like I said they are easier on the wallet than Starbucks as well.

Great little independent coffee shop. A huge drink menu but my usual is 3 shots of espresso over ice. The gals are great. I don’t know their names. They don’t know mine. Yet they always know my drink and make it perfectly. Sure at times there is a wait at the drive thru. Trust me it’s always worth it.
Plus the coffee is really budget friendly. In Reno I’ve paid as much as $ 7.50 for 3 shots of espresso (note to self-​check bill before handing over my credit card). At the Purple Bean it’s only $ 1; if I remember to bring my own sippy cup it’s only 75 CENTS! I love a bargain and great service!

I love this place, no matter when you go or where you go (counter or drive thru), the girls there are always friendly and smiling. The coffee is always good and the baked items are always yummy!