Coffee Roasters 1

It was a sad day when Coffee Roasters closed their doors. Their sign coming down and the brown construction paper going up would make it seem to those passing by as if this place had never existed; but for those young and old getting their morning or late night cupa coffee or tea, who have spent countless hours here hanging out with friends, going on dates, or studying anytime in the past 25 years, it meant something.
Coffee Roasters has had many owners, usually the owner sells it to the next and so forth, but this owner decided to pick up the name and the assets to move closer to LA, leaving behind an empty place not only in the Towne Center but also in the heart of Riverside. There is something very important and special about local, non-​franchised businesses, that we as a community need to protect and we do that by offering them our patronage. We did not cherish the jewel this place was enough and now we reap the loss.
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Here is a tribute to some of my favorite things at Coffee Roasters:
* The Community: Coffee Roasters was a smörgåsbord of all different sort of characters meeting here and it felt like home to many individuals and groups of people.
* The coffee of course and the tea! Coffee Roasters was the only place in Riverside that offered on-​site freshly roasted coffee which really adds to the coffee shop experience. The house brew was an amazing! Smooth tasting and always ready if you needed to jet out the door quickly. Amongst my other favorites were the Southern Pecan and Amaretto (individually brewed). For tea my favorites were Paris Tea (black tea with floral and vanilla essence by Harney and Sons) and Wellness (a blend of chamomile, rose hips, lemon grass, and mint) which Coffee Roasters personally had created by a physician to help people who were a bit under the weather get better more quickly.
*On a more personal note: I love you Coffee Roasters because you made a way for me discover one of my passions in life: coffee, tea, and the café business. I used to come here in high school to do my homework, I thought I was so hip sipping on my Italian Sodas, but what was really happening was I was falling head over heels for the community and atmosphere that a coffee shop provides. Little did I know only a few years later I would be working for you as a barista. With every whiff of the coffee beans roasting, turn of the steamer knob to make the perfect foam, and opening/​closing of the register till after helping a customer I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life. As a culinary student I was discovering if coffee shops was a career path for me to pursue and I found that it undoubtedly was. The boss/​owner told me to take what I learned here and make it better. This is definitely the plan. :). So hopefully I am one day able to pass on the enjoyment and inspiration that Coffee Roasters offered me by opening a place of my own.
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The last thing I have to say about Coffee Roasters closing is this: when Starbucks moved into this plaza, trust me it did hurt the business. Starbucks specifically looks for local coffee shops and moves in to shut them down. They create contracts with business plaza owners that forbids any future coffee or tea business to open in that plaza which means we can’t be looking forward to another local coffee shop gracing The Towne Center unless Starbucks changes their shady ways or shuts its doors. There is plenty of business to go around for everyone.
Luckily there are other local businesses in The Canyon Crest Towne Center that sell coffee, tea, and offer us that café ambiance so PLEASE consider buying a least one cup of a delicious beverage a week from these places if you are a Starbucks fanatic so they too do not shut down. Thank you :)
Local coffee shops and cafes forever!!!

Weak coffee…

Very sad to hear the news that this great coffee house is shutting down tmr :(Apparently they are moving closer to LA.
Just like Papi’s, this place was a culinary historical gem of Riverside and particularly of Canyon Crest. I’ve had many fond times studying by myself, relaxing on the nice patio, and hanging out with friends over some good coffee. It’ll forever be in the collective memory of us all.
We’ll miss you Coffee Roasters. Thanks for being a part of our lives for all these years…

I originally came into the canyon crest plaza to study at starbucks. Bad choice for a study place during finals week. The library was packed, starbucks was packed, and home was the biggest distraction. I literally walked in and walked back out. While walking back to my car, I saw a sign that said coffee roaster. As a last resort I walked in and was surprised to see that there were couple empty seats. It was a nice quiet place to study with not too many college students. The atmosphere was very cute, homey, and comfy. The coffee was okay though. I got a mocha, but it was a little to sweet for my liking. The only other major compalint I would have is their hours. They close pretty early for a coffee shop next to a college.

I love coming here to study or just a coffee with friends, a great corner café for some quiet and peace every now and then. It can get very packed on certain times of the year especially during midterm or finals weeks for college students because it’s just down the street from UCRiverside. And that’s when having their wifi work for your laptop the hardest.
Free wifi here! Just have to ask the workers what the password here because they change the password on a daily basis to make sure only their customers can get access. They have cute passwords too like blueberry or hot chocolate haha.
Their coffee is alright, I’m not a big fan of the hot regular brew coffee, it sort of taste like its was roasted with berries of some sort but it’s just not my thing, maybe for someone else. They have regulars that have been coming here for years, like the this old man that always comes in and tells the customers that he has been coming here for 30+ years, cute little old man, always trying to strike up a conversation but I don’t want to be rude because I just want to study so I talk to him for a good ten minutes every now and then. The latte’s are good and other flavored coffees too as well as the teas, I love the teas they have here even though its just a bag tea. Keep on reminding myself where they get it from. They put a lot of ice in your cold teas so ask for less ice or else they will give you an entire cup full of ice and tea haha. They also have desserts and baked goods too, a little something for everyone.
The nice thing is that they have food here too so I don’t have to go anywhere where I’m studying, I’ve stayed from opening to closing once to study for my finals. Their sandwiches and melts are good. My favorite is the tuna cheddar melt. Takes a few minutes to make if you’re not in a hurry. It was brain food when I was studying, yum yumm! Want to try everything else on the menu soon.
Think this café family owned, I always see the mom in the morning and the father at night, super nice people, love this place!
There is indoor and outdoor seating, the whole place is dark wood accented, tile floors, and a giant coffee grinder in the front corner of store. Be cautious when scooting your chairs though, quite loud, scared myself once haha

Nice environment. Free wifi. Music not too loud. Many tables for study or using laptops. Lots of students at certain times of the day and year. About 3 – 4 locations to plug in. Quality of my latte depends on who’s working. Some evenings I get it too lukewarm for my taste.

free internet… great.
but now that Starbucks has free internet I’d prefer to go there.
I like to go to coffee shops to work and to study. The atmosphere is just idk, hard for me to get work done. Maybe its just me…

So I’m sitting in Coffee Roasters right now and realized that I haven’t written a review yet…
The drinks are OKAY. I definitely do not come here for the drinks. I usually get iced mocha latte and it tastes a little different every time. It’s always either too sweet or too bitter. I’m drinking it right now… way too strong :(
As for food… the sandwiches are good. Most of the sweets are way too sweet. Overpriced too, I think.
Service is good. Seems to be just one worker on shift at a time, but I think they have quite a few workers on rotation. The guy who looks like he’s the owner, is super friendly.
I like studying here sometimes. Many people sit here for hours with their laptops. Free wi-​fi! Recently, it’s been down at times though, and I have had to wait a while for it to revive. There are a lot of tables (indoors and outdoors), though some of them look kind of old. I think the red couch should be replaced. Décor is cute and not overbearing. I love the music played here :) Atmosphere is usually good, it gets too loud at times, but it is a coffee shop, not a library. Still, this is hands down a better studying place than Starbuck’s.
If only the drinks are better!!! But who knows, maybe improvement is on the way :)

I moved into canyon crest about a month ago and have gone from «Coffee at work» to «I have to get a hammer head before I get to work»
It is not uncommon for me to be here twice a day. The vibe is nice inside. I am not a fan of coffee shops that are all about «trend» or the cool people that work there. This place is simple, with VERY GOOD customer service.
The drip coffee is average, but I don’t come for that. I come for the espresso (and hammer heads).
The espresso is amazingly good. Strong, and not bitter.
It can get a bit crowded on busy school nights or close to finals. Also there is a decent morning crowd (in a good way, not annoying).
Of all the places to get a cup of coffee in this shopping center, they are my number 1.

I really like coming here to study. When I want to drink something warm, I usually get the hot cocoa or a vanilla crème. For something cold, I ask for the raspberry Italian soda.
The staff is very friendly and the place itself is very relaxing and pretty. They play cool music too, ranging from old school jazz to indie music to Elvis Presley, haha. Also, free wi-​fi! Lastly, a random note, sometimes when I come in the mornings, there is this old man that always play his guitar-​like instrument. Yeah, random observation haha.

I rank my coffee shops on:
1) Coffee strength and taste
2) Customer service
3) Vibe and décor
4) Pastries
Here’s how Coffee Roasters 1 ranked:
1) Coffee strength and taste
Don’t get the coffee! It really doesn’t taste good. Their espresso is better. Today I ordered a shot of espresso with soy ($ 1.50). I finished my shot, which tasted good, but I’m still not buzzing like I feel like I should. :(Now I’m in a caffeine limbo where I feel pretty good and motivated, but I definitely don’t feel ambitious enough to study. Boo.
2) Customer service
The lady at the counter was very nice. She didn’t even get irritated when I asked for more soy in my shot and even offered to steam my shot again b/​c it got cold. You don’t find that kind of customer service everyday.
3) Vibe and décor
Like another reviewer mentioned, the décor is fairly bare, but I like that minimalist look. The shop is lit enough where I don’t need to strain my eyes to read, but not bright enough to make the place feel like a cafeteria. The music is the only thing that’s keeping this place in the 4 star range! It’s very mellow, which makes it perfect for studying. Expect artists like Jack Johnson and Norah Jones with an occasional Motown hit.
4) Pastries
I didn’t try the pastries here yet, but their selection is wide, ranging from your coffee shop staples of croissants and biscotti to fancier items like fruit tarts and tiramisu. Presentation is very nice. Mmmm…

Met up for coffee with my professor here over the weekend. I ordered a Mocha and it came out too sweet, due to too much syrup and too bitter, due to poor espresso shots?
…Starbucks is better…

I love this place! So, I’ve been staying in Riverside at a friend’s place as I’ve been working in the area. After work, I usually try to go to a Starbucks to get some studying done. I found this place while in a plaza for a Starbucks, and I think it’s awesome!
It’s very spacious, very comfortable and cute and has like this huge machine where they literally roast their coffee. I saw it working and churning today. Also, they have free Wi-​Fi which is bomb. The coffee there is pretty good depending on what you get. I got the City Slicker last time, and it was really great. I got another Chai drink the other day and it was just okay. But I love their huge variety anyway. Their variety and their homey feeling really win me over Starbucks.
Also, the owners/​workers have always been super friendly. They’ll offer me extras and make sure that I’m totally satisfied with the drink. I went in today and the credit card machine wasn’t working. I didn’t have cash, so I was kind of bummed. But the owner was so nice to offer that I just pay him back the next time I come in. I REALLY appreciated that, although I didn’t take it (I’m worried I’ll forget to pay him back!).
If you’re the owner and you’re reading this though, I only have one suggestion. I think it’s a totally cute place, but you should really add more décor. The walls are a little too bare and it’s just white. You should paint it a warm color or something and add more décor on the walls. More antique chairs and stuff would be great too. Just a suggestion!

Coffee Roasters definitely has better coffee than the Starbucks on every corner, but doesn’t compare to another local and much better coffee joint, Coffee Depot. Coffee Roasters is located in a great little plaza that is family friendly and has other great shops to browse.
I come here for the atmosphere and utility over the quality of their coffee and inability to make a consistent beverage. Sometimes their cappuccino have spectacular foam, but it really depends on the barista. Their drinks are alright, but their lounge is absolutely perfect for the college student. They offer free Wi-​Fi, have plenty of seating (couches too!), and music plays at the right I’m-not-going-to-distract-you level.
They have a great selection of pastries. My boyfriend and I are almost positive their chocolate brownie which we crave is generic and store-​bought, but it’s quite delicious.
Unfortunately, Coffee Roasters often does not close according to their posted hours. There are times where I show up ten minutes before their posting closing time of 10pm and they’ve already closed up shop.
Overall, Coffee Roasters is definitely a nice place to study or hang out with a group of friends on a cool evening. If you want great coffee, please do yourself a favor and go elsewhere!
Check out my food blog for more restaurant reviews & recipes:

My boyfriend and I come here to study all the time — our favorite place! I’ve been struggling to find equally nice study locales in San Diego where I live… sigh, no success yet.
Anyways, why I love Coffee Roasters:
AMBIANCE: Pleasant! Quiet music (Frank Sinatra is playing at the moment; heard some Tegan and Sara and Josh Groban the other day). I love that this place isn’t crowded with loud people having dates or get-​togethers — lots of students studying or people having quiet conversations over a cup of coffee. There’s even a projector if you want to practice a presentation. Free wi-​fi and lots of tables seal the deal for me!
DRINKS: Nice variety. I’m not really a coffee connoisseur, so take my words with a grain of salt, but I think the drinks are just fine here. I usually favor the mint mocha (with soy) or apple cider, while my boyfriend likes the blended caramel latte. There are lots of pastries and desserts (like tiramisu, brownies, and lemon bars), but I haven’t had any yet.
THE STAFF: Super nice and friendly! We know the owner — very cool guy. Everyone who works here is a pleasure to encounter.
Nice place, nice people, very chill… you should definitely stop by!

Coffee and espresso drinks are not great. The daily brew is really flat and flavorless.
The tables are wobbly. I’ve spilled lots of watery coffee due to uneven surfaces.
It’s all about $ 0.50 overpriced.
But it has free wi-​fi, is relatively quiet, has friendly employees, and is otherwise conducive for study/​work.

I *rely* on coffee and wi-​fi to get my work done and Roasters provides both. That said, the coffee is mediocre (cappuccinos often have the airy bubbly foam that’s just no good and the espresso can be flavorless on occasion). It depends on the barista. One of the selling points is the 11pm closing time M-​Sa though I’ve often times been working here when they decide to close early for no apparent reason. After a summer of research and work abroad I returned today to find out that they no longer allow outside food in the establishment — understandable. Unless, however, they fail to provide sufficient food and decent pastries for customers! I used to love that Roasters allowed *us* (the UCR Anthro Dept’ often frequents this space, 6 or 7 at a time) to bring a sandwich, leftovers, or a burrito inside. I would avoid their pastries at all costs — dry, stale, and overly sweet.
Now, after all that, Roasters is still solid. They roast their own coffee here, it works, and I’ve spent many hours working with fellow anthropologists under the good lighting and pleasant ceiling fans. I *do* like the iced tea too! They’ll shake up a freshly brewed lemon grass tea with ice and it’s the perfect summer treat!

Back in the days when I used to live in the vicinity, and Coffee Roasters was just a short walk away, I would buy my coffee by the pound here. They have a good variety of different coffee from various countries to take home. Btw, the Brazilian coffee is really good (which happens to be one of my favorite blends).
The café itself is a nice and quiet place to settle down and read, study, etc. It is definitely a change from the hustle and bustle of the near-​by Starbucks.

I know I’m probably alone on this one, but I liked this place better before they remodled a few years back. It was funky and cramped in that cool way that coffee houses should be. They used to have live music on a regular basis too (usually a folk singer strumming away).
Now, it’s more open and airy, quite pleasent, I guess, but not the same vibe. Still, my favorite place in the neighborhood to read or study. The staff is friendly, and the clientel tends to be UCR students and profs.
They have a roaster on site (one of the few in Riverside), and you can smell it all over Canyon Crest when they’re roasting beans. The house coffee, lattes, iced drinks, etc are good. The espresso shots (my drink) are only so-​so… no crema, and often the wrong temperature.
The outside seating, under a wisteria-​covered pergola, is very nice in good weather. Free wifi, if you know the password! (which the barrista will happily give you).

After spending several months of life in Starbucks‘, Coffee Roasters was a great experience for me. First, atmosphere is calm, in mostly dark brown and black colors. Second, hot chocolate is above average and brewed coffee is just ok. Although there are not many tables inside, if you wake up early you can find a great table to study. Music is not as loud as in Starbucks nearby.
There is also an outside patio, awesome to read or study with a black coffee (or anything else).
Pros: quiet, nice colors, great to study or read, patio to breathe fresh air, free wireless, tasty cookies.
Cons: in the evenings, inside is a little bit dim. Hope, they will change to some strong lights before we get blind.