Inside Riverside's Bold Bean Coffee Roasters

[jaxlore]

I went there for the first time Saturday evening to grab a quick to go cappuccino. I dug the interior and the coffee was great. But when I asked about getting soy I was given a holier then tho "I don't usually like to steam soy".  I think my reply was "really?" and he was like well i guess i shouldn't have said that. Needless to say i'll probably go back because the coffee was so good but they got to get there customer service right, that superior coffee god attitude isn't gonna cut it.

[Kay]

This block badly needs a Bike Rack.

Stockton would be a great location for a massive set of bike racks - enough racks to make people think twice about driving there!

Where would you put them exactly?

[dougskiles]

This block badly needs a Bike Rack.

Stockton would be a great location for a massive set of bike racks - enough racks to make people think twice about driving there!

Where would you put them exactly?

Take up a parking space and put in a 14-rack corrall.

That probably wouldn't fly with the business owners, though.  I suggested it in San Marco Square at a merchant's meeting... and it didn't go over so well.

[AKIRA]

The cups I have had there have been excellent... possibly the best I have ever had in Jax.

As far as attitude, it's been great so far to me.  I talked to the guys there at the counter and explained that I don't know squat about good coffee, in terms of either the making of or quality of beans.  They did not give me any lip or smirk regarding my lack of knowledge and were quite helpful.  It is always great to not be made to feel as ignorant as one actually is about a new pursuit.

My only concern is for the limited amont of seating at a busier time.

[Ajax]

I love this place, it is literally the best coffee shop in the history of jacksonville.   

My favorite was Fuel.*

*When it was JUST a coffee shop - no beer or anything else. 

Probably not a fair comparison since the two spaces are so dissimilar. 

I have high hopes for Bold Bean - I've been there twice and have been very pleased. 

[boldbeanzack]

Thanks again for the kind words guys.  Regarding the bike rack, we are talking with Garf down at Zen Cog and Natalie at Bakery Moderne to try to find a place for one.  A rack is needed.  Finding a place for one is the only problem.  Jaxlore, I am glad you enjoyed the coffee but more-so I am sorry if you received any attitude.  I promise none of us think we are superior because we serve coffee.  "Coffee god" baristas are the bane of my existence.  We depend on and appreciate our customers and it is our policy to treat everyone with care.  I'll bring the complaint up to everyone and we'll make sure the problem is addressed.  Thanks again everyone.  We are really enjoying being in the neighborhood and getting to know everyone.     

[Purplebike]

@ boldbeanzack

You--and your cafe--are a class act. Kudos to you for taking the bit of constructive criticism graciously, and offering a non-defensive response in return.

You set a great example for all who post in this, and any other, public forum!

[Ernest Street]

BBZack..Thanks for your reply,and I understand the difficulty in where to locate a rack as no single merchant wants it permanently mounted in front of their shop. (I understand the spaces involved here)(or lack thereof)


I understand initially that there was to be retail space on the John Gorrie block.(That disappeared)
That side would be good for a bike rack if Delores says we can do it.
There could actually be a 50 plus bike rack there.

[John P]

Its a little too cold sleek and modern for me. Ill take Cool Moose or 3 Layers any day because I go to coffee shops as much for atmosphere and experience as the taste of the coffee.

[John P]

This block badly needs a Bike Rack.

Stockton would be a great location for a massive set of bike racks - enough racks to make people think twice about driving there!

Where would you put them exactly?

Nothings going to happen for a while across the street on the strip of land next to John Gorrie. Just put a big bike rack there and anchor it with cement. Its easy to do and easy enough to move when the time comes

[Ajax]

I love this place, it is literally the best coffee shop in the history of jacksonville.   

My favorite was Fuel.*

*When it was JUST a coffee shop - no beer or anything else. 

Probably not a fair comparison since the two spaces are so dissimilar. 

I have high hopes for Bold Bean - I've been there twice and have been very pleased.

I think I remember this about you Ajax.

It was a comfortable space, and very vibrant before all of the Imperial conflict and etc.

But the coffee never even came close to the quality of what Zack and the guys at Bold Bean are doing.  It is by far the highest, sweetest quality product that has ever been served to my knowledge in this city.

When coffee snobs talk about the inferior quality of starbucks coffee, this is the kind of well balanced, perfectly roasted, ground and served coffee product that they are comparing it too.

Their home roast is as sweet as Illy, smoother than Lavazza and prepared by a stunningly high quality machine.  I am being quite literal in the description of this place.  It will quickly become the measure by which every other coffee product is gauged against.

Yeah, I started going to Fuel late 2000/early 2001 at a time when I really needed to be around people even if I wasn’t interacting with them.  Watching people come and go was very comforting.  Stephen, I remember saying hello to you a few times up there â€" you’re one of the many people that I remember from my high school/Einstein days who I had lost track of until reconnecting again at Fuel or Art Bar several years on. 

And they had the Qix video game in the back.  I loved that game! 

I thought that Fuel served Caribou, at least for a while.  Can anyone confirm that? 

As for Bold Bean â€" I agree with you about the quality.  Nothing comes close around here. 

[finehoe]

"I don't usually like to steam soy"

Well, he was trying to do you a favor.  Soy is pretty nasty steamed.  But to each his/her own.

[Dashing Dan]

This block badly needs a Bike Rack.

Stockton would be a great location for a massive set of bike racks - enough racks to make people think twice about driving there!

Where would you put them exactly?

Nothings going to happen for a while across the street on the strip of land next to John Gorrie. Just put a big bike rack there and anchor it with cement. Its easy to do and easy enough to move when the time comes

There's a bike rack for sale that's designed to fit within a parallel parking space.  It holds a whole lot of bikes.  I'd like to see one or two of those along Stockton Street.

[Dashing Dan]

As I read this, it appears that you can get either 14 or 22 bikes into a single on-street parking space.  Sweet!

[Dog Walker]

Isn't there something similar in the end parking space at Park and King down from Cool Moose?