Urban Bean

Great coffee menu

by NOFXCatfish at Citysearch

Ive been going to the Bean for a few years now and Ive had a chance to hit up pretty close to everything on the menu. The UB Iced coffee is the top drink although the Vietnamese coffee hot and iced is pretty darn good too.

The mocha's are okay but they use a bit too much syrup espeically on the Urban Turtle (carmel, chocolate swirled around the cup). But as with anywhere you go it all depends on who your server is. I tend to go in the morning and thats when you'll get the best service.

Liz and Greg are great and always talkative. Afternoons you'll get a mix of servers, some good some not so. Seems they have a tough time finding a solid part timer. They always seem to have a new person in later parts of the day into the evening and they either tend to not be so friendly or haven't a clue how to make a good coffee drink but thats expected if they are new.

Some reviews have complained about the food. First off send your complaints to the Turtle Bread Company. They supply the Bean with their baked goods. The cookies can be good but usually are way too hard and all of the food is too expensive. But for cheaper coffee I think it's worth it.

As of late I find their house made coffee to be a little weak if not watery in flavor. Buy the beans and make them at home for yourself. Much better. Who ever roasts their beans is good at what they do and the Urban Bean gets good coffee they just need to put more grounds in the filter to get the coffee to a more full flavor. If they say dark roast it should taste dark not like there was more hot water than coffee in the machine.

As I stated in the beginng the UB Iced Coffee and the Vietnamese Coffee are their award winners and the iced coffee with the honey and dark chocolate and espresso shots is great on occasion, although I cant remember the name. With a mix of a few good drinks, cool merchandise and a great atmosphere this place is better than going to uppity starbucks and dealing with the gated community turds in their BMW's. Greg and Liz make this place what it is and make it worthy of a daily visit for your morning joe.

Best Neighborhood Coffee Shop in Minneapolis

by greenonion at Citysearch

I drink a ton of coffee. Iced coffee when it's above zero out. Urban bean has the best tasting coffee around, and their UB ice with a shot of espresso has saved my life on many occasions. I have all my meetings there. I'm usually in the front room, but I have seen folks giving presentations at the big tables in the back. It is a great place to get work done, but I find myself using their wifi to look for work more often these days. Recently, I have started buying Urban Bean's fair trade organic coffee in bulk and make it at home because I'm broke. Still, it's way better coffee than Dunn Bros.

• Pros: Ambience, Parking, Free dog treats
• Cons: needs to make more peanut butter rice crispy bars

Dog Friendly?

by RentaPhil at Citysearch

I have been to Urban Bean quite often while taking my dog for a walk. The usual routine is to walk in, get a cup of coffee to go, then continue with our walk. My dog loves the free Milk Bone he gets.

This morning when i went in for my cup of coffee, my dog's back foot got stuck underneath the door (the door had closed on his foot, pinching it) and my dog let out a yelp. I knew it must've hurt because my dog never barks! The lady behind the counter was very nice by asking if my dog was okay. However a man came out of the back room (assuming he worked at/or owned the place) telling me repeatedly I had to leave. He did not stop to ask what happened. He did not give me a chance to inform him that the only reason my dog yelped is because he got a door closed on his foot and he did not let me purchase my morning cup of coffee! So now I have been kicked out of my favorite coffee shop for no reason and that is very very disappointing.

A big thanks to the employees that have treated me well at Urban Bean. However, it seems as if me and my dog are not wanted, so I will get my coffee at a more accommodating business (shouldn't be hard to find in Uptown). Fellow dog owners, I would not suggest you take your dog to the Urban Bean.

Average Coffee House

by JenniferIrene at Citysearch

This is the average coffee house. They have standard coffee drinks. Day old baked items wrapped in plastic. Music is interesting. Free Wi-Fi. Most of the chairs are hard wood and not comfortable. Usually it?s filled with lots of people alone, on their Mac. When I came in with my boyfriend we were the only ones talking and I felt like I got some dirty looks from random people who were trying the Facebook in peace. The crowd is mostly 20 somethings. They are dog friendly. They have a little patio. If you go there they have an interesting one of a kind drink that has honey, espresso, milk, and sugar ?but I can?t remember the name.

Good coffee and that is about it!

by jokerbearmn at Citysearch

Was in there last night and the service was unfriendly and the bakery was not all that good. Esp when there are better coffee shops in the area. There was a few thing thats that we enjoyed , coffee drinks and music were really good. I would not go backonly because the staff did not smile when we were ordering out drinks.

Pros Good drinks and good area.

Cons Bad service and bad bakery.