Press Coffee Bar

Went here around 7:40am on a Tuesday. They only have street parking but meters don’t start until 8am so that is a plus. Hard to have a place that is in the city that has a parking lot. So if you don’t mind searching for street parking you should be ok.
Barista at counter was not very friendly. I am sorry it’s early but a smile would have been nice and maybe a little more enthusiasm or don’t pick up morning shifts. Maybe she was having a bad day but I read another review with someone who had a similar comment so I am not so sure about the bad day part. She seemed more interested with the other 2 people at the counter who were there before I got there that seemed to be friends.
Café mocha and blueberry muffin is what I ordered. Café mocha was ok. Slight chocolate taste, and coffee flavor was a little bitter. I have had better.
Atmosphere was nice. I enjoyed the music as it was not you top 40 hits and had that coffee shop vibe to it.
Blueberry muffin was fresh but not out of this world tasting. Just a normal muffin. Selection of backed goods was very limited so I was disappointed in this. Was hoping that when you open at 7am you would have a wide variety to choose from.
I am willing to go back once more and give it a shot but if that experience is not better I will probably not return after.

If you want the best coffee roasters in town, Fuego is only several blocks away. That being said, Press fills a huge void on East Main Street which is need of some life. Right across from the Eastman Theatre, Press is WAY less crowed than the Java’s on Gibbs and sports a grand piano and frequent live music which is probably what bumps it from 3 to 4 stars.

A gloriously quirky and open setting for studying and bathing in natural light.
The lack of almond milk in favor of soy (why god) docks a star in my book, but doesn’t negate the venue’s merits.
Come for the seating, stay for the seating, but buy something because that’s how stores work.

Love it here! Come here often during my work day. Friendly staff and great coffee. Reasonable prices. Tried the sfogliatelle today, it was delicious!

My favorite. The atmosphere at Press is all I could ask for in a coffee shop. Very spacious, so much beautiful natural light, kind baristas, the best music/​playlist, eclectic art and furniture, an abundance of seating choices.
I almost wonder if I should even post a review because one of the things I love about this place is that it is never crowded. I’ve always been able to get my little table by the window whenever I come here to write (aka get my zen on)… and it’s wonderful.
One con, having to find street parking on a busy street.

Hit or miss. 5 stars on a good day, 1 star on a bad day. The first experience I had with them was life changing, so I continued to go there for a few more times and was satisfied. However, a few weeks later I went in and ordered two of the same drink, they came out completely different, neither of which tasted like the life changing deliciousness I had experienced before. They were disgusting. The barista was talking to her friend when we walked in and gave us attitude that we were there. She was rude and unfriendly. I gave them one more shot and again, it turned out terrible with terrible service. So I guess your experience will depend on what kind of a day you catch them on.

I’m hesitant to review Press, because I really like it the way it is.
That being said, why are you all still going to Java’s? This place is just around the corner and actually good.
The coffee is great, the baked goods are homemade (sometimes they’re still hot!), the prices are reasonable (much more so than Java’s). The atmosphere is great (windows! a variety of seating options! a piano!) I think they’ve also done an especially great job of supporting the Eastman community, but I’m a little biased there. All the staff I have encountered has been very sweet. My only critique is sometimes they’re not fully stocked on some of the baked goods, bagels or other things, but I’d rather things be fresh than overstocked and stale!
Stop drinking out of wretched Styrofoam and run over here. Seriously people.

[I’m writing this in retrospect from briefly after they opened in 2014.]
I was addicted.
Very reasonably priced, delicious food and quality coffee, charming/​cute staff, SUPER spacious… but the best part? The piano in the back room! It’s the perfect espresso spot for ESM students, duh! Bravo!

I love this coffee place! So open huge and one of the only places that you don’t leave smelling like the food or drink they are stewing.
When I walked in, I wanted something low cal but different from an iced or warm coffee. The barista immediately recommended the café miel– it has honey cinnamon and some other amazing stuff in it that just made my morning. I think about the café miel every morn when I make my average blah keurig k cup. I will definitely be back once a week for a café miel treat along with their homemade granola.
Go check it out — since it’s so spacious it a good place to meet for a work meeting or a coffee date. Not loud and seems like you could get some work done there!

Press Coffee has a good set of choices just like the vintage chairs and tables to sit while you enjoy your drink or food. It has a good amount of space with nice artwork to look at and great window seats. This is only my second time here but maybe like wine it will just get better with time.

Press is one of my favorite places in the city. Great atmosphere, art, and the baristas are always very friendly. Add to that the delicious coffee and eclectic furniture, this place is great

I am all about supporting small, independent businesses, especially ones that are located downtown. I popped in here after a meeting today and love the location, situated right on the edge of the Grove Place neighborhood. It’s cozy yet airy, and I loved the big windows that line the main café area.
I ordered a regular drip coffee, iced. I was slightly surprised and disappointed that neither the girl that took my order or the girl who poured my coffee asked if I wanted room for milk or cream. Perhaps I should have specified, but I’ve never had to before. Anyway, it was filled close to the brim, but I was able to get a splash of half and half in there. The coffee was ok, a little bitter for my tastes, and I like a strong roast. It was around 10:30am, so maybe I was getting the last of the morning’s brew? Unfortunately not as fresh as I’d hoped.
The service was aloof. Not rude, but the woman I encountered wasn’t exactly friendly. Maybe it was an off day, but it was off putting.
There were several tables occupied with some people studying/​working and a group of a few men sipping their coffees and chatting on this gorgeous spring day. The door was open, which helped with the airy and light feel.
I’ll definitely try this place out again, as it’s in a super convenient spot; hopefully a better experience next time!

Really enjoyed this place. The parking was a bit of a hassle but the drinks made up for it. I had an iced chai latte and my brother had a hot berry tea. The chai was absolutely delicious you could definitely taste the spices. The tea had a very strong smell but didn’t have a bitter taste. Was able to re-​use the bag to make another cup at home which was a bonus. To really enjoy the experience you have to stay in and bask in the unique décor and paintings. Great atmosphere and the workers are very kind and helpful.

This review comes from my visit back in November. I loved the bright space, and that there is ample seating, but the layout was a bit awkward, and flowed very poorly from point of sale to cream and sugar. I’m no coffee expert, but I did enjoy my iced coffee, and would like to try some of their other offerings. What I didn’t enjoy was the smell of paint fumes while they re-​painted a main wall on a busy Saturday (that should be done after hours!) I’d love to go back and see how they have adjusted, it takes some time to work the details out, and hope they do well! Their staff was friendly and it’s lovely to see new, small businesses pop up downtown!

Great little coffee shop on Main near the YMCA. I stopped in yesterday to watch the Cello Show (which was cancelled) but had an excellent chai latte. Two separate areas to sit with tables, a couch, and even a bar you can sit at. A good selection of baked goods. Great addition to the coffee shop scene in Rochester, not really within walking distance of a lot of apartments but definitely a place to check out.

I love the vibe of this place! Quiet, with a good amount of seating inside and outside. Latte was on the strong side (much appreciated!)
Could not resist getting a beignet as well. Incredibly satisfying and just the right amount of sweet. Latte and beignet cost me $ 4.50, not bad. Free wifi is a plus! The baked goods available change each time I visit.
Update:
Other things I’ve since tried here… This list will likely continue to expand:
Balsamic, tomato, cheese quiche — good, but a bit difficult to eat as it comes in a small pie tin and has a thick crust. Fork or hand? I still can’t decide.
Hot chocolate — definitely too sweet for me.
Apple cider — good, but essentially just heated up apple cider. Where’s the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg? Maybe I’m just too picky…
Apple cider doughnut — not enough apple flavor to warrant the apple cider label.
Apple pie — delicious! Very flaky crust. I wish it came warm though.

I’m all into this coffee shop for their bold americano, savory bites, baked goods, and space galore.
There is a surprising amount of room in this coffee shop with two open rooms on either side of the café. Most are two-​seat tables perfect for an afternoon work session or a meeting (plus lots of outlets to charge your laptop). In the room to the right of the coffee bar, there’s a baby grand piano for anyone to play. I’ve been there a few times and some Eastman students have practiced on it. Actually quite relaxing background music. Another reason I enjoy spending an afternoon here, the big windows that line the main walls. It’s bright, great for people watching and makes it feel like you’re outside even when you can’t be. That will be ideal for me in the winter when I have home-​office cabin fever and need an escape.
I stick with the americano here. It’s actually the only coffee drink I’ve ordered at all my visits. It’s bold and energizing. Their fresh squeezed lemonade was great on a hot summer day — perfectly balanced between sweet and tart.
For lunch I’ve had the turkey panini and the caprese panini. Both are like fancy grilled cheeses — super melty, creamy mozz cheese sandwich the filling. They use bread from 2Vine. It comes with either chips or fruit as a side.
Looking forward to trying their baked goods next visit — like their blueberry scone — since the whole place smelled like fresh baked goodies. It was like grandma’s kitchen.
You’ll see me here again on my laptop with coffee in hand.

Currently sitting at the «bar» portion of Press… I am immediately thrilled with this place. Its a great location– corner shop with outdoor tables and a surprising amount of indoor space. The menu is large! I can’t wait to comeback and try the café miel– Batista says tastes like a sugar cookie (coffee with honey vanilla and cinnamon). Fresh brewed cold coffee too– none of that hot pour over ice fake iced coffee. Also offer baked good made in house that looked phenomenal. Another customer was eating a delicious looking personal size quiche when I walked in. Ah love it! And live music at night.

Cheerful, friendly young lady greeted me. She was using a food processor to mix some dough for the goods baked on premises. She made me a lovely cappuccino The space has two rooms, the one up front has a long table. The back room has a baby grand. The seating is a purposefully eclectic group of mismatched chairs, from folding to garage sale dining room. Exposed brick walls, structural iron pole, limited but cool artwork add to the ambiance. They clearly tell you how to access the wifi on the menu. Limited outdoor seating is available. A great non chain experience, less hectic and cluttered than the other coffee shop around the corner. There’s room for both in this neighborhood.

What a cute little gem in the middle of downtown. We stumbled into Press while looking for a quick breakfast after the Public Market and it was a very happy accident. I generally dislike French Press, but this stuff was great. It was bold, strong, and full bodied. We also ate a homemade granola parfait and it was awesome. We even had some granola leftover between the two of us. They also make their own little breakfast sweets in house. The owner is friendly, enthusiastic, and really happy to be back in Rochester. He had a Press location in AZ before he moved here and he is working to re-​build what he had there. I think he’s doing a great job. I’ll definitely be back!