Coffee News Cafe

The food was okay and not overpriced, but the service, atmosphere, and building left a lot to be desired. The set up of looking at menus, ordering, and getting your own water and utensils was awkward. The whole place was too hot, the food was really slow given the number of customers, and the food was nowhere good enough to make up for the rest. I suggest you go elsewhere.

Stopped in here on an extremely warm day for a nice cup of cold press. Was disappointed that the 4+ employees congregating behind the counter couldn’t take a break from their conversation to greet me. As a barista myself, I find this super annoying!
I ordered a cold press, with a small amount of hazelnut syrup. I stressed SMALL amount as I don’t like my drink to be sugary, however their syrup bottles don’t have pump tops and I watched the barista unscrew the top and dump a ton of syrup in. I was trying not to be rude, but when I said that was way too much syrup he didn’t even offer to remake it. After adding a bit of cream the drink was watery and overly sugary.
The place seems nice, so I hope my experience was a fluke because I would like to check them out again.

I spent every Wednesday evening here last summer, while the better half was at an adult ballet class at the dance company next door.
I got the french dip pretty much every time. It was never very good, and sort of expensive. About the same quality as Arby’s. Being able to get a beer is nice though.
They have free wi-​fi though and don’t care how long you linger, so it was a decent way to kill an hour and a half while I waited for my ballet girl. Sitting out on the sidewalk is kind of nice too.

I stumbled across this joint just last week, and have since been back 3 times! why is this? 3 things: good coffee, good food, good space. Oh and huevos rancheros! so that is 4 things. I wish this place had been near me during my college days. I estimate i will be back here approximately 50 000 more times.

Is anyone keeping track of the best quiche in the Twin Cities? Because I found it yesterday at Coffee News Café! Oddly, I wasn’t looking for it either, since so many previous consumptions of the egg dish left me decidedly in the anti-​quiche camp. We ducked into CNC yesterday early afternoon. It’s right next to Shish, one of my favorite spots, and though I wanted to be a creature of habit, hubby insisted we try something new. There’s a lot more room at CNC than Shish, which surprises you as you cross the threshold.
We were immediately greeted in a warm, friendly manner as if we were regulars, not first timers. Nice touch. My iPhone alerted me that one of my 4square friends had announced the world’s best carrot cake could be found here. It looked huge and delicious, but I decided to behave with my carb consumption. The slices look like they could easily serve two or three.
Hubby ordered a latte and quiche. I had a Chai, the soup of the day-​Potato Chipotle-​and our daughter had the Caesar salad. Our drinks were up right away, and we sat down and waited for our food. My Chai was entirely too sweet, and further proof that I’ve been spoiled by the real thing all these years. We looked around the restaurant while waiting and noted a few areas that needed some cleaning attention… a real hot button for both hubby and me. The lights had serious cobwebs draping over them, and that is a big no-​no in my book. I’m sure some would argue that it’s part of the character of the restaurant, but I don’t buy it.
Our food came out and the portions were generous. My soup was a potato purée with a nice chipotle kick. Very good. My daughter loved it, but also enjoyed her huge Caesar salad which I found perfectly acceptable. My eyes were drawn to my husband’s quiche and garlic fries. The quiche was very thick, and the crust looked impossibly flaky. I asked for a bite after he said it was «really excellent.» He was right. It was a fluffy egg filling, and that crust was a revelation. The garlic fries were also very good.
I’ll definitely be back. I suspect there are a lot more great things going on in this kitchen.

I must admit, I had walked past this place numerous times without even considering going in because I figured it was going to be like a giant Macalester slumber party inside. While I can’t say that’s entirely untrue, my first and subsequent visits have always proved my initial dismissal wrong. For that, I owe CNC an apology.
First, I have to say that even at the busiest times, I have always been able to find a seat. Surely this is not an air-​tight claim in every situation, but it’s notable since other coffee houses in the area are always frustratingly tight on seating. The crowd does consist of plenty of student but I have seen all age groups enjoying this place side by side. I have also noticed an inordinate amount of attractive people but that’s neither here nor there, right?
Second, I have yet to encounter a surely worker. Beautiful. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this always speaks to pleasant management. This does not, however, diminish the individual baristas who have been welcoming and who happily engages me in conversation. I don’t need a new best friend walking in to a coffee shop but it makes such a difference to the ethos of a place when you feel like the people a) don’t hate their job and b) don’t hate you as a symptom of hating their job. I continually see people making sure the café is clean, orderly and that everyone is getting what they need.
Third, while I have not tried the main menu yet (I’m getting there), I have had their desserts and their coffee. The cake is fantastic and insanely huge. Definitely a size for sharing: don’t say I didn’t warn you. I believe I had the carrot cake the first time which was moist, and then the other night I shared the red velvet cake which again was delicious. In all honesty I’ve had better espresso at other placed, but it is not subpar by any means. I definitely enjoy their americanos which is what I get every time.
I came here with my mother once and as we were leaving she said, «That place strikes me as the real deal.» I couldn’t agree more. It’s a young, friendly atmosphere with a refreshing lack of pretense. There is a much closer, albeit obnoxious coffee shop near me, but I have chosen and will continue to chose to walk the extra 4 blocks to visit Coffee News Café.
You’re totally my new crush.

Coffee News Café, is one of those eateries that I would like to wish the best. The food is just fine, I got the Chicken #1 hot sandwich it would have made a great meal if the sandwich was a little less greasy and the fries didn’t have too much salt in them.
The fact that the staff is very friendly makes things lot more better. The free wifi can be a blessing for some. The place is generally clean and the bathroom was pretty well kept.
It has a wide variety of desserts however the bill can inflate quite a bit with them. So choose wisely.

So much good food around this place, but I think they hold their own just fine. I was craving a sandwich, so we stopped in for a quick bite. It was pretty busy, and it took me awhile to decide, but I ended up trying a panini (the California I believe?). It had chicken and avocado, and that’s all that mattered to me!
All ingredients were fresh and tasty, service was friendly as well.
They offer a breakfast menu also, and we are anxious to give that a try.
If you are strolling on Grand, and don’t want Thai, Mediterranean, or pizza, I’d suggest giving this spot a try!

I previously wrote an iffy review of Coffee News, but removed it because my experiences here since then have been so, so much better and I felt that what I wrote was no longer relevant. It’s back to the Coffee News I knew I always loved :)
Some things I love: you get free refills on the regular coffee, even if it’s not the greatest. But the food is awesome (especially their paninis and garlic fries!), and it’s a great spot for a casual lunch or a long java-​fueled study session. I’ve always found myself drooling when I look in the refrigerated case at their yummy-​looking selection of cakes and pastries, though I’ve never tried them. They have free Wi-​Fi and when it’s not too busy it’s a great place to sit for a few hours and get some work done. The service has greatly improved over the last few months, and I’m back to being a huge fan of Coffee News!
Things that can be frustrating: Finding a table at peak hours, and that their lattes and teas are served in glasses which can burn your fingers. Their regular (bottomless) coffee which I normally get is served in ordinary mugs, which I much prefer.
Overall — four stars!

Nice little coffee shop near a University I think. So, mostly hipster-​ish college kids hanging out there, working on laptops.
Friendly people, decent sandwiches/​burgers etc. They have beer & wine too. Desserts looked good. Didn’t try the coffee.
Not especially cheap for what it is but I don’t know the neighborhood that well.

Two words: Bottomless. Coffee.
Sure, it’s kinda crappy coffee, but if it keeps the crowd happy and alert when announcements like «Hey, we’re closing» come around, it sounds like a good proposition to me.
Halfway through a paper, I decided to reward myself with a piece of Kahlua crème coffee cake. I was surprised it cost $ 6 – 7, but it was a big slice so I decided it was equivalent to two desserts.
Overall, not a bad place to come get some work done. The sandwich list looks really appetizing too.

The reason I like this place is two-​fold. First and foremost — garlic seasoned french fries. Two of the world’s wonders combined to make an awesomely tasty treat. Second, fantastic deserts. The coffee is average, the service is usually from some grumpy dude who is more eager to talk to their friends lurking around the counter than they are to serve you, and heaven help you if you want a refill on pop, that appears to be the least favorite thing to do by just about everyone who works there. The food (other than the before mentioned awesome fries) is good and the people watching is above average. Check it out.

I spent many a morning, day and evening at this place and it was great for people watching, flirting with that girl from your Shakespeare class, getting hooked up with cheap meals and drinks by your friends who worked there and, if one was so inclined, splitting a bottle of wine.
My favorite time spent here was sitting out on the street during the summer in the sun with my friends reading, playing cards, chatting and smoking. I made a habit of getting a slice of cake for friends for their birthdays and I wrote many a paper, read many an Onion, recruited job candidates, had dates, and got drunk in the apartment upstairs.
The Brekafist sandwich, Nachos and burger were always solid and I miss Coffee News more than I miss almost anywhere else in Saint Paul besides maybe The Tap and Acme Deli. Oh, nostalgia!

Perhaps I’m biased because, as a former Macalester student, Coffee News was my refuge and haven during four years of papers, presentations, and endless heaps of reading. So I love this place.
The burgers are juicy and flavorful: I always order mine with avocado and it’s seriously one of the best burgers I’ve had in the Cities. I also love their Cobb salad which always tastes so fresh and light. The coffee is pretty decent (though I tend to like Dunn Brothers better) and the desserts are delicious (though Café Latte has a wider selection).
Mostly, I dig the atmosphere here. Its cozy, warm and has interesting art by rotating artists. The wait staff is hit or miss in terms of service. But, honestly, anything I don’t like about Coffee News is completely counteracted by the UNBELIEVABLE garlic fries! I cannot get enough of these! I have, on more than one occasion, eaten an entire order by myself. Maybe not too healthy, but it definitely makes me happy… and it also generally makes me smell of garlic for the rest of the night.

Briefly:
Many students behind laptops
Standard coffeehouse seating
Good breakfasts
Often busy
Great location

Delicious food, tasty coffee and chai lattes + friends = laughter, splendid caffeinated memories!
If I didn’t do homework at Dunn Brothers, I did it here. I love this place. Not only does it boast some of the best fries around, but the burgers and wraps are scrumptious as well! Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe they offer free refills on coffee-​DREAM-​this is a now just a distant dream for someone like me who has to pay $ 3 per cup at the Starbucks under my building on Park Ave.
Everyone I knew who lived in Mac’s GDD dorm basically lived here (it’s right next door). One of the best places to grab a lunch + their pastries are also delightful by the way and their selection of music is good!

I’ve heard complaints from some about the coffee, but I’ve got none. Coffee News has quickly (over the course of ten years) become an institution in the neighborhood and has gained great popularity among Macalester students, not least because it’s more or less part of campus. Students fill the place during the academic year.
First, the great things: garlic fries, cakes, scones (used to be better before they got a new baker), atmosphere, wi-​fi (now common), the people. They also have a great selection of beers and an enticing menu. They’re quick and friendly, and put a strong emphasis on not using your cellphone when they’re trying to talk to you. They also get the Rain Taxi Review of Books and have newspapers and such.
The service is sometimes less than perfect and the coffee isn’t always top-​notch but I find that most all drinks I order are tasty and made correctly, save one time I had to remind a new guy how to make a pretty simple drink (café au lait). For students it’s hard to beat this place for finding people you know, and they’re open until 11 most nights so it can be good for doing work, as long as you can concentrate. I imagine my estimation of the overall environment would be different from that of other community members who don’t attend Macalester.
Coffee News is a unique spot because they cover a lot of bases and simply have a different attitude than spots like Dunn Bros. and Caribou. Having an iced latte on the sidewalk as Spring starts taking hold is a beautiful thing and makes me understand why people get so excited about the changing seasons.

After the bad review of the coffee here (worst in st. Paul) on heavy table, I thought I would give another try.
and you know what?
It is bad.
That and my friend ordered a chai and got a latte.
So she took it back and he told her that she really ordered a latte.
Some verbal fireworks followed and he told her «I will make you a chai, but you really ordered a latte.»
Thanks.
Just remake it and leave the attitude at the door!

Not a bad place to stop and take it all in. I ventured in for a beer to help unwind on a late lazy Sunday afternoon. I’ve had their espresso in the past and remember it being good. They serve about 20 different bottles of beer, ranging from PBR to Bell’s Two-​Hearted, with the majority of beers falling into the craft category.
They have about 8 small tables on the sidewalk. It’s a block West of Snelling on Grand Avenue, so it is populated with Macalester students. As a Hamline graduate, I find them a little pretentious and philosophical, but sitting outside made for some good people watching.
It was the last weekend of college classes, so there were a few people dumpster diving in the parking lot across the street. Behind me were two students discussing which shantytown in India makes the best curry. «(A) There was a street vendor, behind the temple in such and such town. (B) Oh, I remember that place, the old man with the turban cooked in a huge iron pot. His curry was good, but if you though that was good, you should have went to the guy with the huge mustache next to the market. (A) Oh yeah, he was good, but I still preferred the guy in the turban. Gosh aren’t we worldly? (B) Yeppers, we sure are.»
There were a couple of old men at the table next to me complaining about drivers and how the city would be better if everyone used a bicycle and cars did not exist. Most intriguing was what appeared to be an Eastern European woman typing on her lap top, wearing a tiny skirt, regularly shifting positions and recrossing her legs. It was only her black laced underwear separating this sidewalk café from a scene out of Basic Instinct.
So anyways, good coffee and good beer, outdoor seating. Most beers were $ 3.95 a bottle.

The awful part about amazing garlic fries at a coffee shop, is you leave not only smelling like coffee, but also of garlic.
The amazing part about amazing garlic fries at a coffee shop, is that you get to eat amazing garlic fries rather than some stupid scone that is also sold at SA.
The food is sometimes greasy, and the place is overcrowded with students from either UST or Mac, but if that’s what you’re going for – well then you’ll be a fan like me.
SFCritic