Congregation Coffee

I live in the neighborhood and was out walking and decided I needed an iced coffee. As you can see from the photo it looks like iced tea and weak iced tea at that. The place is cute the workers were extremely friendly and polite but I will say it had a “Oasis in an Office” vibe which was a touch creepy and a touch cool all in a good way. Now back to the iced coffee. I like my iced coffee black and dark like an empty void that if you add cream it is a dark mud color This was definitely not it. It was not bad it was just not for me. I’m going to try a hot coffee because I have a feeling this is where they will shine.

I stopped in today looking forward to a well-executed pour-over and decided to order both options on the menu—the Ethiopia Kayon Mountain (honey process) and the Mexico Alejandro Martinez (washed). Based on the tasting notes listed—tea-like, chamomile, and candied citrus for the Ethiopian, and dried raspberry, vanilla, and brown sugar for the Mexican—I was expecting two distinct, balanced cups that would highlight their origin and processing. Both were prepared using a V60, which typically delivers clean, expressive results when dialed in correctly. That set a certain expectation for clarity, structure, and flavor separation between the two coffees. Unfortunately, from the first sip, it was clear that something in the extraction process was off. Both cups came out noticeably thin, sour, and lacking body. Instead of showcasing their differences, they tasted very similar—under-extracted, sharp, and incomplete. The Ethiopian lacked the delicate, tea-like floral qualities it advertised, and the Mexican didn’t bring out any of the sweetness or depth suggested by its flavor profile. Without being able to see the full brewing process, it’s difficult to identify the exact issue, but the result points to fundamental problems—possibly a grind that was too coarse, water temperature that was too low, or a pour technique that was too fast and didn’t allow proper extraction. In a method like V60, those variables are critical, and when they’re off, it shows immediately in the cup. What makes this more disappointing is that the menu and setup clearly aim for a quality, specialty coffee experience—single-origin offerings, detailed tasting notes, and manual brewing. That naturally raises expectations for execution. I came in expecting two thoughtfully prepared and distinct coffees, but both fell short in the same way. It felt rushed and poorly extracted, which took away from what could have been a great experience. Hopefully this was just an off day, because the coffees themselves have strong potential.

I’m so glad Congregation took over this space. It has been sitting empty for years, since COVID, and I am so glad it has finally been taken over. The space is absolutely gorgeous as well. The coffee is quite good and reasonably priced. I have also found both their pastries and breakfast options to be quite delicious. This is one of my favorite places to get work done, as both tables and outlets are readily available. Additionally, their merch is adorable. This is definitely a must visit!

Yummy lattes with mug or take out options. Oat milk available. Indoor and outdoor seating. Clean bathroom. Indoors was crowded on a Sunday but we were able to get the last table.

Absolutely love it here. The special lattes are incredible, the decor is great and the vibes are awesome. Helps the staff are incredibly nice as well. My new fave coffee shop. Iced chamomile tea is what I have in the pic.