Blanchard's Coffee
3121 W Broad St, Richmond, VA
Crema's Take
“Blanchard's is the kind of place that converts coffee skeptics into regulars, with thoughtfully crafted signature drinks like their celebrated salted maple cream latte and adventurous creations like black sesame lattes that actually deliver on their promise. The sophisticated, gorgeous interior pairs perfectly with their espresso-focused approach and attentive baristas who treat customization as an art form rather than an inconvenience. Whether you're settling in for a slow afternoon or stopping by between meetings, this Richmond spot has clearly earned its reputation as a destination worth visiting twice.”
What to expect
Google Reviews
I have high expectations for coffee when I purchase coffee from a coffee shop. As a result, I often refrain from getting coffee from shops and instead prefer to make my own. But Blanchard's seemed like the place that would make good coffee, and I am pleased to say that my inclination was correct. I got a cortado, which was delicious. They make excellent coffee and roast their own beans, so they clearly know what they're doing. In addition, I was also pleasantly surprised by their bagel. Most food from dedicated coffee shop is usually mediocre, which is fine, because you're going there for the coffee and not the food. But Blanchard's has surprisingly good bagels. They're of the quality that I would have expected from a bagel or breakfast place, so they certainly exceeded expectations for such food from a coffee shop. I will certainly be returning here in the future.
We went to 10+ coffee shops on our road trip. This was in our top 3 spots! I had an iced black sesame latte. It was great! The shop has a sophisticated vibe. Out Batista was awesome! This is a drink I won’t soon forget!
Darn good coffee. I really enjoyed the maple salted sweet cream (the sweet cream is vegan). I got it half sweet to suite my taste- this is what I usually do at Starbucks or other cafe and it was perfect. 10/10 Long line around 1:30, but I got my coffee within 10-15 minutes. Bright open windows and covered patio so you can still sit out there on colder days
The coffee here was so good, I got the salted maple cream latte which is a seasonal specialty drink and it was to die for. Delicious foam on the top of the latte. The interior is gorgeous, it feels like being in an art museum and there is an adjacent interior room with more tables and an outdoor enclosed patio area. In spite of all their space, this coffee shop was *packed*. When I got there the line was to the door. This was after church at ~12pm on a Sunday, so definitely peak time to go. The popularity is well earned. I got a danish tea cake and it was fine, but not on par with the quality of the coffee. It looks like they also do frequent coffee classes which would be a fun activity for a date or with friends. I imagine this is a popular working spot on weekdays and I’ll have to give it a shot sometime because I will definitely be going back!
Blanchard’s coffee lived up to the hype! We visited from out of town, and we stopped by twice. Our first trip to the cafe, we ordered a bottomless drip coffee, a cappuccino with oat milk and a chocolate chip cookie to stay and sit. We enjoyed a window seat with our young child, who enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and booth seating. We were there on a Friday morning, so I noticed a lot of people working remotely from the shop. We visited again on our way out of town, and enjoyed our same coffee order again with a delicious muffin. 10/10 would recommend. Update (Nov 2024): Came back a few years later and still delighted with my experience. They expanded the seating space to include more indoor and outdoor seating. I really enjoyed my seasonal latte and a taste of their holiday blend.
Crema Reviews
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