Espresso Royale

Couldn’t say enough good things about this shop. The batistas are all amazing people and the coffee has always been delightful in the past 5 years I’ve been coming here!

Great atmosphere. Nice couches. Relaxin music. Good prices. Good coffee. They have books to read and buy if you’re into that. Also a really good place to just chill and read. Looks like they have hot food as well, but I didn’t dip into that realm. :)
I’d come back here often.

Cozy atmosphere with couches and bookshelves. I ordered a cortado, which was too milky, but was presented nicely with a small glass of sparkling water. I also had black coffee, which tasted burnt and stale. These negatives are especially bad considering how expensive their drinks are — $ 4 for the cortado and $ 2.45 for a medium coffee. Might as well go to one of the million Caribou Coffees in the area instead.

Ask for dirty chai. It’s an amazing hot beverage to start your morning. The place is quiet with regulars walking in to grab their cup of Joe. Get a frequent card even if you are a visitor. Delicious way to start day.

The «Ginger Dragon» was healthily delicious! It is steeped fresh ginger tea with lemon and honey! Love their hot tea menu!

$ 2.00 Latte Wednesdays! Enough said!
The lattes are AMAZINGGGG! There is a HUGE variety of choices that you don’t find at many other coffee places. I really love that they have so many options. Esepcially since in Minneapolis there is a caribou or starbucks on every corner. I enjoy finding these small coffee shops that really take pride in what their coffee tastes like.
I love to stop here on my way to school, or sit on a saturday for 6 hours and do my homework. The music isn’t overly intruding (which i have found a problem in minneapolis) and they have both tables, and comfy chairs to study in. I am able to move around, and switch up my study area, which is much appreciated.

Best dirty chai latte i have had, the staff are extremely nice and helpful. This is a great place to relax, the atmosphere is very open and inviting. There is plenty of space to do homework and has many comfortable chairs and places to read. They also offer many fresh baked goods which go well with their coffee! Highly highly highly recommend going here to have your next cup of coffee.

Espresso Royale and is quaint little gem in the Loring Park/​Downtown area! I am not a coffee drinker but I have come her to study, work on Fridays, and even dates and it has never disappointed.
Since I am not a coffee drinker, I love their Matcha Green Tea Latte because it tastes wonderful and it makes me feel kind of healthy because its uses green tea :).
Other things that you can do here are borrow and buy books from their library, drink specialty drinks that are all eco trade materials, and just relax their comfy couches while doing what ever your heart desires.
This is definitely a place that deserves more street cred and customers… or not so that it can continue being my undiscovered hot spot!

The chai is amazingggg. I would pay anything for it. Cute place, nice staff, and in a great location on Hennepin. If I went to mctc or lived in the area I would for sure be a regular.

The last few times I’ve been here I’ve had issues with the wifi. So be wary if you’re coming to get a buzz while working on something. Decent drinks, mediocre food. Overall it isn’t a terrible place. But one barista in particular has me avoiding this place. I’m a barista myself, I get it’s a stressful job and I’ve dealt with my fair share of bullshit. I’m always sure to keep my orders to the menu or with simple customizations and to tip at least a $ 1 a drink, say please and thank you. But this barista has me always feeling like I’m bothering or wasting her time. My most recent visit I met up with a friend, I was early and got my coffee and sat down. My friend greets me and then goes to order. Said barista bolts away without a word as soon as my friend gets to the counter. Came back probably 5 minutes later and said nothing about it.

Great hours and really convenient for both the university of St. Thomas and also MCTC.
They also make great coffee, offer a variety of sizes of beverages, moderately priced, and they offer café goods too. It’s got some good space to meet too for small groups and people.
I also took advantage of some of the used books that they sell as well and got a great book for my dad as a gift.
Double punch Fridays is a great way to get free drinks faster too.
If you’re in the area, give this shop a stop in and enjoy it.

They have great hours and plenty of space to work as well as a great location near MCTC and other schools. The staff is always sincere and friendly, and they have used books on sale in the back. The inconsistency in wifi availability is a bummer, since I require Internet when I study. It’s still a great coffee spot for studying though.

It’s nice having a coffee shop in downtown that is open early and closes later. Baristas are nice and coffee is good. Very spacious areas to hang out and relax.
It can get very hot especially in the summer. Not sure the A/​C is is working entirely. The bathroom is disgusting and the wifi can be a bit spotty at times.

Excellent coffee latte find this morning in downtown area and most were not open yet! Coffee places not open 6am or thereabouts… are not real serious players. All good here however with a few food items. I would return.

I just called to simply ask if they had seats available. A worker answered the phone with a scruffy voice and then dramatically hung up on me. Some customer service, eh? I won’t go here and neither should you.

Three stars for coffee and food, which is good but not quite the best in MSP. Their food selection is just so/​so.
Four stars for staff, who are all really nice.
Five stars for seating and ambiance: LOTS of power outlets (at almost every seat!), free wifi, and lots of comfy couches and all sorts of different tables. This is a nice place to get some work done!

Service was good. Nice barista. Coffee and tea was good nothing out of this world. The café is cute and spacious. Lots of windows and tables. Really comfy enviroment.
I would give this more stars but the bathroom was hideous! Toilet seat was broken and detatched from the toilet. Walls were very dirty like they haven’t been cleaned in months. You could see the dirt and soap dripping down the walls under the sink, paper towel dispenser and soap dispenser.
It was not real busy when we went in so i am not sure why it would not be clean.
We were thinking of buying food as they sell sandwiches and bakery items, but after seeing how they neglect the restroom i wonder how high their standards are in food safety.
I would really like this place if their standards were a bit higher but there are just too many little things that make it a downer.
Also the wifi is spotty and slow. Not the place you would want to come and do your school work or relax and use the internet. Wifi kept dropping out.
If they could just fix up the bathroom, appear to care a bit more and maybe upgrade the internet this place could be a really hopping place. Its too bad that so many small businesses don’t try harder to keep customers happy.
Up your standards and i will up my rating. IF i ever come back. Sorry but thats just how i feel.

Stopped in here for my morning coffee.
Ordered a dark roast. Coffee was served quickly. It was just the caffeine buzz my brain cells needed, but flavor-​wise, it was nothing spectacular.
The employees working that morning were pleasant and efficient.
Lots of space to hang out, sit, and enjoy your caffeine. Lots of space to work. Free WiFi is available.

Great conversation coffee shop!
Since I go to MCTC next door, this place is very convenient (perhaps too convenient). I have class almost everyday of the week so I frequently stop here to get something to drink or eat. It is very cozy if it is a bit more quiet, mostly in the early hours in the morning or evening.
I would try to avoid using the bathroom if you can, the mens’ bathroom is worn down and could use a do-​over, a very serious do-​over. The staff has never been rude to me either; people can be people of course.
I love their $ 2 Latte every Wednesday, which includes any size.
I recommend this place to anyone looking to study (without much dependency on wifi), to read, socialize, or just chill.

2 dollar Latte every Wednesday, Prices on other days were cheap too! Nice big layout to a downtown independent coffee shop!
Ashley dug her scone also very reasonable!
The bathroom were a little out of order while we were there, No towels in men’s room, and Ashley said the women’s room needed a good cleaning! But the coffee was good, the service was great. and they have in-​door and out-​door seating! I would go back for the price and the brew!

I will echo RUDE.
Asked for a drink and got heckled at 7pm on Saturday night.
Sure you were working a double, and tired, and whatever. Go home, don’t take it out on customers.

Rude :(
Manager was super rude to me. I worked at a coffee shop in high school so I would never order something difficult or inconvenient to make because I know how that feels… I don’t like much caffeine so I ordered a pumpkin latte and asked if she could make it with ½ decaf and ½ regular. Again, I have made half-​caff drinks a thousand times and it’s extremely simple and not a big deal at all.
But she scoffed, rolled her eyes, and walked away from me… Like, she literally just left me standing there at the counter. It wasn’t busy. It’s not a difficult drink. I was polite. There was no reason for her to be a sassy pants to me. Another barista took over my order and apologized for her managers behavior, but I still won’t come back.
Latte was good though.

Decently large coffee shop. Windows cover nearly the entire perimeter allowing the sunlight to brighten up the space. There seems to be plenty of seating up front and in the back there is a more secluded study-​like area. Got a ruby fruit tea and spent some time on a Saturday afternoon working here. Fewer young people than some other cafes. There seemed to be more of a middle age crowd, with a bit of international diversity. The guy at the counter was plenty pleasant and bathrooms were clean. No real complaints.

My sister invited me to come study here. At first, it was a wonderful place to come and get homework done. I love their «feel better tea» it’s soothing and relaxing.
Just be careful of whom you meet. Best not to talk to strangers here. you’ll never know what kind of axe murderer you’ll find…
On street parking.

Compared to other coffee houses and cafes in Minneapolis, Espresso Royale Café has a huge space.
In the front area, there are several tables, while in the back, there are several couches and a conference table. The front area has more light from the large windows, while the back area is darker and more divey.
It’s pretty comfortable overall and the music and noise is low-​key and unobtrusive so you can focus and get a lot of work done. It’s really a laid-​back casual spot, you won’t find a «scene» here. The types of patrons who frequent here are a mixed crowd, from college students to young and middle-​aged downtown professionals.
I’ve only ever tried the Chai latte here. It’s okay, nothing spectacular. I get it hot in the winter and iced in the summer. The pastries and wrapped foods here is not fresh nor all that good, I’d pass on those items if I were you.
The baristas are the sweetest! They are so cute, charming and engaged with their customers. Their upbeat personalities are infectious and cheers me right up. You won’t find cavalier attitudes here!

I’d give this a solid 3.5. It would go up to a full 4 for me if they had a better food section, like fresh hot bagels!
Not the best indoor décor but the best spot I’ve found to grab a cup of joe and do a little work downtown. Good coffee, and the male barista with cool glasses who was there on Sat. morning is great. Also, my café au lait was better than Dunn’s and about $ 2 cheaper.

ERC has quickly become my favorite place in the neighborhood (and they’ve got some tough competition)…but not just because of their drinks – their service is outstanding!
Even though it’s not widely advertised, they don’t seem to mind if you bring your four-​legged friend inside with you to order (and they’ve even let us hang out for a bit on occasion… usually during crummy weather or to allow us to eat our morning sweets – that way we don’t have to juggle hot coffee and a delicious peanut butter cookie along with a leash attached to a pooch who can’t get to the dog park fast enough… that is a recipe for disaster). The flexibility is greatly appreciated and will keep me coming back continuously.

I used to go there all the time after school. This place is cute and spaceous. I really like the crowd too, ages from 21 and higher. I love the back room where you can do homework and talk to friends. The only thing that disappoint me is the internet, sometimes it is just slow or no connecitons. I would say it’s a good place to do some work… enjoy.
You might have to pay for parking meter if you are there during weekdays before 6pm.