Coffee Mania

Direkt am Mermaid Pier gelegen kann man hier mit guter Sicht über das Wasser seinen Kaffee genießen. Ist zwar eher ein Bistro, aber schön ist es auf jeden Fall.

Can’t beat it for a nice relaxing cappuccino watching the boats come and go on the bay, reasonably priced and a superb environment.

I have been visiting Cardiff and it’s Bay area surroundings on and off for a few years (looking in on a sick relative) and as with anything in life, if you enjoy your dose of coffee, you want to find somewhere local where you can call your second home. Like ‘Cheers,’ a friendly smile, a warm bit of informal chit chat and just some brilliant atmosphere to make your day.
Coffee Mania should and could be just that right place… but it is not.
It has first and foremost the right location. When it is Winter or Summer if there is any sun in the sky at all, the place bathes in it, which means you also, as they have tables and chairs strategically placed outside to take full advantage.
It has all the food and beverages that you would ever want. No worries there.
BUT…the staff are all terrible and I mean ‘orrible. You almost feel as though they did you a great service in getting out of bed that morning to make the coffee. Service is done with such an element of dissociation. No friendliness or polite banter. You are a number and a person who fills a space. I am sure a programmed android could take the order with more style and grace. I have been so disappointed every time I have frequented the place for a coffee, that I keep saying to myself, never again. It is like they feel there are plenty of takers out there so why bother even trying to be nice, they will still pour in — and they probably will, because most people don’t complain, but they may go away and think about it and like me, feel let down and as I heard today from one other patron who witnessed a curt attitude, ‘well that left a sour taste in my mouth.‘
Coffee Mania have a website and I notice that there is mention of fresh coffee and food, but no mention of friendly service which you will always find on any establishment’s wall or website who has the business acumen and foresight to have such an advertising tool. Maybe this is because Coffee Mania realise their shortcomings. I have no idea. I also notice they have an area for people to apply for a job. Maybe instead of asking folks to send in their resumes they should ask them if they meet a certain personality criteria, that may just serve their purposes better, methinks.

I really love this little coffee establishment, if anywhere needed one, then it’s the bay. There is nothing like sitting down the bay with a mug of tea enjoying the surroundings. This place can get pretty busy and you will struggle to get a seat outside on a sunny day, but if you can it is well worth it.
It is a strange, modern looking oval building, but what they serve up is nothing but the traditional coffee shop fare. You can get all sorts of light snacks here such as sandwiches and paninis, then if you are still hungry you can opt for a variety of cake and other sweet tooth products.
One of the only coffee shops down the bay, if you exclude the Millenium centre, there is no reason not to try out this place if you’re strolling round the bay, especially if you catch it a quiet time.

For quite a few years Coffee Mania was one of the few coffee shops actually in the Bay. As the Bay developed there was a period of time where there were lots of interesting landmarks bur not many shops or café’s past 5pm. In those early days Coffee Mania was a rare treat. Its got a great location and one of the few places that opened til quite late.
I used to come in on a Sunday morning and read the newspapers. When it was quite quiet. The breakfast bar around the perimeter means you can generally get a seat but also a good 360 degree view. This is important on those days when the weather is really changeable.
The main flaw is that it doesn’t have a toilet on-​site.
The food is mainly baguettes, sandwiches and panninis which are always fresh and crisps and cakes. As well as good coffee. The chairs and tables outside are great for meeting friends on a sunny day and admiring the view. I think it comes into it’s own at night when you can see across to Penarth.

With all the choices of Coffee places there are down Cardiff Bay there is somewhere you want to enjoy the outdoors and watch the world go by. Coffee Mania does just this! This coffee place seems to have more outdoor seats than indoors. There are seats indoors as well but you wouldn’t stay inside and not enjoy the sunlight unless you’re Edward Cullen.
Coffee Mania is a pleasant place to be. I went on an extremely hot day so I didn’t order a coffee because I feel I would of melted right then and there if I had anything else hot touch me. I went for a chilled fizzy cranberry drink. This hit the spot just lovely. I sat on one of the outside table with some friends. It was calm, fun and reasonably priced. Usually when I go to a coffee place I expect to pay a lot but this seemed different to me. Not only is it cheap you can download some vouchers in order to get 2 for 1 on coffees. Now that is worth a visit.
Coffee Mania is a lovely coffee place that has a full choice of drinks. It has some options for lunch as well. Also, why not treat yourself to a cheeky little cake. You only live once right?

I’ve never loved Cardiff Bay, there’s something about spending a lot of money, attracting all sorts of chain restaurants and hoping it will make the place interesting that just doesn’t seem right.
Coffee Mania is slap bang in the middle of restaurant quarter and has a large outside seating area. It’s a perfectly nice place to sit on a sunny day and enjoy a coffee, not long ago I sat and read Wuthering Heights here before an interview, it worked a treat because they seemed to like me.
Unfortunately, like other places in the Bay, it all comes at a premium. I had a wrap and a coffee and suddenly had no money left, which is always upsetting.
If you’re in the bay then this a perfectly nice place to come and sit, but don’t get too excited, and don’t order the Sushi, it’s even more expensive than the Wraps.

Imagine a coffee loving alien who loves waterfront locations. That is how Coffee Mania in the bay came about. It’s an oval spaceship of a building that has landed in a prime waterfront location smack bang in the middle of mermaid quay.
Having said all that whenever I go for a coffee in the bay this place never naturally comes to mind — I’ve no idea why — oh yes I do — because unless you can get a seat outside then I don’t consider it.
If you do get a seat on a summers day then it a great location if not you could always people watch from it seats inside. Unfortunately because of its great location there is not an over supply of space.

Want coffee madness and delight?! Why not grab a bite to eat here; at this attractive, little, cheaper café, because this is the café to be, for sure…
Think of ice creams; smoothies, Panini’s milkshakes, tea, coffee, cakes for cheap prices in a relaxing environment. Perfect for children, situated in the centre of an area of Cardiff Bay.
It is the ideal spot to cool down in and to chill out in with family and friends, in the perfect spot in Cardiff city.
You will get a brilliant view from this central spot; of all the cafes, restaurants, market stalls, and of the beautiful water front that is the main attraction to the whole life form of the Bay.
The air here will soothe your souls at this ideal and delicious food café. Perhaps it is one of the best cafes out of the whole of this water surrounded area.

Smack bang in the heart of the action at Mermaid Quay, Coffee Mania’s biggest selling point is its location.
Inside on a cold day, the glass windows offer some great views of the Bay — but better still are the outdoor tables on a fine day, offering one of the Bay’s best spots for people-​watching in the sun. There are quite a few tables, and some have parasols if it’s really baking, giving it a continental feel.
This place has never tempted me for lunch (there’s so much choice around Mermaid Quay!), but I’ve often sat down for a coffee, hot chocolate or a smoothie here. It’s true that the service can be v-​e-​r-​y s-​l-​o-​w, but usually when I’m spending time at the Bay I’m in no hurry, so it’s not too much of an issue for me. They also do take-​away.

The real selling point of Coffee Mania is defiantly its outside space and views out over the bay. The Starbucks directly behind it must be gutted when they see the sun shinning.
Its also a little bit cheaper and after having a beautiful white hot chocolate and coconut drink there yesterday I a devoted fan, especially since their hot chocolate is hot, not luke warm like it always is in Starbucks. One minor problem I find is that the service can be really slow.
They also have a good range of smooties and ice-​blends, and sell ice-​creams from the freezer so in summer especially it would cater for the whole family.

My lovely and I had 30 mins of bliss here recently. The big yellow gas ball in the sky decided to put it’s hat on. Hip hip hooray indeed!
Literally overlooking the water at the bay, Coffee Mania is in a fantastic location.
Sun glasses on and coffee in hand, life wasn’t getting much better that day.
Only a couple of pound lighter, I could of spent alot more. There are some great cakes to be eat there, however I resisted… Just.