Ugly Duck Coffee in Rochester
Categories
Location on the map
Rochester, Monroe County, New York, US
Service options
Highlights
Popular for
Accessibility
Offerings
Dining options
Amenities
Atmosphere
Crowd
Payments
Food. Coffee is legit. The mocha is nice, I find in recent years everyone has been going strong coffee, dark chocolate, serious mocha. This one is lighter, more towards the chocolate side than the coffee side. I had their The Snug and that was excellent as well.Service. Good. Everyone was nice.Atmosphere. Tables are quite small, so dont expect parties of 3 or 4 to use laptops or textbooks. Theres no wifi. Washroom is clean. If you dine in, just come expecting to enjoy the coffee otherwise their set up is better for a grab and go.
Stopped in twice today (by myself and then with another) and both drinks were so good. Featured espresso was great and I’m super impressed by the fact that they’re dialing in a new roast constantly to keep this up and still nailing it!! Also, having well named plants adds to the fun atmosphere which is 10/10.
Such a beautiful and warm coffee shop. The staff were kind and pleasant, we got a caramel latte with oat milk, a mocha with almond and a chocolate croissant! They have milk options and flavor options for those who need them. So many pastry and snack options. Whole bean available too.
Delicious coffee but ridiculously over the top ( not to say fascist ) mask enforcement.I’m certainly not against wearing a mask but damn - having to wear it at all times including between sips of coffee ?Not to mention parking is difficult and confusing as there is now clear marking as to what is there parking vs. the numerous other businesses in the area and street sparking has at least 3 ft of snow to climb to overcome. Not to mention the prices set a new (higher )standard in the area.
To the person that said that they were yelled at to wear a mask while drinking their coffee… no they didn’t lol. No one in the service industry is yelling at anyone to put their mask on. Acting like an ingenious toddler towards a small business is totally not cool man. Chill out 😎Anyways, ugly duck is wonderful coffee shop. Everyone is always so chill and friendly. I love their matcha lattes ❤️
The cashier was super nice & helpful with recommendations which I appreciated. Though I wish I knew before ordering that you have to keep your mask on, even while sitting. Only when you are actively eating or drinking are you allowed to temporarily drop it down. If y’all are THAT scared, don’t even be open, love. At least the latte was good.
YUM. Best cappuccino I think Ive ever had! Cute little shop where masks are required unless youre seated (as they should be!), with masks and hand sanitizer available just inside the front door. Only con was that the seating -- mostly wooden benches -- isnt very comfortable.Helpful, cheerful, and patient staff add to the nice ambiance (thank you for no blaring music, says the old lady) and interesting menu, even if we did stick to the old standards. Hope we can get back up here!
Besides the coffee, the baristas at Ugly Duck are the best! I forgot my phone at the shop on a Friday afternoon and retraced my steps a few hours later, and lo and behold they were hanging onto it.Sometimes finding seating and connecting to wifi can be challenging, but great coffee.
Its expensive, but honestly its worth the money in my opinion and you wont find me thinking expensive products and services are worth the money very often.Their sizes are very small. If you like bigger sizes (or size choices period) you might be disappointed but the quality makes a case for excepting this.UDC uses and sells high quality beans and milks. They are sustainably minded selling local vegan baked goods and providing low-impact paper and plastic products. They also have GF muffins and cupcakes!The place is tiny. They dont have wifi so you can hang out there all day. Its kind of a drink your coffee and move along type place.The line moves very quickly.My only complaint (and its a small one that doesnt affect my rating) is, Ive been going there for months, multiple times a week, getting the same thing every time and they still dont know my order and havent asked my name. I find that lack of customer appreciation to be a bit unfortunate. Im also in food service and I know my regulars names and orders. It goes a long way.
WORST customer service Ive experienced in NY. The woman taking my order asked for me to wear a napkin over my face, I refused because its my body my choice. She rudely stared at me for the rest of the time I was in without saying a word. I expected people at this business to be tolerant and accept people the way they are and the way they think.If youre a free thinker, they dont like your kind here. If you like communism, youll love it here.
These folks have some of the best coffee in Rochester, super wonderful staff, are taking COVID precautions for both staff and customers very seriously, and just in general are amazing.An absolute go-to spot if youre looking for an espresso drink, cup of coffee, or a snack!
Espresso shots were extremely burnt, and the drinks are WAY too expensive to have burnt espresso. I got the snug, and it was a solid 4/10, which would be fine if it was 2$, and not 5. My wife’s latte came out watery and burnt which overwhelmed the taste of anything else in the Latte. Like, I get that it’s cool and trendy here, which I would readily admit the atmosphere is on point, but I get coffee to drink it, not just to sit inside a cool building.
For me macchiato reminds me of starbuckss caramel macchiato. When I got my order of macchiato, I found that of here is the real italian espresso with small amount of milk.The staff kindly made me the new fresh,delicious latte again although it was my misunderstanding.It tasted great and I was impressed of that kindness.Thanks a lot.
Really cute shop. Chill staff. The coffee is good but I really love their merchandise haha. Whoever designed their products did a fantastic job. Definitely would be a go to spot if I lived in the area. My friend even got her beans grounded to take home as a gift for her mom.
The placeThe place is really nice. Very bright a great place to work or just hangout and drink coffee. One thing to be aware of though. The area is under construction so getting there can be a pain the road was closed so I had to detour around to get there.The coffeeI love that they have special drinks that are what I would like to call experimental flavors that you wont find and most coffee shops. Like The Snug which had Espresso, Maple Syrup, Fee Brothers Molasses Bitters, Steamed Milk in it. Pretty cool for locals since it was my first try I went with a staple the Caramel latte. It was good they make their own sauce which I love. It wasnt the best I have ever had but definitely above the fray.The verdictI really like this place I hopefully will be able to get there in the near future. For all you coffee drinkers who like to try new stuff you will love this place.
The staff are very warm and welcoming, and the coffee is good. I liked that they had a board with a lot of material on things happening around Rochester.The only issues I had with the cafe was the limited selection of coffee we had to choose from. Also, its not the greatest place to sit down, have coffee and chat with a friend (without feeling like you are distracting the person you are sharing a table with) as there are few 2-4 seater tables available.
Homemade chai was great. Brownie was delicious. Small and modern, not comfy looking, but good for a quick chat with a friend. Arrived at 4:40 and they close at five, the guys behind the bar were super friendly about it though and didnt rush us out. Great experience, plan to go again!
A friend had mentioned that they make a really good oat milk latte. I dont even generally like lattes, but I figured Id give it a try. Now I crave it semi-constantly. Even during iced coffee season (which is ordinarily sacrilege for me). Theyve also made good adjustments to accomodate the new reality of low/no-touch interactions.
This place is awesome! The owners and employees truly want their customers to have the best experience possible. Ive sampled nearly every drink they provide and have been continually impressed. Supplying more than just Coffee, Tea, and Espresso; youll also find fresh pastries available.Ugly Duck is always worth a visit.Try their Cold Brew, I love it!
The affogato is great! I have had it with both the vanilla ice cream and coconut ice cream. The sour bite of the espresso and the sweet coconut-y flavor of the ice cream makes a wonderful treat really worth savoring. It is perfect for either a hot summer day or the rough and long Rochester winters.
Cold brew coffee is on point. The scone is a triumph. Atmosphere is cozy and modern. An awesome shop tucked far enough off of East Ave to avoid the commotion of foot traffic, but close enough for a quick detour! Highly recommend next time youre in this neck of the woods.
Ugly Duck is a bare bones coffee house. There is little sitting room and few distractions (artwork, board games, reading material etc.) around to take away from the focus: great coffee.Their menu includes all the familiar favorites as well as a few seasonal options that are welcome additions (seriously - try the Earl T-shirt)The staff have been knowledgeable, helpful and particularly kind. One fellow offered to top off an auto drip, free of charge, as I left one night. Another employee regularly treats my friends 3 year old with steamed milk (free of charge) at each visit.Since I first visited in April 17 I have received numerous coupons via email - including one free espresso, one free 8 oz auto drip, 10% off total purchase etc.Heads up they also offer a mobile bar services that can cater events.
There’s a few great options for coffee in Rochester, but in my opinion these guys make the best coffee in Roc. Great small shop that’s always guaranteed to make a good cup! Not to mention Rory and the baristas are some of the friendliest baristas I’ve seen in coffee shops (which is sadly sometimes hard to find)
The coffee is delicious, the space is bright and inviting, and the staff is super friendly. They have a customer star program, and are pretty involved in the community (they took part in the WAYO fundraiser, offering $1 off of coffee if you purchased a Kickstarter mug for WAYO). Ugly Duck is definitely my favorite downtown coffee shop!
A new cornerstone to the ROC community, Ugly Duck is a place where you can and will run into an old friend and probably meet a new one. A revolving door of unique and delicious independent roasters from all over will open any customer up to the opportunity to broaden their palette - while in no way feeling any pressure of elitism. Aesthetically great, well priced, and with friendly staff - you’ll see why everyone loves Ugly Duck 🦆
Great atmosphere to have a chat or read a book. You have to try their affogato. It cost $6 and its tiny but it is so worth it. A shot of espresso on vanilla ice cream, it give you a toasted coconut and sour after taste that cannot be replicated. They place does not have wifi so do keep that in mind.
A cool place for funky ducks, super chilled atmosphere perfect lighting & temperature.. a good space. I really appreciate that they have coffee from a few of the better known roasters in the U.S. since everyone else only serves & sells their own roast; its a welcomed addition for certain (Pour used to carry 1 or 2 when they first opened like Chromatic, but since changing names etc. they only sell their own brand/roast which ime isnt very good, they trail @ a distant #4 imo), for best coffee around Rochester: Joe Bean #1, Ugly Duck #2, Fuego #3
Ugly duck is a multi roaster coffee shop in town and one of my favorite coffee spots period. What is a multi roaster you might ask ? A multi roaster is someone who curates a list of coffee from different roasters across the country, meaning there is rotation when it comes to what you will be served or sold in to go bags. Espresso , pour over or easy to go cups are all available here , along with a few treats from local bakeries .
Total reviews rating 4.7
199 Reviews for Ugly Duck Coffee 2023:
Review №1
2022-06-06Great coffee. I had a hot vanilla latte from there and it was super good. They even made art on the top foam. The employees were super friendly and the shop itself was very comfortable. The only thing holding it back from 5 stars is that nothing stood out to me to make it an awesome experience. It was very great coffee though, I do recommend.
Review №2
2022-07-09Get the Coffee Slush, you wont regret it. The Snug is good too if youre looking for something a bit less sweet and like a deep, dark coffee flavor with a little something extra. Staff were all great! I will definitely come again!
Review №3
2022-04-16Inviting setting and and baristas so I would revisit for that reason alone. Price for an iced coffee with anything other than milk was unnecessarily high considering the small size and they do not provide WiFi. Just a few things to be aware of.
Review №4
2022-07-09Great variety of options and delicious local pastries. I recommend the slushee which is vegan. Their espresso is top quality. This is a great artisan coffee shop
Review №5
2022-03-03Delicious mocha and cappuccino! Love the vibe too - the staff was so sweet.Highly recommend the pistachio chocolate croissant and homemade brown sugar pop tarts
Review №6
2021-09-25Best espresso Ive had in town. Really friendly staff that were patient and informative. Even offered to steam milk cooler for a hot chocolate for my son. Drinks came out quick and were fantastic. Cute shop with a great homey aesthetic. Not sure where they get their pastries but they were great too
Review №7
2022-01-17I liked the cafe, great atmosphere and nice staff. It could be somewhat bigger, for all the coffee fans to sit, relax and chit- chat. This place is very popular- not only for locals, it was quite packed on a Sunday morning. They are dog friendly. Oh, I almost forgot- I loved their coffee :) Good place for vegans, they have multiple non- dairy options for a surcharge. Coffee beans and other small gifts are available to purchase.
Review №8
2022-06-04A bit expensive but overall is a nice coffeeshop in the Rochester area. They do designs on top of your drink, so maybe it was worth the $4 for a 8 oz. hot chocolate. There were day-old pastries available for a discount, which I appreciate for the efforts to decrease waste. Adequate seating is available and there is a wheelchair entrance/exit on the street facing Charlotte Street.
Review №9
2022-05-28Cenobite is the best drink I had in a coffee shop anywhere in the world. Total surprise, enjoyment, and balance. Cenobite (earl grey tea, lemon, vanilla, milk, black pepper)
Review №10
2022-05-17Awesome coffee and a good atmosphere. We love the seating outside as well. The location is a convenient walk to downtown and a few good museums and art places. The croissants were fantastic as well - try a red-eye with an almond croissant!