The Java Factory

Terrible terrible terrible latte. Burnt roast, over steamed the milk so it was burnt, tasted horrible and scalded my mouth.
For the love of all that is coffee. Run!!!

OK. It’s a nice place to be in, very bright, with tables and stools. High ceilings make it feel spacious and relaxed. My coffee was OK, but it took a while even though there were nearly no other customers there (just one staff person on).

Full disclosure. I first went to The Java Factory to use their cash machine while the Seaport Market was being renovated. It had nothing to do with food at all. Slightly awkward. However, once inside I was struck by their cheerful décor and by their menu. All day breakfast wraps, I thought. Must keep that in mind.
Today I tried their version of a London Fog. I believe it was called a Halifax Mist. I tried to double check this on their website, but it is badly lacking information on the restaurant (boo). It was quite nice, and I’d be interested to know what makes it different than the standard. I’ll ask next time I’m in. I was a bit sad to see it come in a to-​go cup when I had already said I was eating in, but these things happen.
I decided to go with their egg wrap, but with cheese and spinach added to it. I took a seat inside, forgetting the patio outside entirely. In retrospect, I wish I’d remembered. The café is rather chilly, especially if you pick a seat under one of the vents. God, I hate AC vents. I haaaaaate them.
My sandwich came in an appropriate amount of time and I was pleased to see that the eggs had been cooked firmly so the wrap wasn’t hard to eat with one hand (I was also reading a book, you filthy beasts). The cheese was melty and the spinach was crisp, but I wish there was more of both, especially the spinach. The wrap would also have benefited greatly from salt and pepper, but I couldn’t find any to hand.
Overall, this was an OK breakfast experience. I’ll visit again to try out their lunch menu as the sandwiches are large and sound promising. Yes, things could be improved, but it was still decent for the price I paid. Try it out if you’re nearby and need a quick caffeine boost and a fresh twenty.

This place is just the worst.
I work pretty close to this coffee shop and it has a LOT of work to do. Not only are the coffee/​drinks WAY over priced, i mean, WAYYYY overpriced but they tell the customers they bake their sweets etc IN HOUSE when, in fact, they do not. They have the gaul to charge $ 2.75 for a red velvet cupcake with «cream cheese» icing that was in a four pack at Costco for $ 5.99 and tasted horrible.
If you decide to grab a sandwich, be prepared to wait approximately 20 minutes. The staff are always short or too slow and have no consideration that they are taking up someone’s lunch break. The owner, some lady with dark hair, has a particularly bad attitude and is very cold to not only the customers but the staff. I always felt a bit bad for the staff.
I have really nothing positive to say about this shop. The seating is uncomfortable, the service is slow and the food is way way way overpriced.
Onwards and upwards.

Located near Pier 21, this coffee place does roast its own coffee in a glassed off space next to the café. The interior is cheery semi-​chain. The staff is relatively cheery, but not that helpful. The drinkmaking is just okay. They offer all drinks in three sizes, which does not bode well. We ordered single cortados, which came in big mugs with the beverage nearly to the top. The flavor was diluted and the espresso itself was overly dark. For a place that roasts its own, it was sad how poorly executed the drinks were. I don’t recommend this place for people serious about their coffee. Instead, hike up the hill to Smiling Goat.

The Java Factory was a common frequent for me while I attended classes at NSCAD’s Port Campus. Located directly across the road from the main entrance, this was the ideal spot for academic intermissions and a hot bevie.
Its your typical urban coffee décor. A small space with a touch of loftiness; minimal seating arrangements are a mash up of cushy chairs, tables and stools. The long counter-​bar and chalkboard menu allude to many tasty endeavors, including the likes of sandwiches, wraps, cookies and organic chocolate. Yum!
I’ve never gone further than a treat with tea, but often heard positive feedback regarding lunch offerings. The drawback here is that the prices are a tad stiff (Although NSCAD students receive a 10% discount) and the location isn’t ideal, unless you are in the area.
Java has a great tea selection: I often opted for the chocolate rooibos to accompany my chosen treat, and have never finished less than satisfied.
My NSCAD days have ceased, and so have my Java Factory visits. I likely won’t be back due to the shop’s the far out location. And with all the basics but no real punch, I’ll hit up a venue thats a wee bit closer to home.

I’ve been to this café on a few occasions, and am a little befuddled by how my various trips in have gone.
On my last visit, I was the only person there. A man, who I took for an owner or a manager, was directing the barista on a bunch of tasks, ignoring the fact that I was standing there waiting to be served.
When I was finally acknowledged, the employee was sweet but not very efficient, adding to my lengthy wait as she slowly made the beverage. When I was served my soy latte, it wasn’t very exciting as the espresso flavor wasn’t coming through at all. The cost was crazy — coming in at $ 5 for a lack-​lustre creation. I don’t mind paying a little above average, but it better be fantastic if I’m handing over a Wilfrid Laurier
This café has all of the makings in place to create a successful venture: organic goods, a nice store front, delicious coffee aromas wafting from the place; but something gets lost in translation. My two beans on the whole scene: lower prices and more attentive service.
I’ll try again next time I’m down in that area, but will opt for the lowest price coffee bevie on the menu.

I take no pleasure in giving out a poor review, and I would never do it without serious deliberation. The truth is, the coffee here is terrible. Now I’ve only had dark roast drip, never anything espresso based, so I speak only of that, but the cup I had did not even taste like coffee.
Again, to be safe, I would usually go back and have another cup to compare, but the only reason I visited in the first place was because my friend who works nearby had told me how bad it is. I didn’t want to believe him, I swear, but I cannot debate it now that I’ve tasted it for myself.
I’ve got to say that my peanut butter cookie was tasty and service was friendly, but none of this was enough to make up for the coffee we were served.
*Hopefully* my experience and my friend’s were on off days, so I encourage you to try this place out for yourself. With any luck they’ll be doing something better when you visit.

This shop smells amazing. Situated right across the street from NSCAD and in the same complex as many of the local arts organizations like the Writers Federation and Visual Arts NS, this café is poised to be the go-​to shop for the Halifax arts community. Coffee selection is fantastic here.
This is a locally-​owned business and they roast their own beans which include fair trade, certified organic and speciality coffee beans.
The shop also has a good selection of sweets and treats, which are admittedly a little pricey, but delicious. The staff are nice and friendly and the shop has lots of comfy chairs and tables so you can enjoy a relaxing cuppa joe.