Caffè Aromi

I was a regular here since moving to JP — good coffee and tasty sweets, but now it seems they have a strange way to run a business.
The café closed in August with a «closed for renovations» sign. I never noticed any sign of work being done. Now two months later, the «closed for renovations» sign has been down for a couple of weeks but nothing to tell us if or when they plan to re-​open. If they are trying to lose this loyal customer, they are doing a good job.
(Hint — keep your customers informed!)

They make some of the best coffee in the city. They serve George Howell and local (portland maine) Tandem coffee, and do it extremely well. The batch brew /​drip coffee here is the best I’ve ever had (for batch brew), and the espresso is right on par. Great shop. Sad to see it ‘closed for renovations’, but I hope it comes back soon. I live right down the street and it has been a staple for me since I moved here.

THIS PLACE IS CLOSED. IT’S OFFICIAL.
I am not sure how there is a review from this month (October 2015), but it must be fake.
I love around the corner and it’s been closed for months.

I only drink espresso. The espresso here is amazing. The staff are knowledgeable and friendly. I love the décor. Plenty of seats, outlets, and barstools along a huge window.
They sell beans from George Howell as well as Tandem Coffee Roasters.

I loved the coffee and the baristas. But it’s been «closed for renovations» for more than 3 (?) weeks. I think it’s a goner.

Aromi’s terribly ugly but functional décor does not distract from the great service, solid coffee, and scrumptious pastries.

Not a coffee shop for everyone. It is definitely catered towards the trendy, with white walls and furnishing, and a raw, wooden, open ceiling, and club-​esque music playing all day. Perhaps not unexpectedly, the coffee here is quite pricy — $ 3.25 for a small iced coffee. The coffee is certainly different as well, with the ice coffee tasting rather more acidic than the usual.
They also sell a variety of baked goods and breakfast sandwiches. We had the Pondside and the Pesto Caprese. Nothing really worth mentioning.
Could be a nice place to sit and do work, although that’s not what we went for.

Great place and great shop. However, if I buy $ 40 worth of coffee, I shouldn’t have to haggle over whether I am entitled to a free latte. They refused. Seems kind of money-​hungry to me.

I’ve visited this place numerous times, given it as many chances as possible but in the end all I can muster is a unenthused «meh». The coffee is all right, overly bitter for my taste. The food offering is lazy, plastic wrapped sandwiches which might or might not be warmed up for you depending on the person’s mood behind the bar. The place itself is rather bland with white table, white chairs, white walls… It feels out of place in this neighborhood. I’ll go because it’s walking distance, but I wouldn’t cry to see it go.

I want to like this place. It’s so close to my house, and the coffee’s actually pretty good. But, a couple of negative experiences mean I’ll be going elsewhere. Last week I went in and waited for 5 minutes while the barista chatted to his friends without even acknowledging me. I gave up in the end and left caffeineless. This week I go in, and the same barista serves me without even speaking to me — no confirmation of my order, no thank you. Really can live without the miserable attitude first thing in the morning. Won’t be going back.

Most of those stars are for the staff, who are not only nice and personable in my experience but somehow manage to keep a coffee shop, where every surface is blindingly white, clean! They wipe off the table as soon as a patron leaves! This level of hygiene in a place that serves a dark brown fluid as its primary product cannot be easy. And many cafes don’t clean after every patron (BUT THEY SHOULD)
So, staff: clapclapclapclapclapclapclapclap
Now, the rest:
The coffee is from George Howell, late of the Coffee Connection for those of us that old. This is the same coffee as Sips in Post Office Square. These are high quality beans BUT roasted to very light or barely medium, which means that it can taste acrid to those of us who drink black coffee. So, It’s a coffee snob thing for Howell– light roast retains the most flavors, darker roasts can destroy some. I say, if those flavors are gross, go ahead and destroy them.
But that’s just me.
Anyway, I end up getting cappucinos here instead of my beloved black coffee. They are pretty good, the froth nicely creamy instead of just airy, the espresso okay, at least not stale.
DECOR, about which some have complained: Some have said the décor does not fit the neighborhood. I live 6 blocks from here, and I like the décor. I like the clean lines, the Italian modern design, the splashes of color on white, largely because it is different from my 1890s condo. But décor is personal. This appeals to me, but I get why some find it sterile. Décor (and cleanliness) give it another star for me.
Atmosphere: I dislike the feeling that this isn’t so much a café, but one of those generic places start-​ups rent office space until they can afford better. My partner and I have been in here when nearly every table was occupied and we were still THE ONLY PEOPLE TALKING. At least no one shushed us, but it was close. Every time I sit with someone else at Aromi, we end up almost whispering because every person in the place is plugged into a screen and dead silent. It’s freaky and uncomfortable and one reason why I don’t come here more often.
Another reason: THE LANDLORD, a notorious douche in the neighborhood. I hesitate to ever boycott a place because of the landlord– after all, the people who work there and need paychecks didn’t get to pick the landlord. But, as has been mentioned in other reviews, Mordechai Levin is beyond your usual greedhead. With at least two prior tenants, he had them do costly maintenance that was, actually, his responsibility, then hiked rent & evicted them. Here’s a quick & incomplete glimpse of Levin:
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Caffe Aromi, aka the coffee joint that opened in the space formerly occupied by the Junebug, is nothing special. You’ll get good coffee, to be sure, but you’ll pay about 150% of the price of other indie coffee places, and 200% the cost of Starbucks. And it’s no better than Starbucks; to be honest, it’s probably worse. The pastries are okay, nothing special, but you’d think they were made fresh for you by a French chef, judging by the prices. And the atmosphere is somewhere between antiseptic and institutional: all white walls and floor and aluminum chairs make this place an oddly futuristic and unwelcoming space where you don’t want to stay long. Really the exact opposite of what a coffee shop should be.
There’s another reason you shouldn’t go here, though, and it has to do with the owner. Mordechai Levin, the building landlord who notoriously raised the rent on the Milky Way/​Bella Luna and the Junebug, owns the business and opened it only because he still can’t find any renters to pay his outrageous rent. Consequently, one of the best commercial spaces in Jamaica Plain has been vacant for over five years, and a once vibrant night spot is now empty and quiet. Don’t support Levin, and get your coffee elsewhere.

I’m a recent college grad from sunny California. Being new to the area, I’ve been looking for a local coffee shop where I can study, read, and work. I’ve been to this coffee shop a few times now and each time it’s gotten better.
Coffee:
I’m a latte fan. It’s pretty much the only thing I’ve had here and it is quite exceptional. Not sure about there other coffees. Baristas are talented, better than most places I’ve been to in Boston.
Snacks:
They have some pastries, but for the first time that I’ve seen they have some light sandwiches. Great addition in my opinion.
Décor:
Very modern. White chairs and tables. Wood beam ceiling. Most of the cups (and the bar stool/​chairs facing the street) are red. The red stars hanging from the beams really add a splash of color that the place was missing. I know they are only up for the Christmas season, but some type of permanent edition like this could help tie the place together.
It really reminds me of a coffee shop I used to hang out in over the summer when I was in Greece. The only difference is rather than just plastic chairs, the place in Greece offered some cushioned couches and chairs as well. I feel like adding these could complete the modern vibe that Caffe Aromi. Sometimes I just want to lounge and enjoy my coffee.
Overall, I do enjoy this place. I usually don’t leave reviews, but I really want this place to grow and be successful. I’ll definitely be back.

I’m not a big fan to be honest! That’s a shame once this is the closest coffee shop to my house.
First, the baristas: there’s something about them, they look bored or something, not very friendly… Ok, I get it, this is probably not the best job in the world, but please, at least a smile, guys…
The coffee: too bitter for me, latte is also super bitter, kinda weird.
The décor: too modern for my style! White everywhere, does not embrace you at all.
Food: they have only a few things, 2 types of muffins and cookies. At least a croissant?!
I would say save your money for City Feed and Supply instead.

Attitude of barista was pretty dismal, seemed as if tamping coffee grounds and making ice lattes was the last place on earth he wanted to be. As a first time customer, this was a little dissappinting. As for the girl who was at the register taking orders, she was not much better. So, in a way, they are perfect together! As for my drink, the glum bearded barista did make it expertly… so as far as the product goes, they do a nice job. Otherwise, it was a pretty disappointing experience. Couple the dreary, depressing music and the not-​so-​friendly staff, my suggestion is to keep on walking.

Great coffee made by trained baristas that take coffee seriously.
Clean, modern minimalist and lots of light.
Most of the staff are student artists/​musician so there is always Interesting and eclectic music playing in the background.

I’ve got mixed feelings about Caffè Aromi. On one hand, it’s got good light and plenty of tables to bring a laptop and get some work done. On the other hand, it’s whack as f***.
The décor elicits the feel of a spaceship: tile floor, white tables, white chairs, huge glass window. It’s so overly bleach-​white and modern that it feels like someone from Eyes Wide Shut is going to tap you on the shoulder and invite you to some sort of amphetamine-​fueled sex party on the second floor. Not that I’d have any problem with that.
I can appreciate that the look works on its own, but not necessarily with the neighborhood. This is an interior design you’d expect to see in Abu Dhabi, not Jamaica Plain. There’s a Whole Foods next door folks, let’s cut the s*** with the Jetsons furniture.
The ambience of Caffè Aromi, that elusive sense of a place that makes my favorite cafés what they are, is not my personal favorite. There is little hustle and bustle, and creating any – sliding a chair, saying hello to a friend – draws too much attention for my liking. Most customers appear to have come for takeaway drinks or to sit by themselves, leaving most social activity on the other side of the counter. This is not the best spot to meet your long-​lost father for the first time. Having said that, if you’ve got work to do (and by «work,» obviously I mean watching Mind of a Chef 2 while waiting for the Kate Upton photos to download), then Caffè Aromi is the place for you.
I have no qualms about the service here, or most anywhere for that matter. They said hi and served me a good espresso. That’s satisfying enough to declare good customer service. Some people on this forum seem to expect baristas to call your mom and wish her a happy birthday. Stop wanting to be a victim and get on with yourself. There are people in line behind you. Let’s go, let’s move it along.
All in all, I find Caffè Aromi’s décor alone to be uninviting enough not to come back. I’ll trade in their free Wifi for the wooden-​tabled DILF haven that is City Feed just down the road. Plus they’ve got yoga on the second floor, which in a lot of ways is its own sex party.

Why is everyone so harsh on this place?!? I think it ROCKS!!! They make the best Almond Milk latte I have EVER had, hands-​down — let alone in Boston!
I love the clean, simple lines in the décor and the local artists who display their artwork in the shop is a really neat touch! There is outdoor seating and ample indoor seating. Their prices are very reasonable and they offer a frequent buyer card to enable you free drinks after 10 visits. The staff is always friendly and upbeat (including the very kind blonde woman with tattoos) and I have NEVER had an issue with staff treating me differently depending on whether I did or did not provide a tip. There is one younger, light-​haired gentleman who might appear surly but, after many many visits, I have determined that he is just rather shy — not rude.
The baked goods are delicious — one of which I even once got for free because they had momentarily ran out of almond milk and had to run next door to Whole Foods to get a new one (which took all of 5 minutes). If there are a lot of people ordering at once, the service can be slow but that is only because they have one espresso machine — not because of their attitude — and they always hand-​craft their drinks with care and love!

MUST LEAVE A TIP!
It’s a cute place but that’s about all it has going for it. The coffee is meh at best but what deems this place a one star kind of coffee shop is it’s terrible service and rude staff.
The staff has the ability to immediately see if you’ve left them a tip or not on all card purchases prior to them making your drink and depending on whether you do or not dictates the kind of experiences your going to have on any given occasion. You can witness the staff’s attitude and demeanor completely switch as to whether you throw a buck in the cup or not. The days I do tip, I get a somewhat friendly response from the staff and my drink comes out correctly in a timely matter. However the days I don’t tip I seemingly get a lot of attitude from the cashier and barista and my drink takes at least twice a long.
I work in the area and my coworkers and I have all decided to avoid this place. .. mostly because of the girl with blondish hair and tattoos my coworkers and I refer to as «MEAN GIRL»!

— watery lattes. They were bland and sadly, the most flavorful thing was the cinnamon I put in it.
–sparse menu selection– it says add flavor? Well what flavors do you have?
— bright white Scandinavian décor — reminiscent of an ikea catalogue.
On the plus side, it looks like a good place to sit down and do work. A good amount of tables.

Okay, I’ve read through the reviews here on Unilocal and I can see why some people rated it pretty high and others very low. I think the real it is that this place is really somewhere in the middle, which is why i gave it 3 stars. My experience was probably 4 stars, but I only ordered coffee and the place was pretty empty so it would have been hard to mess anything up.
The atmosphere is okay to work in (hence 3 stars). I know it’s their «style», but the place isn’t very warm and cozy on the inside. It looks sleek and cool from the outside though, which I guess is what they are going for. The location however is fantastic. I just moved to this area and it is really nice to have right down the street. Their is an outside area as well which is pretty nice. The prices seemed a little high, but it’s Boston and coffee shops these days jack their prices up ridiculously because consumers are still willing to pay it for some reason.-This is only slightly hypocritical considering I went here :)
All in all, the service was good and not great. I could tell some of the employees weren’t very experienced and they definitely don’t give off a warm and inviting feel. With all that being said, it is a good place to study or relax with some people in the neighborhood for a little while. I wouldn’t go here every day, but I can see myself going back every once in a while.

I live right around the corner from this place, so it is incredibly convenient. I was reluctant to go in for a while because the atmosphere looks very sterile (white/​minimalist/​tile floor/​etc) and didn’t look like a place I’d like to sit for an hour or two doing work. Overall, the food/​drinks are good, but they could work on some of the other aspects. I’ll break it down further.
The good:
–Once I actually went in, I was surprised that the inside was more inviting/​comfy than I imagined.
–They have almond milk, which is great for those who can’t do dairy.
–Their pain au raisin pastry and coffee cake muffin were both very tasty.
–The baristas have always been friendly to me
The OK:
–Minimum $ 5 purchase for credit card transaction. I’m not always going to spend $ 5 at a coffee joint, so that means I skip this place sometimes
–If you use a credit card, then you have to accept payment/​sign their computer, and it asks if you want to tip. I’ve worked as a waitress and a hostess, so I am always going to tip when tipping is due… but when all you’re doing is placing a muffin in a bag and then handing me said bag… give me a break. At that point even the electronic mention of a tip is irritating.
–The service really depends on the barista. When I ordered an iced coffee, they filled the cup so high that it was impossible to carry over to the lid-​station without spilling (and then of course I spilled more when trying to push the lid onto the still-​too-​full plastic cup).
The bad:
–My friend and I went to do work a week or so back and all of the tables near the outlets (the ones nearest the wall) were taken. We chose a larger square table (for 4) one row out from the wall and my friend plugged her computer in. Within a few minutes the manager (?) came over and told us that we could not have a computer cord going from the wall to our table because somebody could trip. She suggested we take the one newly free table (for 2) near the wall. My friend pointed out that a table for 2 was rather small for us as we both had a laptop + she had several law school books. She then walked right over to a couple at a large table against the wall who (I assume) had been sitting talking for quite a while after finishing their drinks/​food and told them that they — and I quote –«had to leave or move» to the 2-​person table so that my friend and I could have their spot.
Needless to say, we felt really bad, and were quite uncomfortable. I thought the whole computer cord rule was sort of silly since this is a COFFEE SHOP where people often sit with electronics that need to be charged. But if this really is a liability… then the lady could’ve at least handled the situation with better customer service.