The Lab by Alchemy Coffee

Hands down best coffee in RVA my favorite is the slow drip cold brew. Or just the plain cold brew (black +shot of espresso) they have an amazing sausage egg cheese biscuit! Go check them out!

Great coffee, pastries, and staff! Lots and lots of knowledge of coffee in this café, of which many of the staff are eager teach if you’re willing to listen! I recommend coming by often as the menu always seems to have a new selection of beans to choose from! I suggest trying the house espresso too, can never go wrong with that one!
Weekly cycling group rides on Saturday at 9am also for those local and/​or visiting cyclists!

Real, awesome coffee: Counter Culture, Madcap, Red Rooster. Decent breakfast sandwiches — sausage /​egg /​cheese on croissant. Definitely well worth the cab ride from the convention center for great coffee!

My favorite latte in Richmond! Love that these guys are at the Forest Hill Farmers Market on Saturday mornings– great espresso drinks, drip coffee, pastries, and a very friendly crew!

A must coffee shop to try. Great selections of coffee specializing in Cappuccino with design. Baristas are knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. Try a sweet to
Go with your coffee, you won’t be disappointed.

Friendly service. Good cold brew for the hot Virginia days. Wish the owner was there when I stopped in. Friend of mine said he’d teach you a lot about the brewing process of your drink, what too smell and taste, and make suggestions for you. I’ll be stopping by next time I get to roll through Richmond.

This place is superb. The staff is smart, friendly, unpretentious. The coffee is always high-​quality. And the baked goods are exceptionally, surprisingly delicious – really, these are no obligatory pastries: the treats are worth the trip alone.
And yet I come back (again and again) for the good people, bright and quiet setting, swift internet, and their excellent cortados. The cortado (half espresso, half milk) is my favorite coffee drink, and it’s rare to find it on a menu, much less find one perfectly made. They make them perfectly here, just as they do everything else.

What a great find in downtown Richmond. The staff is unpretentious and helpful. I wish I lived nearby so I could try the roasters they feature on a rotating basis.
I had a pourover (Reanimator’s Rwanda Kanzu) and the cheddar chive scone at the cashier’s recommendation. Both were excellent and well made.
The layout of the shop is open with plenty of options for seating. (Note: no charging outlets — talk to your friends or the baristas!) Really love the vibes here.

I spent my first weekend in the Richmond area recently, and made a stop by Alchemy since it looked like a nice little spot and I was craving the blueberry muffin mentioned by another reviewer. The pastries are as good as advertised and I enjoyed it while sitting in their nice sunny window and watching the Broad St traffic go by. But what really made me want to write this review was the staff that lead to the single best coffee I’ve ever had.
I’ll openly admit to being a coffee novice, so when I walked in to order my drink I basically threw myself on the mercy of the cashier. She was friendly and eager to help me puzzle out what it was I actually wanted and I decided on a simple latte. It was rich, flavorful, not bitter in the slightest, and beautiful. The staff was friendly from when we walked into the door until we left and I absolutely can’t wait to go back and try another of their suggestions the next time I’m in the area. While I can’t speak to the rest of their menu, the constant stream of regulars really speaks for itself.

The vibes here are super nice. I love coffee. Being Ethiopian is probably why. I have been exposed to strong coffee my whole life. If you need some strong coffee they have it here. The people here know what they are doing. Its a little pricey. Although some of the nicer things in life are like that. Last time I came, they weren’t selling anymore Harrar coffee and thats the stuff my parents drink like water at home. I hope they bring it back! Regardless, this place is good. You should find a brew that will help satisfy your caffeine craving.

I had been meaning to try this place and I’m glad I did. Warning: I am rating strictly on how nice a place it was to sit and enjoy coffee, did not have anything but coffee. The atmosphere is very relaxed and the staff is friendly. I felt welcome and the music was perfect. I look forward to coming back with friends.

At Alchemy, everything works in harmony. The architecture, design, colors, and, of course, the coffee. The baristas are not only efficient, but also incredibly knowledgeable about their craft.
Not to mention, the best cold press in town.

The place is quaint and very minimalistic inside. The employees are nice and there is space to work if you wanted to. The coffee wasn’t my favorite, it wasn’t bad by any means but not what I like. I’m glad I tried it though!

Blueberry muffin is so good! I wish there was more blueberries but the muffin is moist and so good.
I only come for their iced yama. I dont like anything else here.

I’m not sure why it took me so long to try this place considering it’s located right on the VCU campus, but I’m so glad I did!
The atmosphere totally matches the name of this place because it has that industrial/​laboratory kinda vibe to it. The baristas were very welcoming and when one saw our pharmacy school tshirts he joked, «Don’t worry, we only have legal stimulants here!»
I got the Chai Latte (hot) and it was reeeally good. I’ve had my fair share of Chais from various coffee shops but this one was definitely one of the most unique ones– so smooth, silky with a hint of cinnamon! My friends all enjoyed their beverages as well (Iced Mocha and Vanilla Latte).
One thing I don’t like about here is that their Iced drinks only come in one size (which is bigger than I’d like). I thought that was pretty dumb that they don’t offer the 3 different sizes like they do for the hot drinks and well, like most other coffee shops do. Butttt other than that I recommend here for coffee.

If it were just in a location more convenient to me, but in reality it is in a perfect spot most likely if you are a VCU student or VUU student even maybe.
I tried the coffee where they measure the water temp and hand steep the grinds. He suggested I try it without cream and I’m glad I did. DELICIOUS!
I will be back and I recommend the place to folks who I know this is in a location they frequent.

I’m still just in awe of Alchemy and their commitment to all things coffee! Their staff are passionate about coffee… it’s not just a job for them. I’ve been here twice, once on my own and once as part of a Unilocal event, and I was blown away both times. I learned something for my own home «lab» each time and, though I’m still trying to match the quality of their brew, I’m getting closer. They even offered to help me dial in my process by bringing my home equipment to go through the motions and see what steps I can improve. I haven’t done it yet, but it’s in the future plans.
The atmosphere is bright, comfortable and has a good, almost Portland-​like vibe, with a steady stream of students. They’ll make you virtually any kind of coffee beverage the right way, and explain what they’re doing along the way. They also have a variety of good foods, baked and otherwise.
Parking is the only challenge, but they’re even lobbying for improvements in that area. Despite their downtown location, it is possible to find a parking space in the neighborhood, even if you get to enjoy a nice stroll to reach the front door.
I don’t know what else to say except go!

While at VCU I used to go to the Alchemy cart on campus frequently and was always blown away by the quality of the coffee. I’ve been coming to their brick and mortar location since it opened a while ago and their iced coffee is really some of the best I’ve ever had. They make a mean cappuccino and the Japanese pour over is sooo good. Very smart brewing process as well as knowledgable baristas who are super friendly and helpful.
The space is really cool and modern. It’s got a hip/​minimalistic look with lots of natural light and space. They feature local art on the walls as well as a bookshelf filled with material on coffee and roasting — even some community lit and local zines you can flip through while you wait.
Prices are a little steep, but the quality is so high it’s definitely worth the cost.

Brought the whole family crew here after an awesome time at their Elite event. The owner and staff live, breathe, and brew magic with their coffee. In fact, they have coffee down to a science. And best yet is that they are willing to spread their knowledge for free. Should you need any advice on how to brew home coffee, just bring in your machine of choice and they’ll help you tinker/​adjust it to perfection.
Aside from all this is the cool vibe and great service. They don’t quite have decaff or non-​whole-​milk options (aside from soy), but the drinks are on point. From drip coffees to lattes and cold brews, this place has it all. My favorite? The latte. Smooth and on point.
Of note: parking is a bit tight as it’s all street parking. There are a few seats with benches but I wouldn’t consider this the ideal place as a long sit-​down café for studying and the likes.

Due to the fact that my body can’t handle high levels of caffeine (I get the shakes, can’t concentrate, and start to sweat), I have recently transformed from a casual coffee drinker into a tea lover. Specifically chai tea. I’m happy to say that Alchemy does chai, and they do it well.
I strolled in on a lovely Sunday afternoon needing a quick pick-​me-​up. I immediately loved the ambiance and felt like this was a place that I could definitely see myself coming to relax. The playlist was just right, employees were super helpful, and the crowd, which seemed to be composed of VCU students, was mellow. When ordering my chai tea latte, I went with almond milk instead of whole or soy milk. This was probably the best decision that I made all day because what resulted was a perfectly crafted, fresh, sweet, yet spicy drink with an ever, ever so slight nutty flavor. Even the boyfriend, who does not delight in coffee or hot tea, liked it and commented that it «tasted like cinnamon». Well, my dear, that’s what chai tea is supposed to taste like!
What I enjoy most about The Lab, however, is their story. They set themselves apart from other coffee shops in many ways– especially by emphasizing the scientific process of making their customers the perfect cup of joe. I am a huge supporter and admirer of businesses that stand out from the crowd and deliver unique produces/​services. Their passion is evident even to the most casual patron.
Community is another central aspect of The Lab. With walls lined with VCU student artwork and a local company, Maven Made, repurposing their used beans to make face and body scrubs, Alchemy is all about spreading the local love.
Go here. You won’t be disappointed!