The new Coffee Tree Roasters in Shadyside is a large slick space that has a lot going for it.
The whole space works as progression from the lively street activity flowing back to a quiet area for concentration.
For most of the summer, the garage-style glass door in front lets the cafe spill out onto the street. Towards the center is a lounge space featuring couches and a fireplace. Towards the back is a glass enclosed room for focus and minimal disruption; it's also available for reservation.
The brewed coffee is consistently excellent. They tend to have brewed a medium bodied, dark roasted, and decaffeinated varietal coffee. The availability of freshly roasted beans is also great.
Unfortuntately two things could be much better. The quality of espresso-based beverages is highly variable and seems to greatly depend on the particul staff. The espresso blend and roast is good; the staff just seems to be inconsistently trained or motivated. The quality of pastries is disappointing as well. The muffins are alright, but the croissants are just sad. Really sad.
more