Baristas United Coffee Shop

A shop that roasts its own beans

The roastery is the point at Baristas United, a specialty coffee shop in Vienna’s third district that roasts in house and sells what it roasts. The espresso range carries names rather than origins on the shelf: EL DIABLO, FUDGE, MODERN CLASSIC, SLEEPY SALLY, SAINT CITRUS and BLUE BERRY PIE 2.0. The filter side runs to MR. PHILTER, WILL YOU BERRY ME? and BLUE BERRY PIE. SLEEPY SALLY is the decaf, which means the house style is available without caffeine rather than as an afterthought. The same roasts appear in the cups, on the retail shelves and in the online shop, so a flat white at the bar leads directly to a bag for home.

A counter that expects a conversation

The service is consultative in a way that suits a roastery shop. Staff will match a bean to a serving style, and guests consistently mention being guided on what to choose and how to brew it, which is more useful than a wall of tasting notes. Drinks cover espresso, cappuccino, latte, flat white, cold brew and slow bar preparations, so the same coffee can be tasted several ways. The room itself is warm and comfortable, better suited to unwinding after a working day than to a queue-and-go stop. Food stays light and supporting: croissants, cookies, biscuits, granola and dessert, with breakfast and brunch items, plus vegan and lactose-free choices for anyone who needs them. Barista workshops run out of the same space, which explains the tone at the counter.

Choose a bean, then a format

Order backwards from the bean rather than the drink. For the clearest read on the roastery, take an espresso made with EL DIABLO, FUDGE, MODERN CLASSIC, SAINT CITRUS or BLUE BERRY PIE 2.0 and drink it short. If you want milk texture, cappuccino, latte and flat white are all on, and MODERN CLASSIC is the name to ask for on that side. Cold brew is the cooler route through the same coffee. Filter drinkers should look for MR. PHILTER, WILL YOU BERRY ME? or BLUE BERRY PIE, and anyone avoiding caffeine should ask for SLEEPY SALLY. Add a croissant, or cookies, biscuits or granola if the visit is closer to breakfast. If you are buying beans, the espresso and filter split on the shelf does most of the choosing for you.