The Coffee Academics

Food is average and it’s worth probably only 70% of what you paid for. Coffee is good though. However, staff, Fung, is rude so all of you better watch out.

Even a few weeks later writing my review, I have mixed feelings on The Coffee Academics. It did remind me of some of the trendier coffee shops that one might find in LA or SF, if anyone is looking for a comparison.
THE HIGHLIGHTS.
+ Extensive selection of coffee-​based drinks
+ Large menu of small & large bites
+ Fairly ample seating
+ Knowledgeable staff
There is a bit of an air of coffee snobbery here, but if you’re an avid drinker of the bean, you’ll probably love it here.

I decided on Coffee Academics for my Monday Coffee Day because it has a pretty extensive menu.
From curly fries to waffles. You name it. They probably have it
We ordered the nachos, curly fries and the espresso churros.
The nachos were not bad. They didn’t skimp on the ingredients. Lots of beans and guacamole which is very appreciated.
The curly fries were also very crispy and the sauces that went with it were quite interesting.
The churros were a disappointment though. Wasn’t doughy enough for my liking.
Also the service was kind of slow
The drinks were also okay.
Would I come back?
Maybe after I’ve been to all the other coffee shops in Hong Kong I might be back.

Funny story — on the way back to nyc from Tokyo, we were at hk airport waiting for next leg. It was a 3 hour layover, and during that time we got the idea. Why not stay in hk?! So we spoke with the airline and they put us on a flight for the next day, same time slot. LOVE IT!
24 hours — it was like an episode of Anthony Bourdain! Lol xP The Coffee Academics was one of our stops — and it was soooo bizarre. Stepping in, was like being teleported back to nyc! Back in hipster town! THe décor was very Brooklyn, and the people looked like they ride the L! Weird. O yeah — also lots of MacBooks opened, like a hipster coffee shop,
Still had a good time, because I was catching up with a friend who lives in hk. Going to coffee shop seemed better than a bar for late night drinks — just wasn’t in the mood to give myself a hangover for a 14 hr flight haha. So this was a good place to just sit and chat. He really enjoyed how his coffee came in this special coffee pot haha

What surprised us when we came in is how spacious it is. High ceilings, chocolate brown décor, it’s very hipster. They make a decent cup of coffee (cappuccino). We came in an off-​peak hour of a weekday morning (is there really such a thing in HK?) And had no trouble being seated right away.

Tried the pepper agave latte. Love how the pepper gives it a bit of a kick. The spice from the pepper complements the rich aroma of the coffee beans nicely. A great combo.

The coffee is decent, cakes are alright but the staffs are horrible! I’m a fan of this chain, just not this location! The only good thing about them, is that they open til late… But that’s about it!

Atmosphere over coffee.
It took a little while to get someone’s attention when we were ready to place our order. The waiter was nice but when we asked for explanations and recommendations, he seemed confused. Then another waiter had to come back and clarify what we ordered.
We ordered the latte and also one of their ice dripped coffees. You can see the coffee being dripped right on the counter. The iced coffee was served in a wine glass with a brochure. The latte had some pretty art but was just another latte.
The coffee was unique and it did taste good but at 98 hkd for an iced coffee. You are paying for atmosphere and the free WiFi. They do have a menu and sweets. Maybe next time I’ll try their food.

Looks like the third wave hit Hong Kong. Hipster looking place, big wooden tables, with multiple kinds of coffee (espresso, pour-​over, etc). They also have a full menu for anyone looking to eat — because face it, everyone in Hong Kong would take any food even if they just wanted coffee ;)
We sat here just for some coffee. While what I got was good — it was also flavored and thus harder to mess up. The pour over coffee appears to be so-​so. The coffee was pricey though! Even with my snobby San Francisco tastes, it still costs more than a good cup of Blue Bottle.
I haven’t had much third wave coffee in Hong Kong so I can’t say for sure how it ranks amongst its peers. This place is decent, but I think they overcharge because they can.

Ehhhhhh… To put it simply… I. Don’t. Like. This. Place.
A little too busy… a bit dirty… bugs flying around my food… I really want to leave after 10 minutes. And the smell!!! It smells so bad here!
I like the concept they advertise and it looks really hip. But that’s about it… It just LOOKS cool but it’s not. I was being nice to give it two shiny stars.
I feel so bad for wasting 70 $ + 7 $ (service charge) at this establishment as its really nothing special– a flat white and a DRY banana pistachio muffin.
So, Just do yourself a favor and skip this joint.
No thank you Coffee Academics for ruining my otherwise perfect afternoon on my day off.

In summary, the following should be noted:
1) Food hygiene is atrocious
2) Service is dismal
3) There are so many other coffee shops in Hong Kong
I met a friend today for lunch at around 12:30pm, however, I knew other friends would be arriving a little later. As I explained this to the manager, I was taken aback when he cut me off and asked how many people were coming. My friend arrived and we ordered. She had crabmeat with avocado salad and I had the fish taco. The food arrived in a timely manner and we both started eating. I had finished the tacos and started eating my fries, and when I was almost at the bottom of the fries bucket, I pulled out a curly fry with a live cockroach attached to it. In my state of panic, shock, and horror, I quickly threw the fry back into the bucket and called a service staff to inform them about the situation. Unfortunately, the first waiter apparently did not understand English so another staff came over. I explained to her there was a cockroach in the bucket and she tried to lift the paper to view it while at the table. The manager then came to the table and offered to make some more fries, however, I declined as I lost my appetite from the absurdity and revulsion of finding a cockroach in my food.
As we planned to meet with our other friends and they would arrive shortly, we chose to stay at The Coffee Academics. The staff allowed us to stay for an extended period, which allowed us to catch up, even though we were designated a table next to the staff room by the manager and it was inconvenient for the staff to get to. My friends observed that the bathroom was uncomfortably cold because of the air conditioning, was not clean, and did not have hot water for hand washing. However, the infuriating and ridiculous aspect of this experience was that upon settling the bill, the tacos were not waived. After I explained to the service staff that I did not think it was fair for me to pay for a meal where there was a cockroach found in my food. She explained that she needed to ask permission from the manager who subsequently approved it. Needless to say, what I find most disappointing is that the manager never officially apologized. In fairness, he did offer to compensate me by making me more fries but I had lost my appetite after the fiasco and having me pay for an absurd food and beverage experience was ridiculous!
Needless to say, I do not plan on ever returning to any of The Coffee Academic establishments. I am able to find great coffee at well-​established and clean coffee shops elsewhere in Hong Kong.

This coffee shop is so cute! Once I’m in here, I feel like I’m back in San Francisco, home of the hipster coffee shops. I also love that it is quite spacious in here, unlike the rest of HK. I can talk to my friend without shouting over the people sitting next to us.
The menu is pretty extensive for a coffee shop. Also very.Californian. We opted for the Avacado Crab Salad, 24-​Month Aged Iberico Ham Croque Madame (wow what a mouthful!), with a Pepper Agave Latte and an Okinawa Latte. I tried the Pepper Agave Latte and it was definitely something out of the ordinary. Pepper on your latte? :P It was exactly what it sounds like; latte with a spice. Agave is supposed to be the healthier option to white sugar, so that’s always good. I can’t say I love the taste of the drink though. the coffee was too mild for my taste, but props for creativity. Similar to their food. Definitely give them props for creativity and serving such distinctive dishes. However, nothing jumped and screamed «omg so delicious!!». But I really want to try their cakes and desserts. They all looked and smelled sooo good. So although the coffee was a bit pricey and food was just okay good, I’d really want to come back to try their dessert. And such a cute place to sit and chat anyway. I love it.

I like Coffee Academics. It’s pricey but this is CWB. I like to come here for coffee on a weekend to unwind. They have the fancy cold drip coffee with I don’t know how to appreciate. I will stick to my latte… :P They don’t kick you out so you can literally sit here all day.

Nice environment and good selection of coffee (including how you would like it brewed). The food menu is not extensive but have a decent selection of salads and breakfast food. Does get a little busy on the weekends and the service is definitely not up to par.

I love the big open environment of Coffee Academics. I also love the long tables with benches. Even though their price is just a little bit more expensive than other coffee shops, I think they offer a solid cup of joe. I had the small flat white. It felt like just enough milk to keep it from bring overly strong, and the flavor was rich.
The food here is solid with a wide offering. Everything I’ve had has been pretty ok. Again, it’s a little bit pricy, but worth it of you’re looking for Western style breakfast or food.

The Coffee Academics is a little frustrating. I wanted to like it, but I just couldn’t. Just like the ivory tower of academia, the people at The Coffee Academics need to get out and get a good feel for what the world has to offer and what people want. Don’t get me wrong, The Coffee Academics has great coffee. And I love that they brew it using AeroPresses. However, it’s not the BEST cup of coffee and the whole place is just a little too pretentious.
First off, while I hate admitting it, I would have to consider myself a coffee aficionado. A lowbrow one, but an aficionado nonetheless. I consistently brew myself coffee that is just as good or better. And, by doing it myself, I don’t spend the arm and leg that TCA charges. In a week’s time, with the money you saved by going to another coffee shop, you could purchase yourself an AeroPress. Once you had that, it’s just a matter of time before you’ve saved enough money to purchase a nice Japanese burr grinder. And then, the whole coffee experience – with premium beans and all – would be just pennies on the dollar.
Enough with my rant on the prices. And I do not really want to bust TCA’s balls. Because it really is a cool store. The coffee tech looks neat. Their menu is impressive. The place is just way too pretentious. But go for coffee. One time. That’s it.

The Coffee Academics was actually featured on a TVB show a couple of months back — I don’t recall the name, but it was centered around a coffee shop someone owned and those scenes were staged here. That’s not what makes The Coffee Academics a great coffeehouse though.
The Coffee Academics is pretty big compared to your usual café in HK. It’s quite spacious and has quite a few tables, which helps when there’s a crowd on weekends. I love the décor of this place. On the outside, its woody exterior makes it look quite vintage-​y and the sort of dim lights inside create a nice and warm atmosphere.
Obviously, the coffee here is great. Their latte is extremely smooth, and you can taste that it’s strong, but it’s not bitter. It’s really creamy too, and has a nice aroma. I appreciate that it’s served piping hot — there’s nothing great about barely warm coffee. I have not eaten anything here before, so I can’t speak for their food. The cakes look pretty promising though. This place is a little pricy and I feel that getting a cake and a coffee would be a bit expensive for just a tea — I wish they did sets!
Location-​wise, The Coffee Academics is not really at the heart of Causeway Bay — kind of on the outskirts, if you will. It is just about 3 minutes from Times Square, but if you are walking all the way from, say, Windsor House, it will be a little bit of a trek.

The first time I came across this place was when my friend and I were craving for something sweet in Causeway Bay and we happened to know that there is a rather famous local dessert place in Yiu Wa Street. On our way there, I saw this beautifully designed façade with brick walls and vine tangling. When asked my friend about this place, she told me it is called «The Coffee Academics».
Though they do serve dessert, but my friend and I opted for something quicker and cheaper, yet that did not stop me from coming back and giving it out. I am extremely impressed with the overall setting. With high ceilings but low hanging lights, which gives out a very lofty vibe and the ambience is just chilling and very welcoming in general. If you prefer sitting outside (and if you can handle the heat), there is a terrace area for you as well.
The menu here is very extensive: dessert and of course brews. I am not a regular coffee drinker but I have heard so much about this place where coffee is treated as art here. Such devotion and passion makes everything worth giving them a try. I had a cup of latte and I have to say that it suited my palette very well. The barista also told me occasionally they host workshops here just to show people how it is done. However, I am definitely not a studious type so I should just stick with being a happy diner here.

I am a frequent goer to Coffee Academics. It is relatively close to where I am staying and it is a pretty good place for meetings or catch ups with friends. It is located a little ways walk from the main hubs of Causeway Bay, which is another reason why I like it.
I mean, this place is always busy, even in the afternoons of weekdays but somehow, I am always so fortunate to find a seat.
i usually come here for meetings to catch ups, as I’ve noted before, which is why I never had the privilege to try their food. It looks really good from the photos on Unilocal so I have yet to give it a try.
I usually come here for coffee, thus the name Coffee Academics.
I really like the ambience here, when you walk in, it’s got a nice big brick wall on the right, wooden tables and big coffee machines. It almost feels like you have been transported to a warehouse in new york!
The barista’s here are very professional, they always seem to be so expert in what they are doing, much more so than many other coffee shops around town.
There menus are a little confusing, with some drinks inside where food items are listed and some are on the back. This isn’t a concentrated drink menu, which i would prefer as opposed to a food + drink menu.
But when asked the servers, they know what they are talking about and can explain it well. I guess the training here is done quite well!
A little loud at times but that contributes to the casual atmosphere. Will be back soon.