Magpie Coffee Roasters

Visiting Reno I messaged a formerly local friend asking for the best coffee in Reno… sent me here. What a great call. Great service, great curation, and the small batch roasted beans are oily and delicious. I am admittedly a little crazy about fresh roasted beans… Magpie does it right. I brought home the La Guamera Honey which was incredible in it’s own right. Now I am going to say something that will make you Coffee snobs hate me, and I risk loosing street cred here… but I will tell you that I made a pour over of the La Guamera honey over ice, and it was the most amazing iced coffee I have ever had.

I would have given it a higher review, but they didn’t have any muffins or scones — nothing to eat with your coffee. Also, I love chai, and they don’t make it. They have a very clean new shop, but their beans seemed a little pricey. I hope they make it in this coffee-​geared town.

Everything is grand. Service, coffee, atmosphere, location. Amazing addition to Wells Town!

Rad people. Good music. Yummy coffee. My dear friend and martial arts instructor was sick in the hospital, far away from decent coffee. He is a caffeine snob. I found your shop and smuggled in the good stuff. It not only met with our approval, but possibly saved his poor, quality coffe derived life.

Simplistic. That is what I think of when I think of Magpie. No hiding behind frills or crazy decorations or any of that. It pretty soothing to my mind. They’ve only got 4 or 5 menu items and that is A-​Ok with me!
I went in on a Saturday and was there for about 3 hours, working on some awesome Unilocal stuff. (Woo intern life!) This space made it really easy to focus. Or it could have been the 3 cups of great coffee. Or maybe a balance. The world may never know.
When I was there I noticed some games in the corner, and the tables are more than conducive to sit down and play a game. How inviting is that? The tables are long a wide so you can either bring some friends to play a game, or take a whole table with paper work like I did. There is plenty of natural light and the street outside gives you a great brain break to stare at and think.
I highly suggest this place to anyone studying for finals or working on a presentation because its got everything you need.

I did a check in here, but forgot to rate! The only reason it didn’t get five stars is because I don’t feel like I got the whole experience in my short stay. The barista was super nice and made a good latte. The atmosphere was a little thin, but I bet it would be better with more people in there. I would love to come back during a busier time for them!

I normally go here between 2 – 4 times a week. The baristas are friendly and the always make my vanilla latte with almond milk consistently good. Although I wish they had baked items here so I could have something to snack on on the way to work. I also with that they would change their togo cups to something else as it gives their drinks a weird taste, in a porcelain cup they are perfect and although not bad in a togo cup, just taste different and I did bring this up to the barista so maybe they will do something.

At this time there are two places that satisfy my noob coffee nerd needs. I’m sitting in one writing a review of the other.
My first time in, I was less than hopeful to get get a «good cup». The place doesn’t have the ultra modern looks I had recently become accustomed to. It has more funky skate shop vibe than a coffee snob vibe.
But boy skate shop vibe can make me coffee any time. I’m addicted. Honestly this is something I’m not proud of, I’m addicted to this good coffee made by people who pull it just the way I like.
Olivia was why I came in… and when she left, I was really worried the next guy wouldn’t meet those expectations. But Robert has been great to talk to and get amazingly good coffee from.
And with Deluxe across the street.
Synergy.
All I can say is go here. Get a cappuccino and enjoy one of the best ways to start your week.

I wouldn’t call myself a «coffee snob» but others have. I’m not difficult to please, I enjoy all types and preparations of coffee. I am difficult to impress but I’m not a jerk about it. I know what I like and I usually have a high standard for what IMO makes a good cup of coffee. So while visiting the city of Reno I decided to look up some of their coffee spots. I’m glad I did because Magpie’s coffee is delicious and impressive. I had the Pica Pica prepared in an AeroPress. It was fantastic. In fact, it was so good I plan on a return visit before I leave Reno. Magpie is a great little coffee shop that roasts their beans on site. If you like no-​nonsense, real deal coffee where you can taste the quality of the bean and the roast, Magpie is for sure a place to check out. After taking one sip of the Pica Pica I considered moving to Reno. IT’S THAT GOOD!

I came here a few weeks ago on a warm-​ish day not sure if I’d get a hot or cold coffee drink. I’d read the Unilocal review and was looking forward to trying a new coffee place in town!
With my daughter throwing a tantrum in the car (don’t ask) I knew I had to be quick. There were a few folks inside and one barista. The interior is nice but doesn’t have a warm inviting feel. It’s more of the industrial coffee shop feel.
Anyway, I asked for a latte with low fat, but turns out they only have whole milk or almond milk. I was a bit surprised, and didn’t want either so I opted for the cold brew on tap. I’ve recently tried other cold brews elsewhere that offer a liquid sugar sweetener to make it easier to mix in with the cold drinks, and asked if they had that. They didn’t but offered a vanilla syrup instead. I agreed and asked for a bit, and added a bit of cream. The result had almost no sweetness, and admittedly I like just a hint of sweet in my coffee. But it still had really nice smooth flavors, with some fruit notes as well.
I enjoyed the drink, though a few small misteps (in my eyes) could have turned the 4 to 5. But I got back, my daughter had stopped screaming, and all was right in the world again.

Some positives about the place are:
–They do their own roasting
–The coffee is really good
–I like they are in the Wells area.
Some negatives are:
–They are NOT the famous Magpie of Sacramento. How are you going to open a business two hours away that does the same thing with the same name?
–The hipster working behind the bar made it kind of difficult to order. He was acting like he was doing me a favor taking my order.
–Their hours are ridiculous. They close at like 3:00pm or something.

Thanks to Michael T. and his Coffee Cult (ure) month, I learned about Magpie, not realizing it was just across the street from one of my fave local breakfast joints, Café Deluxe.
The place looks bare bones, but I like the simplicity and minimalistic aesthetics. The only challenge is when it’s really hot out and the air just sits still. I don’t know that they might consider some ceiling fans in the future.
They roast their own beans and the baristas are well trained, not cookie cutters from a chain establishment. The chalk board offers a simple menu. My favorite is the Gibraltar; a double shot espresso with a bit of milk. And when it is made right, it is so smooth and bold, the texture and the flavor dances across the palette like Gene Kelly on a ballroom floor. This is a drink you sip while it’s warm, no chugging allowed. I do also like their cappuccino and simple syrup infused iced lattes.
Magpie has free wifi and uses a tablet for easy checkout. Plenty of seating inside and a bit outside. There are also games in a corner that you can pull out and play with friends. Looking forward to my next cup!

This place has a really lovely atmosphere and good prices, but they don’t know how to make a chai tea to save their lives.
This might be a nice place to come hang out and spend the day with friends, but the lack of any snack foods means anyone I’d come here with would probably leave with me to go somewhere like Java Jungle or Coffeebar where we can actually eat something.
Service was meh. Not exactly outstanding. I can understand why some might not like it.
I’m not a coffee drinker, but my friend who got their coffee seemed to like it. That’s why I’m giving this 2 stars instead of 1. I’d honestly rather go to a café that can make good chai. I understand that coffee is their speciality, but why include an item on the menu if you can’t make it well?
It’s a really beautiful venue with a lot of potential. While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I still recommend checking it out if you want an affordable cup of coffee.

Coffee is excellent! So much so that I bought a bag of the Pica Pica at the farmers market on California Avenue a few weeks later. When I went to Magpie I had a latte to go, and it was SO good, I couldn’t stop raving about it to my husband.
Service was just okay. The person who made my latte was nice, but not super friendly. It just felt like a business transaction. That is fine, I wasn’t looking for a friend, but little things like that I remember.
Ambiance.. .Well, I was in a rush so I didn’t have time to sit, but I would if it was a nice day and had some friends with me. They have some outdoor seating which would be enjoyable. I probably wouldn’t st inside, as it just felt very industrial and cold. I did see a few people reading a newspaper and enjoying conversation at the bar while I was there.
I will be back with friends to share my new found treasure-​the coffee is great!

This place is 5 stars for me, because I knew what I was getting into. The place had lots of parking, human and dog seating options, and an open bar with rap radiating from the speakers. I could chat with my coworker with no problems at all hearing or speaking over the music, and the back door of the facility was open while the owner worked on stamping some signage. It is honestly like walking into your friend’s band practice; if they had a really nice craftsman studio with high ceilings, and served great coffee drinks.
We asked for two things on the menu and one thing off the menu. Our barista was able to accommodate our off the menu request, with a «Yeah, I can absolutely do that for you.» I thought this place would be, for lack of a better word, the ultimate hipster lair. However, I was not treated with some tribal knowledge spiel that I get at Hub Coffee Roasters, nor the «I’m too cool to be excited and friendly» attitude. While the atmosphere was absolutely laid back, it was genuinely nice to be there, which is not how I feel at most coffee places. Our barista was professional and made you feel comfortable with an attentive welcome as we bellied up to the coffee bar.
The quality versus price is out of control. The amount you pay for the beverage is minimal compared to the awesomeness you feel in your mouth. Smoothest mocha I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot for a girl who has lived in SF, Vegas, and Charlotte and traveled all around the country drinking her fair share of coffee!

Just had 5 Star experience at Magpie. Hip hop music and coffee makes this place brew to their own beat.
Ambiance
The atmosphere is laid back and the room feels airy and spacious. The interior design is simple and clean offering ample seating.
Coffee
Ordered a cup of coffee for $ 2.50. That particular days blend happened to be from Guatemala. I found the flavor to be bold and smooth.
Service
The roaster was very knowledgeable on the business and took the liberty of educating me on the four different ways he could make coffee. Something i found to be quite interesting.
I reccommd coming here if you wanna get some work done, meet up with friends, or your just plain looking for a tasty brewed awakening.
P. S. They have checkers and backgammon available to play. For free! Haha

Over the last few years we have witnessed a large local business boom in the Reno area. Dozens of eateries, bars, and breweries have been added to areas surrounding downtown. Now there is something else for our community to enjoy… coffee roasters. Magpie coffee is not exactly new to Reno but their facility open to the public is. In the past you were only able to enjoy this great tasting roaster at restaurants like Reno Provision and Café DeLuxe, they have opened their door over on wells avenue and are ready to receive the recognition that they deserve.
Warning! If you are the type of person who only enjoys coffee that is drowned out in sugary flavoring and topped with cream, this might not be your ideal coffee shop.
I walked into Magpie not knowing what to expect. Luckily for me, there was somebody working who was very helpful and knowledgeable. He let me sample the two roasts that were available and explained both of them to me. They had the «Pica Pica» which is a more traditional flavored coffee and they also had an Ethiopian blend as well. I really enjoyed the Pica Pica and bought a couple bags to go.
I was really impressed with everything about Magpie. The atmosphere was comfortable, the staff was great, and the coffee is amazing. I think that this will be a weekly stop for me to grab the freshest and most delicious coffee in Reno. If you are a coffee drinker than this is a spot that you cannot pass up!

I love the speakeasy vibe at Magpie provided by their minimalist sign and general aesthetic. Olivia is by far the best on their staff as the men that work the counter can be a bit gruff, however; all of the employees will gladly shoot the shit with you on various topics including but not limited to: motorcycles, bicycles, reno culture, coffee (obvi), gardening, social issues, music, pop culture, beer, produce, etc.
I fluctuate between drink choices depending on the weather as well as relative anxiety level that can be exacerbated by caffeine but most often I order the cafemotxo, an iced blend of cold brew coffee and mexican coke. Its just the right amount of sweet and perfect in these hot summer months.

Cool! Another addition to Little Portland! Just a cool place to hang out and drink coffee. There’s cold brew coffee on tap. Good tunes (yes, they have a vinyl collection) and some table games. I didn’t check, but they probably have wi-​fi.
I didn’t have a lot of time to hang out and had to get my coffee to go, but that cold brew coffee had a bite. It’s a nice addition to the neighborhood.

Saw on Facebook they were promoting the fact that they just opened full service on Wells, so I thought I’d give it a try. A few places in town serve Magpie, so I was anxious to see what their own place might be like.
I had a 12 oz latte. It was very good. At $ 3.50, it was a good value and comparable to most other coffee shops.
What is NOT comparable is the atmosphere. Don’t come here looking for a comfortable place to have a meeting with friends and definitely not for a business meeting. It was very hard to find because at this time there are NO signs — none at all.
Very strange experience. I walked in and there was only one other guy in the joint. He was not behind the counter when I entered. He looked at me but did not say anything. He moved to the counter, not behind it, and I finally asked «do you work here?» and he said yes. Still no «can I help you?» It’s like they are not quite ready to be open, except maybe for friends that recognize them.
Pretty warm inside, cooled only with a swamp cooler so the front and back doors have to stay open. It’s really more like a garage than a real coffee shop. They have roasting equipment set up right in the space, which I think is cool. You can purchase the coffee they roast on site. Seating is just benches and stools at the counter — not really comfortable.
Good coffee for sure, but no way I am driving past Coffeebar, Hub, and Bibos just to hang out at this place on Wells.