Alchemista Coffee Co in Norwich

Fantastic coffee and customer service best coffee in Norwich

Afternoon Tea - as recommened by a colleague, was booked for a birthday get-together. Firstly, love the vibe and decor, which very much suited our alternative style. The tables are a tad close together (my butt caught a chair at the next table as I turned to sit), but once seated didn't feel that way. We chuckled at the style of glassware - wonderfully in keeping with the theme. All staff were impeccable - the care and attention to their welcome, presentation of selves and their wares (which was flawless) could teach a great many other places best practice. Everyone in my group enjoyed their choice of drink - iced latte and coffee cocktails - and the traditional afternoon tea. The scones were warm! Yes, I've jumped ahead, the scones were warm! So many times, at other places, I've been served a cold scone, which is always disappointing. The sandwiches had non-pretentious fillings, perfectly balanced and well-filled. The thick, spongy bread was very satisfying. Please note - two full-size (not finger sandwiches) of 3 varieties each - we loved this. We also had two slices of cake, a rich chocolate fudge cake and a citrus and courgette cake (this was my favourite) then a brownie and a blondie on the top tier, all festooned with fresh strawberries and raspberries. I need to go back to try layering the fresh fruit into a scone (and to have the whole experience again). If all of this appears too much for one sitting, that isn't a problem. Alchemista provide recycled paper boxes to take leftovers with you. Another example of care and attrntion here - the boxes aren't flimsy, unlike most other places, so nothing gets squashed in transit. We went shopping after our visit and our cakes made it home in perfect condition.

We came for afternoon tea today and it was delicious! Staff were super friendly and service was great. Will definitely be returning! Great value for money too.

Came in for afternoon tea today and it was fabulous. Food was delicious, service was fab, will definitely be going back!

The coffee tasted amazing, and liv the barista made the whole experience a delight. Would highly recommend visiting. .

Central location and cosy environment make this a perfect place to meet friends for a coffee in Norwich! Highly recommended.

Been here a few times since working in Norwich and coffee is great. The service needs to be more consistent though as I almost didn't return following a rubbish experience where a staff members attitude towards me and my son wasn't friendly, in fact I thought rude. I don't know her name but glasses and tattoos. Very loudly arguing with someone in shop, bad language and no please or thank you- not good!

We visited this café for coffee on a warm sunny morning. It has some outside seating on the other side of the walkway in the grounds of an old church, which is now an antiques centre. We really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere, the flat whites cost £6.80.

We came here for afternoon tea to celebrate my mums birthday. The food was lovely with plenty to take home with us for later too! Served with a smile. Would recommend and will be back!

Visited Alchemista for afternoon tea after seeing great reviews and wasn’t disappointed! Staff were very friendly. Food was delicious- there was so much we took the rest home for later. Looking forward to visiting again to try the coffee cocktails!

Took my mum here for afternoon tea for her birthday, having found it online and seen that the reviews were good. When we got there, we were seated upstairs by friendly staff, due to it being an old building, the floorboards were very uneven, which meant all of the tables were wobbly. We wedged something under the table so it was fine. When the afternoon tea was brought out, it looked beautiful. However, I would describe it as at the more basic end of afternoon teas, it had simple sandwich fillings only (like something you’d rustle up at home for the kids) and there weren’t any unusual cake items to add interest. The overall result was that it lacked flavour, compared to other similarly priced afternoon teas I have been to over the years, however, there wasn’t anything particularly wrong with it and it was a fair price for what we received. Would be a nice afternoon tea for taking children too. I will definitely pop in again just for coffee and the staff were lovely.

We are regular visitors to Alchemista and can’t recommend it enough. Not only is the coffee amazing but the staff are always so friendly and welcoming. We always take our dog in and the staff make a real fuss of him. We went in today and as always the lovely lady with the black hair and black glasses was so friendly, chatted to us and made a fuss of our dog. Would highly recommend.

I had seen good reviews so I popped in with my children on a weekend for a much needed coffee. There were two ladies working. One was okay and friendly enough but the other seemed moody and disinterested I tried to catch her eye to smile or make conversation but nothing. She had a black bob and glasses. Maybe she was just having a bad day. Not on par with other coffee shops I have been in where you get eye contact a smile and a warm welcome. I have to say I had a cappuccino and was disappointed after hearing such rave reviews. It wasn’t anything to write home about and I have had better elsewhere. The cake I had was nice but I wouldn’t go back.

Lovely selection, great value too. The coffee is so tasty and the service is always fantastic, definitely our new go to place

Lovely little place, great tasting coffee ☕️

I was disappointed if I'm honest. Was looking forward to some interesting coffee alchemy but actually the choices were quite limited and not much different to other places - unless you want an alcoholic cocktail in the middle of the afternoon. I chose something I thought I would like (I didn't). The server got our order wrong and the cups are tiny which was a blessing for me in the end. My blondie was dry, not very sweet, and had an aftertaste that I didn't appreciate. Overall, hubby drank my coffee, neither of us wanted the blondie so we left that, and I got a very nice coffee elsewhere!

Came here for a lunch break and iced coffee. Had the chicken tikka sandwich, of which they warmed up and was delicious!! Super buttery and rich, only critique was would have liked more chicken chunks in it!! Coffee wonderful as ALWAYS!!

Lovely staff great coffee highly recommended

My dog definitely enjoyed himself here! 10/10 he wants to drop by again :)

Best coffee I have ever tasted! Want to move to Norwich, so I can visit every day.

The coffee was high quality the sandwich tasted good. Sean provided lovely service. ........................... .... .. Just ignore the full stops I had to meet at 100 character minimum.

Gorgeous coffee, delicious cake and friendly service!

My favourite cafe in Norwich. Great job 👏

Took mum here for afternoon tea for mother's day. Welcoming service from the start, the food and drinks were excellent and we had a great time

Our daughter had bought us a voucher for afternoon for three. We arrived slightly late but there was no fuss and no drama. We had a pleasant greeting, handed the voucher over, no issues, and were taken straight to our reserved table. We were handed the menus, had the drinks policy explained and made small talk with our server for just the right amount of time. Plenty of choice with the drinks, with both my wife and son opting for the milkshake which they both loved. Vicki brought the food to us and had a little chat and then we were left to enjoy our tea. The bread for the sandwiches was really fresh, there was a good selection of fillings, together with plenty of cakes. We were informed early on that we could have boxed to take home whatever we didn’t consume there and then and we definitely needed those! All in all, a really fun (and filling) way to pass some time relaxing with my wife and youngest child.

A lovely place to sit by the window, sip amazing coffee and enjoy lunch.

Amazing food and coffee as always! Best coffee in Norwich!

Thought I'd try this coffee shop on the back of the reviews I've seen on here. I ordered a cortado, which came in a cold plastic skull. The cup was not particularly clean, and the milk was left over from the previously made drink, meaning the texture was all wrong. The service wasn't particularly friendly either. The espresso itself was obviously good quality, but the rest... not really for me, or for the purists. Maybe I caught them on an off day

Great little café, haven't had food but had some coffees and even some cocktails. Staff are really friendly, quaint place, small but cosy. Nice to pop in for a quick drink when in the city.

We found this place by accident and glad we did. A very relaxing atmosphere with very helpful staff and the coffee and cake was delicious. Keep up the good work guys.

My favourite coffee shop so far in Norwich. Reasonably priced drinks and a small but good range of food to go alongside your drink (including vegan options)

The cosy ambiance of the coffee shop paired with their remarkable hot chocolate creates a delightful experience. The rich, velvety texture of the hot chocolate is complemented by just the right balance of sweetness, making it a perfect treat for any chocolate enthusiast. It's a comforting indulgence that's not to be missed at this charming coffee spot.

Incredible coffee amazing cakes and wonderfully kind chatty staff 10/10. I couldn't praise them more if I tried.

Afternoon tea was incredible! Food was delicious! Allergies and all veggies/vegans catered for! Really pleased would highly recommend!

Had an amazing vegan afternoon tea here - great food great drinks, huge portion sizes and a lovely spot to watch the world go by. Highly recommended!

One of the best coffee shops in Norwich! Super cozy and welcoming atmosphere. There is also gluten free cake, if you are gluten free!

I love coming here the staff are so friendly and the service is excellent. I would highly recommend this establishment

You come here for the coffee. This shop has got a really high score, unfortunately the coffee is subpar for a local speciality coffee shop. Kofra or Strangers are a lot better. I believe this is due to the staff training. The coffee was bitter. This is acceptable at Costa maybe, but definitely not acceptable in a speciality coffee shop. What a shame, looks like a nice place.

Afternoon tea,what a pleasure. Excellent staff and a great atmosphere.

Great place to visit for Afternoon tea or coffee and a slice of cake. Highly recommend the chocolate brownies . Great service and options for vegans/vegetarians too. Definitely returning 😊

Amazing little coffee shop great atmosphere and amazing aesthetic i travel for over an hour just to go here no other coffee shop comes close to the craftsmanship that goes into there coffees

Excellent coffee spot, my go to for Norwich. Amazing, friendly staff, great atmosphere especially for those cold winter evenings. A must for the Norwich lanes.

Booked afternoon tea and they were happy to change the date when my friend couldn't make the original one. Very welcoming on a horrible cold rainy day. Warm and comfortable upstairs. Afternoon tea was ample, delicious and came with a choice of drinks. We chose hot chocolate which was the real deal. Very friendly and attentive staff, spotless loos, a mixed all age clientele, can't fault it.

Popped in had a lovely hot chocolate and watched the world go by nice and clean Sorry had to get a hot chocolate to go he he We will definitely be back

This place is a hidden gem. Staff are polite, professional and attentive. We stopped for drinks but will definitely be back and hope to try some food next time. Highly recommend.

Nice place to have a coffee and read a book for a bit, much more pleasant than typical coffee chains.

Simply delicious, great customer service, great atmosphere and an all round brilliant coffee shop. Cortado was so good with an awesome cup so to along with☕️☕️❤️

I love this coffee shop, my favourite coffee in Norwich!

Visiting Norwich from Colchester, I had looked at Trip Advisor for some suggestions of Independents to visit. Having made our way through a depressing high street offering very little, we stopped at The Alchemist. Superb and everything we love. Delicious coffee and tasty sausage rolls. Asking for local independent recommendations for supper later we were directed into The Lanes - had no idea Norwich had this to offer.

Coffee is chocolatey and very drinkable.

Had afternoon tea at Alchemista on Saturday absolutely fantastic. All fresh and very tasty , coffee was great especially the cocktail ones. Staff were friendly and helpful. Well worth a try 😋😊☕️🥪🍰

Amazing little coffee shop with some nice coffee mixtures as well through their special menu, staff are nice and cafes are lovely. Nice seating looking out into the square.

Nice coffee. Lovely place with innovative coffee cocktails (not tried).

Mocha was delicious, happened to come in on a day where the top floor was full with a party so I'd opt to sit downstairs next time! Will be visiting again to try the cocktails.

I visited this coffee shop recently, and I was impressed by both the friendly staff and the quality of the coffee. The staff were welcoming and attentive, making me feel right at home. The coffee itself is rich and flavorful and not smoky like other local shops. Highly recommended!

Had a really good afternoon tea at Alchemista to celebrate our 1st anniversary. Coffee was great and staff were friendly

A genuine atmosphere fantastic staff, great coffee and food. The small premises has charm, all the staff are professional, engaging and make you feel welcome and part of the family, as it were. You can get coffee a lot of places, but you won't get it made or presented with the same love as you would here. In a city spoiled for coffee, this is the best kept secret.

Popped in for quick coffee. And out of interest I asked the female barista what the differences were between certain types of coffee, ie macchiato/latte as I often get confused. She explained and I may not of understood fully. However as I walked out I heard her, loudly talking to her colleague slagging me off in a very negative way. Not nice. I made it known that I could hear everything she had said. Very rude and aggressive when I was trying to just get a better understanding.

Best coffee I've had in a long time. Love the ambience. Sitting in the front right window gives a bit of an optical illusion that there's two antique stores.

Lovely small Caffè, Would recommend to grab a mocha! Pastries also worth a try.

Wonderful experience, amazing coffee and staff are just brilliant!

Got to be the weirdest interaction I've had in a coffee shop. We have a little while to kill before our lunch reservation so we figure we'll try somewhere new for a coffee. I got an iced mocha and my partner got a hot chocolate, both of which were awesome, the coffee was good quality the chocolate was dark and rich and the hot chocolate was creamy and delicious. The vibe was... weird. So the place has an apothecary vibe, skulls, dark colours, dark wood etc and it works. Tell you what, I'll paint the picture. We sit downstairs, two art students chat loudly using every gen z platitude possible to describe a party or a friend they no longer like or something. The barista has an edge, she's not angry, just loud and swearing at her co-worker. "I'M HERE AND I'M WORKING AREN'T I?!" She yells before he says something in a hushed voice and they chuckle. The guy brings our drinks with a smile, the two art students, oblivious to the comedy, go on about how vegan food is super important. "HEEEEEY!" the staff shout as a woman in full bridal wear bursts through the door with a photographer and a guy with a full 'ironic' mustache. They arrange a shoot out the front of the store. I get jealous at this point and we start taking pictures of each other, the art students have moved on to super hip underground bands like The Cure now, they're an undiscovered gem apparently. We finish our drinks, I hand my cups over to the barista, she smiles and says thank you and we go on with our day. - I'm not making this up, it was mental and charming and I genuinely wonder if it's like that all the time. Give them a look, the cocktails look awesome, I can vouch for the coffee and the vibe is surreal.

Some of the best coffee in Norwich. Would reccomened the Opus Magnum to anyone.

lovely coffee and cake, highly recommended

Plesant staff interesting coffee

This place has the most incredible coffee cocktails that are prepared with style! Which brings a nice vibe that absolutely compliments Norwich perfectly. One of my favorite places for a pick-me-up drink.

A little on the expensive side but located in a nice area with a good outlook. They toasted my roll, which was a nice touch. Live music was playing opposite.

Very trendy coffee shop, loved the atmosphere, styling, and the coffee tasted 👌🏻

Fantastic coffee, friendly service, and very tasty treats.

Stopped here for coffee with a friend whilst visiting Norwich for the day. Enjoyed a lovely coffee, with great atmosphere. Would recommend!

Nice little cafe to sit and have a good coffee and cake. I had carrot cake which was very good, moist and homemade. The other cakes looked delicious also. Nice comfortable place to sit with friends or study.

Alchemista is by far (in my opinion) the best coffee shop in Norwich. A fantastic smooth coffee brew without being super smoky like the rest and a great options for food. All that and with some of the friendliest staff you could meet with a great view of the lanes.

Went here for my first date with my girlfriend. We went back today, one year later, for our first anniversary. We had afternoon tea, it was delicious!

Nice tasting coffee and plenty of seating upstairs or downstairs

Great space to work upstairs, was very quiet when I went and the coffee was excellent!

We enjoyed a traditional afternoon tea for two. It was a really enjoyable experience, we ended up taking some home in containers as we were full! Great choice from their drinks menu for the included drinks, enjoyed a refreshing peach iced tea and an iced caramel latte, which I enjoyed more than the usual pot of tea at other afternoon teas. Staff were super friendly, quick to get drinks, serve food and check in. Food was fresh and high quality. We enjoyed this far more than other more traditional afternoon teas we've had in Norwich is it was more relaxed, with more drink options and good service. Made an excellent present and would highly recommend.

Quick service with lovely laidback staff

Love the coffee in this place, cool place with friendly staff

One of my favourite places in Norwich. A sense of place, great coffee, and it is dog friendly. All the staff are great, particularly Sandra.

If you like sitting, quivering in sweaty brain melt, then why not grab a cup of coffee flavoured caffeine and bounce off the walls like a malfunctioning android. I have only just recovered from a latte experience where wholesome, soulful live music opposite, juxtaposed my shredded shaking Stevens weave of caffeinated despair. I could handle only two songs, one about Bees and one about something else lovely before my messed up legs unfolded to lead me on to more frustratingly empty experiences, because I require more than just this. Byeboon. Amendment. I do go there a fair bit to be honest and get properly coffee cracked off my Barnet. I had a green cake the other day. They got loads of stuff there.

One the best places to visit ,very clean,high quality drinks etc ,highly recommended

We always love this place. Get what we expect - some nice signature coffee drinks. Friendly staff, too.

Coffee very bitter and sour, upset my stomach the rest of the day.

By far the best place for coffee and cake in Norwich! A hidden gem! Coffee is amazing, cakes or freshly made panini’s and sausage rolls too. Staff are great and always welcoming! Love this place!! Sandra is pretty cool too!

Great little coffee shop with lovely cake. Also, the staff are very knowledgeable about their coffee. Apparently 1500m is optimal for coffee plantations and changing climates are shifting the places that can grow the coffee beans.

Had an absolutely lush oat milk mocha with hazelnut syrup, my partner had his usual caramel latte and also enjoyed :) one of our favourite Norwich cafes to visit.

One of my favourite places now at Norwich City Centre to pop in for a take away coffee or with a friend . Great community vibe and there is no place like Alchemista for a good laugh. Staff are always friendly and welcoming. Great coffee and cakes .

Attended in the evening for Doxi cocktails. Beautiful venue, perfect for both coffee during the day and cocktails in the evening. Great selection of cocktails, classic and their own monthly cocktails. Great service and drinks deals which is always a bonus!

Unique coffees but not really worth it, the standard drinks are better. Also it's not relaxing whatsoever, but maybe this is the vibe it wants

I’ve tried loads of great coffee places in Norwich and this is still my #1, their toasted sandwiches are really good especially the pesto mozzarella one. Coffee is great too. Lovely service, good music and good atmosphere

I ordered a Magnum Opus which was divine. Inside is quite cramped but the outdoor seating by the church was perfection. Staff were friendly and polite despite it being really busy.

Quirky coffee place with fantastic view and unusual speciality coffees served in skull designed cups! Really enjoyed it

Awesome yet chilled out café tucked away in pottergate. As a former barista you notice all the little details in service and the coffee; this place checks all the boxes. Cool aesthetic/decoration, friendly and chatty staff, amazing quality of food and drink for the price you pay and all around great atmosphere. Perfect if you’re looking for somewhere to sit down, chill out and relax, coffee in hand. Definitely coming back more often.

Really great coffee. Often quite busy.

My partner and I like trying different cafes around Norwich. The Alchemista has been one of our favourites. I always have the flat white, which is really good, and my partner has the English Breakfast tea, which he likes. There is always nice music playing in the background too - mostly 80s it seems. A great place for a chilling with a nice cup of coffee or tea.

Dropped in for a coffee. It was pretty darn good. Will be dropping back for cocktails.

Great place!!! Asset to Norwich!

Alchemista is a genuine pleasure, the coffee is carefully selected and made, and the atmosphere is delightful. Its always a joy to visit.

Really friendly staff, the coffee is good and the brie and cranberry toasted was delicious.

Very accommodating and friendly staff. Had a wonderful afternoon tea to celebrate a special birthday. Thank you