Coffee#1 Dorchester in West Dorset

This place is filthy. The trays, mugs, spoons, tea pots, cups and saucers are all noticeably dirty. The chairs and tables are all food stained and there is no cleaning of tables between customers. Did not see anyone cleaning anything during our visit. The cakes were nice and the service was ok.

If you want to go to a coffee shop that gets beautiful coffee beans, then burns the beans, from someone who owned a coffee shop, this is just so wrong, making coffee is a art, and they seem to rush it and not care at all, also I was told by the staff when I asked which of there bean is stronger, that the beans are the same strength, well that can't be true, it's not the same type of bean, but magic, same strength, so if you want coffee made and served by uneducated people that don't actually care, come to coffee 1, oh and Caffè nero is no go either,

Great place to study, get work done. Lovely coffee and drinks, great cakes and sweet food. Nice and clean. Staff were kind too. Line was quite long.

Dog friendly coffee shop, good choice of cakes for the sweet toothed amongst us. Comfortable chairs.

It was the second time we visited this place. Our first visit was excellent about 6 months ago, but the place's quality has decreased significantly since. We ordered two cakes and received one fork for it, also, a dirty plate. You would find mouldy crumbs all over the floor and the staff was unfriendly and unhelpful apart from one person. The tables were not clean at all but they had enough staff to pay attention to cleanliness. After and within the times of Covid and several other diseases, it's really important to properly clean places like a cafe... The toilet was also below the state of okay... I hope the place will go back to its standard quality!

An unpleasant experience. The cups were disgusting. Inside and.out. you could see the lip marks where people had drunk from.the cup. Asked.for another cup but still lip marks on it. Put me off drinking my tea. Sticky tables. Staff swatting wasps with bats. Expensive for what we had - sandwiches tea and coffee. Wont be going again as Dorchester has plenty of other eating establishments.

Coffee 1 Dorchester is a real asset to the town, from people working on their laptops to coffee dates with new mums, we are spoilt with the large space we have to socialise and relax with a great tasting coffee. Emily, the manager is the brilliant. You can tell the shop has gone through a period of stsff leaving and employing new staff, like every other shop in town, that’s a real challenge, however you can still see they are being managed well in the situation they are in. Top coffee, top cakes and pastries, top management.

So sad that this will no longer be my coffee choice when I go to Dorchester. I felt sorry for the staff as they clearly hated being there. It was not busy but was in a terrible mess. The tables with cups on, the floor disgusting. I asked for a cloth and sorted out my own table. The window ledge behind me was full of dead flies and wasps. It felt like a place in severe decline.

I have never been more desperate for a slice of cake than this evening (after the tills were closed), Mark (I think his name was) the manager has been such a kind soul and allowed me to take a piece of the devine bistoff cheesecake and pay tomorrow (I live across the road). This kind of trust is so lacking in people, I'm more than greatful :) His kindness in recognition of when I woman is in NEED of cake (only girls will get this) is what will bring me back and recommend coffee1 to all on my travels- and I travel allot. Thank you darling, the cake was sensational ❤️

i went in and ordered the young man there was very distracted, i then double checked if they had something and they didn’t have what i wanted so i said don’t worry about it. he continued to add it to my order and then charged me for it despite not asking for it in the first place drink was made exceptionally well by the girl working the coffee machine and was absolutely delicious

Called in for a hot drink while out walking on Boxing Day. The table we sat at was dirty and had clearly not been cleaned that morning. Looking around the place, the walls are grubby with ledges thick with dust. With the sun shining through the large exterior windows on the front of the building, you can see they are filthy and clearly not be cleaned in months. The spoon I was given with my coffee was dirty and unusable. Very unhygienic setting and I would not recommend or visit again. I will stick to independents where the owners take a pride in the upkeep of their business.

stopped by earlier with my husband after walking through the high-street only had a piece of cake the salted caramel one and it was delicious, would recommend going here for cake

Lovely inside but close to closing ( half an hour ) they opened the doors and it was freezing. The waitress came and took my drink before I had finished and asked me if that was OK after she picked it up ! I understand that you want to go home but I wanted some where warm to sit before my train so this was ever so slightly out of order ....

We needed a stop en route to the South West. Good coffee, choice of pastries and cakes. Calm atmosphere, plenty of seating, and friendly staff.

Recommended by a work colleague because of good online reviews, the coffee, service and trendy environment for a business chat over coffee. My honest opinion - it was not busy with plenty of staff and tables were left used with dirty cups, crockery and uneaten food. On ordered - the girl did not smile or have any commonly used Service greeting like good morning how can I help you today or similar. I wanted something savoury like a toastie and was prompted to go to the other end of the counter to look ... when I'm sure she could have reeled off a few common toasties to assist the customer. . The table I preferred had been used and was large enough for my work Colleague and I to use for our Lap tops. I politely asked a member of staff if she would Mind clearing and cleaning our table which she cleared promptly. However, After 5 minutes i had to approach the counter to ask Someone to then Clean the table. It was met with a frosty dismissive response . The noise level was high

Smiley, cheerful staff. Such a pleasure to see. Good coffee, lots of seating in the shade. The fridge looked great with lots of fresh cake.

Lovely coffee shop. Plenty of seating. Inside and out. Good selection of cakes and sandwiches. Toilets. Accessible. Choice of blends of coffee. Nice touch fresh still water free.

Great coffee, tasty panini’s, super service and dog-friendly too ! I stupidly left my wallet on the table but it was very kindly posted back to me by special delivery the next day. That was above and beyond and very much appreciated - thank you...

By far the best coffee house in the area. Great coffee and relaxed seating. Intelligent staff and friendly

Very noisy as the place has high ceilings and the noise of clashing crockery and equipment beeping dominates. We had chai lattes which were watery and not very nice. Lemon drizzle cake was just so-so. Toilets are unisex and stank of urine.

Went in this morning and had a lovely coffee will be going in again, feels safe and staff are very polite

Walking into Dorchester and we stopped and had a lovely cuppa sat outside at the tables in the fresh air. Quick efficient service. Hubby enjoyed his coffee and I loved the strong flavoured tea made with fresh loose tea and in a pot, got about...

Stopped in Dorchester on way to Weymouth having never been. We asked a lady in a car park where to have coffee and she suggested here. A very nice spacious place with tables well spaced. Clear signs for queuing. Looks like if you are local...

Called here for a coffee while waiting for my car to be serviced. There was a queue forming outside because the area for queuing wasn’t properly utilised. This meant that customers leaving or taking their drink outside we’re getting close to those in the queue....

Good location with ample parking a short walk away. Really nice coffee and good walnut cake. That’s what I went in for on a miserable rainy day and it delivered! Small downside is not many loos which they are being achingly hip by describing as...

I ordered and paid for my snack and drink. I was then asked to fill out a track and trace slip. I refused as the post box on the counter was overflowing, I demonstrated that I could obtain personal information and asked to see their...

Tried a caramel machiatto, and the guest Columbian blend... Both well made by friendly people. It's nice to be made a coffee by someone who cares.

Stopped for a break in the hot weather. Popular coffee house on a shady corner. Members of staff sanitising chairs and tables once they were empty. Courteous staff, service quick. Would recommend the Pina Colada smoothie so refreshing and the caramel Frappe is also very...

Stayed here at the beginning of february for an important business trip and interview for a job. i was very happy with how clean the accomodation was and how friendly the staff were plus the food and drinks were delicious throughout my stay. I did...

frequently meet here for coffee with friends. coffee is excellent. staff are always smiling which makes a great atmosphere. well done to them all. visit at least once a week and have done since they opened. the decor is great.

The staff are the best at what they do. The coffees, atmosphere and people are lovely. See you all very soon!

Constant bickering and shouting from staff who seem more interested carrying on their loud conversations than serving customers; they don’t even stop their conversations to serve customers, they carry on as if you’re not even there!

Ordered food, left in heating device so ruined. "Sorry, that was the last one, I just forgot" My companion had taken insulin as a type 1 diabetic! So laissez-faire in their attitude. Only a handful of customers so not at all busy. Refu

Called in here late afternoon for tea & cake. We really struggled to make a decision as there was such a great choice. We settled on a sort of chocolate mousse topped with a profiterole and it was truly amazing. The staff were welcoming and friendly and the place was busy with a very relaxing vibe.

Called in here a few days ago and unlike the previous reviewer I found it to be a bit of a tight squeeze getting between the tables. Lots of room to get past the counter and I was on the lower floor so there may well be more room on the upper one. Cappuccino was one of the dearest I've had though it was one of the best. Staff all seemed pleasant and polite. I will be back.

Excellent cafe , no steps , & so buggy and wheelchair friendly Lots of space between tables Great coffee , & good food Helpful and friendly staff .

No free wifi... really? I mean c'mon, it's nearly 2020 for God's sake! Apart from that coffee tasted like coffee so at least they got that right

I have been meaning to write about size! We always enjoy a visit to Coffee #1 - the coffee is delicious and service is friendly and efficient. On the occasions we order a slice of cake (Victoria Sponge) the disappointment is on its very small size ... the price oversized.

The staff here are so Noisy, banging the plates around, a nice coffee ruined couldn't stay with that noise.

I see now, all the lovely staff from Weymouth have been relocated here !

Enjoy the coffee very much but just lately the service and the look of the cafe is underwhelming. Often dirty tables and there has been a lot of occassions that we were given chipped mugs and teapots. Not very nice. Also the young staff need training not only in customer service but in making decent toast. It is supposed to be hot and brown not warm and pale. Has made us think twice about going in so often. Which is a shame as it's nice to people watch on the corner with a nice drink.

Good interior and atmosphere. Not good iced coffees at a very high price. Also the courtesy of service needs to improve. Overall, unpleasant experience considering the price. Not recommended.

We sought out this place as it came out top for coffee shops in Dorchester. Although potentially it showed promise with it's artisan interior and relaxed atmosphere we found the coffee only average, the pea and Quinoa soup was only luke warm and served with a slice of brown bread which could have been better. The WC's were also below standard with a broken flush and the used paper all over the floor - these need to be checked more regularly

Stopped in for a drink after work, the service was cheerful and fast and the coffee was great too! Highly recommend!

What is it with coffee 1 in Dorchester,every time I come in the place not only do they think I’m invisible when I get to the counter to order but I have to clear a table to find somewhere to sit,this place truly is going to the dumps.My advice have a cup of tea at home at least your find somewhere to sit and your cup will be clean as well.Staff obviously need retraining on how to clear tables and be polite.

Popped in yesterday as I fancied a coffee and something to eat. Large latte and white toast with marmalade ordered. Staff were lovely and helpful. Latte perfect and just what I needed however i am disgusted that you only received one slice of bread toasted! £4.95 for a latte and 1 slice of toast what a rip off. I won’t be returning which is sad because the place is lovely, spacious and kept clean. Come on Coffee#1 stop ripping off your customers and give them 2 slices of toast

Alway a wonderful experience in here. Great staff, service and atmosphere. Love it when the windows are open and a cool breeze comes in. 😊

We really enjoyed a light breakfast here - coffee toast and croissants. Lucky to have some sun and some seating outside on the pavement.

Decided to meet a friend here in Dorchester on a Saturday morning. Although it was fairly busy there was plenty of sears available. Staff were very pleasant, polite and helpful.

We called in for a coffee and a bite to eat on Friday. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere in there and service at the counter was quick and efficient. I had a tuna and cheese panini to eat and a white chocolate mocha to drink and both were delicious. The panini was on offer so my bill was very reasonable and very good value for money. An enjoyable visit.

This was our first stop having just arrived at Dorchester, had a large skinny latte, very relaxed cafe, large and had a number of different areas to sit in, there appeared to be an area for younger families, where you could read.

I sometimes pop into this coffee shop if I'm a bit early for work. Lovely relaxed atmosphere. I know they allow well behaved dogs as well.

We have had coffee #1 before and no you can get a good coffee and toasted tea cake.. service good ..

I’m a teenager, and so I went to Coffe #1 after school with my friends after PE, so I was already very hot and bothered. I asked for a Large Freak Frappe that was Take Away and in return got a small, drink in milkshake with no syrup, cream or donuts. I suffer from severe social anxiety and can’t complain to the creator, so my friend did for me and he just rolled his eyes an only added the cream. Apparently he was a trainee but even still that’s no excuse for horrible service and completely messing up and wasting my £5.

Coffee#1 is my favourite coffee house in Dorchester and it has recently been extended which is fantastic. Even with the bigger space, the service has not been affected at all and the staff are as friendly and as helpful as ever. Amazing team!

Don't see the reason to charge in excess of £2.00 for a coffee.

We enjoyed a lovely cup of tea and cake after a long day out shopping. We found a nice seating area near the window

Visited this place many times but the staff there are a bit miserable,one female in particular, cheer up...

Visit here every Sunday and throughout the week when possible. Brilliant place, great staff and coffee and food excellent. We even come to dorchester for coffee if for no other reason. Weymouth and Yeovil are good too but avoid Poole as the staff are useless!!

Great if not amazing coffee, lovely food, the service is fantastic and the staff certainly understand good customer service. A relaxing place to stop for a coffee and snack.

We arranged to meet a friend for coffee here on what turned out to be a very wet morning.

from what the other reviewers have said perhaps we had some of the staff on an off day ! We ended up here as all the other coffee shops were closed apart from Costa' . One of the staff members was putting things away outside and when I asked if they were closing he said soon , it was 5.20 pm ! My husband had an americano coffee which was very weak . I had a pot of tea which was ok but it would have been better if it had more water in it . The decor was very dull , the concept was good but so much grey colour , it needed some pictures and tlc . It felt very unwelcoming. I didn't use the toilets as they were occupied.

This busy cafe is well staffed and gets the coffee served quickly and hot. Lots of options including decaf and soya. Cakes and pastries look of qood quality and lots of choices.

As strangers to Dorchester, we found that the majority of the town had shut by 5:30 apart from Costa's (urrghhh!), so it was a pleasant surprise to find this Cafe open until 6:00pm.

Love it here. The coffee is always good and hot. Staff are very helpful, especially if my Mum goes in on her own she has a walking stick and they always bring her food etcetera to the table for her. Love the lentil dahl and pitta, yummy cakes also. Nothing is too much effort for them.

I hope that the staff toilets are cleaner!

This is a great place to sit and chill out with a great cup of coffee. The staff are always friendly and the coffee is always great.

Coffee 1 is on a corner with windows that open to allow the breeze to blow across which on a hot day is perfect. A perfectly made hot coffee and a rocky road were just what I needed while I read the paper. England’s 6:1 win and a great coffee what a perfect start to any day.

We came to this place for coffee on three of the four mornings during our stay in Dorchester, it was so good. Coffee very nice and good value, the place having a pleasant and open atmosphere with wide open windows and doors on the first visit when the weather was particularly hot and sunny.

An ice cold pina colada smoothie was just what I needed today! They have a fantastic range of cold drinks here, starting to become one of my favourite stop overs 👌🏼

Excellent service, lovely coffee & cake, always clean and excellent facilities. Highly recommend 👍🏻

Always great service and the staff are welcoming and chatty. My latte was fantastic as always. The staff are lovely and always helpful and polite.

What's going on with Coffee1 in Dorchester,the most filthy cafe in Dorchester,every time you go in you have to clear your own table,when you do get your drink the cups our dirty,the little milk jugs are covered in dried on milk,most of the cakes are dried out when you get them. I went to use the toilets the other day,I thought I was entering a swimming pool.Once again a Coffee shop chain that's more interested in profit than customer service.

Called in for a pot of tea and a pastry which were quite satisfactory BUT there was little attempt to clear vacant tables of used items during my visit. A tray of used cups and plates stayed near me untouched during our entire visit. New customers were also moving similar trays in order to sit down. On closer inspection of cups and saucers served with our tea I found a most unwelcome residue - clearly something lacking in the dishwasher. Not happy with that at all. Management needs to open their eyes and look again from the customer point of view.

Always nice coffee and friendly service. Great place to wind down with a large mocha. Nice stop off if ever in town

I have had coffee and cake/pastries in this cafe several times and also in the sister cafe in Weymouth. I think this one in Dorchester is far better - it's bigger and has a wider selection of food items. The coffee is nice and strong and served hot not like in some well known chains. My daughter loves the freshly made smoothies. The cheesecake is amazing as are the Pastéis de Nata which I adore and you don't see many places. It does get busy though and there is often a queue nearly to the door as it's popular. I have only had one negative experience when I bought an almond croissant to take away and it wasn't until I was in the car and tasted it that I realised the filling had gone off.....too late to return it but otherwise no problems at all.

The cafe is in a lovely position in Dorchester, the food was lovely and hot and the staff were very friendly and served us with a smile!!!

Came down for lunch at Coffee#1 today, there was a queue to the door but it was definitely worth the wait! :) was greeted by a new face at the till who was very friendly and welcoming. The other girls on shift were smiling and chatty as always. I had a mocha and a teacake which took no time at all! Love this place!

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite places to go. Excellent service, friendly staff and a good choice of food and amazing coffee. I highly recommend it.

Lovely tasting coffee, also good range of cakes & pastries & savouries. Like the various sizes of cups on offer

The cafe is in a prime corner position in the County town. The cafes name implies it is top rated. In my opinion this is far from the case.

Great coddee and a wonderful selection of pastries and cakes. Particularly the Portuguese 'Pastl de Nata'.

Just recently, I had my first experience in Coffee#1 and from this, I know i will be returning very soon. I only anticipated coming in for a quick cuppa but I couldn’t resist their delicious ciabattas and cake, of which I’d highly recommend the carrot cake. The staff was very friendly and I was approached with a warm smile by the girl taking my order, and another girl who handed me my food and drink was very chatty. This place has such a lovely feel and atmosphere to it, and this made me feel very welcome. Cannot fault this place - impressed in an understatement

we often go here after our Buggyfit class. We love the coffee and has a good choice of food. Plenty of space for buggies and the babies are very welcome. breastfeeding friendly too.

Went to coffee #1 in Dorchester today to find customer service was below basic standards. The guy who served me was nice and the lady who made the drinks was friendly but one staff member let the whole team down, when I asked if our table could be cleared and he asked a girl behind the till who was chatting called "crystal" to clean it she rolled her eyes and gave nothing but a bad attitude. We witnessed many staff members chatting behind the counter and saw customers clearing their own tables before they sat down which I feel is unacceptable. We also witnessed a frail elderly lady with a rollator leaving with no consideration from any staff members to open the door to help her as they were too busy chatting.

What a fab place ! Popped in one evening for a quick cuppa on my way home and ended up with a tasty bowl of salad. Took my little granddaughter in for breakfast one morning and the staff were amazing with her and brought her crayons and pictures to colour. Nothing is too much trouble for these guys. I would recommend it to anyone

I was served by a lovely young lady who was extremely efficient..... and the latte was FABULOUS!!! Perfect coffee would highly recommend!

I was so impressed with all aspects of this coffee shop. The staff we're all so friendly and willing to help as was the coffee delicious. The staff knew what was in the food and helped me decide on a gluten free option that was delicious. I would say its hard to fault this shop as were even colouring activities for my 3 young children to do. A perfect place to stop for a rest after exploring the town of Dorchester. 100% would recommend :)

Waiting to be served while the young girl at the till stares into space was not a good start, I thought you were supposed to have people skills in this industry? Or at least an ounce of customer service. The manager spoke to us with ignorance and the service was shocking as ever, small but tasty drinks. But at least we had a pick of either a table full of dirty plates and coffee cups or a table full of dirty plates and coffee cups in the coffee shop with never a clear table.

After a long morning trailing around after my wife who was indulging in some serious retail therapy, catching sight of a branch of Coffee #1 was something of a life saver.

This was our second visit to this Coffee shop having been disappointed the first time. We thought we would give this place a second chance having been to Coffee#1 in Poole recently, and having found it so good. Unfortunately the Dorchester branch is nowhere near as good. Primarily the atmosphere lets it down with overcrowding. We have been to Weymouth and Yeovil shops among others in this chain which are so much better. Won't be back.

Popped in whilst on holiday in the area. Nice coffee and daughter loved the tea. Decently priced buns too. Friendly and helpful staff.

good , local, typical Coffee House, with a good range of Tea's and Coffee's as well as a fine range of Pastrie's

Visited with three female friends for afternoon tea and cakes. Loved the fact you got pots made with loose tea leaves placed in a special strainer inside the top of the pot. We had a range of cakes and they were all very tasty!

Called in as a large group of 6. Had various drinks, coffees, juices, smoothies. All freshly prepared and tasty. Staff friendly and helpful. Nice chilled environment too.

Called here one Sunday lunchtime. Apart from a few items being out of stock, the staff were helpful and the food of decent quality. A good location for people watching. Overall, not bad.

A quick stop for coffee in this spacious coffee house, resulted in quick decaf and supersize tea cake. Perfect outcome. (Free wifi of course)

Always delivers great coffee. Love the Welshcakes! Now has Wi-Fi which is great for a change of scene when you work from home. Staff always friendly and happy to help. Quirky and spacious.

A very pleasant coffee house with a good range of coffees and tea. Very nicely set out so that even when busy it doesn't feel too full. There is seating in the street for fine weather.

We make a point of having coffee (and snacks) at this place. Great atmosphere and service (reminds me of a typical USA coffee place. Relaxed and non fussy, inside or outside, or half way with wide open windows when the weather allows.