Finca Poundbury in West Dorset

Shocking. Slow poor customer service. Stood in queue for 20 mins. People left before me saying how bad it was. Staff didn’t speak. I left as well - useless - don’t bother.

I was looking for a take away coffee as I was on the time limit. After queuing for 15 minutes I just gave up. There were only 2 people servicing/ making coffee with 6-8 people in the queue. The young lad was on a go slow and just abandoned the till to take orders into the garden and clear tables! Some serious training needed here.

Loved it here! Incredible coffee and pastries. Perhaps a little more cosiness in this vast area would be nice but it’s lovely as is as well

They appear totally disorganised the lady that services at the till collects the cakes and bakery items after they have paid. This slows down the line waiting to order. This lady also delivers the coffee when it’s been made. There was a lady making the coffee she made sure each cup had the precise art on top of the cup and then there two other staff at the back doing not much. I went in Friday lunchtime there was no atmosphere in there it was like gods waiting room, silent no music and quite a few pensioners. I wanted a cake and espresso but spent ages in the queue. I like finca coffee I normally go to Weymouth where it doesn’t take 15 minutes to serve 1 customer.

Ordered a lemon cake as a takeaway, to enjoy with a cup of tea at home. First bite very sweet, no hint of lemon. Continued, hoping for less sugar, more lemon but was not to be. I love sweet things normally but couldn't eat it and let my partner finish it (he'll eat anything!). Bit sad as it was pricey but it was meant to be my treat to myself after a tiring day. So cannot recommend the cakes and don't thing I would spend my money in this chain of coffee shop again : (

Finca, as per usual, know how to satisfy the senses when it comes to a good quality rich coffee. Their blend tastes amazing, easily distinguishable from any other coffee shop I have personally been to. The staff are friendly and respectful, and the place is always very clean. Also what a unique venue to open a coffee shop! Would most definitely recommend, very happy indeed :)

I needed to find out the ingredients in the almond croissant after I consumed it at home as I was reacting - I’d assumed a croissant was made w butter, but needed to check that there was no eg margarine/vegan block/emulsifiers etc, ingredients which I am hyper-sensitised to after having had Covid, BUT the number listed for both Dorchester branches just give the unobtainable signal, no matter how many permutations/ways I try - ? My sensitivities are not life-threatening, fortunately , but they produce unsettling and worrying symptoms and I need to be able to find out ingredients in case of any future problems, so a working phone number seems essential, surely?

The tiniest coffee I've ever seen. £3.20 for an iced latte and I actually couldn't believe how small it was. Was really looking forward to a cool drink on a hot day but it was gone in three sips. I had to laugh it was so unbelievable...the straw was double the size of the cup 😂

Great coffee and pastry super convenient and great atmosphere

The food is all sugary. The décor is very basic indeed. The chairs are agreeably hard but you can look for a cushion. Some coffees are served in glasses, but you may ask for a cup. The music is for choice. Finca is usually warm. You pay in advance by card only. The coffee is excellent. Tea is also available. There is a little service à table and they like a tip. The coffee is very good value for money and taste of which they are justly proud. Spend? Half of what you would pay anywhere else.

Not the best experience. Sat outside but not advised that if we sat outside we would have paper plates and cups, apparently due to health and safety as there was very fine gravel and china cups may get dropped and broken (no concern about the bench my friend was sitting on being close to a drop off the edge of the platform). The tables outside were dirty and drink stained, the bin was overflowing. Paper cups and plates were blowing around in the breeze. For Poundbury I expected a better experience with staff being aware of what they are presenting to the paying public. Underwhelmed from Poole The Foccaccia was delicious though!

Brilliant place to have a coffee and a pastry and watch the square

Basic seating but the coffee is the best. Food also very good.

Go for this place and Finding joy in the simplest pleasure's. Food and good company, I loved it ❤️

A wide range of cakes and pastries were on offer and with the multitude of drinks available, there was something for everyone. Almond slice cake and Portuguese Tart proved to be a wise choice. The loo could have benefitted from a refresh; but the staff were hospitable.

The cakes and pastries are a work of art. Great coffee and cool building. It's our favourite stop off when travelling to/from Dorset!

Lovely coffee unusual set up.Different.Poundbury is a grower.

Just went in to purchase coffee beans. Really looking forward to making a cup.

Coffee was very nice but cups too small. Atmosphere disappointing. Toilet was a disgrace because all the edges of the floor really dirty. Refurbishment of the toilet room urgently needed. Why don’t employees complain. It is their toilet too. My Chelsea bun was fresh and just what I needed. Finca please do something.

Been going here for a few years. Hands down the best coffee I’ve tasted! So flavoursome and always perfect. Struggle to buy coffee anywhere else as it doesn’t match the quality of Finca coffee. Excellent work Finca! The only place I’ve been where the coffee is truly consistent.

Lovely coffee and a nice selection of treats. I tried the ginger crunch which I enjoyed very much.

Great food both in quantity, price and size. A fair price and welcomed very damp cyclists.

Couldn't warm my croissant or pan o Chocolat as they didn't want to turn their oven on! No high chairs for the twins. Sat one on my lap and accidentally knocked my latte over, didn't drink any of it and waitress didn't offer me a replacement. Not going there again

Amazing coffee and Tiffin is fantastic. Ideally could fo with more seating and some softer seats but can't complain. Lovely place.

Been here a couple of time, the coffee is good with a couple of different beans to choose from. The cake though...! These are lovely. I'm not really a cake person but they are good. You can also pick up bags of coffee to brew at home. All in all, worth the visit.!

Dreadful place. Freezing cold, toilet disgraceful for an expensive cafe. Far bread places in Poundbury. They charge extra for different milks

The best place around for a good cup of coffee with easy access and a great selection of baked goods.

Good coffee, cakes and service...but soo cold

Nice coffee, absolutely disgusting toilets

Waited ages to be served. Not that that's an issue. There was no acknowledgement from the girls behind the counter. I understand they were busy but just a smile even would have been nice.

Obviously too hip to clean the tables. The pastries are flaky, apparently.

Stood for 20 minutes waiting to be served. No one was in front of us. We weren't acknowledged at all and I don't think they even notice we walked out. The batista was making one coffee at a time and the guy was waiting for her to finish then he took that one coffee to a table, then came back and took one plate. It was painfully slow to watch. In-between taking these items to other customers he cleared a table and did the washing up all while we were just standing there. After this, he just stood and watched her finish making a coffee before taking it. Each time he had to walk passed us. We just wanted some cake to take away. Pretentious and rude.

The service here is very poor and we left before we were served. Zero acknowledgement of customers stood in the queue for over 10 minutes. 3 members of staff on, one sat on his phone, one making coffee at a snails pace and the other serving. The server would only deal with one customer at a time and then even started to wash up whilst wanting for three coffee to be made. Left after 10 minutes. If you want good customer service, this place is not for you.

Sorry only had a coffee.Lovely place with seating outside ,and parking available on the street.

I bought a bag of coffee for home, and it is incredibly delicious! Highly recommend.

After avoiding Finka for many months post Covid I was pleasantly surprised today when I asked your cafe in Poundbury if you have re started serving your superb coffee in china cups and was told you have. I do not like drinking coffee from disposable containers. I understand the only proviso is that the coffee is for drinking inside the cafe, no worries as today there was plenty of space. Can I suggest you set up a place where crockery can be returned by customers, a small price to pay for having coffee from a proper cup. Well done I will certainly be back for more.

All 3 in Dorchester are first rate and have great coffee, plus gluten free cake!

We only had coffee and cake but it was delicious. Staff were friendly and attentive. Our mocha coffee was not as hot as we like it so when I mentioned it our cups were whisked away and returned freshly made. My slice of carrot cake was very good indeed.

This feels like a good idea that was abandoned. The coffee is fine but small, and the space feels unused (it feels like drinking a tiny coffee at the bottom of a grain silo). I can’t figure out what they’re trying to do here, to be honest. Small mocha in a glass, like one of those small water glasses you get, for over £3. No lunch food at 12:30 on a Friday. Indifferent staff. What feels like an unfinished space. The loo is a loo/cleaning cupboard in one. It feels like someone had a good idea and ran out of either steam or willing, or both. There is plenty of notice about how they roast AND have cafes but to be honest that’s not enough to sustain this. Is the coffee hood? It’s ok, nothing memorable. Perfectly acceptable coffee, no question. Is the space well used? No— there could be a whole mezzanine level in the space there is. There’s loads of space outside but when there’s an amber alert for lightening I’d rather be indoors. Sounds echo because there’s no soft furnishing— which you don’t need to have of course, it’s just a note. I don’t think I’ve ever had such an indifferent experience. I was prepared to sit for a bit with some lunch, a coffee and a book. The coffee was gone in 3 mouthfuls (tiny, remember), it was noisy because it’s an echo chamber, and all there was that was savoury was a croissant (no offer of condiments). I felt like no one cared if I was there or not, if I ate or not, if I had coffee or not. Just a really lacking experience. Knock Costa all you like but they have people that want to see you and decent sizes. Oh, and lunch. They have that too.

Was in Poundbury to get some things to send overseas and thought I’d pop into Finca. Having had a great reception at the place I’d just been, I anticipated a similar kind of service. Monosyllabic answers, very little food choice (I came for lunch, the only savoury thing there was a plain croissant) and miniscule servings. The mocha I ordered for over £3 came in a small glass. A hot drink. A small glass. The space could be much better used, they could put a mezzanine in, for example (I swear it’s higher than it is wide, it’s like sipping from a tiny cup inside a grain silo). The whole event seemed like it was half an effort. Yes, there’s plenty of seating outdoors, but when there’s an amber alert for thunder I’d rather be inside. The coffee was nice enough, but no amount of bragging about how you roast AND have cafes can make up for lack of interest in what you’re selling, and that’s truly the kind of feeling you get here, utter indifference.

Very disappointing. Coffee and tea were served in paper cups, I had to ask, and wait, for sugar to be supplied. The coffee was lukewarm. Staff were very unfriendly and unsmiling.

Tiny coffees for £3, same menu and food all year round, extremely slow service. If there's 2 people in the queue in front of you you're there 30 mins minimum

Friendly, helpful staff, clean cafe, eat in or outside. Nice coffee, and selection of pastries, I had the latte and Pain au raisin, very nice, £4.90 , fair price.

Excellent coffee, cakes and bread

Great coffee and good selection of food, all at sensible price.

First visit to this branch. Really good takeaway coffee in a rather unusual building in the centre of Poundberry. Worth a visit!

Nice cafe in a great building, but I don’t understand why they don’t offer wifi? Especially with all the plugs. Would be a great place to get some work done.

Nice to have glasses and cups now, instead of takeaway paper cups!

Coffee is always nice, but they have the same menu and same deserts/sweet and savoury treats everyday all year round. Makes going there boring, you know what they're going to have. No excitement! I live on the same road and never go here for this reason. Just same old, same old!

Friendly service and very good coffee. Went there without means of payment once and was just asked to pop the payment in the next day, and it was several cofees and pastries. Interesting building and can be a bit cold.

So disappointed. No atmosphere, noisy coffee machine, overpriced cakes, 50p extra for Oat milk, no wifi, and even though I was drinking in, the pastry and coffee were served in disposable plate and cup. How does anyone consider that is acceptable nowadays? Ok, to be fair, the coffee was very good.

Rustic traditional airy great tasting coffee blends, pet friendly, inexpensive, e.g. cappuccino £2.70

Freezing cold, half the menu not offered, this looks like a place that is closing down!!!

Great coffee, only had a cake. The building is a little soul less and needs tidying up. I get the basic theme but lacked warmth and atmosphere

Finca once held the crown for making the best coffee in Dorset. However the insistence by the owner to continue to serve in paper cups that were introduced during Covid is unacceptable and taints the flavour of the coffee. I will continue to buy their excellent bread, when they can be bothered to make it but now go to Seventh Seal where the coffee is wonderful and the cakes are superb!

Good coffee, good selection of cakes and pastries, just too cold and not a lot of atmosphere. But if music would be good.

Wished they did some hot things. Even if only warm croissant/bun or toast. Lovely coffee.

Delicious coffee and cakes. Well worth a visit.

Great coffee and lovely pastries too. Would definitely recommend if you’re on the hunt for good coffee in the area.

Really nice place to go for a coffee and cake no matter what the weather is like. Can highly recommend the coffee cake.

Good coffee, excellent cakes. A lovely sunny aspect to sit outside and enjoy our beverages

We spotted this place as we drove through the town in need of sustenance. Though the premises were pretty basic inside, the coffee and slices of tiffin we bought more than made up for it. Both were delicious. The staff were pleasant and friendly and our dog was welcome. There is only a single unisex toilet but it was spotlessly clean and adequately equipped. If you are looking for somewhere for a quiet, tasty coffee I would recommend this place.

Closing at 15:00.... What a disappointment.

Visited this lovely coffee shop today and enjoyed a lovely salted caramel brownie and vegan dark chocolate tiffin. Friendly staff, great location, with a nice chilled and relaxed vibe. Would definitely visit again and support local!

Great artisan food and drinks here at very reasonable prices.

Some of the best coffee in Dorset, I always buy a bag when I visit and I really enjoyed my Ethiopian espresso. I love that you get a choice of beans on espresso and they do care about the coffee there. Friendly service of bringing our drinks over to our table and the olive focaccia was oily and delicious.

Rustic cafe. We sat inside. Paper cups and plates. We had the foccacia which was tasty. Friendly staff. Clean toilet.

Lovely place great coffee set in the correct part of the town to just chill relax

The best coffee in Dorset! Never disappoints.

Visited the Poundbury last Monday, at 11ish, it wasn't that busy, 2 couples in the queue in front of me, 3 members of staff on. One was in the corner, oblivious to the customers in their, the young guy serving, not once acknowledged any customers and stood with his back to us most of the time, I stood in line for over 10mins,that my friends came back in to see if I had coffee's yet, but hadn't moved, in fact 2 more people had joined the queue behind me. The guy serving, took over 5mins with the 1st customer, hadn't finished the card transaction, said nothing to anyone, then stood with his back to us all. And started stocking a fridge, he then went over to the barista, pick up the previous customers coffee and gave to them, and then finished the transaction and started, on their order, not once acknowledgement, nor did the lady in the corner, look up or even come to see if they needed help, I walked out. Why should I pay for bad service. I can see why they are looking for staff. It's disappointing, as the poor service and not recognising customers is poor customer service, why should we treat ourselves to nice coffee and support a local business if 5he staff are too concerned with themselves and not the locals that are there for them. Or are we expected to travel into town to the main store for better service or will that be the same.

I haven't been to the Finca coffee shop at the Buttermarket since before lockdown. I wish I hadn't bothered returning. We opted to sit in but were still served with cardboard cups and our cakes were served on small cardboard trays. The table was sticky and dirty and didn't look like it had seen a cloth in days. The floor was covered in crumbs too. The coffee was weak and lukewarm and took ages to be served. One poor customer spilt their coffee and was given a roll of blue paper towel to clean the table and floor themselves. The two lads serving weren't interested in helping beyond that. I've given them one star because the cake was quite nice but beyond that I certainly won't be visiting again.

Great tasting coffee but.... unfortunately it could have been hotter..

I'm so sorry as I was really looking forward yo going but unfortunately the coffee was not good. First time I have left one for quite some time.

It is a great place for coffee & cake & seating inside & out but that's all that's on the menu so really just a coffee & a chat.

The coffee was very weak and tasteless. I was given an extra shot at no cost but still very bland. The ginger confection I had was not a nice texture and I didn't finish it. I wouldn't go back here.

Everyone should visit here because the coffee and pastries are delicious. The staff are really friendly too. Wish I lived nearer.

A friend went here before lockdown and recommended it so we went on Friday 10th June. I am so glad she did. I'm normally a tea drinker but the coffee is the best I've tasted. I had an almond croissant and my husband had a raspberry flapjack. Both were delicious. So glad we chose to eat there because it was lovely and cool, the music was great and the staff are really friendly. Wish we lived nearer.

Lovely cafe. Great coffee. Amazing pastries. Helpful and fun staff.

Great coffee, painfully slow service.

Lemon cake was dry and lacked flavor, the tea was woody, and the sheer amount of waste created per person was shocking.

Okay, the lemon cake was dry and lacked flavor, the tea was woody and the sheer amount of waste created per person was shocking.

Nice coffee, some tasty pastries and a pleasant layout

The staff were friendly, the lemon cake was dry and lacked flavor, the tea was woody, and the amount of trash that was created per person was shocking.

Coffee is good but seems very small size. Nice location with lots if outdoor seating but wobbly tables

Poundbury is always an interesting place to visit, located next to Dorchester, had a great coffee and shared a cinnamon bun, also picked up a copy @£8 the latest edition of South and Southwest coffee retailers and roasteries great for those who experience how coffee is produced and prepared

Have visited all of the Finca coffee shops Weymouth, Dorchester ,Yeovil & today's trip to the Poundbury Buttermarket cafe . The coffee is excellent and the selection of cakes ,pastries sourdough here are lush

Fab place to gave a coffee, especially when the sun shines and the deck chairs are out.

We used to be regulars and have continued to visit through covid but enough is enough with the environmental disaster of the throw away cups and boxes even when eating in.

Great Coffee and pastries. Interesting octagonal building.

Location average but coffee wonderful

I have tried coffee in every cafe in poundbury, finca are by far the best- I come here all the time!

Coffee and cake were ok. Nothing outstanding but nothing inherently wrong. Service was good though:) Only slight issue is that the outside benches felt flimsy but that could of just been the material they were situated on.

A gorgeous place to sit and relax outside on a nice day lovely interior and good coffee, but it can get quite busy.

The best hot chocolate in Dorchester.

So hell of a day, freezing cold, raining outside.. both outside doors wide open. Only people in the cafe. I asked politely.. please can you close one of the doors. The reply was .. ' No we're not allowed'. Really.. I Don't think so!!! Then we were asked, 'is this for outside or in'... I replied..'don't think there's any difference'!! Cold, hostile... won't be returning. BTW. Studio6 was lovely!!!

The Project Fear Cafe. Open doors and no cash. Grow up

This place used to be amazing and I used to visit twice a week for a couple of years. Coffee is still good and their chocolate tiffin is still the best but now because of COVID they insist on keeping the doors open in cold weather, they hide behind unfriendly screens, have no table service and as a result the whole ambiance and cafe feel has gone. Only now of use as a take away cafe or in the summer to sit outside, real shame as sitting inside in the winter used to be great and the staff used to be so friendly. Don’t really understand why they can’t put heating on like other cafes and make the place friendly and welcoming again like it used to be but still keep some of the COVID protection if they feel they must.

Lovely hot chocolate, good service. Spacious so felt safe

Not too bad coffee actually but miserable service. I know we all need to wear masks but I you can still see a smile behind it. I generally do not understand why people are working in this sort of places if they don't want to interact with client. Everyone can have a bad day but looks like it's not just me having bad impression about the service received. No enthusiasm felt in any corner of this place and it's a shame coz it's a great spot. Maybe they are just too cold there? 🤷

Divine cake, heavenly coffee all in a grand but cosy and beautiful setting!!!