Retrograde Coffee Roasters

Simply the best

Busy little place thats fun to get great coffee drinks and pastry or breakfast sandwich. Always friendly staff. Theres a kids corner w/toy basket & many table spaces indoor & outdoor seating. Excellent special rotating lattes.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Our studio worked with Retrograde Coffee Roasters on a product photography order. The images were delivered and were then used on their website and marketing materials.

After delivery and active commercial use of the images, a payment dispute/chargeback was filed by Danielle with their bank. During this time, the images continued to remain live online. We reached out requesting removal of our images due to the unresolved payment. In response, they asked to repay and continue using the photos, but given the dispute and circumstances, we chose not to proceed with any further business.

We would be happy to provide documentation to any party who wishes to understand the full facts of this situation.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Super busy but super fast and quality is not lost. Was amazed by the store front actually! Thanks guys!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I do love that this place has all the standard alternative milk options that pretty much every coffee shop should have at this point, but what makes this one stand above the rest in this area is there amazing vegan breakfast sandwich. Their house made tofu Patty is so delicious and even though it is expensive and should be eaten freshly warm so that the English muffin doesn't dry out, I highly recommend it. Also, pay for the extra avocado. It's worth it. Updated from previous review on 2026-01-30

Good coffee, competent and effective baristas.

Good people selling good coffee

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Most people give a bad review because of a bad experience. I’m not here to do that.

Retrograde, overall, just isn’t really worth going to over any other coffee shop, even in Sebastopol. A large mocha , which isn’t 20 oz like the majority of competing coffee establishments, is about 8 bucks after tax, plus more with tipping obligations. Their merch overall is INSANELY priced, with an 8 ounce thermos being 35 dollars. All that being said, I do like the coffee; it is of decent quality even if wildly overpriced, so I only go maybe once every month or two when I feel I can afford it.

The rewards program uses Cash App. Nothing wrong with that…. Except if you don’t use the stars you get with your purchases, they expire. It’s 10 stars for 5 dollars off. Averaging ~10 bucks for coffee, that’s 50 bucks for 5 dollars off…. IF you go often enough to even use the rewards you’re working towards.

Now, I know the owner tends to respond by stating that they pay more than the fair trade amount for their coffee and supplies. Cool, you’re supporting other local businesses. On the other hand, you’re just passing that cost to the consumer. Do with that info what you will.

On to the atmosphere: Probably the main reason this place is worth being. It’s the only place in Sebastopol I can think of where I actually do want to sit with my laptop and do my schoolwork that isn’t home, but I just can’t afford to be there as often as I’d like.

The service leaves much to be desired, but I don’t really blame them. Everywhere I go these days people seem checked out, stressed out, and overall just not caring. I work a public facing job too, and I get it. I don’t want to interact people any more than you do.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 2

They make an excellent New Orleans style cold brew

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Good but my mocha lid didn't fit so half of it spilled in my car

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

I really enjoyed my stop at retrograde. Despite there being a long line, service could not have been better. They had someone walking through the line taking the coffee orders. When you got to the register all you did was say your name and give your pastry order and you're out in a few seconds. Plenty of indoor seating and they're comfortable, clean dining area.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I really enjoyed my stop at retrograde. Despite there being a long line, service could not have been better. They had someone walking through the line taking the coffee orders. When you got to the register all you did was say your name and give your pastry order and you're out in a few seconds. Plenty of indoor seating and they're comfortable, clean dining area.

Good food and coffee. They cater to all allergies and had a lot to offer. They were quite on the pricey side. We got two breakfast sandwiches and two iced coffees and spent $40. The staff were all nice and it was clean.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

We are doing a roadtrip down from Seattle along the Pacific Coast, and we have been trying local coffee shops along the way. I consistently get a mocha each time, as that is my favorite drink. We also had their pumpkin spiced latte, and both drinks have been the best by far on this trip. The breakfast sandwiches we had, one regular and one gluten free, were tasty and delightful. You can tell they care about each ingredient they use. We wish we could have this in our area to become our go-to spot!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Friendly staff with a vibrant atmosphere. I got a flat white, which they call a Milky Way due to the coffee blend of the same name. The drink was well made, for my taste it was too mild and milk forward. I can taste the coffee but it was buried by the milk.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4