Bravo Espresso & Gourmet

A hidden skyway gem, the folks who first convinced me to like coffee. Try the turtle mocha and you won't regret it.

Always a staple, in the morning, when we visit Rochester. Friendly, upbeat, and accommodating.

Friendly service, very reasonable prices and my ooey gooey caramel latte was delicious☕️😋🩷

one morning a barista made an off-color joke about homeless people to a customer, another morning one of them compared me to a dog. overall the coffee is good but I have not had great experiences with the staff at this establishment.

I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this place sooner! Amazing, personable service every time, great rewards system, every drink I’ve tried here is so good, and the price is right! I can’t say enough good things about them.

5 stars is criminally underrated. The barista is excellent and the pastries are really great.

Bravo Espresso, located in the Galleria in downtown Rochester, MN, is a great local coffee spot. I had a mocha with an extra shot of espresso and almond milk. It was delicious and well made. The cashier was friendly, and the overall atmosphere was welcoming. A solid choice for quality coffee!

great coffee and cute little place!

If you want a good shot of espresso in Rochester MN, look no further.

After watching an inordinate amount of James Hoffmann on youtube, one fine day off, I set out to find a local cafe that could give me some decent espresso. I first tried the cafe in town I thought was most likely to give me a good espresso. I don’t like negative reviews. They sound so annoying. My first choice will remain nameless. However, needless to say at this point, I struck out. The shot was 9/10 sour. Incredibly sour. If it weren’t for James Hoffmann I would have just assumed, that that’s what good espresso must taste like, but he had opened my eyes a little, and I could see.

I went on to the next place in town that I thought would most likely deliver a good espresso, and once again no luck. At this point I was starting to doubt myself. I thought that I had had good espresso in the past. Deep in the recesses of my memory I was sure I could recall the taste of good espresso, and yet, maybe I was wrong. Maybe all espresso is crazy sour and you just have to get used to it. And maybe I would never get used to it, and maybe I’d never like the taste of pure espresso.

At this point I almost gave up and went home sad. “I guess I’m not an espresso kind of guy” I thought. “Maybe it’s an acquired taste that I don’t have. I’m going to get my fancy new grinder, and “Flaired” espresso maker in the mail, (which I impulse bought after hours of watching James Hoffman) and the espresso maker will be utterly wasted on me.” “What a travesty!!” “What a fool I have been!!” Hints of; anguish, despair, and regret flavored my already soured mental palate.

And yet….. and yet…… I pressed on. I retucked the bottoms of my hipster pants, hopped in my Tesla, checked on my blue heeler who was sitting patiently in the back seat and I soldiered on.

You see… I’ve come to believe in James Hoffmann the coffee youtuber. Not like I believe in Jesus or even like I believe in, or trust a good friend. Don’t be ridiculous. But when it comes to all things coffee, I believe in James Hoffmann. If he says that good espresso exists somewhere out there in the bright blue world, then darn it, even if I didn’t find it after the tenth try, I’d still believe.

I went back on my phone and this time, thinking of myself as being quite clever, I chose the cafe with espresso in the name. Long story shorter, Bravo Espresso came through in the end for me, and I am very grateful to Derek who was behind the counter. He made me two different shots of espresso, the second one being a little shorter than the first, and both shots were smooth and tasty.

I can’t say it was “great” or “the best ever”. From my limited experience, I don’t even know what those are. But, I can with confidence say that at Bravo Espresso, you can get a decent shot of espresso, and quite possibly, the only decent shot of espresso in the whole town of Rochester. I say “quite possibly” very intentionally because Derek told me I could also try Novios Cafe (which I will!!) and I might find a decent shot of espresso there also.

Thank you Bravo Espresso. Thank you. I write you this long review because I owe it to you. Today, You were there for me when no one else was. No one else except for Jesus, and perhaps James Hoffmann.

Bravo is great coffee with even better baristas. It’s the coolest place to caffeinate in downtown Rochester.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Come here regularly while at work. It's got delicious coffee and great ham and cheese croissant. The guys behind the counter are friendly and always open for a bit of small talk while the coffee is being made. I would give this place a 20/10 if I could.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Scone

Great coffee. Awesome style

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I couldn’t even finish a drip or espresso.

Service: 5

This place is a hidden gem! I got an iced brown sugar cinnamon latte and it was sooo tasty! It was perfect, and the prices are very reasonable. I’m so glad they open at 6am so that I can grab a drink before my shift starts. I will be recommending this place to everyone I know!

Atmosphere: 5

Service: 5

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I was pleasantly surprised to find that this café in Minnesota could make a flat white coffee, a favorite from my time in Australia! Their espresso shots are on point, delivering that perfect balance of strength and smoothness. The staff here is fantastic, with a great sense of humor that makes every visit enjoyable. Highly recommend this gem for coffee lovers! (FYI, Don't be put off by the photo, the espresso shot had lovely crema-which I ruined)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5