Finally, a new coffee shop in St. Louis! I've wanted to try Coma Coffee since it opened a few months ago, but have struggled to get there. It closes by 4 pm during the week, 1 pm Saturdays and is closed Sundays. But, a new coffee roaster hasn't opened in St. Louis in a while, so it's worth visiting if you can make it there while it's open.

                Coma is located across the street from the Galleria in the ground floor of a tall black building that towers over the neighboring shops and parking structures. I was surprised by how large the space is. The white walls stretch tall, finally reaching a black ceiling with exposed support beams and ducts. Large windows face out into the parking lot, letting in tons of natural light, as well as a sad view of the oversize Dillard's sign across the street. In front of these windows stands an impressive bar made of white and gray granite. This white and gray theme plays across the space in the tiles that cover the counter and decorate the wall behind the counter.

                As I looked around the sizeable space, I noticed a couple copies of The World Atlas of Coffee near the espresso machine. This is one of my favorite books about coffee, so I geeked out about it with the barista behind the bar. He was knowledgeable about coffee in general and Coma Coffee in particular. He explained that the shop is run by a brother and sister and the name comes from a combination of the first two letters of their names: Corbin and Macy. 

                I was dazzled by the Synesso espresso machine. It was white with silver accents and wooden levers to activate the steam wands. It was lovely and, according to the barista, cost about $30,000. There goes my dream of installing one in my kitchen.

                Unfortunately, the espresso did not dazzle as much. Coma roasts its beans very light, as do most shops in St. Louis. I would have liked to find something different here. The espresso was a single varietal Colombia and when I tasted it on its own, the first sip was an explosion of bright acidity with just a hint of spice. The finish was a little odd and I couldn’t quite place it. My first thought was pumpkin – not for the spiciness you expect in a pie, but the mushy, mild, slightly sweet flavor of pumpkin itself. Maybe I was influenced by the Autumn season and the presence of gourds everywhere you turn.

                The cortado was more pleasant, though still too acidic for my taste. After the double espresso and a sip of cortado, my stomach was calling out for Tums. I could not drink this coffee everyday. And the fact that I can find a similar style at Kaldi’s, Sump, Mud House, Comet, and the list goes on, I can’t guarantee that I'll make it back to Coma. But, whether you're a fan of light roasted coffee or not, Coma is worth checking out. The drinks are prepared well, the service is excellent and the space is great.

Service: The barista was friendly and skilled.

Drinks: Very lightly roasted beans. The espresso was prepared well.

Atmosphere: Beautiful space, though it was a little cold and stiff. Not a cozy coffee shop.

Score: 7 out of 10