Address: 21 Sheen Rd, Richmond, TW9 1AD, United Kingdom
Rating: 4.5
based on 124 reviews.
Coffee Quality
Pros:
"Specialty coffee extracted beautifully across a variety of drinks."
"The coffee itself was absolutely delicious."
"Customers rave about the expertly crafted drinks, made with high-quality beans."
"Best coffee in Richmond! You can taste the passion in the well-calibrated and utilized machines."
"Impressive specialty coffee shop with very good long black, comparable to the best craft coffee shops in central London."
"Tasty, Darker roasts with the option to change from the house blend to single origin give the Hippo a touch of sophistication."
"The Japanese iced coffee was weaker than standard coffee but delicious and naturally sweet without bitterness."
"Really good specialty grade coffee. The single origin espresso and limited edition (drip coffee) - Panama (gesha) was brewed very well."
Cons:
"I've noticed a recent decline in the quality of their offerings, comparable to Starbucks."
"Not a great range of coffee to choose from."
"Had to shout my order a few times over the masks but wasn't impressed with the attitude. The coffee wasn't really great."
"Huge expectations, but the pour overs were under extracted, quite vegetal, and lacking sweetness."
"Watery coffee 😭😭 have tried their cappuccino, flat white, macchiato, and even their single origin espresso but same watery flavour across them all."
"This is a consistently bad coffee. I have tried it over 20 times and they can consistently not make a cappuccino."
Service and Staff
Pros:
"The (owner) of the shop was incredibly polite and helpful, making my experience there all the more enjoyable."
"Very welcoming staff. They have indoor and outdoor tables."
"Barista Sabine is really skilled and brews very well."
"Morgan was really helpful and friendly when I was choosing the best beans for my partner as a gift."
"The unusual name and having exhausted all cafes in the area, I was pleased to see that the baristas were knowledgeable and took pride in what they do."
"The staff are friendly, and they can usually make a good recommendation depending on what you’re into."
"Visited the new Fitzrovia branch and had such an amazing Saturday afternoon cozied up in one of the booths with an incredible flat white made by Jake W."
Cons:
"Really disappointed by the service here. The barista neglected to tell me the blend I chose would cost more."
"See all the complaints about their horrendous service - I echo all of them. Dear servers, maybe put your phones down for a second."
"Surly miserable staff who feel actually bringing the coffee 4 seconds to your table is beneath them."
"Coffee was still good but the service was terrible. Where the seating used to be, it has now been replaced with storage space for the roastery."
"Good coffee but using Covid as a justification to offer poor and limited service."
"No hello. No can I help you to the table with your drink as you have a really small child and I have no other Customers to serve. No bye."
Ambiance and Location
Pros:
"The café itself is cozy and inviting, with plenty of seating both indoors and out."
"A wonderful coffee shop in Richmond. Delightful blends of coffee and choices of cakes to go with it! Love the vibe of this cafe and enjoy the outdoor seating on nice days."
"Located in the high street in Richmond you can sit upstairs as well and watch the world go past while you sip on their amazing coffee!"
"Beautiful, modern interior and coffee is really good. Considering this is located in a very busy high street, the ambience is very calm and peaceful."
"Best place for office lunch breaks! I had their Beetroot and Quinoa Salad, it was very fresh and nutritious."
"The interior is decorated a cool cream. The tables and chairs are a light coloured wood, beech? All very restful."
Cons:
"There is limited seating currently and the upstairs is still closed."
"Not yet as good as the previous incarnation in Richmond (or on par with the service at Fitzrovia store) but still a decent weekend coffee destination."
"Coffee was expensive and average. Same with the service."
"It's a very minimal interior with a vast array of different types of coffee...it's easily one of the best coffee shops in Richmond if you're into your coffee..."
"Tired to order online. There was an issue with the order and despite filling in the online query forms have heard nothing and there is no number on which to contact anyone."
Product Range and Variety
Pros:
"They had a great selection of home brewing equipment on sale too should you be a hobbyist."
"In addition to the delicious coffee, Kiss the Hippo also offers an impressive selection of baked goods, including pastries, cakes, and cookies."
"An impressive selection of baked goods, especially the apple and walnut muffin."
"Ask the barista for a recommendation, you can’t go wrong here. They have an award-winning pour over, and another one that came close to winning an award."
"This cafe has definitely gone downhill since I last visited. Coffee was still good."
"The best (and coolest) new coffee shop in London. Great Richmond location and very sleek, minimalist design."
Cons:
"It's nice having a place that makes pour overs on demand. Not a great range of coffee to choose from however."
"Would love to give this place high rating but.... Everybody had to wait a long time for coffee to be prepared as only one barrista making the coffee."
"I don’t really like their customer service and the coffee is overpriced for what they offer."
"Very average coffee, not sure what others are drinking. Has a woody after taste.."
"Great location on the high street in Richmond and even better coffee! There are plenty of tables both upstairs and downstairs."