The Annex Coffee and Foods

Stopped into pick up a quiche and some staples for my pantry. What an amazing selection. You could get into serious trouble with all they have to offer! This is one of my favorite coffee shops in St. Louis for sure!

In January 2025, we visited this café, which has a spacious interior and a parking lot in the back. The café sells a variety of chocolates and other products. We ordered a Derby pie, a mocha, and a black coffee. I really enjoyed their mocha—it wasn’t too sweet and was very smooth. The staff at the counter were friendly, and the overall atmosphere was very pleasant.

I came here by chance while in the area and was looking for a coffee shop with a great ambiance. This place checked off all my favorite things about a coffee shop. It has a coffee area, desserts, a store, and a seating area for enjoying meals ordered from the shop. I ordered my regular iced coffee with a blueberry cheesecake (I highly recommend trying this dessert; it was so, so tasty!).

The food is delicious and fresh - I ordered to go (the Ham & Jam + a Basil Lemonade) and it was still hot when I arrived at my destination. The atmosphere is cool and relaxed. Fun decor, a great place to meet a friend for lunch or work/study. The barista and food preparer were both kind.

We only had drinks. My matcha latte was pretty good, the regular iced latte was average and my friend said the iced chai latte was mediocre. The staff was friendly and the service was speedy. I am intrigued by all the other things we can try and I’m excited go back—I’ll update this review when I have more insight.

This place was so cute! I love that they carry a lot of local merchandise. I found some unique gifts! The turkey brie chutney sandwich and mocha were both great.

I've been here a few times and I am always very impressed. Their coffee drinks and pastries are all very good, as is their lemonade. They have lots of interesting and intriguing items to peruse in the shop. They're ALWAYS busy, but the service is reasonably quick!

Absolutely obsessed, enamored & riveted by The Annex Coffee Shop in Webster Groves! From the locally roasted coffee to the creative cocktails (I got the Hot Toddy) and The cozy atmosphere, heated patio, and the convenience of shopping for specialty foods make it a perfect all-in-one spot. Girls coffee date! Loved it!

I've been a loyal customer of The Annex since it first opened in our neighborhood a few years ago. Every other Saturday, I come here for their breakfast burrito that comes with an incredible avocado crema. I did notice that the portion sizes have decreased while the prices have risen. The service is friendly, with welcoming cashiers and baristas at the front counter where you order food and drinks. I've tried their quiche and lunch sandwiches, which were just okay. The Seasonal Ube Latte was amazing, but unfortunately, it's no longer available. Their other coffee offerings are decent. On the pastry front, the blueberry lemon muffin and almond croissant are my go-tos. They often sell out if you arrive late in the morning! It's a cute spot to grab last-minute gifts. They've even started carrying my favorite hummus, which was previously only available at the local Farmers Market. Just note that some items are temporary or seasonal. They have expanded to include an ice cream side and we look forward to trying it some time.

I absolutely love this place! I visited for the first time recently and was delighted by the experience. While my mom and sister were off doing their own thing, I stumbled upon this cozy spot. I ordered a basic vanilla latte, which was delicious, and a chocolate chip cookie that was equally amazing. The atmosphere was cute and cozy, perfect for sitting down with a book. The staff had such a positive vibe and were all very sweet. I arrived just as the kitchen was closing, so the only options available were pastries, deli meats, and a few sides and meat veggie pies. This is the only reason I rated it four stars instead of five--I wish their kitchen stayed open a little longer. Overall, it was a wonderful experience, and I look forward to returning!

The Annex Coffee and Foods is an absolute gem. Located in Webster Grove off Big Bend Road, the Annex serves as more than just a coffee shop: It is also a restaurant, bakery, market with local foods, ice cream parlor, and candy shop. I was shocked to see everything that the Annex offered when I first stopped inside. While spending a morning here, I shopped around the market section and picked out a fresh garden salsa ($9.99) and cherry habanero jam ($9). Both were tasty, fresh, and possessed lively flavors. I also ordered an iced americano with cream ($4.50) to sip on. The drink was balanced but the espresso was a bit bitter when comparing it to other americanos I have drunk in the past--I am not sure I would order it again. However, the coffee and lattes I have tried in the past were all quality drinks. If I return, I will definitely be trying a menu food item. Seeing each order come out while waiting to checkout, made me regret not coming with an appetite! Their menu includes a variety of breakfast and lunch foods, such as croissants, quiches, sandwiches, wraps, toasts, and burritos. All of their foods boast fresh, quality ingredients. In addition, I would love to try one of their macaroons. They looked vibrant in the glass display, and the flavor selection was diverse. The market and checkout area is bustling, and the line can get quite long. However, it does move fast. Moreover, there is seating in the back area that remains a calm environment to get work done. In terms of service, my experiences have been average. The shop is very busy, so I understand the workers are likely overwhelmed. I have never had a poor experience with a member of their team but I have not had an overly positive experience either. The Annex Food and Coffee truly is a one-of-a-kind shop in the St. Louis area. If you do try it out, make sure you come with an appetite big enough for coffee, food, and dessert!

I came here by chance while in the area and was looking for a coffee shop with a great ambiance. This place checked off all my favorite things about a coffee shop. It has a coffee area, desserts, a store, and a seating area for enjoying meals ordered from the shop. I ordered my regular iced coffee with a blueberry cheesecake (I highly recommend trying this dessert; it was so, so tasty!).

Such a wonderful spot to grab a bite to eat or to grab some groceries/snack items for a night in. I loved the store section where they had so many unique items to choose from. I saw some of the best crackers, cheeses, nuts, honey, jams, chocolates, etc. that I can use when I make my next charcuterie board. I loved how they had lots of local items to choose from as well as some other items that are more nationally known. When I visited, I was just looking to grab a snack and a drink. I was so happy to see their seasonal items because anytime I see Ube on the menu, I must order it. The line to order form the pastry was not too long when my friend and I got in line, but within a few minutes, the line was much longer. I appreciated how they have a counter for pastry/coffee items and then other counter to order sandwiches/salads from. Their lunch menu looked so good but I had already eaten at that time of the day, so I just wanted a sweet treat! The girls working Behind the counter were so friendly and offered recommendations when I asked for a few. I was just really excited to try the Ube Jasmine Tea and the Ube cookie. They went perfectly together! The Annex does have some seating available to eat inside and some patio type seating in the back and they have 1-2 tables on the sidewalk out front. The parking lot behind the Annex is convenient and you can enter in through the back door rather than walking around to the front. I cannot wait to go back soon for lunch and to pick up some snacks for a picnic!

We came here twice for a little pick-me-up and I got their flat white. Their beans are definitely on the more acidic side so it didn't fit my particular espresso palette. However, they made it just the way I liked it, good espresso ratio. Very strong espresso! I made the mistake of having it too late in the day and it kept me up at night! But all in all, very cute coffee shop with speciality foods. We didn't get a chance to try their foods, but everything looked pretty good. If we ever returned to this neighborhood, we would come back for sure! It would be nice if they offered other espresso beans for their drinks -- would definitely try it!

We love coming here for breakfasts, as they have better coffee than most other places! The breakfast burrito is my go to option, but I recently tried the spinach feta version. There's so much fresh spinach that it makes it hard to get a bite with all of the flavors in it! We split a coffee cake muffin, which was delicious as well! The interior has been redone and the room next to it opened up for seating! The new layout at the register also helps the flow and seems to keep it more organized as well. We always appreciate the fast friendly service and tasty food here. The ingredients that they have for sale are also fun to browse through. We've found some fun things to try there!

If you have not tried The Annex in Webster Groves then you're missing out! Try out this super cute tea & coffee spot. This cafe offers more than just tea & coffee, you can find a cocktail menu, small bakery bites, whole cheesecake bites & the besttttt looking macaroons! I found also a cold food section where you can grab something on the go! I ordered the Black - Hugo Grey tea, it came out piping hot & super quick also! It was delicious I loved it. Right now they offer a winter coffee menu & I definitely regret not ordering someone off that menu. To order, you go up to the counter, put your order in & they give you a buzzer. When your order is ready your buzzer will go off & you grab your food & or drink! Check this cute cafe out! You will not regret.

Absolutely obsessed, enamored & riveted by The Annex Coffee Shop in Webster Groves! From the locally roasted coffee to the creative cocktails (I got the Hot Toddy) and The cozy atmosphere, heated patio, and the convenience of shopping for specialty foods make it a perfect all-in-one spot. Girls coffee date! Loved it!

The Annex Coffee and Foods has a really unique vibe with all their packaged goods spread throughout the store. There's more seating than it looks from outside and they have a great outdoor patio space. I got the Gravlox Toast and a 8 oz. seasonal Maple Cinnamon Latte. I thought the toast was delicious while the latte was average and on the pricier side. The store is little chaotic with three different counter areas and with people browsing the packaged goods, but the service was very friendly and efficient. It's a great location in Webster Groves and I'd recommend anyone considering to stop by!

I am obsessed with the Annex Coffee and Foods! They have so much to offer. From coffee drinks with an amazing menu, cocktails, food, desserts and tons of products like house made mustard, unique pasta sauces, chocolate bars and SO much more. We stopped in to get a pre dinner cocktail and we ordered the mimosa and the espresso martini. The martini was super unique with brown sugar and cinnamon syrup. It was like fall in a glass. I love the ambiance of the whole place. There is tons of seating inside and out.

I tried the annex recently and picked up drinks for myself, my boyfriend, and my bff. We loved all of our drinks. I am planning on going back to try their matcha which for me is the true test. The service was great, there was quite a line but they were getting everybody through it fast. Also, very nice place if you want to shop around a little bit. They have a section of local snacks and other stuff.

I am OBSESSED! This BLT is so good... to be honest the amount of bacon and the flavor reminded me of crown candy, just not as overwhelming. The coffee is great too. The shopping around is my favorite part, they have such fun items and it's so easy to end up spending a lot of money. Everyone we've ever encountered there is great, the first time we went they walked us through the menu. Service 10/10, food 10/10!

It's a nice and cozy coffee shop in Webster Groves. The two public parking lots nearby make the parking super easy. In addition to coffee and tea, they offer bakeries, breakfast/brunch items, cocktails, and even candies and ice cream. You can get everything you can think of at the Annex. I had a chicken burrito and liked it a lot. I would come back and try other items on their menu!

Super friendly baristas helped me find the perfect drink, and the whole place has the cutest vibe. Their seasonal Ube tea tastes just like fruit loops haha, so good. I showed up too late to order hot food, but I grabbed a premade caesar wrap and it was delicious. I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out more from their menu and also shopping around a bit.

I will be back. I stopped in one morning when I had some time to kill before work and I am so happy I stopped by. This place is super cute and had good food as well as drinks. I got the match latte to drink and a breakfast burrito. The matcha was very good and I love the little design on top. The breakfast burrito was stuffed. It was flavorful and had a great dipping sauce. I also enjoyed while I waited for my food the shop area. I was able to walk around and look at the various local food and drink items! The seated area is also cute and I will have to come back with some friends. I also saw they have some cocktails and they sounds good so I'll have to try those too.

We stopped in for a quick coffee and a sweet treat. There are tons of local and small business treats & food items. We opted for the espresso honey caramels and, boy, did they take us on a journey. Sweet, rich, and healthy! Our coffees were perfect. And I'm not just saying that. I'm incredible picky about my iced coffee, and the blend they use is delightful. The flavors were perfectly blended with their house made syrups. I will definitely be back this summer!

Super cute place in the middle of St Louis (or well, the outskirts). This place spans three separate shopfronts, and you're bound to find SOMETHING you'll love. Ice cream, coffee, tea, gourmet deli -- it's all here, a hidden oasis set into the burbs and strip malls of middle America. The staff were all pleasant and kind, and the pastries were terrific. This is a great people watching place.

The Annex was awesome. Such a fun concept with a bustling, vibrant atmosphere. It is basically a 4 in 1 stop shop: coffee, deli, market, candy/ice cream shop. Perusing the market was a dream. The single aisle is inundated with local treats that pack tons of flavor. You'll find barrel aged maple syrup, cherry jalapeño jam, chili oils, and much more. We stocked up on the cherry jalapeño jam, and some black bean salsa. The jam is incredible. They gave out sample of their fig bars which were superb. It was if a fig newton and fig flavored pop tart had a homemade, flaky baby. The line for coffee was long, but worth the wait. A simple Americano got the trick done for us. And, they had a nice selection of homemade syrups. The dessert counter was beautiful. The aesthetic felt like both minimalistic, and Wonka-esque--a tough balance to harness. I am yearning to get back for some sweets. Lastly, the sandwich counter smelled divine. A never ending barrage of sandwiches were hitting the grill to serve up to anticipatory patrons. I wish I was one. They looked amazing, and all on freshly baked bread, too! The Annex is certainly a spot to consider for a Saturday morning stroll, coffee date, or pit stop before dinner for some last minute ingredients!

I always recommend the annex to friends! It just isn't really built for the long lines they always have on the weekend (well deserved, just cramped and feel like you're in the way of people shopping in the retail area). Plenty of parking in the lot behind them. I love their lattes and the Caesar wrap! Did not love the "ham jam" but they have so much more to try. Highly recommend!

Half Pint at the Annex An old-fashioned ice cream shop and candy store has moved into Webster Groves, and it's giving major motion picture vintage vibes! Vibrantly colored candy pops against white walls and a rich variety of Ronnie's Ice Cream fills the display case. A tasty little fun fact? I knew Ronnie's Ice Cream was local to STL (40 years strong), but what I didn't know is it's crafted in Crestwood! Half Pint has its own street entrance, but it can also be accessed from inside The Annex. Oh, and if you ever wake up craving ice cream for breakfast, just know this: Half Pint's door opens daily at 7:00 am!

I met a friend here one Sunday and we sat on their back patio for hours! It is a great place to sit and work or meet friends to enjoy a nice cup of coffee, sandwich, or breakfast item! They have so much seating on the inside and outside you should be able to find a spot when it's busy! They also have a lot of different grab and go items which are nice when they're busy. In addition to having coffee, breakfast, and lunch here I also purchased coffee grounds from one of my favorite coffee shops!

Great spot to study/work and eat with friends or alone!! Cute space with indoor and outdoor seating. The service was good and burrito flavorful. They had a great system to let you know your food was ready even if you were outisde

Came in for lunch yesterday - ordered the ham and jam after reading rave reviews. Was delicious, after requesting forgotten arugula (man behind the counter was super nice and apologetic about it). Vibe is nice but seating is limited in cold months. Wish that if you ordered to eat there they served the food on plates vs in to go containers. Will be back for sure though, they have so many delicious sounding breakfast and lunch options. If you're in need of a gift or specialty item to treat yourself, they have a vast selection of local goods to shop. We couldn't resist walking out without some brats and salad dressing we spied while waiting on our food.

I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time. I was out shopping with friends and was craving a quick bite and a nice tea or coffee so we popped in here. They had an amazing menu for food and drinks and the staff had great recommendations! They have such an array of great foods in their market section and I can't wait to come back to shop. They have a great back room to sit and eat or work. This is such a great spot and I can't wait to come back to try their food menu!

Such a cute coffee shop full of personality right in the heart of Webster! My friends and I came here for some coffee and since it was a Saturday morning there was a pretty long line. I would say the line did move pretty quickly which was nice! They also have a cute little shop that you can peruse while you wait in line and while you wait for your order. There is limited seating inside but they have a good size patio outside with heaters that we chose to sit at. I ordered the toasted salted pecan latte and oh my goodness it was SO good! It was a seasonal special so had to try it while they had it, and I am so happy I did. I also ordered the Gravlox toast and it was so fresh tasting and so filling. I could not finish it but was so happy I ordered it. I will definitely be back to try a number of different things on their menu!

So far I like their pastries, the pet friendly atmosphere, and the coffee. My favorite coffee spot in the maple-Webster-wood area closed(stone spiral)

I like this place. It's a charming coffee house, bakery, and old time store, all in one, with specialty food items. The espresso was solid and the seating areas are nice, somewhat hidden towards the back of the store. I worked there for a few hours and I smelled good when I left.

I am revising my review. Went recently and I saw the fans in the glass case, glad to see they are taking care of this issue, hope it stays this way throughout the year. Coffee is great as always. Service is great.

Great place ti get breakfast or coffee and enjoy a conversation with friends and family

This place is worth it!! It can be a little bit crowded during normal breakfast and lunch times. The vibes inside are cozy and warm. Staff is very friendly. I can't forgot how good the bakery and deli items are!! So good

A cute little coffee shop. Very quaint (read: tight), there's a nice patio when the weather is nice. They have heaters on the patio, but when I went it was about 50 degrees and rainy and the heaters weren't warm enough so I had to stalk the inside section until a table became available. My salted roast pecan latte was *chef's kiss*. They have a grocery store section with gourmet items...sauces, honeys, spices, canned fish etc. I spent way too much money on kombucha and hot sauce. The service was great as well. Definitely going back if I'm in the area again.

Cute little hipster general store where you can get coffee, ice cream and some food along with upscale provisions for your charcuterie board.

100% one of my favorite spots in STL. It combines a lot of things I love: great coffee (from Blueprint ), cocktails, specialty grocery items (a lot of them local), and delicious food. I always order a ham and jam sandwich. They use their locally made jam that you can actually buy off their shelves, delicious ham, and melty brie. It never disappoints. They rotate their grocery selection every so often and currently have a lot of valentines items out on display. The staff are so kind and helpful. You can tell they are passionate about their job and enjoy working there.

I think I'm done with this place. It was so good when it opened - expensive but worth it. Now I never see an employee twice - it's apparently not a good place to work, and that's a deal-breaker for me. At lunch yesterday, it wasn't busy, but we waited 30 minutes for a sandwich (that had two thin slices of lunchmeat.) That and a glass of iced tea set us back $16+ tip. It's still so cute in there, and I like the selection of sundry grocery items. But the food has gone way downhill, and the prices just keep going up.

This coffee shop is the perfect spot to study. It's huge and not too loud. The workers were really friendly, and the coffee is amazing!

This is a perfect, light brunch spot. They have a ton of pastries and baked goods! You order at the coffee counter and pick up at the food counter. We ordered the avocado toast with lox added, the quiche, monkey break and rice crispy treat. It was all delicious!!! We had an iced and hot latte. Also, extremely delicious. This is also a great spot to find fun, unique food items/gifts. They make really great gift baskets during the holiday!

The Annex Coffee and Foods is located in Webster Groves on the cutest street. Amazing coffee & pasteries with lots of goodies & food items to buy. International & local food and drinks. Lots of seating and a back patio area as well. I ordered an almond croissant and brown sugar latte.

The atmosphere is delightful with an inside patio and outside patio. The coffee is delicious and the orange dreamsicle latte is delicious but different, melding flavors I wouldn't have expected to work. They also have small locally sourced products in their market area and unique items that would be great for gifting. The service was friendly and I always love a compliment on my tattoo. Will definitely visit again!

Great place for a latte or to sit and work. They have a pretty limited menu that I'd like to see them expand into more of a breakfast go-to.

Couldn't say enough about this place! This has become a regular coffee spot for me now, so anytime a friend or family member wants to go out I automatically say, "I know just the place!" I'm in love with the almost vintage look and vines decorating the walls and the quiet ambiance of the place. The service is always wonderful and I've come to know a few of the baristas faces pretty well! Two of my favorites there are the Lavender Latte and the Mai Wei Tea! If you're looking for a new cafe to regular at, this is the place!

Needed food and coffee before my final today and this was right down the street from my university. So the burrito was huge. I made the mistake of also getting an Italian sandwich to eat for lunch after but I didn't have room. The orzo salad was delicious but a smidge too oily. The dolmas were delicious and not too tangy. We ate the Italian sandwich for dinner and honestly it was perfect. Bread tasted great and it was filled with meats. I couldn't believe how good it was even cold. The only catch is when I ordered my coffee I had the same name on the order because you order your food at a separate counter. The coffee person kept yelling Christina. Finally I asked what the coffee was and she said lavender soy latte. It had been sitting there all open enough for people to breathe on it. Anyway one of the best coffees I've ever had.

First things first: there is a large parking lot behind the building. There is also street parking in front of the building, but it is harder to come by. Second: if you enter from the rear parking lot, you will walk through their spacious covered patio. They also have heaters on the patio when the weather is colder. Third: A first-timer is going to be confused when they walk in. If you want food, order at the deli counter. They'll ask your name. If you are sitting on the patio and don't hear your name called, they will bring your food to your table. After you order, you need to pay at the coffee bar/bakery counter. Favorites: I love the huge selection of local and hand-made goods throughout the store. They have pantry staples of all types and flavors. This would be a great place to find a unique housewarming or hostess gift. It's even a great place to find all your picnic fixin's from fresh bread to sliced deli meats and cheeses. Ordered: I had the ham and jam sandwich on garlic sourdough. Just ham and jam sounds plain, but is also had BRIE! So creamy and great texture. Also ordered the toast with gravlox. It included cream cheese and chives on top. Needs work: I ordered the N/Annex. It's a non-alcoholic version of the Annex cocktail made with cherry juice, apples juice, honey syrup, and rosemary syrup. This must not be a popular drink because the bartender needed to find the recipe book and then needed 5+ minutes to make. It was a delicious drink, but if you are in a hurry, stick to a coffee drink.

This coffee shop/speciality grocery store is my new favorite spot in the St. Louis area!! They have a little bit of everything! Coffee, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, toast, a deli counter, and the most amazing pantry section I've ever seen!! So many unique goods that are special and a little hard to find! For the Christmas season the back room is set up like a "build your own gift basket" situation with wicker picnic baskets and an assortment of goods to choose from! They also have an open fridge case with different cheeses and drinks to choose from. They carry Beets and Bones juices! The coffee is divine!! I don't know what roaster they use, but you can tell it's high quality. I could tell that the barista working today (Ian) is also very experienced, as he makes a delicious latte!! I got a seasonal special latte, the salted toasted pecan latte! A toasted pecan syrup, milk, espresso, and finished with a sprinkle of sea salt (which makes everything better!!!). They make their syrups in house too! I want to go back and try the peppermint mocha (their other special drink right now). They have a wide variety of milks to choose from: almond, oat, coconut, soy, oat, whole, 2%, and skim! They have 8oz up to 20 oz sizes as well! The pastry case is magical. Monkey bread, muffins, croissants, and scones!! Everything looked divine!! My friend and I shared an apple cinnamon scone. I'm a pretty harsh scone critic and I can easily say that this is the best one I've ever had!! It was soft and tender with big apple chunks stuffed throughout. Other flavors they had today were orange lavender, maple bacon, matcha, and coconut pineapple. There is a patio in the back for outdoor seating. It is heated and is pleasant to sit on even during the winter! The staff was so friendly too! They're attentive and make sure you are finding what you need! Ian the barista has such a nice smile. Betsy was so fun to talk to as well, we chatted about cool places around the city and traveling. She gave great coffee and scone recommendations too!

I've come here several times and while it's very $$$, I think it's cute and charming. I bought my best friend, who happens to be a personal chef in St. Louis, a gift card a couple years ago and she was in there last week to use it but they refused to take it and said it was expired. You've got to be kidding me. I'm an advocate for shopping local and supporting local businesses, which is why I got her the card, you're not going to honor a $50 gift card that had no expiration on it? They lost my business and certainly hers as well.

YALL. This is the place. They've got great coffee and a little deli counter. I love grabbing lunch there and staying awhile to study/work. They've got WiFi and decent inside seating. In nicer weather, their patio is open and wonderful. I've even sat outside under their heaters and it's not bad at all. It's going to be your new favorite place!

I went there today in the afternoon to meet a friend for coffee and the service was slow because there is only one employee taking orders and only one employee making coffee orders. A second employee finally started taking coffee orders. The outside covered porch/deck area is nice with the lamp heaters.

I love this place. I visit regularly from out of town, and they are always courteous and have a great selection of coffee and tea, deli items, and dry goods, focusing on unique and small artisan crafted items The staff is friendly and goes above and beyond. They will make sandwiches to order, I have grab and go salads and beverages, and chocolate and goodies. Also a patio. Don't miss it when you are in the area!

As a person who identifies as non-binary, I cannot in good conscience write a review of the Annex that is more than three stars. One of the main reasons I decided to adopt the pronouns they/them as a rebuke to society's obsession to blanket gender people based on what they were assigned at birth. Gender is a political construct that brings generations of baggage. Results of decisions made long before any of us came along still affect the initial perceptions of our personality. The baristas of the Annex are not creating an environment representative of the diverse fabric of our city. I was SO excited for my first trip to the Annex. I had seen so many cool photos of the offerings. Their Instagram looks so posh that I just wanted to put on a hipster flat brim hat and sip lattes on their patio all day long. It's truly a space designed for millennials. But I was sorely disappointed. Three baristas barraged me with meaninglessly gendered epithets. "Dude." "Man." "Bro." I typically cut folks some slack as I am a 6'4" person. But it felt excessive and unwelcoming, and I realized before that this type of societal programming was exactly why I chose to cast aside gendered pronouns to begin with. Today, after lunch in Webster Groves with my friend Lucas, he wanted to stop in for a quick afternoon pick-me-up. As a social experiment of sorts, I asked Lucas, who identifies as a cis-gendered male, to be mindful of his experience. The same three baristas greeted us with a "what's up guys?" Lucas was confused where to order, and one of the employees said "Actually, man, you can order down there." After we ordered, paid and headed to the parking lot, I asked Lucas what he thought of his experience other than the confusing ordering system. His response: it was really bro-y. I had purposely tried my best to not put a suggestion in his head before we walked into the Annex so as to see if I was being oversensitive. He arrived at his assessment on his own. I'm not going to go out of my way in the future to patronize the Annex, but I also won't purposely avoid their space. I really enjoyed the cold brew coffee and the chocolate croissant I purchased on my first visit. The fresh sandwiches smelled phenomenal. I smiled when I saw the vintage box of animal crackers. The product they have produced is top shelf. It's just a shame that it does not feel like a welcoming safe space for people of non-conforming gender identities.

I come here all the time. The food is great and all the staff is so nice. But don't plan on your visit being a quick in and out. It's like a Khaldi's where it takes some time, especially the more crowded they get. They really need to come up with a better line system. Either bring the food out to the table, have an outdoor window/line to order in during the warmer months... anything but everybody standing around in a small area waiting to order, for drinks, or for food. It's a crowd that can be avoided with a better system and a little more pep in the step