With all the talk about 11:11 Coquetry Maison buzzing around campus leading up to their grand opening on March 6, my expectations for a chic, well-decorated coffee house with delicious food and drinks were set. 

Unfortunately, the hype was not met. While 11:11 surely did deliver on vibes, the high prices and lackluster product left much to be desired. The shop was busy, which was to be expected for the opening weekend. From my count, there were only three employees working.

The interior is beautiful, there is no doubt about that. The shop is well designed for natural lighting with floor-to-ceiling windows. It is decorated with mismatched but cohesive furniture, plants and an outlet every six feet. 

Coquetry Maison has the vibes down. The clientele seemed to appreciate that fact as well. I saw several people pause for photoshoots against the aesthetic backdrops. 

The shop has a grab-and-go case where I picked up a box of baklava and other assorted pastries. They were delicious, if a bit pricey.

But the disappointment started as soon as I approached the register. A small latte cost me $6, with an additional $1 charge for caramel syrup. For a $7 latte, the drink was thin and bitter and lacked what I would expect from an artisan coffee house – quality. 

I also ordered the 11:11 Maison Cafe, which was better than the latte and had a deeper flavor profile, but still felt on the smaller side for the $8 price tag. The higher price of the pastries didn’t feel as criminal as the coffees to me because I know baking takes effort and time. But $7 and $8 for bitter, watery coffee felt like a rip-off.

I tried two of their gelatos — mango and pistachio —which were delicious until I bit into a piece of plastic hidden in a spoonful of the mango-flavored gelato. I still finished both gelatos, scraping the plastic clean for every last bite of refreshing icy goodness. The gelatos were my favorite part of the experience, even with the surprise bite of plastic. 

While the shop certainly was aesthetic in its venue, it seems their opening weekend maintenance had gotten out of hand when I was there. The trash was overflowing, and I had to stack my cups on top of the trash pile. They did seem to have a small staff, but the overflowing trash was the cherry on top of the disappointing cake.

The shop also advertises its matcha, refreshers and various sandwiches. I didn’t elect to try these, as my total was already $67.60, including tip. 

11:11 Coquetry Maison is beautifully decorated with a well-curated vibe. Unfortunately, that seems to be their main, and only, selling point. If my goal were to have an aesthetic study session, 11:11 would be a great spot to go. For coffee, though, I’ll take my business elsewhere.