This coffee shop has been on my list forever, so when I was in the area I finally stopped in to try…read moreit--and I'm glad I did. It's such a cute spot. The space is really bright and calm with a ton of seating, and there were lots of people working on laptops, so it definitely feels like a good place to hang out for a while. What I loved most was the neighborhood vibe. People were greeting the barista by name and saying "see you next time" when they left, which made it feel like one of those local spots everyone secretly wants as their regular coffee shop. The barista was super friendly too and chatted with me while making my drink. I ordered the iced vanilla latte and it was great--smooth and not overly sweet (which is rare because vanilla lattes can easily taste like dessert). Overall, very cute spot, great vibe, and good coffee. If I lived closer this would definitely become one of my regular stops.

Hopper & Burr is definitely a staple in the Downtown Santa Ana area-- a clean, minimalist (hipster)…read morespace with genuinely good coffee and some creative offerings, making for a solid specialty coffee shop. I believe their espresso leans toward a lighter roast, coming through bright and expressive, while the milk drinks are dialed in with that smooth, silky texture that makes you want to savor. That said, the drinks don't always scratch the itch for me in the way I might expect but it might just be that their speciality drinks aren't quite what I typically look for. Nonetheless I do still think they have a strong coffee program and a team that clearly cares about craft.

HHC Coffee was a wonderful stop and a great way to start our day! I enjoyed the Strawberry Matcha,…read morewhich was refreshing, smooth, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of sweetness. My husband ordered the Brown Sugar Maple Latte and absolutely loved the rich, warm flavors. We also shared the Ham and Cheese Pesto Croissant, and it was delicious--light, buttery, flaky, and filled with great flavor. Everything tasted fresh and thoughtfully prepared. One of our favorite parts was the outdoor seating area. We loved dining outside and enjoying the beautiful weather while sipping our drinks and relaxing. It created the perfect atmosphere to slow down and enjoy the experience. The atmosphere was welcoming, the drinks were excellent, and the food was just as impressive. We'll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Highly recommend stopping by if you're looking for quality coffee, delicious pastries, and a great outdoor dining experience!

It is unfortunate that as I was browsing reviews, another very recent review touched upon the…read moreservice experience here too. I came in today and was served by a blonde cashier who felt cold and unfriendly. She was very bubbly and warm towards the patron (who was also a white woman) before me, who maybe seemed to be a friend or a regular. They were chatting for a bit and when it came to be my turn at the register, her face completely fell and she did not welcome me or say any greeting. Just.....silence........so I awkwardly ordered my drink. Once I said my order, she turned her head to the specials menu, and had a cold, blank expression, which made me think that it was out or that they couldn't do what I asked. I asked her if the drink I ordered was available, and there was a long pause before she dryly laughed it off and said that she didn't register what I was saying. It felt like a lame excuse and it felt so awkward; so I just tried to be as polite as possible and continued with my order. I wanted to just sit down and leave asap. It was so disorienting because she had acted in a completely different way with the girl before me. I just shrugged it off as a bad day, but when I consulted my friend about it, she said that the same girl acted in the same way towards her. And then I came here to write a review and saw that another Asian woman seemed to have a similar experience, so it doesn't just seem like a one-off thing....

Have been coming here for a while but I guess I never noticed oats as a topping before? I love…read moreoatmeal and the grainy-ness taste it gives the drink. It is one of my favorite drink toppings now second only to tea jelly from A Little Tea Genmaicha is one of my favorite teas so to have that as a latte with oat milk plus the oats was amazing. Their drinks are very tea forward which I love. I got 25% sweet which was plenty for me because I think the oats were sweetened too. Winter melon latte was standard

Bako Tea House is a nice boba place with a variety of tea drinks to choose from. Aside from…read morecaffeinated options, they also have some caffeine-free drinks like Wintermelon Tea Latte, Sesame Milk Frappe, and Golden Barley Cassia Tea Latte. Tip: Be careful with the sweetness level here because it runs pretty high. I got 75% sweetness for some drinks, and they were still pretty sweet. At 100%, one of the drinks was way too sweet and I had to dilute it. * Wintermelon Tea Latte 5/5 - This was a very tasty drink with a unique flavor from the wintermelon tea. 75% sweetness was perfect. * Peachy Green Tea 2/5 - 100% sweetness was sickening sweet. It was like drinking sugar, and I could barely taste the tea or peach flavor. Once the drink was diluted, it was better. * Matcha Latte 3/5 (75% sweetness) - The matcha was very grainy. It wasn't bad at first, but the graininess became really distracting as I kept drinking it.

Parking is easy for this place, it's located right next to the parking structure and you get a…read more1-hour grace period for FREE. Matcha here is perfect! They also bake all of their pastries in-house. The staff is super friendly and this location shares the space with a cute boutique shop so you can browse while you wait. This is my go-to spot for a quick pick me up matcha or coffee at work.

Located on the corner of 4th and Spurgeon. Black exterior marks the spot…read more How'd it go? I entered the double doors roughly 4pm on a Thursday and it was nice and quiet. There's a small sitting area good for about 8 people. There was one guest on laptop, so I presume they've got wi-fi to for anyone studying or working on the go. The menu hangs overhead above the register where you place your order. I was greeted, "how can I help you today?" I replied, "Dirty Vanilla Chai please, iced, w/oatmilk,16oz" As-is you're looking at $7.25 for this latte, after milk substitution and tax out the door it's $8.25. A bit steep considering the competition in DTSA. What did you order? - Dirty Vanilla Chai Latte 4/5 Stars Excellent latte, just priced a bit too high. Overall? Mid day caffeination fix compliments of Muse Coffee definitely hit the spot. Comeback kid? I would but not unless my number one recommendation is open. Interested in finding out which independently owned cafe in the area with seating, Wi-Fi and whose outstanding lattes come in under $8. Check out my reviews if you'd like to know who's got it locked in the DTSA coffee shop scene!

Great service caught me at Enchanted Coffee…read more Some coffee shops serve great coffee. Others leave you thinking about the experience long after you've left. Enchanted Coffee did exactly that. I stopped by around 12:40 p.m. on a weekday, and the café was already bustling with customers. Luckily, I found the perfect outdoor seat where I could enjoy the sunshine without sitting directly in it. Inside was clean and welcoming, with mostly high-top seating, a communal island, and a small corner with traditional tables. Being on the shorter side, I knew the patio was my best option. During my visit, I also noticed guests enjoying the café with their dogs, adding to the relaxed neighborhood feel. Whenever I visit a new restaurant or coffee shop, I'm looking for more than great food. I'm paying attention to the experience. Customer service is where I believe businesses either shine or fall flat, and it's often what determines whether I'll return. I ordered the Lox Bagel along with a lavender oat milk matcha. I asked if I could add a single shot of espresso, but Elizabeth explained they pull two shots at a time. I laughed and told her, "I don't want you to dump it," so I happily took the double shot. She also let me know the bagel would likely take 20-25 minutes because only two employees were working. I appreciated her honesty and told her to take her time. Instead, my food arrived in less than 10 minutes. The Lox Bagel came on an everything bagel which was my choice, smoked salmon, cream cheese, arugula, tomatoes, red onion, and capers. They serve it whole, allowing you to slice it yourself. The bagel had the perfect toasted crunch, while the combination of creamy cream cheese, fresh vegetables, salty capers, and rich salmon created a bite that was balanced and incredibly satisfying. The dirty lavender matcha paired beautifully with it. As more customers continued to pour in, I couldn't help but watch how the staff handled the growing crowd. People patiently waited in line, squeezed into available seats, grabbed drinks to go, and somehow everything continued flowing smoothly. Even with only two employees working, the service never lost its warmth. Enchanted Coffee captivated me with more than its coffee. It was the hospitality, the honesty, and the overall experience that won me over. Needless to say, they've earned themselves a new weekly customer. If you're in the area or simply want to be captivated by the drinks, food and service...definitely give them a try.

10/10 Horchata Matcha - This drink is FIRE. It totally caught my attention, and I knew I had to try…read moreit. I had high expectations since I already love horchata and matcha on their own, but together?! Hell yeah, even better. This drink did not disappoint, and I'll definitely be getting it again. Cost - $8.00

Finally, I was able to try Airoma for the first time! I had the opportunity to come while in the…read morearea and the location was much better location wise compared to their previous spot. Parking, however, due to the other popular neighboring restaurants can pose a challenge. There was a line forming, but it goes by quickly and the drinks seem prebatched to save time. Even if that was the case, their drinks are amazing. My recommendations are their Double Matcha, Matcha Einspanner, and their Pandan Coffee. All are excellent choices and the sweetness level is a good ratio for me. I kept my matcha at a regular sweetness and it was perfect. Any less, the bitter taste may be too strong for me, so I enjoyed it. The service was fast, and the matcha was definitely up to my standard. I would highly recommend Airoma for your matcha and coffee fix!

My favorite matcha place by far! I've tried so many other matcha places & still choose airoma over…read moreany. For the price, quality, AND quantity, there's nothing better than this. And the matchas already come with oat milk so you don't have to pay $1 for milk alternative unlike most places. I love their blueberry matcha, less sweet and their banana coffee. I always make it a must go spot whenever I'm in OC and will happily stand in line for it. Seating wise there are a few tables and chairs but not the best place to study imo since it's quite loud.

amazing customer service! great ambiance as well. The building setting is well mapped out and is…read moremade with care and to decrease crowding. Really enjoyed the banana coffee as well. Went to the Santa Ana location and Triss was really nice and helped me figure out what I was ordering.

Excellent Vietnamese coffee spot, top tier! Parking is easy…read moreand free, in a strip mall. Service is friendly and efficient, you get a buzzer for your drinks/food. We tried their Hazelnut Phin Coffee which was strong and full bodied flavor- one of my favorite. I also liked their peanut butter espresso (not Phin, so a little weaker) but very good. We also tried their Chocolate croissant which was extremely flaky (and embarrassing how much of a mess we made) but delicious. Their Bahn Mi Que (southern Viet sandwich) which comes in a pack of 2 small ones, which was well flavored and delicious. Will be back when in the area. They also have water and tea for free if sitting down! WiFi and clean bathrooms- a good place to study or hang out.

After finding my love for coconut cloud matchas, I HAD to try out the one here after seeing photos…read more There are chunks of coconut at the bottom that was a nice surprise when drinking it. The matcha foam was also creamy, but the star was the coconut water! So refreshing and not too sweet either. Definitely wouldn't mind coming back here to get it again when I'm in the area.

The cafe has a detailed aesthetic that has nice illustrations and nicely decorated with…read moreillustrations and mirrors that reminds you of windows. It only had a few seating areas; so will likely be packed during peak hours. The parking is decently sized. Ordered the following: Strawberry Matcha Latte Banana Cream Matcha Sakura Matcha Latte They have a variety of drinks (even a lot of creative matcha flavors). The Strawberry Matcha Latte had fuit pieces that had a nice balance of sweet and earthy flavor of the matcha. The Banaba Cream Matcha had a creaminess with banana flavor mixed with the matcha to balance it out. The most interesting one was the Sakura Matcha, it has a soft subtle flora that wasn't so strong that it over powered the matcha. Definitely would like to try some of their other drinks.