I've been looking for newer cafes in the area that would offer something different. The drinks, service, and attention to care goes beyond here. They give 3 different coffee bean options: Lao, Midnight, Da Lat. We went with Lao for the Honey Latte, it was SO smooth. No acidity at all. Perfectly sweetened. Reminded us of coffee in Korea, Love this. I got the matcha yuzu tonic. The matcha color is insane. I think it was the perfect balance of yuzu and matcha, not too sweet or too citrusy. Will come back here! read more

Cafe Refuge - matcha yuzu tonic - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Easily a 5 stars for us! My partner got a flat white with oat milk, and it is spectacular. The quality of the beans is amazing. The beans are roasted on site which definitely adds to the quality. The cafe is specialized in Asian beans which is super unique and rare to find here! I got a coconut matcha. They don't serve cream top drinks here but honestly, I prefer this version of coconut matcha more -- it is very refreshing and not too sweet. The owner is also great and friendly! He's passionate and knowledgeable about their work. The ambiance is great overall! Love that they have some cute cat merchs here as well! What a gems! We would definitely come back when we're in SoCal next time! read more

Cafe Refuge - Coconut matcha & Flat white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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When you walk in, the place is beautiful. It's insanely clean and so aesthetically pleasing. The service was fantastic as well! We were greeted by kind smiling faces and positive vibes. They helped us choose beans for our coffee and let us smell the different beans from different countries. The coffee was absolutely incredible. I typically don't even like coffee and yet I was stealing my boyfriend's cup away from him to get some more. This place has cheap prices for some of the most intentional and artisan coffee and matcha i've ever seen! Each cup is made to perfection and looks just as great as it tastes. Fun fact, they even roast all of their own beans in house! So you never have to worry about horribly burnt and bitter beans. We love cafe refuge!! Best coffee in town by far! read more

My new fav cafe! Cafe refuge was 10/10. It's beautiful and clean inside. They play music but it's also extremely quiet which makes it a great place to do work. Everyone in the cafe was doing work or school work when we arrived. The service was excellent. Everyone was soooo sweet and helpful. They were so welcoming and really made the experience special. We ordered the honey matcha latte which was really good! It was the perfect amount of sweetness with the honey. They made it beautifully and it tasted great! You can tell they use quality matcha too! This is definitely my new cafe!! Extras - the bathrooms are super nice and clean! There's a good amount of parking too which is nice :) There are also wheelchair accessible tables read more

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This is a very cozy cafe with a simple and clean aesthetic - although there isn't a large amount of seating inside the cafe so it may be difficult to sit down during peak hours. This place has a large parking lot for easy parking. I went to their grand opening - all the staff were welcoming, very friendly and provided very good recommendations. I got the Strawberry Matcha Latte which was very refreshing and well-balanced with the matcha and the strawberry. The strawberry was light and slightly sweet which complemented the earthy matcha but did not overpower it. I really liked the drink! My friend got the Orange Expresso Tonic. Overall a super cute spot, definitely would want to come back and try their other drinks. read more

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Really excited to have an Asian owned and operated coffee and matcha cafe, with an exclusive focus on beans grown and sourced from southeast Asia, in central Costa Mesa! What I love about the experience here is that you can select which type of coffee bean you want in your drink. We went during grand opening and they had three to choose from - I chose the Lan Xang from Laos - which had a more chocolate-forward aroma - as a pour over on ice. You can sniff test the aromas of the three beans from their sniff bottles, which is a very unique experience compared to other cafes where it might not be clear what beans they're serving. The space is minimal, yet beautiful, highlighted by their beautiful jade green booth seating that lines the length of the cafe. Walking towards the back of the cafe, you see their roaster and knowing they roast their beans fresh on site makes me love them even more. Staff is super friendly and owner-operator Noi is a great guy. Looking forward to returning soon and trying their espresso / matcha tonics! read more

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GRAND OPENING DAY Cafe Refuge is Costa Mesa's newest standout. Owned by Noi & Tiffany, this shop is rooted in a powerful story of resilience, honoring Noi's journey as a Lao war refugee and celebrates Asian culture through specialty‑grade beans sourced directly from Asia. What began as a local coffee cart has grown into a beautiful space that highlights Asian coffee culture with intention and heart. They're currently brewing incredible beans from Lao and Vietnam, with Philippines coming soon and future plans to source from Taiwan and beyond. Asian coffee doesn't get enough love, and Cafe Refuge showcases it beautifully, deep, grounding, and unforgettable. Their drink menu is stacked: excellent matcha, excellent espresso, and my personal favorite is the Coconut Matcha, which is refreshing, vibrant, and generously matcha‑forward. They also offer Oat, Almond and Whole Milk for alternative‑milk lovers. Don't forget the fresh croissants and pastries. Ask to have them warmed, it's the perfect treat alongside any drink. TODAY'S ORDER: 01. Coconut Matcha -- $7.50 -- 5 Stars - One word: REFRESHING. Perfect sweetness, deep green color, and clearly high‑quality matcha -- unlike the pale green you see at many OC/LA shops. 02. Honey Latte w/ Oat Milk -- $6.25 -- 5 Stars - Perfect ratio of espresso to milk, with just the right touch of honey. Smooth, balanced, and honestly addictive. PARKING: Plenty of parking in the plaza on the corner facing Harbor Blvd (next to the AYCE Sushi spot, Sherwin‑Williams Painting Store, and Big 5 Sporting Goods). DECOR & MERCH: Clean, modern aesthetics with beautiful emerald green seating. Can we talk about the bathroom, you don't often find or see one that is clean and smells good! Adorable merch too - tote bags, sweatshirts, tees, hats, and of course, their coffee beans. CUSTOMER SERVICE: The baristas are friendly, warm, and helpful...a refreshing change from shops where smiles are hard to find. DRINKS: I love that their coffee isn't overly acidic, and their sweetness levels are spot‑on for both drinks I tried. VERDICT: A meaningful story + exceptional coffee = an easy 5 stars. Thank you for a warm visit. I wish you nothing but SUCCESS. I will be stopping by often. NOTE: The Laotian Vendor serving authentic Laotian desserts was only for their Grand Opening Day. The items will not be available post-Grand Opening. read more

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What a cute spot with a simple, straightforward menu! Today is their grand opening so they had a 20% off drinks promotion. Parking is easy with a shared lot and very accessible off of Harbor. Upon entry, you see this open and clean space that is both welcoming and minimal. Love the matcha green booth seats! Now the drinks: we got the Honey Matcha Latte and Lan Xang Pourover. The matcha is tasty and refreshing with the sweetness of honey. Didn't make any adjustments because when asked how sweet, they said it's made to the asian palette of sweetness, which means "not too sweet" (aka the perfect level!). The pourover is also refreshing and it definitely packs more of a caffeine punch if that's what you're looking for. Lastly, the merch! Love the design and simplicity of their logo on the items. We won a tote from their social media contest and can't wait to use it. It even has extra pockets on the outside, perfect for water bottles or anything you need quick access to. The owner Noi is also super friendly. Definitely worth checking out and grabbing a drink if you're in the area. read more

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We decided to drop by on the way home from a kid's birthday party as we desperately needed some caffeine. The shop was very easy to find and parking was easy. We got the Coco Expresso, Yuzu Matcha Tonic, and Strawberry Milk. We usually ask for 1/4 sweet whenever we get drinks but we decided to try the drinks with their default sugar level because the owner explained that the drinks are not very sweet to begin with because they wanted to let the coffee and matcha flavors shine. We were glad we listened because the drinks ended up being the perfect sweetness for us. My husband likes coconut water and coffee so he loved his Coco Expresso. The Yuzu Matcha Tonic was so refreshing and yummy! I'm glad they have matcha tonics in addition to matcha lattes because I'm not really a fan of lattes. Our daughter enjoyed her strawberry milk as well. I had a sip and it was actually really good even though I'm not a milk fan. My daughter also enjoyed watching them make the matcha drinks and grind the coffee beans. The interior is very nice and spacious with lots of seating, and would be a great spot to just hang out and catch up with friends. We will definitely come back whenever we are in the area! read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Grand opening weekend when we went on 5/30/26. There was a slight discount on some items, which was nice. Located at the north end of the Big 5 / Sherwin Williams / Centinela Pet shopping center. Across from the Costa Mesa golf course. Fast and friendly service in a casual atmosphere with indoor only seating. Order at the register and they call your name when your order is ready. I got a strawberry matcha. Wife got a coffee drink, and kids split a strawberry milk. Also got two croissants - plain and bacon jalapeño. Minimal food items of the croissant variety, but they heat them before serving. Everything was great! Around $30 with tax and small tip. Not bad given today's crazy world. read more

Cafe Refuge - Strawberry matcha, strawberry milk split for two kids, some iced coffee drink, plain croissant, and bacon jalapeño croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Walking into Cafe Refuge, everyone greeted us right away and the whole place felt super friendly and welcoming. It wasn't too busy inside, so definitely give this cute spot some love. The menu is short and simple, which I actually liked because it made ordering easy. I tried the honey matcha latte and it was really good. The honey flavor definitely stands out the most, but it made the drink taste smooth and delicious. My partner got a coffee and loved that you can choose which beans you want, which makes the drink feel more personal and unique. I also love that they roast their coffee beans in-house and focus on ethically sourced Asian coffee and teas. There's also plenty of seating, so it would be a great spot to study, work, or just hang out. Overall, Cafe Refuge is such a cute new coffee shop in Costa Mesa, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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As soon as we walked in we were greeted! They were all friendly! We got 2 drinks: Strawberry Matcha with Oatmilk Iced Pour over Both drinks were really good! For the iced pour over they said they don't do it iced yet but still made it over ice for us The inside has a variety of seating! The place is overall beautiful and has amazing photographs on the wall! read more

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Really authentic and yummy earthy matcha. There was no line when we walked, drinks were made quickly. It was quiet, a few people were there working on laptops. They had self serve simple syrup and vanilla to add to your liking. Great addition to the area, I will def be back read more

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Was exploring and searching the best matcha drink in the area and found this 5 star cafe. Came early in the morning and it seems new. There's still a grand opening signage in front of the cafe so i assume this place is new? Inside is neat and minimalist...They also selling their merchandise which is pretty cool. Got the strawberry matcha and the staff were kind and even advised me to stir it before drinking to fully enjoy it. You can really taste the quality of the matcha. It had a vibrant flavor and smooth finish with no bitterness. Definitely worth checking out if you're a matcha lover. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Great new coffee and matcha spot! They have many options for matcha and espresso, all of which are solid options. They also have fresh croissants which they can slice open and heat for you. They have alternative milk to choose from, like coconut and oat. And I LOVE their coconut water matcha drinks. Very generous with the matcha servings as well. The owner, Noi, used to run a mobile shop and now has a brick and mortar storefront. Theyre located in a large plaza with plenty of parking, on Harbor in Costa Mesa. Will be back! Second time now. read more

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Much needed coffee with real coffee - this maybe isn't the place for you if you are a coco puff, fruity pebble, smore cookie butter latte person. You choose your bean profile and then add a milk with syrups limited to vanilla or simple syrup. The coffee really is the star of this latte and it was spectacular. I did ask to add a dried orange for a little kick and the barista obliged. 10/10 ! read more

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Cutest concept for a coffee shop and the people in there were very friendly and helpful. I got honey latte and my bf got iced americano and we got to pick out our coffee blends. Fantastic coffee!! read more

Cafe Refuge - Honey latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Here for the soft opening! Check out this Asian owned coffee/tea shop. Plenty of seating, nice variety of drink options, super friendly staff. read more

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Great spot that allows you to choose your beans for each latte, giving you a choice to try different styles! Coco expresso isn't anything overly unique though it's done right with the freshly ground expresso. Very personable staff and clean decor. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coco expresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

so nice to see a cafe that really values coffee! i love how simple the menu is, because it really highlights the quality of their beans (which they roast themselves!!). i had a lovely conversation with the owner and learned a lot about their mission. so cool how they're supporting farmers in asia and showing the beauty of asian coffee and teas. i'm really excited to see how they grow! will definitely come back and try their other drinks. read more

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The staff is very knowledgeable about the various roasts. Very friendly service. The coffee is outstanding. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is so cute!! The logo I can't get over. The strawberry matcha was the perfect balance of sweetness. The coffee they offer was so smooth and refreshing. The staff were so nice as well,I definitely recommend trying. read more

Cafe Refuge - Honey latte, strawberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Just an awesome experience. Artisanal Asian inspired drinks served in a beautifully designed and built out spot. Had the iced Da Lat (Vietnamese) brew. Oh it was so good, just the right amount of bitterness and smoothness. Kudos to the Roaster. Can't wait to go back to try other menu items. read more

Soft opening review. Very nice staff and damn good coffee. Menu is somewhat limited right now but coffee drinks and matcha drinks on menu with some croissants. It's very clean and mellow inside which is perfect for a coffee shop. No internet right now but told it was coming soon. I will def be back. #supportsmallbusiness read more

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Great new cafe that opened up with plenty of seating, and they roast their own specialty beans. Love how you can sniff and choose your beans for your espresso based drinks. Fantastic third wave coffee spot with also excellent matcha. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee and matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'm not a Macha person so I wasn't sure if this place was for me, but their regular latte with a little bit of simple syrup really surprised me. Really delicious! Staff was sweet too. read more

Finally a good coffee shop! The owner seem to know what they are doing and definitely have a passion for it. I was in the area and searched coffee shops near me. So glad i did, I went in to try just a basic iced vanilla latte. They let you choose the beans you'd like and the owner also recommended what flavor of beans would taste best with my latte and she was right. The perfect taste of espresso as you take a sip. The vanilla is not overpowering its the perfect balance. read more

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Showed up and had the best coffee I've had in a while top 3 forusreeee. And I'm a coffee connoisseur so that means a lot, customer service was 10/10 super kind ! read more

Great drinks and environment. Friendly staff. This place has become my go to place. I strongly recommend given it a try, you won't be disappointed. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Cool minimalist vibes for a new cafe. Simple espresso drinks and green tea lattes. We came for a soft opening. Friendly faces and tasty drinks, I'm looking forward to the grand opening! read more