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    Commons Cafe

    4.6 (54 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

    Commons Cafe Coffee & Tea Photos

    COMMONS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Commons Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Valentina L.

    Love how this place opens early. Perfect place to get my matcha latte before going to work. Literally 5 minutes away from my office! I love how clean and minimalistic the place is. I got the matcha latte which is about $8.50 total. They give zero sugar so you have to add on syrup or agave if you want it sweetened. Otherwise, place is quiet and perfect place for hangout or coffee date. Matcha also is very good and almost on par with LA matcha. They use the same matcha as from Archive of Us! So delicious and rich. If they did a matcha einspanner then that would be game changer

    Smiski Figure!
    Jessica T.

    LOVE the interior and theme of the cafe! I noticed that they have KEF speakers instead of the usual Sonos or Marshall. Nothing crazy for anyone to point out, just an appreciation I had for their taste! I ordered their Hojicha latte and Matcha latte which were a good standard. At peak freshness, the matcha is super umami and has a semi-rich density to it. It's not too thin and I do think they highlight the matcha well. The barista mentioned that their matchas come unsweetened which was a delight, however I do reccomend it with some agave. They don't put too much either so it was perfect for someone that doesn't prefer too sweet. I wouldn't say anything crazy, it does seem like they specialize in single origin coffee than matchas. I haven't tried their coffee yet but I'll be coming back again to have a taste so my friends can give better feedback too (they're more experienced with coffee than I am). I look forward to coming back to study.

    storefront
    Viv N.

    The newest hip coffee shop in Irvine!! I heard mixed reviews before coming, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The interior is super cute, very minimal aesthetic with korean coffee shop vibes! Located in the business area by john wayne airport so it's a bit tucked away but there's plenty of parking & ample indoor seating. Not super work friendly as they mainly have high chairs but I saw a few people with laptops out. We came on a Sunday around 2 pm and there was no line with a few tables open. We ordered a regular matcha latte and cream top matcha with vanilla sweetener (FYI - their drinks come unsweetened by default). Honestly, their matcha was just ok...not sure if it's just the umami taste but it was pretty earthy and light. Overall, just tasted like something we could make at home. I ended up asking for extra syrup on the side to help with the bitterness but after sipping for awhile, it became a little too sweet for me instead. They supposedly source from Archives of Us although I personally can't compare as I haven't been yet. Our drinks came out to be $9-10 each after sweetener & alternative milk, which made it feel underwhelming for the price. I heard their hojicha & coffee is better so I'd still come back to try. Hopefully will have a better experience next time!

    Madagascar vanilla latte and Columbia risaralda (iced pour over)
    Katie T.

    Commons is the newest cafe to hit OC. It's been all over my fyp so I knew I had to check it out. It's located in Irvine's airport business plaza; specifically near the cul-de-sac where the ghost kitchens are and I've never had any issues parking in the area. What caught my eye was its brutalist minimal interior design and aesthetic. There is free WiFi so def a place you could study or get some work done if you're able to grab a big enough table. I did not see any outlets so come with a fully charged laptop. The owner was there was kind, welcoming and knowledgeable. He explained the menu very well and seemed very passionate about his craft. They take great pride in their single origin beans. The pour overs are def on the pricey side ($12-27) but it was one of the best cups of coffee I've tried. The Colombia risaralda smelled so sweet and fruity; perfectly matching the description of the menu. So worth the splurge to try! Dine in cups are served in a pretty glass and tray and also comes with a card to describe the beans and notes. I also got a Madagascar vanilla latte which was quite good to average as well. Not mind blowing but a solid classic drink. Def will be back to try their other specialty drinks.

    Inside
    Jasmine N.

    Location is small amidst a street full of studios but definitely attracts a lot of customers. Interesting interior with the chrome silver and black as the main colors. Lots of people in there studying or hanging out so there were no seats available when we went. The flavor profiles of the coffee beans all sounded good but we didn't get coffee (which I kind of regret). We ordered the cream top hojicha latte, which was pretty good, but I've had better and it was suggested that I add vanilla to it because it was not sweet enough for folks. I agreed not knowing it was an extra charge so my drink came out to almost $9. I wouldn't have done that had I known.

    Hojicha half sweet agave iced almond milk
    Opal F.

    Early a.m. Saturday Drove around the circle until I located the cafe Menu visible- ordered a hojicha half sweet agave almond milk (plus tip) Equated to ~9$ sip I liked my drink, no unnecessary fluff Like I could be a pre-work "regular" type stuff I appreciated the option to order for here and cute coaster touch Cement slab seating, not sure I've ever seen of this length, coming in clutch The silver tables have the foot bar Parked inside, there is a classic car I assume it's classic, but what do I know Read the sign, an option though I would love to come back to try the matcha and coffee Treats on display, financier and salt bread I did see The music has a steady beat But, it's not so overwhelming that you retreat Distract thy busy mind Study the shop, features find Overall, I'd recommend a stop in Commons, a cafe vibe win xoxo -Op

    Menu
    Austin B.

    Told myself I'll try matcha and got another coffee el oh el. This time got the Costa Rica which had notes of white flower / pomelo / pear 5/5 again Seriously next time matcha

    inside
    Jin H.

    Super impressed by this new cafe! It's in the secluded corporate part of Irvine, but it's well worth the drive. Definitely the best interior decor and vibe out of all the coffee shops in the city, and believe me I've been to all of them. You can just tell a lot of care and attention to detail was put into this space. Came to do some work and there were a couple seats with outlets available, could definitely see it being hard to find a seat in the future when more people know about this place. Barista was super helpful and friendly! Their menu is all the classic drinks you can imagine, and I look forward to seeing if they start doing seasonal specials or something like that once they've been open for a bit longer! The people are waiting...They use Archives of Us matcha and hojicha here which is amazing because I love going there for matcha whenever I'm in LA. Tried the hojicha here and it was great, next time I'd want to try it with a little bit of sweetener though as the default is unsweetened. Would definitely recommend making a visit here asap while it's still relatively unknown. Wishing this new business the best!

    Rachel C.

    I got the matcha latte with oatmilk and less sweetness. It was pretty good! It had a dark matcha flavor and tasted smooth. The interior of the cafe is super minimalistic and monochromatic. Would come back, the only downside is that it's a tad bit on the pricier side. My drink came out to be $8.08. Would come back to try something different.

    Pour over and Cold brew
    Adriana M.

    Wow! I was super impressed by this place! I got a pour over over ice! It was the Colombia Risaralda, the flavor was a Mango Hi Chew, Dole Whip and Lychee! It was extremely good and the presentation is cute!!! I can't wait to go back and try the other pour overs they offer! Customer service was also great! Everyone was super friendly!

    Decor
    Angie K.

    First Visit To Commons Cafe!! New Coffee Place Located In Industrial Business Complex, Irvine!! Relaxed Atmosphere, Cool Vibes & Trendy Interior Decor!! Friendly Staff & Service!! Menu Offers Coffee Drinks, Specialty Lattes, Matcha, Cream Tops, Loose Leaves Teas & Pastries!! Ordered The Guava Danish Paired With Cream Top Matcha Latte!! Good First Matcha Drink, Creamy & Not Too Sweet!! Line & Service Was Helpful & Courteous!! Will Return Again!! ThankU

    Jennifer H.

    The cafe has a cool, minimalist vibe. The coffee was great, the staff were friendly, and overall I was very satisfied.

    Josue D.

    I had been waiting for this place to open for a few months after hearing about it, especially after seeing that they had collaborated with a coffee roastery in Japan before launching. After several visits, I can confidently say this shop exceeded my expectations. The first thing I tried was their single-origin pour over. They keep a single-origin menu on the counter along with sample tubes of each bean so you can smell them before ordering. During opening weekend, the pour overs ranged from $12-27. If you go the pour over route, I recommend smelling the beans and choosing based on the notes you like the most (and what you're comfortable spending). I went with the Ethiopia Yirgachiffe, and it was delicious. It was my first time trying jasmine washed coffee, and it changed my perspective on what coffee can taste like. I also got the chance to speak with the owner about it; he was really chill and happy to talk about his experience and knowledge of coffee, even while listening to my amateur coffee takes (sorry about that lol). If the over prices are too steep, you can also order an americano and upgrade to a single-origin espresso for an additional $1 (you can also request single-origin on any espresso-based drink). They rotate the single-origin espresso beans frequently, every week it seems like, but so far every one I've tried has been great. It's a good alternative if you want variety without the pour over price (or if you want something different from their standard espresso). Some other drinks I've tried so far: Daidai Latte: My favorite besides the pour overs. Inspired by the Japanese bitter orange, it has a nice bitterness that cuts through the milk, balanced by a bright orange sweetness. I hear they use the same syrup for the tonic, which I definitely want to try next. Mocha: Basically a dessert latte. They use chocolate ganache, so it's sweet, rich and indulgent. I downed this one pretty quick. If you order it iced, you'll also get some tiny chocolate bits with each sip, which adds a nice texture. Hojicha Latte: Very smooth and balanced with a nutty taste. I personally prefer a toastier hojicha, but the quality is still excellent. All in all, this might honestly be the best coffee shop in Orange County in my opinion. The level of care they put into sourcing and making the coffee, as well as the consistency across visits hard to match. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this place goes from here.

    matcha latte, hojicha cream top latte, squid ink salt bread, black sesame pound cake with white chocolate

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    20 days ago

    Great coffee, great service, and amazing space to enjoy coffee and hang with friends.

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    Ask the Community - Commons Cafe

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    Commons Cafe - coffee - Updated May 2026

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