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Aesthetic vibey place. Lots of ppl come here to study. Busy for a weekday around 3:30pm. Drinks were good. I'd be curious to try one of their matches or other coffee options. Don't think I'd order the Buko Kape again. Little too much coffee taste for me. Croissant was just okay. Nothing crazy special. Buko Kape: 4/5 Cheese & Spinach Croissant: 4/5
This was a great find! They have so many new and creative drinks while not compromising the taste of the matcha or coffee. There's plenty of seating inside and they have a good music playlist for ambiance. Service is very friendly and welcoming too. I got the Mango No. 5 which was a matcha latte with mango puree and sweetened oat milk with a coconut foam and it was surprisingly so good!! I've never seen these flavor combinations for a matcha but they work. The drink was not overly sweet and it still tasted like matcha. Highly recommend this spot for a quirky, laid back coffee shop with delicious drinks.
My favorite iced coffee in the Orange Circle! I've been coming here for years, and it always hits the same. It's a block away from the main downtown area. Street parking and the nearby used to fill up quickly, but now that the area charges for parking, it's even more of a commitment when I'm already picking up a $6.50 coffee. I honestly wish they had a 10 minute pickup spot in front of the shop to make things a little easier. The shop is bright, cute, and very aesthetic, with a great collection of records lining the back. Finding a table can be tricky, especially when Chapman is in session since the seating fills up quickly. I also like that they have their coffee ready on tap and add specific customizations depending on what you order. I always get the Lovebirds, which only comes in large. It's a coffee oolong milk tea, which is a pretty unique combination. I like how it's strong, more coffee-forward, and less sweet than what you'd typically get at a boba shop. I do like coming here, but I have to have a good reason to spend time in the Circle when I know I'll be paying for parking. Otherwise, it can be a little hard to justify for just a coffee run.
I lucked out and found a parking spot right in front of the shop. Not sure if it was a pay to park spot, but I wasn't planning on staying. Upon entering, the vibe was very cool/chill. Lots of people hanging out, studying, reading, chatting, etc. There's cool art around and the music in the background set the vibe. I ordered the "Kuya Ate" a latte with an ube foam. Sigh... I love ube and as a Filipina, maybe my expectations of ube in anything are high because for me, this fell short. The flavor is so faint that I think it's more like I'm feeling it only because it's purple... not necessarily because it's what I'm tasting. The espresso is very prominent and had a Smokey essence.. which then masks a lot of the "ube" flavoring.
I've alway really enjoyed this place and had to come here when I was visiting Orange Circle. Hazelnut Milktini (5/5): This was by far the best drink I've had here and my group all wished they got this drink instead of what they ordered. It is a horchata latte with hazelnut espresso. The sweet cinnamon added great flavor to the drink and the hazelnut added great flavor. This was such an amazing drink. Will definitely be back!
Another "not my first time here but first time reviewing." Contra is one of my other rituals when I visit Old Town Orange at least once a year, it's one of the funnest coffee shops in Southern CA. They have a lot of unique draft coffee and tea drinks. This time I opted for the Ube Thai Tea for just the right hit of caffeine - it wasn't bad, but i think i prefer their pandan drinks. Wish I had more time in the area, it looks like a cool place to get work done - but it can get crowded!
Contra is one of my favorites! It's probably my favorite at the orange circle. There are so many different options to try out and they even have a flight if you want to try multiple drinks at a time. I tried one of their seasonal drinks: Buko Kape, which was coconut vietnamese coffee topped with pandan foam. The coffee was strong and delicious. The pandan foam was the perfect addition. My other favorites are the Lovebirds and Foxy Cleopatra. I really love the flavors of their drinks. As always, their service is superb and I love interacting with the baristas. They're so sweet! Lots of space to do work and reliable wifi. There's a bathroom in the back as well. I love the songs that they play. Parking can be a little hard to find if it's later in the day. Most of the parking around there is 2 or 3 hour paid parking.
To preface, we are used to coffees from Westminster and Garden Grove and tried a good amount of spots there. I wanna start by saying that this place is so unique with their decor and the vinyl records. There's so much space and that's a standout trait in comparison to many cafes. Parking next to it is paid so be sure to park on the street. We ordered 3 coffees - Melo, Ate Latte, and Kuya Latte. The presentation was nice but none of us liked our coffees. :( I know that many of the comments here are opposite of how we felt so maybe it was just an off day? I'd say give the place a try anyways!
This matcha is really good! If you are in Orange and are looking for a cafe, please check this one out! They have Filipino-inspired flavors. The service is good and the inside is very cute and music-themed. Sometimes, there is even a DJ!
It's in Old Town Orange so the parking situation is not the best. Contra's interior space was much bigger than expected and had plenty of tables and seats. I really liked all the decor and there's also a small record store in the back. I ordered Mango No. 5, which was the mango coconut matcha latte. The flavors worked well together but I did not like how chalky the matcha tasted. I was disappointed by the drink given the $8 price tag.
Dope spot with some seriously good coffee. The vibe was chill with tons of seating although it gets really busy with students so seating can get tough. Had the buko pandan. Both the colors and flavors of the drink were wonderful. There's also a record store inside if you're looking for a side quest with your coffee.
Super cool/cute coffee shop. My friend and I really enjoyed taking in all the signs, posters and Records that they posted up all over the shop. For coffee, I tried the Melo, which was very delicious. I actually expected the coffee to be a lot stronger, but sweetness of the caramel and cold foam balanced it out nicely. If/when I'm in the area again, I'll definitely go back to try other options!
Parking is street parking only, and you'll need to pay through ParkMobile. The coffee shop is super cute with plenty of seating. I ordered the Hazelnut Milktini, and it was delicious with the hazelnut and horchata combo. It was the perfect sweetness combo (not overly sweet). Recommendation(s): - Hazelnut Milktini Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Street parking (pay using ParkMobile) - Plenty of indoor seating
1 year ago
The service here is great. The coffee is onolicious!! The atmosphere is very chill with lots of seating for students and customers. There's also a small vinyl and stationary shop located inside. We got the Kuya Latte and Gomas 'n Cream. Both drinks has great flavor as it is very balanced with the flavor and coffee. read more
Located in Old Towne Orange! There's street parking available, but it can be difficult to find during peak hours. I usually park at the parking structure close by which is about a 10 min walk. There's several tables inside and a small clothing store in the back by the bathrooms. I came on a Friday around lunchtime and it was pretty busy, almost every table was taken. They have a wide selection of lattes and teas. My friend and I decided to share a coffee flight where you can choose any 4 drinks from the Taplist. We chose Foxy Cleopatra, Lovebirds, Dirty Horchata, and Princess Daisy. Out of the 4, my favorite was the Lovebirds and Princess Daisy, which was a refreshing mango passion fruit green tea. We wanted to try the Kuya Latte but they didn't have any more so I'll be back to try that. The cashier was also super helpful. Even though it was busy, she took the time to go through the menu and provide her recommendations as it was our first time. Overall, will definitely come back the next time I'm in the area. read more
I came here for the flights and I was not disappointed. I loved the fact that I can choose coffee and tea and their menu to choose from was a good amount. I had a hard time deciding because the flavor combinations were so good and very unique. Flights were $11 and I got there pretty early which is way better because I got to sit on a cute little couch and just enjoy my drinks. It definitely got busy maybe 30 min later. You are also able to adjust your drinks and there's even a sign up front to not hesitate to ask for drink adjustments. I told him I don't want my coffee too strong. There's another place I go to for flights and they said they can't adjust it at all. I would definitely come back here again. Also when they make the drinks, it looks like a bar where they pull the handle to pour beer so that makes this place very different. Here's what I ordered: Lovebirds: Coffee Oolong milk tea Foxy Cleopatra: Vietnamese coffee and Thai tea Prince Palmer: Earl Grey tea lemonade Derozan: Lychee Rose Black Tea read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Stopped In For A Quick Coffee Pick Me Up. First Timer. The Vibes Were Nice. Service Was Good And Fast. The Spot Is Nice With A Cool Little Record Store Inside. Definitely Recommend The Ate And Kuya Lattes. read more
What a GEM! I am totally in love with Contra!!! It is located in Old Town Orange, there is street parking as well as a parking lot across the street. Restroom is in the back and requires a key. The ambiance in Contra is very comfy, warm and inviting!!! The few times I've visited, there is always a line which is a good sign and the line is worth the wait. Customer service is always friendly, turn around time to get your goodies it not long at all. I absolutely love that they have plenty of good options which include a coffee flight which is hard to find. Foxie is my fave as well as Daisy. Everyone I know that has been to Contra have good things to say. I would definitely recommend and come back again! read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
The Liftoff, chose the dirty horchata, gold tush, love birds, and the foxy cleopatra...my favorite was thr gold rush, but these were all amazing coffees. And guess what... they were all on tap, yes, on tap!!! So cool. Definitely recommend this chill spot with an even creative selection of coffees and teas. I think I'll be back in our next visit here. Thank you Contra! read more
3 years ago
Absolute gem in a little corner of a plaza in Orange. Went here to study with my bae and film a project! The scenery here is one to behold, a definite 10/10 coffee shop type of vibe, fast internet, and refreshing organic drinks. The yummy... 5/5 The Thai tea was actually really smooth and refreshing! ____________ The affordability... 3/5 Inflation is getting out of control... 6-7$ a regular sized drink? C'mon Cali what's going on ____________ The service... 5/5 Nice coffee cats! ____________ The ambiance... 10/5 Absolutely love the atmosphere here. Looked so good for our film. _____________ The cleanliness... -100/10 Everything is so amazing here, but the bathroom. The men's bathroom literally has poop on the toilet seats. And the door jams the person inside HAHA. Please. For the love of the people and business, get this fixed asap. read more
3 years ago
Love this place!!! There was plenty of public parking lot behind the coffee shop as well as street parking. The staff were very friendly and helpful for our first visit. A cute coffee shop with great ambience for a chill and relax atmosphere. We got the flight which comes with 4 different coffee/tea options. We chose the gold rush (vietnamese iced coffee), prince palmer (earl grey tea lemonade), love bird (coffee oolong milk tea), and princess daisy ( mango passion fruit green tea). We loved the variety of options that they have on TAP! Thats right, their drinks are on tap! My favorite was the prince palmer and love bird. My husband liked the princess daisy. Their drinks had a good amount of caffeine and the teas were super refreshing. We will definitely be back to try some of their other drinks. read more
4 months ago
It's always a pleasure to visit Contra. I've tried all the other coffee spots in old town orange but I always find my way back to contra. This time, we tried the Hunny pot from the shaken specials and the Patagonia from the fall specials. Hunny pot: Honey cinnamon oat milk latte 9/10 ($6.35) -The flavor and fragrance of this drink is outstanding. You can distinctly taste every ingredient, making each sip a fantastic blend of honey, cinnamon, and creamy oat milk. It's a must-try for anyone looking for a delicious classic latte. Patagonia: Pumpkin spice Thai tea latte with coffee 10/10 ($6.35+$0.50 if you add coffee) -Contra never misses with their Thai tea drinks. This drink literally combines my love of psl, Thai tea, and coffee in perfect harmony. The flavors all bend together so well without overpowering any flavor. Definitely add coffee for $0.50 if you want a little caffeine boost! Parking: I just park along the street right in from of the coffee shop but if not, there's a little free public parking lot just down the street. There's also a little cute stationary store and vintage clothing shop hidden in the back of the shop if you have a chance to stop by and check it out! I highly recommend this place for people to want to try out unique flavors read more
10 months ago
9 months ago
3 years ago
Ate latte is my go to whenever I come here; it's on the sweeter side so just FYI in case you aren't into teas that are more sweet forward. You can also get this with coffee but just know that it will also obviously change the taste to be slightly more bitter from the coffee. All and all, really great drink, great staff, and great location with a parking lot slightly past it that can sometimes be full. Can't really say much about the ambiance other than that I couldn't find a seat on a Thursday afternoon since it was literally packed! Do people not go to school anymore or is everything just virtual now? Haha anyway expect this place to always be busy with several folks on their laptops or chilling out. Nice welcoming vibe nonetheless. read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
My friend and I decided to check this coffee shop out and it's SO cute. They have two little stores in the back that are worth checking out. We loved each drink we got. My favorite was foxy cleopatra and my friend's favorite was the dirty horchata. The best part was the flight of four is actually a really good price! The staff there seem really nice and chill and the cafe is just a nice study area. On top of that, the downtown area was lovely to check out. read more
2 years ago
What a cute spot! Conveniently located in Downtown Orange, Contra is a quaint, hip cafe with tons of character. If you're coming to work from home or study, make sure to nab an all day parking (there is a parking structure a walk away or some curb spots), as most parking here is max 2 hours. There's not too much seating for large groups, but thankfully, my coworkers were able to find seats. It is a bit loud in here for working, but I found myself enjoying their playlist! I ordered Strawberry Fields, which is their strawberry matcha equivalent - it was a pleasant mixture of the flavors, leaning more faint on the strawberries. I'd visit again - love the options around the area. read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
The coffee in here is great. The service was excellent and speedy. I wish I lived closer as I really loved the Ate Latte. read more
Super sweet and chill place to study. There aren't a ton of outlets, so make sure your baby is charged or just hope you get lucky. I ordered the flight for $11 which lets you choose between any of their drinks on "Today's Taplist" (usually the left most panel of their menu in case they change the name). We got the earl grey lemonade, thai vanilla oat milk tea, rose lychee black tea and horchata. My favorites were the thai tea and rose lychee black. The thai tea and vanilla oat milk blend together surprisingly well (i.e. it doesn't just taste like what you'd get a boba shop if you got thai tea subbed with oat milk). The flavors just complement each other surprisingly well. The rose lychee was sweet, delicate, and refreshing. I also enjoyed the early grey lemonade, but it just wasn't as unique tasting as the other two. I'm not a horchata fan in general, but my friend who is said the horchata was her favorite. read more
I had high hopes for Contra Coffee but it unfortunately did not meet my expectations. Service was amazing and the atmosphere was modern and fun but the drinks were just not good, in my opinion. I can see why other people would enjoy this spot but it was definitely not my cup of tea (or coffee). The drinks were overly sweet (even when ordered half sweet) and just did not taste right. My sister and I ended up throwing our drinks out more than halfway full. read more
I have been coming here since 2021. It is such a fun spot and when they aren't having a little local vendor show they have coffee/tea flights. Now some of the presweetened options are a little on the sweet side for someone like me who normally chooses 1/4 sweet levels. However, everything is still very very tasty. I recently came in and had the ube oatmilk Thai tea latte and I really enjoyed it! She was still awesome when I stopped in and this item was able to adjust sweetness levels! They also have a bunch of books and fun things to look through while you are waiting and then enjoying your beverages! Definitely check this place out if you are considering it. read more
1 year ago
Super sweet staff, very helpful. I tried the earl gray matcha and it was delicious, such a good combo. I would definitely come back and try other options. Super cute place to study as well. read more
What really pulled me to this place was their unique menu and the vibes. This place had a so many unique drinks, I will definitely be back to try the others! My first visit here I got the Buko kape and the cloud 9 matcha. I really enjoyed how distinct the Buko flavor was in the foam top! They really don't shy away from adding bold flavors , that often get overpowered by the bitterness of the coffee. The cloud 9 was a matcha based drink with earl grey tea I think. While not my personal favorite, I can definitely see someone who enjoys this flavor profile enjoying this type of drink. In terms of a spot to study, there were plenty of spots to choose from, the only thing lacking was accessible plugs and apparently the WiFi isn't that good either. With a good hotspot and fully charged devices this can definitely be great spot for late night (up to 10pm) study sessions! Looking forward to my next visit! read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Contra is an amazing place to have a nice drink and sit down and study in a clean, well-decorated, spacious cafe. There is plenty of seating (tables and couches), as well as a vinyl shop in the back if you want to browse. We ordered four drinks, and all of them were high quality and delicious! The Princess Peach had a light peach flavor, the horchata was a good sweetness, the Bee's Knees matcha had no lavender flavor which was disappointing, but the thai tea was perfect. This place would be 5 Stars if it weren't for the lavender honey matcha having no lavender flavor and the price ($6-$7 per drink with small cups so there's really not a lot of beverage, even in a large). There was only one person working but she was efficient, kind, and helpful! Love Contra! read more
2 years ago
The Contra transformation over the years should be studied. I used to come here in college, and I remember their menu being very different. Back then, it was mostly a frequent spot for me because of their atmosphere, not so much the drinks themselves. I recently went back after a long hiatus and was very pleased with the new menu - lots of Asian-inspired flavors, like the seasonal Buko Kape. The other seasonal coffee drink, the Cocoa Butter Kisses, was delicious too - the bergamot flavor was super concentrated and makes the drink fantastically unique. Quite honestly, I went back 3 times in the same week. read more
2 years ago
service: girls in the front are very sweet and accommodating! they are taking donations right now to help with the fires, so very thoughtful! coffee: i got the derozan and it has a very good lychee flavor that doesn't come off as fake! super flavorful and floral! hard to forget! ambiance: super trendy, they have a vinyl and stationary store in the same place! very well lit and plenty of seats and outlets to study and chill! music is calming but not enough for me to fall asleep if studying! read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Such a cute coffee shop! I've been to Old Town Santa Ana a few times but never noticed this cafe until recently. Went in on a weekday in the morning and got lucky because there was a lot of street parking available at the time. My friend got the Strawberry Fields, which was a matcha latte topped with strawberry foam. The matcha flavor was good and not too strong and the strawberry foam was very light. I got the Uh Huh Honey, which was a honey lavender oat latte with vanilla foam. I was expecting it to be sweet but it was actually very strong. I believe they are willing to adjust your drink for you but the man at the bar was working alone that morning and there was a line, so I didn't bother to ask. He was able to get the drinks ready right away though, which was great! Prices are a bit expensive.. about $6+. But I would come back again to try something else and enjoy the ambiance more. Great spot to hang out or catch up with a friend! read more
1 year ago
Contra is always my go-to cafe when I'm in Orange. I love their coffee alternatives like their lemonades and ice teas which is great for non-coffee drinkers like me. The staff is always friendly and I always love having small talk with them. Theirs always seating available and I love their playlist (I've even asked and have it saved on my Spotify). They also have these cute, little shops in the back to check out along with their little library selection. read more
11 months ago
Honestly so good that I visited 2 days in a row to get it! Rich, creamy, coffee smells so good, caramel flavor stood out, the foam add such a fun layer. Not a fan of cinnamon tho, and i prefer it better when I ask them to make it less sweet! Service is nice, the baristas are so friendly and chatty. read more
More info about Contra Coffee & Tea
115 N Orange St
Orange, CA 92866
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(714) 696-8793
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Ask the Community - Contra Coffee & Tea
Are there outlets for computers :)?
I don't think there's many, but there are a few! I've charged my phone in the corner before :) there might be more that I haven't seen
Are we talkin' only awesome drinks, but no food items at all?
They tend to have a small selection of baked goods such as donuts, ham/cheese croissants, etc. However, they usually run out in the morning wheras they are open all day.
Do you allow dogs inside?
I don't work there but they haven't had an issue so far with my 90 lb Goldendoodle. They did ask me to not put his cone on the tables but other than that they have been totally welcoming with him. The staff have even come from behind the counter…
Is it hard to find parking here? i heard the nearby street parking is permit-only & the parking lot across gets crowded fast.
There is 2 hour street parking and a parking lot across the way. If you do a pass by once or twice, you're bound to find a spot.
This place is listed as having outdoor seating. Is that still available?
The only outdoor seating are the two small tables with 2 chairs each.
Are any of the coffees unsweetened?
Yes! They have a few purely cold brew options with no add-ins.
Are they dog friendly 🐶?
Do you offer decaf options?
Yes! There was one coffee decaf and one tea decaf on the menu.
Are there outlets to plug in to around the outdoor seating area?
there are a few! it's mostly alongside the walls, & those seats get filled up fast if you come on a busy day.
Anyone know if Simplicitea is back on tap?
It's on their menu this week. They regularly post their taplist on their Instagram.
Will you be open 3/16 and that entire week? Just checking, since I know some places are closed for a bit due to Covid-19.
Unfortunately they will be closed until further notice. :/ I had an event that was supposed to happen there this past weekend and it got cancelled and was informed they'd be shutdown until things calm down with COVID-19.
How is the WiFi here? How would you rate this place for individual study or study groups?
WiFi is good at first but throughout the day when it gets busier it starts to get choppy. Individually in the morning and then groups usually form later in the day.
Do they have any muffins or other pastries?
Just recently they started carrying vegan donuts from Caffeinated Kitchen.
Do they have almond milk?
All of their "milk" bases are made with Rice milk. No dairy milk is used.
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