Aesthetic on point. The cafe is adorable, big windows, lots of natural light, outdoor and indoor seating, and great drinks. My bf got the vietnamese iced coffee and really loved it. I got the iced oat milk chai which was also delicious. We sat outside for an hour since the weather was nice and a great place for a private chat. read more

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It is a damn good coffee......I meant DEAN GOOD coffee. :-) It is WORTH it and so enjoyable. The place is clean and service was friendly. We are from out of town and found this jewel business. Coffee was way way better than hotels' and way way better than Starbucks' read more

KEEP YOUR RECEIPT WHEN YOU ORDER! Don't press "no receipt" like I did, because their WiFi log in requires a receipt code. One code per guest/device, it must be inputted within 15 minutes, and it expires after 2 hours. This is for my girlies who plan on studying there! Also, don't order their Vietnamese iced coffee and expect it to taste like Vietnamese iced coffee. It just takes like a regular iced coffee. I would order it again, just with different expectations. The baristas and the service is amazing! Plenty of tables/indoor and outdoor seating and large windows. There's a few (NOT A LOT) of outlets, so for my study people, you've got to source your seat accordingly. read more

Dean seems to be a place for the young and the woke. A coffee shop it is not; at least in the traditional sense. It's a simple, coffee house with simple food, though neither the food or coffee is memorable. However, I would imagine that it's a great place for the upwardly mobile to meet and discuss their latest ideas. The decor is industrial; large, open, clean, and sterile. Fitting since it's in an industrial area. Lots of people inside and out hunched over their laptops. Which reminds me of it's best feature; the large outdoor patio. Plenty of fresh air, but you'll be hearing the woosh of Hollister Avenue, and trying to keep the rickety old patio table from spilling your London Fog tea. Dean's food is easy to prepare, but not the fare you're likely to see at a Panera's. My spouse got avocado, red cabbage, tomatoes, and pepitas on sourdough toast. She said it was kind of good, but the over-toasted sourdough cut her mouth. This Boomer ordered the most basic dish they had: a breakfast sandwich with sausage. Though, I doubt the sausage ever belonged to an animal. It was OK, but the greasy butter covered it and required many napkins. Maybe I was wrong to describe Dean's as Woke. However, their website devotes as much space describing their "Vibe", "Playlist", and community partners as it does its food. OK. read more

I was really excited to visit Dean: A Coffee Shop because there is a lack of good local coffee shops in Goleta - especially ones with ample seating. I love the airy feel of the cafe. It's bright, open, and has many seating options (indoors and outdoors). The color scheme reminds me of Copa Vida in San Diego. The baristas are very friendly and attentive to when customers enter and have questions (5/5). I originally was looking for a pour over but was told that they didn't offer it, so ordered an Americano and an Iced Oat Milk Matcha. I was surprised that by the time I finished paying and sanitizing my hands, that my drinks were already ready. The speediness made me wonder if the drinks were already pre-made. The price of the drinks were $5+ which I'm willing to dish out for a local shop; however, I didn't feel like the taste of the drinks lived up to the price. Americano: 1/5 The Americano tasted bland and overly diluted. I couldn't taste the flavor of the beans which was disappointing. Nevertheless, this can be an easy fix by adjusting the water to espresso ratio. Iced Oat Milk Matcha: 2.5/5 Dean's Oat Milk Matcha was very sweet for my taste. The matcha flavor was there but I would prefer an option that was unsweetened. I was also surprised by how large the portion was for this drink and how fast it came out. For a Oat Milk Matcha, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the best I've had. I'll be back again to try their other drinks, fingers crossed that the other ones are good! read more

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A clean and modern coffee shop new to Goleta! Right near a business park - I'd say the seating is ample and I can see it as a great spot in the future to study or work at. I haven't gotten to try any of their food, but made a quick stop here for a latte to share. The quad latte (meaning 4 shots of espresso!!) is plenty of caffeine for 2 and a long drive. We subbed whole milk with oat milk ($1 to sub for a non dairy option) and it's a smooth, tasty latte. It's a big cup compared to most places and well worth it. Love the decor and "TOMS" shoes color scheme. Also, the employees all look super cool~ read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop (D:CS) is the new kid on the block for Goleta/Santa Barbara. The Grand Opening was yesterday, August 22nd--a day I feared may never arrive given Covid-19 and the multiple small local businesses that have closed down for good. The owner's name is not Dean, but instead, that is her father's name who she named the coffeeshop. I deem that no place on the planet has a Coffee Culture like Seattle. It is one of the few qualities I miss about living in the Pacific Northwest. However, D:CS thankfully brings Seattle-sourced coffee by Victrola Coffee Roasters to Santa Barbara. They offer three blends of Victrola espresso, with their run-of-the-mill choice of Streamline Espresso being velvety, milk chocolate, and having toasted hazelnut aromas. However, you can request a stronger, nuttier, and cocoa-flavored option of Triborough Organic Espresso Blend. For those who want to avoid caffeine altogether, they have the Deco Decaf Espresso. D:CS has all the milk alternatives (soy, almond, oat) available, plus several syrups. The coffeeshop is clean and modern, plus conveniently sandwiched off Hollister Ave between the Direct Relief Headquarters and the SB Airport. For those who have EV cars, there are designated chargers and also a Carpool parking spaces. You can enjoy a large outdoor patio with umbrellas, chairs, and tables, topped off with string lights and plants. If you're hungry and in a hurry, they have nice looking, fresh, and pre-made salads and sandwiches in the fridge. I must mention the pastry selection from The Baker's Table in Santa Ynez. Otherwise, there are several toast options (avocado toast, date with a goat, PB&J, smashed bean, mixed marinated, caprese, and salami with gruyere). Welcome to the coffee scene, D:CS! read more

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Welcome to the Goleta family Dean! I've been waiting for this business to open up as soon as the sign was up in the window (thanks for making me wait COVID). This quaint shop is nestled into a unique location; by the airport, golf course, hospital, shopping centers and right outside of Old Town Goleta. My son and I enjoyed sitting on the spacious patio and watching the airplanes at the airport. Lots of seating and umbrellas to keep us cool. There is also a dog dish with water so you can bring your fur babies along. Now to the good stuff...the food and coffee! This places sells an amazing assortment of pastries, snacks, beverages and some damn good toast! I was brought back to my childhood days seeing that I could order a bowl of Capt Crunch or Froot Loops. The almond croissant was a delicious treat. But let me tell you, the real MVP of the day was the Date With A Goat Toast! I got it on sourdough instead of rye and it was jammed packed with goat cheese, figs, walnuts, arugula and drizzled with honey. I planned on sharing some with my friend but heck no! I devoured that bad boy all by myself. No regrets! Of course what's the point of coming to a coffee shop if you aren't going to drink some of the brew? I got an iced vanilla latte that was delicious and refreshing. The staff told me the large lattes come with four shots of espresso but since it wasn't a work day, I settled for a medium size with two shots. Overall, this is a wonderful spot to relax and enjoy yourself. For gosh sakes, try the toast! read more

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I had the pleasure of visiting during their soft opening last weekend. Right from the beginning I was blown away with their welcoming customer service, impressive coffee machines and vast food selection. Aside from the full menu I really like how they offer fresh grab and go items bc I am usually on the run. A very clean environment and a spacious patio to match! From the people, ambience, food and drink selections, I am very motivated to return! The avocado toast is a must try! read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop - The avocado roasts are amazing and very reasonably priced. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Goleta, California

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We showed up an hour after they closed because their online hours hadn't changed to their new hours (closing at 4PM now). I walked in and both of the workers greeted me and told me that they would still love to serve us. They even gave us a sample of their barista pick. Their customer service was exceptional and they made us feel so welcomed! It's wild how far a little bit of kindness can go. We will definitely be coming back :) read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop - 16oz Iced Coffee with Oat Mylk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Goleta, California

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I was super excited to see that there was a new coffee shop in Goleta! Their lattes were excellent, and they also offer a selection of breakfast items. I ordered the beans on toast which was good but a little too acidic (I think too much lemon?) Two quick notes: if you have a dog you have to sit outdoors (it wasn't a problem for us at all but just something to keep in mind if you have a pup!) and their wifi is pretty slow (my friend and I came to work that day and had to leave early because our stuff wouldn't load) Overall, I would recommend checking out DEAN if you're in the area, but definitely keep in mind wifi if you're planning to stay and work read more

Great new coffee shop!! It is so beautiful inside and there is a ton of seating both inside and outside. The seating inside is appropriately spaced and many of the people were wearing masks while sitting inside at tables. There is an abundance of outdoor seating with large benches, wide tables, and plenty of space between groups. Overall a great place to go to grab coffee with a friend!! My latte was delicious and the service was quick. All of the employees were so kind and thanked me for coming in. Will definitely be coming again. read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Goleta, California

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On a short trip to Santa Barbara, we ate breakfast and had coffee at Deans every morning! The place deserves to be a lot busier than it is. Fantastic food and coffee and a super spacious outdoor area! Each day, the service was kind and quick. We tried the avocado toast, the bean toast, the egg salad, and the caprese baguette. I also had an Irish cream latte and the oat milk chai! All of it was really awesome. The caprese was my favorite; the egg salad was also pretty good! The avocado toast was a bit sour, but overall good. The bean toast was meh, but that's more of my personal taste. If you like beans, you'll dig it. The oat milk chai was bomb! Highly recommend. The latte was good, but if you're remotely interested in the oat milk chai, get it. I added a shot! read more

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Great coffee and tea! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff. I had a chai oat cortado and it was perfect. My wife has their London fog and it hit the spot read more

looked like a great study spot! i got the brown sugar oat latte which i'd rate 4/5. decent but a bit expensive they have a parking lot out in the back but also street parking available if the lot fills read more

I love this place so much, always has friendly staff that provide great recommendations. Its a cute coffee shop with lots of space to study or catch up with friends. The drinks are great and they have a large selection as well as food. As of lately there have been some inconsistency with the food options which has led me to write this review. The items on the menu are often different from what you had ordered. For example, I ordered the bagel with avocado and pickled onions but received it with a bed of arugula under the couple onions. While its not a big difference and I can pick it off, I feel that it is a waste of product as it isn't listed on the menu and I didn't ask for it. There have been times were they've ran out of pickled onions and have asked if i still wanted the bagel or add a substitute, which I greatly appreciate. Overall great place and great service, just wanted to bring this to their attention because I will always highly recommend this place to friends and family. read more

Her name is Jennifer Shively. This is the owner and manager of Dean. Before you even walk into Dean, you are bombarded with "no outside food or drink" signs, which take away from the aesthetic inside the store. This is disappointing because the aesthetic is the only thing Dean has going for itsself. This is a fair policy but the way it is enforced is embarrassing to the store. I once saw someone eating a granola bar at one of the tables. Jennifer came over to this person on the brink of tears and started yelling at them saying that they do not allow outside food or drink. She made such a scene that other customers were looking over at her, looking visibly uncomfortable.She ended her yelling with "buy something or get out." Manager is rude and it is scaring away her customers. This was just something I witnessed firsthand inside the store so there is no need to defend it in the comments. This is just my review of the place. As for the coffee, it is decent but very overpriced. I recommend taking your money elsewhere. read more

Stopped at Dean to get coffee. Lori's Vietnamese was so good! My friend Jane loved it so much she said~ MeoW!

My daughter and I toured UC Santa Barbara and stopped here on our way out of town, it was possibly the best coffee I've ever had. I enjoy espresso drinks and enjoy trying different cafes while on vacation and this drink will be the one to beat, knocking out the iced espresso I had in Costa Rica 8 years ago. I had an iced chai oat cortado and not only was it expertly made, but the coffee was smooth, flavorful and the star of the drink. read more

Great coffee! Great customer service! Large outdoor space! I will be back! Next time I want to try the breakfast burrito.

Went for matcha latte it was eh. The only upside is the big cup...Staff felt a little cold as the barista looked me up + down ( she stemmed annoyed ) was disappointed as this place got good reviews read more

thought this coffee shop would be super nice because of the interior and aesthetic but was unpleased with the service from this establishment. the owner was super unfriendly and the coffee wasn't any better. if you're looking for a coffee place take your way down the street to old town coffee or dune. I appreciate the fast reply and your offer to give me a refund but i'll kindly decline as I'll support your local business only this time. However, I did not appreciate your hostility towards my experience as I was just sitting outside when you raised your voice and started shouting at me IN FRONT OF OTHER CUSTOMERS TO BUY A DRINK and I was more thank kindly going to do so but you continued to shout which was very indecent of you. If you love this place keep going here but I am more that unsatisfied with my experience from the coffee to the staff at this cafe. read more

Dean is my favorite coffee in Goleta hands down! I get a perfect latte and I also love their toast. The staff is always very friendly as well as the owner. I've read through some of the negative reviews and I'm pretty appalled that people expect wifi without being a customer and to bring outside food in!?! This is a small business not a library or campus hangout - as some think to treat as such. Disregard those people as their not actual customers and hope you'll give Dean a try! read more

This is my favorite place to get coffee in town. I go almost daily on the way to work, it's leaps and bounds better than anything else in the area. read more

Prob my fave and go to coffee shop in the Santa Barbara area the only down side is that they have a time limit to their wifi usage and if you'd like to extend the stay you'd have to repurchase something....makes sense but kinda not convenient as a college student the place is super cute tho read more

The Vietnamese Coffee is addicting especially if you have a sweet tooth. Its a nice place to study as well. Its really cute and comfortable to just go and spend the day studying. read more

Best chai I've ever had (and I'm picky!), nicest staff, yummy food too. It's just a cool place to hang! read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop - The best iced oat milk chai of your life! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Goleta, California

I've starting coming her to study more and more especially when weathers nice. They have ample outdoor and indoor seating, and the ambiance is very conducive for doing work. The coffee is great, but I almost always get the matcha. They've got great patries and other food as well. I love the egg toast and the avocado toast. Would definitely recommend! read more

What a great find! We had the sausage egg boppy and it was delicious! Excellent coffee as well!

definitely drop by here when i stay in goleta love the iced lavender oat matcha latte a little pricier than say starbucks but much better quality haven't tried the food but it looks good. usually i grab my latte and go. the outside seating looks nice though. read more

Excellent coffee and iced latte. Great ambience. Modern and clean. Ran out of pastries but we came near closing.

There's not a lot of coffee shop options in this area so I was happy to find this gem! The entrance was a little hard to locate but once you're there its a great oasis to study or get work done. They have a large patio, wifi wasn't the best out there, but overall comfortable and nice place to enjoy a coffee. read more

Love Dean, they have a Vietnamese coffee that is close to what I'm used to. But I love it. The ambiance is bright and airy. There's a lot of place to have a seat and drink coffee. It's also a nice place to study if you're looking for a scenery. read more

I am not usually a coffee drinker but the Vietnamese iced coffee is SO good I'm now hooked. The space is great both inside and out, kept very clean. The staff are always so friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend Dean if you're looking to support a local business with delicious coffee! read more

Love the coffee here, but it's a tad bit too sweet for my taste. I wish it had a little bit more of a coffee taste, but it still was tasty. If you enjoy sweet coffee then you should come here! Very cute place though, I could see how doing hw here would be pleasant. read more

It's in sort of a weird, industrial part of town, but is a very nice, modern airy space. The people working there were super nice. As for my latte, it was a bit bitter and watery. Not terrible, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it. read more

I've never studied at Dean's before but it looks like the perfect ambience to get some work done! I LOVE Vietnamese coffee so I normally come here to get their Vietnamese iced coffee. It's not the same as home, but it's some of the closest that I've found in SB county. It's definitely on the sweeter side, and I was told you can't adjust sweetness because they premake a huge batch of the drink and pour it out throughout the day, which is a bummer. EDIT to reply: I will definitely come back to try the adjusted drink thank you! read more

By far the worst cup of over priced coffee we've had since moving to Santa Barbara. $6.80 for a lukewarm cup of flavorless coffee that I threw in the trash at the beach a mile away... It was supposed to be an extra hot dirty chai. This was the second chance we gave them. The first time was flavorless lukewarm milk that where supposed to be lattes. You can't even taste the coffee, it's literally just warm milk. We tried... we wanted it to be good as the atmosphere in the shop seems nice. read more

Dean: A Coffee Shop - Cup of Luke warm oat milk... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Goleta, California

VERY BUSY location, so be aware in case you want to sit down at the location. However, the coffee is great and is always a nice stop for us before road trips. They have plenty of syrups (make sure to ask about them!) and a ton of different unique options. We have always had the most pleasant of service here as well. :) read more

The ambience here is really nice. There is plenty of seating and natural light, and everything is super clean. I love the variety of drinks they offer and the baristas are so sweet + helpful. I've tried the iced oat milk latte with hazelnut syrup and the Vietnamese coffee. They're both really good, but the Vietnamese coffee is probably my favorite. It's strong and perfectly sweet when you ask for 1/2 sweetness. Everything is also super customizable in terms of sweetness and I appreciate that! I'd love to try the toasts next time since they all sound delicious, and maybe even their drip coffee! read more