Contra is one of my favorite coffee shops. I always order…read morethe Gold Rush, their take on a Viet coffee, not as thick or sweet as the original. Service is fast and friendly. Great place to bring your laptop and hang all day. Several seating options inside and relaxing vibes.

Contra is one of my favorites! It's probably my favorite at the orange circle. There are so many…read moredifferent 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.

I wish I lived closer because I would go here daily!…read more Stopped by late one evening on my way home -- the amazing aroma floats through as you walk toward Coffee Heist and I was excited before I even got there based on how yummy it smells walking in to store. I got an iced coffee for the next morning and a jasmine tea for that evening -- both were exquisite. The tea was refreshing and the coffee is so flavorful, strong without being bitter and lots of delicious notes. The guy working behind the counter was so kind too -- appreciate his thoughtfulness once he found out I would drink it next morning, he held on putting ice in so it would stay concentrated til the next day. I need to go back and buy a pound or two of coffee -- or maybe they can open one closer to me in LA too :)

Walking through Main Place Mall, I made a spontaneous stop at Coffee Heist (after all, I KNOW what…read moreStarbucks offers). I was fortunate to be greeted and assisted by Hector, who kindly and patiently described their offerings. Not familiar with Vietnamese coffee, upon hearing me express my dislike for anything too sweet, he presented me with a coffee drink that I enjoyed (despite also avoiding rich & creamy beverages)! My first experience of a Vietnamese coffee was luxuriously smooth and tasty. I like the wood furnishings and open windows giving an open-&-airy feel in this small, cute-&-comfortable shop. Fun find!

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....

I remember trying to go here a while back ago when it blew up on TikTok but ended up not sticking…read morearound because it was so crowded (and also because I got harassed by a neighbor outside who, in his own words, was trying to make people feel not welcome here because he was angry about people coming in and parking in the neighborhood... weird). Still, I decided to give this place a second chance (no angry neighbor this time), and I was glad I did! PARKING: There's street parking around the neighborhood - I parked on Almond Ave so I wasn't in front of a house. The spots right outside the shop were 30 minute only. If you can't find parking there's probably tons as you go east if you're willing to walk. WHAT I ORDERED: Pistachio cream cold brew THE DRINK: Amazing. I've had my share of acidic or bitter cold brews, and this was not one of them. The cream was perfectly sweetened and flavored . SERVICE: Exceeded my expectations. The baristas when I came in were very bubbly and answered my questions and gave me suggestions, and were funny too! I wish I got their names, but they were working on Monday early afternoon - I hope they get some recognition. We also got some samples of the food items (which may have swayed me to get the turkey panini next time I come in). Even with the experience I had above a while back ago, I remember going in to let the baristas know and they were very understanding and apologetic, which I really appreciated. VIBES: Probably one of the top coffee shops to get work done in OC. Here's my work-from-coffee-shop checklist: * OUTLETS: So many. Not at the tables downstairs but in the private rooms and at a lot of the seating upstairs. * WIFI/INTERNET: Yes, good speed * BATHROOMS: Yes, clean * WATER: You can ask for free water * VOLUME: Music was a little bit loud but not terrible * SEATING AVAILABILITY: Lotsssss of seats when I came on a Monday late morning-afternoon. Very cool that there were private rooms (which can be reserved two hours in advance if you call them), tables, bar-style seating upstairs, and most importantly, comfy couches!! * LAPTOP FRIENDLINESS: No restrictions BOTTOM LINE: I can't believe I almost missed out on this gem. I'll be back soon!

Food/Drinks: matcha…read morelatte - not the richest matcha taste or quality and when i got it with oat milk, the oat milk flavor ended up overpowering the matcha a bit. although, it wasn't bad it was still decent to sip on while working! iced caramel macchiato - on the sweeter end of drinks and if you get oat milk it will overpower the taste a bit but still a decent drink banana cream matcha latte - has the creamy texture from the banana cream and surprisingly the banana didn't have a strong artificial banana taste. to me, that's a little rare and in a good way. the matcha isn't a strong matcha taste but still present avocado toast with egg - it was plated and presented nicely which i was kinda surprised about. it tasted decent. the bread is on the softer/soggier end rather than the crispy and toasted end. the sauce and radish overpowers the taste. i got a runny sunny side egg and it was a nice addition for me. service: this spot has one of the nicest helpful service. i was here for a few hours working and despite shift changes, each new staff who was working were so nice and helpful! ambiance: it's such a bright and spacious spot with a few study rooms and many seating. it's bright and has a cozy wooden feel. i love that there are many outlets and it's not overcrowded or too loud. it was the perfect spot to work at!

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.

I genuinely think Ayer Coffee has the best matcha in all of OC. Ever since they opened, I've been…read morethere 4-5 times a week and somehow still haven't gotten tired of it. The quality and consistency are honestly unmatched. I've tried pretty much every drink on the menu at this point, and every single visit tastes just as good as the last, which is rare these days. Yes, the line can get long sometimes, but the staff does such a great job moving things quickly while still being friendly and attentive. You never feel rushed, and they're always happy to answer questions or make recommendations. Their new guava matcha is AMAZING! Super unique and refreshing without being overly sweet. I've already convinced a bunch of my friends and family to try Ayer and now they're hooked too. Even my dad, who visits Vietnam often and is very picky about coffee, said he liked the coffee at Ayer even more. I've also purchased their Saigon blend to make Vietnamese coffee at home, and the staff were incredibly helpful in guiding me on how to brew it properly. You can tell they genuinely care about both the quality of their drinks and the customer experience. Ayer deserves all the hype. Easily one of my favorite coffee spots ever.

Ayer is one of the best matcha spots in OC, it's very convenient for me that I live seven minutes…read morefrom there so I'm able to go there anytime. Their service is one of my favorites the workers are polite and friendly and the drinks never disappoint.

First time checking out their new location and I have to say the space is bigger, brighter, and…read morethey finally have tables and chairs where you can actually sit down, sip your drink, and hang out for a bit. There was a line out the door when I arrived, but don't let that scare you away. The team kept things moving quickly and efficiently. I ordered the Matcha Pandan with less sweet, and it was absolutely delicious! The pandan flavor pairs well with the earthy notes of the matcha. Honestly, I cannot even imagine how sweet it would be without modifying the sweetness level. As someone who prefers non dairy drinks, I was happy to hear from the girl taking my order that it's made with oat milk. That creamy oat milk combined with the matcha and pandan made the drink smooth. This one is definitely going to be my new go to order!

I have been lovinggg airoma, it's my recent obsession and I literally come all the way from LA just…read moreto get it... I always ask for less Ice and buy multiple to save it for the next day, but I'm so sad by how much ice there is in this drink.. literally 3/4 ice.. :/ The service here is also always very good and I've never had a bad experience with the workers which I do appreciate. But it does ultimately come down to the quality of the drinks. It's in a huge lot so you'll always find enough parking. Other than this encounter, I love their drinks. I just hate it when I'm loyal to a place and there is a lack of consistency, especially if I drive far for it.

I went in here today, because I wanted to get their Yuzu-mango matcha latte drinks to help boost my…read moreenergy so that I can walk to the CVS pharmacy on the other side of Orange without losing so much energy. It worked. The servers were busy and thankfully there is an iPad you can utilize to order your drink and/or meal without causing any disruptions. I really like that. I also love how lovely and comfortable the indoor furniture is.

Blk Dot Coffee is a neat, urban shop with a minimalist design and straightforward menu. Some bakery…read moreitems are offered, but the primary focus is a fresh cup of coffee. I popped in on a Sunday morning after a brunch nearby and opted for my regular order, a cold brew with a splash of oat milk. My coffee was GREAT and I was really digging the decor and red brick exterior. However, the mood was dampened as the ambiance inside was a little soulless. No music, no laughter. Additionally, the staff was a little moody for my taste. I got decent service but staff were frowning and not having a good time. Maybe I visited on an off-day? However, the shop wasn't busy nor were customers being unpleasant. I just think the band of baristas needed a social check-in. I can see this shop taking off one day and becoming a hit in many cities. I'm rooting for this place, they just need to work out the social kinks. Note: Merch is available for you Blk Dot superfans.