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.

To preface, we are used to coffees from Westminster and Garden Grove and tried a good amount of…read morespots 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!

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!

Oh, The Lost Bean... I'm at a loss for words…read more I really wanted to love this location. I've been a customer at the Tustin location for years, so I walked in excited. Unfortunately, this visit was one disappointment after another. We arrived at 8:30 a.m. hoping for a peaceful coffee-and-breakfast morning. Instead, we accidentally wandered into what felt like a Janis Joplin tribute concert. The music was blasting at nightclub volume--not exactly the relaxing start to the day we had in mind. But surprisingly... that wasn't even the worst part. The food was incredibly disappointing. I ordered the breakfast burrito, and the potatoes were still raw--hard enough to remind me they were once part of the ground.. My husband ordered the French toast, which looked suspiciously like it took a quick detour from Trader Joe's frozen aisle before landing on our table. There's nothing wrong with frozen French toast... unless you're charging $14 and calling it brunch. Another friend ordered the granola with berries. After a few bites, he gave it a skeptical look, pushed the bowl away, and decided breakfast simply wasn't worth the gamble. The coffee was decent , but honestly wasn't worth fighting the neighbors for a parking spot!

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.

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.

Best matcha I've had. Always crave it after I finish it! I…read moregot the matcha one and it's the perfect sweetness, I've also had their coconut coffee and it's amazing, a little on the sweet side but still great!

Finally, I was able to try Airoma for the first time! I had the opportunity to come while in the…read morearea and the location was much better location wise compared to their previous spot. Parking, however, due to the other popular neighboring restaurants can pose a challenge. There was a line forming, but it goes by quickly and the drinks seem prebatched to save time. Even if that was the case, their drinks are amazing. My recommendations are their Double Matcha, Matcha Einspanner, and their Pandan Coffee. All are excellent choices and the sweetness level is a good ratio for me. I kept my matcha at a regular sweetness and it was perfect. Any less, the bitter taste may be too strong for me, so I enjoyed it. The service was fast, and the matcha was definitely up to my standard. I would highly recommend Airoma for your matcha and coffee fix!

I've heard great things about Airoma, so I was really happy to stumble upon here when I was…read moreordering from a restaurant in the same plaza! I came on a Monday around 11AM, and it was decently crowded, which surprised me, so I had high hopes. However, the line was short, so I didn't have to wait long. The cashier who took my order was very friendly and efficient. I got a Matcha Pandan (75% sweet). I waited around 5 mins before I received my drink. Honestly, I would give the drink 3.5 stars. What I really liked was that I could taste the pandan! I also thought 75% sweetness was perfect for me. The size of the drink was also generous for the price as I'm used to smaller sizes at other matcha cafes for the same price. However, I didn't really taste the matcha which was odd because before mixing my drink fully, I took a quick sip and definitely tasted matcha. Once I did mix it though, the matcha flavor was gone, and I mainly just tasted pandan. Overall, mainly giving Airoma 4 stars for the service and efficiency! My drink was good, but not mind-blowing. Maybe their other drinks like their coffee are better, so I'd try them again if I'm in the area.

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.