Better than Starbucks …read more They win on quality, service ,simplicity, fresh ingredients, and just being that local coffee shop that Orange County people love .Can't beat that Starbucks...

Had some time to spare before our son's soccer game down the street and stumbled upon this fabulous…read morecoffee shop. I decided to try the iced Mexican mocha from their seasonal menu--and it did not disappoint. Next time I'd add just a touch more sugar, but that's purely my preference. I also grabbed a loaf of fresh sourdough and couldn't wait--I tried it in the car and it was absolutely spectacular. The decor is adorable, and the little Jesus detail... yessss, I loved it. Highly recommend this spot! The service was great--just be patient, as it's clearly a popular place. Even with a line, they moved quickly and had my drink ready in no time

I've been following Contra Coffee since the early days, back when they were in Santa Ana near 4th…read moreStreet and later when they were operating out of their rolling pop-up van. It's been awesome to watch their growth over the years. What stands out most is their consistency. No matter where I've caught them, the drinks have always been on point. They continue to put out quality coffee while staying true to what made people fall in love with them in the first place. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, creating an environment that makes you want to stay awhile. I'm also a big fan of the library-inspired concept. It's a unique touch that gives the space character and makes it feel more like a community gathering spot than just another coffee shop. It's great to see a local business continue to evolve while maintaining the quality, hospitality, and atmosphere that got them here. Looking forward to many more visits.

Super cool/cute coffee shop. My friend and I really enjoyed taking in all the signs, posters and…read moreRecords 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!

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!

This coffee shop absolutely made my day for so many reasons:…read more They roast their own coffee beans in-house, which adds a unique touch to every cup. Their drink menu is creative and unlike anything I've seen elsewhere. The staff were incredibly welcoming, friendly, and passionate about what they do. The ambiance was warm, cozy, and inviting--the perfect place to relax and enjoy a great cup of coffee. And most importantly, the coffee itself was phenomenal. The flavor is honestly hard to describe--it's something you simply have to experience for yourself. If you're a coffee lover, this place is definitely worth a visit!

Came to Hidden House Cafe to spend an hour working and being creative, and unfortunately the vibe…read morewas off from the moment I walked in. The cashier seemed really unwelcoming and standoffish. Maybe she was having a bad day, I don't know, but the interaction felt cold and uncomfortable. I ended up matching the energy and kept it brief. On the bright side, my iced matcha was ready in about a minute, which was great. But honestly, customer service can make or break an experience, and this one left me not wanting to come back. I haven't been here in months, and I was hoping for a more welcoming atmosphere. Just sharing my experience and hoping management pays attention, because a little kindness goes a long way.

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.

Drinks here are sooo good. Hojicha is good, with a proper tea flavor and not watered down at all…read more The banana hojicha is super good. Definitely can see why the other reviews rave about it. The black sesame coffee latte didn't have much of a black sesame flavor, even with the black sesame cream mixed in. But the coffee flavor was good. Employees are friendly and prepare the drinks with a sense of urgency. Even with a long line, it wasn't a long wait.

I love when a place can take a request and take it seriously! Because I asked for an extra extra…read moreextra sweet matcha einspanner and they DELIVERED! I love a really sweet drink, and this was just that. The wait was a little bit long because this is a really popular location now (sometimes there are people lined up outside). But luckily, there's so much parking available and the line does move pretty quick. The inside has a few tables, but definitely not enough for a really large group!

Airoma is usually known for its matcha and I've tried almost all of their matcha drinks at this…read morepoint. This time I decided to try the phoenix oolong milk tea and it was so good. The tea flavor is pretty strong which I love because a lot of milk teas from other boba shops end up tasting mostly like milk. This one had a really nice tea aroma and didn't feel watered down at all. It's on the sweeter side so if you don't like that, definitely ask for lower sweetness level. If you were a fan of Orobae's rising phoenix oolong milk tea before they closed, this is probably the closest thing I've found to it. The service was quick and friendly. The inside of the shop is super cute with a clean, minimalist vibe. I'd definitely order the phoenix oolong again. It's easily one of my favorite drinks I've had here so far!!

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.

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.

Philz coffee is my favorite coffee spot in OC! I can't rave enough about it. Their coffees always…read moreget me wired and locked in. The coffee is delicious when served sweet and creamy and the staff is always nice to adjust your drink if you don't like it. I typically order the Iced Mint Mojito as its fresh, sweet, delicious and comes with fresh mint! This time I opted for the new seasonal Cashew Cocoa. This drink was also delicious, but a little too sweet for me, and if you don't like cashew milk I would opt for a different beverage. The pastries are on the sweeter side, so keep that in mind if you order the almond croissant or cinnamon roll, but the flavor is there. The blueberry muffin was probably my favorite as it was so moist and paired well with my coffee. This Orange establishment is nice and offers games (like most Philz') so you and your friends/family can play, while enjoying a coffee or pastry. The company even offers used coffee ground to take home for your garden - a full recycle moment! The staff is always pleasant and friendly, and each barista usually has a name tag in front of their station. If the place is busy (and it can be busy) you can also order online for a quick grab and go! The coffee, staff, and atmosphere keep me visiting the delicious Philz Coffee. Thank you!

I've given Philz Coffee multiple chances, but at this point it's just frustrating and…read moredisappointing. The biggest issue is the customer service. Every time I come in, there are 5 to 6 employees behind the counter, but more than half of them are just standing around talking and laughing. It creates a distracting environment for the few people who are actually trying to work, and it shows in how slow and disorganized everything feels. What really pushed me to write this review is how often the app is completely inaccurate. I'll get a notification saying my drink is ready, only to show up and find that it hasn't even been started yet. Meanwhile, the person who is supposed to be making drinks is busy chatting with coworkers instead of focusing on orders. This isn't a one-time thing either. It's become a pattern, and nothing seems to improve. Long waits, lack of urgency, and poor communication make the whole experience frustrating, especially when you're paying premium prices for coffee. I used to enjoy coming here, but the repeated lack of professionalism and attention to customers has really turned me off. Hopefully management steps in and addresses this, because right now it feels like customers are not a priority at all.