A great cafe to study/get work done with a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating. Drinks were decent but not the best matcha I've ever had. Croffle was tasty!! read more

Cute coffee spot that has friendly staff. They are often super busy so be prepared to wait for your order. Their Matcha Latte is quite delicious, has indoor/outdoor space to sit and study and some munchies too. I saw people ordering the croissants and sandwiches, so looking forward to trying it next time! Located next to the market in a large strip mall. Some parking but I usually park farther away as it does get quite busy. read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Veggie Pesto Croffle -- GIVE THE CHEF A RAISE! First time trying it and wow! The Chicken, Veggie & Pizza Croffles are the best. The Mugs is quickly becoming one of my favorite coffee spots--the Kyoto cold brew hits perfectly, and the Tiramisu Latte is a must. Even when it's busy, the staff (shoutout to Shaun/Shawn & Jacob) always deliver respectful, friendly service. I've come mornings, noon, and evenings--every visit is a great experience. This place is the spot for amazing coffee and vibes! read more

The Mugs - Veggie Pesto Croffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Such a good study spot in Irvine! This is 1/2 locations I've been to and personally this one is my favorite. I like the concept of having a "study room" inside the coffee shop. There are plenty of seats but this place does get packed super fast. If you don't mind waiting for a table or sitting outside to wait. Coffee prices are the avg now, starting at $6.50 unfortunately. The tiramisu was my favorite though! I've also bad chai latte before and it was just as tasty. Open until 10 pm so great late night study spot read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

- Vibes: 5/5 (Lofi, everyone studying) - Crowd: VERY crowded always rip - Menu: tons of choices! - Value for price: 4/5 (drinks are 5.50-7.50) - Service: 4/5 (can be slow when busy) - Parking: shopping center I feel like this is a classic university study spot bc no matter what time I've come it's ALWAYS packed. They always play chill music to match the studying vibes, and there's a good amount of seating so sometimes if you're patient you can wait for a seat to pop up. There are about 5-6 outlets and 10+ tables. The menu is quite diverse, definitely on the pricey side for the side. It's one of those places that will put less drink if you ask for less ice. I've tried a couple of drinks here and they've been good but not phenomenal. The horchata latte just tasted like cinnamon (wasn't getting much rice flavor sadly). Their croffles are TO DIE FOR however! I've tried the matcha and black sesame, both spectacular. If you're willing to take the risk of not getting a seat, this is a reliable place with fun drink options. read more

The Mugs - Black Sesame Croffle, Matcha Croffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Went here on a Sunday morning, and it was pretty busy! Lots of people studying / working in the shop. Service was fast. You order on a kiosk and they serve your drinks on the counter. Workers were nice. I got the matcha latte and unfortunately was disappointed :/ The matcha quality was not very good.. it tasted off & was grainy. The drink was also way too sweet that I actually didn't finish my drink. I would recommend to ask for it less sweet. I tried my sister's coffee, which was way better. I would probably stick to ordering their coffee instead! read more

The Mugs - Blueberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered a Matcha Cream Foam Latte & it was pretty good! Didn't have a strong matcha flavor on the top but I enjoyed my coffee. I would avoid the matchas here. My sister got the blueberry matcha & it was overly sweet and didn't taste of high quality. read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Dalgona Coffee!! Dalgona foam!! Just delicious. The place is spacious but everyone seems to love it here because it's busy at any time of day, filled with people and their laptops. Definitely get here early or be ready to stake out the place if you're planning on getting work done here. You order through a kiosk which I enjoy but the perusing also means you may wait a while and it's awkwardly oriented so it can feel crowded by the entrance. They have pastries, croffles, and other baked goods. The coffee outshines the croffles we got - a pizza and ham & cheese croffle. But they made for great snacks. read more

Walking in we were greeted by the friendly barista! They had a variety of baked goods which all looked amazing! We ordered 3 drinks! Pour Over: Iced Pour Over (Yellow Bourbon) Berry Hibiscus: I got this drink iced Cold Brew All drinks were great! I think my favorite out of the 3 would have to be the Pour Over! This place is very spacious for sitting inside and outside! Overall really enjoyed this place! read more

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The iced latte I ordered was good and the little room inside is an excellent study/work spot. Service is pretty self serve but they were nice about recommendations. Ambiance is just casual cafe not particularly special. I want to try their speciality lattes next time like the Dalgona. I didn't order food but my friend got the ham and cheese waffle-croissant sandwich and mentioned it was no waffle just smashed croissant. But I can't personally attest since I didn't try her food. Parking is readily available in the big open lot with Zion market. Overall pretty solid coffee spot and would go back! read more

So our initial draw to this coffee shop was their seemingly unique specialty latte flavors. Banana caramel? Strawberries 'n creme? That sounds delicious! Sign me up. But the twinkle in our eyes slowly faded as we took our first sips. Frankly, you can kind of tell from the photos... they use those syrups like the ones used to top off sundaes. Both latte flavors just tasted like these artificial syrups. The Mugs also specializes in croffle sandwiches, which were pretty good. We got the ham & cheese and the sriracha chicken. I was going to give this spot 2 stars, but they certainly earned another with their service. After telling the staff that our lattes were rather weak, they gave us a free shot into each! We were totally fine with paying for the added shots, but they insisted that the shots were on the house. read more

The Mugs - Banana Caramel Latte and Strawberries 'n Cream Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I have been spending almost everyday here for the past month studying for my boards. I love that there is ample desk space and outlets at almost every desk so that I can actually be there for quite some time studying. There is a wide selection of drinks and all reasonable priced. You can order drinks at the automated kiosk or with one of the baristas. The kiosk is super convenient especially if u don't like having to talk to anyone and want to order quickly. Drinks are usually made pretty fast and I don't usually have to wait to long There is ample parking since it's in a strip mall sort of. It can get pretty busy on the weekends so if u want study space, you need to come early which I usually come around 9 and don't have any problems finding a table. read more

Overall a great cafe to work at if you don't mind a crowded cafe :) people definitely come here to work -- several individual tables and bar seating, all with outlets. Always poppin. Drinks are always really yummy! I've tried the matcha banana latte which was gooood, and the matcha latte. Service is good - everyone's really nice :) read more

With such an abundance of cafe options in OC, I found The Mugs to be...just okay. Good, not great. Not bad necessarily? But just not the kind of place I'd be eager to come back to again. We came by on a Saturday morning before heading out on a walk and wanted a lil bit of caffeine and a pastry to fuel us. I tried the orange matcha tonic and was not a fan despite my love of all things orange I just couldn't get into the tonic flavor and found it really overpowered the match and orange flavor. I also got an earl grey scone and it came in this bulky unnecessary plastic packaging. The scone itself was good enough, but again, nothing I'd be excited to come back for. We also waited quite a bit despite there not being many other parties. Overall, three stars because the strawberry milk my husband ordered was yummy and helped me get the matcha tonic flavor out of my mouth. read more

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I ordered the iced banana coffee, half sweetened and I was a little disappointed when the banana flavor tasted artificial. It tasted more like a banana laffy taffy. I also ordered a strawberry croffle and it was delicious but it had too much strawberry cream. read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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I've been here twice and had the double matcha and strawberry lemonade, respectively. The double matcha was solid! The strawberry lemonade was just alright, but when I asked for less ice, this is the amount that was given to me (see image), more than half the drink cup being full of ice :,) read more

The Mugs - Strawberry Lemonade - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Wanted to try a new coffee shop and my boyfriend and I will def be back. I tried the strawberries and crème latte and him the banana caramel and we loved them. The strawberries and cream latte had a unique taste I've never had before but it fit perfectly. It had a great balance of sweet and espresso, with a very yummy taste of strawberries. I wish the crème part was more included and it had soft top crème but the latte was exceptional. My bf got the banana caramel latte and also thought the mix of banana, caramel and espresso was perfect. Neither too sweet and the flavor was spot on. Cafe was packed and no ac during the heat wave so we left immediately after the drinks were ready, but would def go back for takeaway! Definitely high quality espresso and you could see them effortfully measure out the drinks. read more

The Mugs - Banana caramel latte and Strawberries 'n Cream Latte, they were exceptional - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Had amazing coffee at this place! Loved the self order machine, but the baristas are helpful and sweet!

It is a place for reading and studying as they have outlet for every table. Americano is okay. But the bread is Costco. Why do you pay over $5 cheese Danish when you can get that at 50 cents. They really have to improve the quality of bakery or nobody eats that here. read more

The Mugs - Danish - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

A spacious and welcoming spot for an authentic cup of coffee or matcha. Even more impressive than the drinks is the exceptional service. My teenage daughter forgot her phone and didn't have a physical credit card, and since the shop doesn't accept cash, she was stuck on a rainy day. Liu, who was working at the register, kindly stepped in and offered a solution so she could still order her drink. My daughter later paid her back in cash. It was such a heartwarming reminder that kindness still exists. This coffee shop has definitely gained a loyal customer- thank you, Liu! read more

My partner and I visited The Mugs on a Saturday around 5 PM. By then, most tables were already occupied, and we were lucky to grab one just as another couple was leaving. If you're looking for a cafe to get some work done, this might not be the best spot; table availability seems like a hit or miss. That said, the staff was kind and happy to answer our questions. Matcha Latte: 2.5/5 I'm far from a matcha snob, but even I could tell the quality was lacking. Given how matcha has taken over SoCal recently, there's an expectation for cafes to use a higher grade, and The Mugs falls short. The matcha didn't feel whisked since it was chalky with clumps settling at the bottom. I forced myself to finish it just to avoid wasting it. Earl Grey Latte: 3/5 My partner ordered this so my judgement is based on a few sips. It was as standard as it gets, nothing remarkable but perfectly fine for tea normies like me. Ham and Cheese Croffle: 3.5/5 It's exactly what you'd expect: a ham and cheese croissant pressed like a panini. Nothing special, but it's a solid, reliable option if you're looking for a quick bite. Overall: Mediocre at best. The Mugs isn't bad, nor is it great. It's a standard cafe with decent service but underwhelming drinks. Good at best, but not a place I'd go out of my way for. read more

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Newly opened coffee shop in the Irvine area. This place had no open seating available as all the students were on their laptops studying so word must have gone around quick here. They do have some nice speciality drinks here and some baked goods like muffins and cookies. I had to try their hot cappuccino and they tiramisu latte since they somehow stood out to me. Along with that a chocolate chip walnut cookie. There is a little seating area outside so I sat out there and enjoyed the drinks. The tiramisu latte was good but slightly watery for my palate as I like them bold and dense and same with the hot cappuccino. The flavor of the espresso was good but I wanted a little more density with it but I believe I'll be back here as they have lots of good items that still get need to be tried. read more

The Mugs - Cappuccino and Tiramisu Latte with Chocolate Chip & Walnut Cookie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

5 stars for the banana caramel latte, super delicious! The ham and cheese sandwich is pretty good also! read more

Came here to study on a Thursday morning and it is so crowded! I came around 9:30 and people were literally fighting for a table LOL. The drinks are pretty expensive, more expensive than alot of other places. Coffee is standard so not amazing but not bad. My friend got an earl grey scone which she thought was pretty good. They have a couple outlets, wifi is good, and parking is easy. read more

The Mugs - so crowded - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Wouldn't take my order in person although the item was not available at the kiosk because they were too busy. I ordered a drink with less ice and received it a quarter full. No substitutions to drink order here. Service is not accommodating, especially bad for people with allergies. read more

Coffee was great and the location is just right for its convenience. Service is quick too. The only downside is tables/chairs are hard to come by as it looks like a study place for students. read more

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Definitely a nice study spot! There are a ton of chairs and tables both inside and outside as well as free wifi. There is plenty of parking in the plaza and the service is solid here. For the drinks, the favorite I've tried so far is the Blueberry milk, which I thought was pretty good but wasn't the biggest fan of the dalgona latte. read more

The Mugs - Blueberry milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Been here a couple times now and it's a very solid place! I've tried the blueberry matcha and strawberry matcha before and both drinks were very tasty. I probably prefer the strawberry matcha since the flavor is a bit stronger in my opinion. The food here is very yummy as well! I've tried most of the croffles but I think the ham and cheese is my favorite so far. I really like how they give a side of chips which wasn't what I was expecting when ordering! There's a self order kiosk or you can also order with one of the staff. The shop has a really cute vibe to it. I usually come here to study but it does get packed really quickly and there's often not a lot of open seats so get here early! Really convenient that it closes later than most coffee shops. The WiFi here can be inconsistent sometimes but it's probably due to so many people being on it, would be nice if it can somehow be resolved! Would come here again :) read more

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Comfortable ambiance (although the seats are a bit too close to each other) and nice service. I enjoyed the rich flavor of their matcha latte--though it was a bit too sweet for my taste, I can see why others would like it read more

The Mugs - Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Open early enough on Saturday, somewhere to study and work before the gym opens. Sunlight morning cafe mood is vibin', makes me feel like a heroine in an indie movie. I feel like this cafe will be super cozy on rainy days too. The barista was nice and cheery regardless of the early morning on Saturday (who chooses to be up this early if not an unstable PhD student with no regular sleep patterns and lost circadian rhythm??) Very nice interaction. I ordered the house cold brew. Tastes a bit burnt, not the best cold brew Ive had. They have another type of cold brew, the Kyoto cold brew, so maybe I'll try that next time. Lots of outlets (although some don't really work lol) lots of space and free WiFi. If you feel like getting away from uci but not too far to study, perfect spot. Lots of parking and friendly ambiance. read more

The Mugs - Cold brew and interior plant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

I thought this place was expensive, but prices are expensive everywhere and this place is actually really effing good. The pourover is good, high praises from my husband for which everything is generally "okay" or "terrible." Loveeeee my tiramisu latte. It is my GOAT latte, though I am tempted to try their summer special (misu garu) because all their drinks are delicious. Every time I go to another coffee shop, I am disappointed. Other places are never as good. They also have a clover order ahead page, which makes it very convenient. They hold the ice and foam until you arrive for pickup - so thoughtful. It's the small things that matter. If cafes could get Michelin stars, this place would have one. read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

ordered a misugaru latte and they skimped out like a quarter of the drink lol. they just sent it out without questioning the amount? i would appreciate a full drink if im paying the full amount.. taste wise, it was creamy and a solid 8/10 noticed that it's always packed with people studying so it a great spot to study with groups or even solo. read more

The Mugs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of my favorite cafes in Irvine! This is a great place to come in study as they have many seats and outlets, but it does get really crowded during exam season. Their croffles are one of my favorite items on the menu. They honestly set the standard for what I expect a croffle to taste like. They top all their croffles with a delicious cream, I would describe it as a light cream cheese flavor with the perfect amount of sweetness. My favorite one is the matcha and black sesame croffle. Today I also got the rose matcha which was so good! It taste like cereal milk with rose matcha and it's just so so yummy. If you're in the Northpark area please come check this place out, you won't regret it :)! read more

The Mugs - Matcha Croffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

Great nearby spot! Stopped by for coffee and breakfast. Had their coffee before and always thought it was good. This morning I ordered the Sriracha chicken croffle for Breakfast and it was delicious! Would highly recommend for a simple breakfast or lunch. read more

The Mugs - Sriracha Chicken Croffle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

1. Bad ownership : owner looks like he hates standing there I guess that vibe follows to the employees 2. Bad service : was waiting for coffee standing for 10 minutes saw customers who ordered after me getting their coffee so asked when my coffee would be ready? And the rude Asian guy told me it's my fault that I didnt ask and basically told me to shut up and wait. Noticed the guy with glasses was swearing at me too. 3. Finally, takes forever to get your coffee. Hire more people owner so cheap and rude and the coffee isn't that good too. read more

Good cafe for studying/catching up with friends! I got the tiramisu latte which was pretty good. It was pretty crowded but we were lucky enough to find a seat. Overall it's a great place to study, but their drinks are pretty pricey. read more

The Mugs - Tiramisu Latte and Matcha Cream Foam Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

great place if you're looking for a bustling, lively atmosphere. however, the wifi isn't great since there's so many people using it and seating is a hit or miss. service is on the slower end. drinks are okay but croffles are yummy! a plus is that there are outlets read more

Upon entry, I immediately noticed that while the entry & cafe bar area seems small in space, there are a room of tables and a line of tables and chairs set up further into the cafe, which is nice. It seems that customers are primarily university students since every single table and chair was taken up inside by them. This was during the evening time, so I imagine that coming at earlier times may allow for the opportunity of seating. We ordered an Iced Caramel Macchiato and the Berry Sunrise. The prices were honestly pretty decent, especially for the portion. The Iced Caramel Macchiato is honestly not hard to get wrong but as someone who drinks them frequently, it wasn't that good - I wasn't able to finish it. The Berry Sunrise, however, was a great surprise after the initial let down and became the highlight of our experience since it tasted so good. It was refreshing and sweet (how I like it!) without tasting artificial! I'd stop by again if I was looking for a pick-me-up in the area! read more

The Mugs - Berry Sunrise - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California

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Found this super cute and quaint coffee stop and was quickly greeted. The service is fast, which is always a plus. We got the Spanish latte (4/5) and enjoyed it. On the other hand, we tried the banana matcha (1/5) and it was honestly one of the worst drinks I've had in a long time. The banana tastes so artificial, think Banana Laffy Taffy. For the price, I don't think it's worth it. There's plenty of better coffee shops in the area. read more

Matcha cream foam latte - coffee is not super strong but not subtle either, on the sweeter side as they used condensed milk as their sweetener. matcha cream foam has very subtle matcha tastes, just tastes like sweetened cream to me. overall, pretty light and good drink! Service was friendly and quick! Lots of tables with outlets for studying, easy parking too. read more

The Mugs - Matcha Cream Foam Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Irvine, California