This is my personal favorite when I need to hole up and study awhile. Love the quiche and gluten free donuts. Coffee is strong and nice community vibe. read more

Found the Ugly Mug by (happy) accident as I was wandering through town. The Witch Hazel coffee drinks were amazing -- sooooo gooooood!!! Nice vibe, friendly staff, very chill and relaxing cafe. I will be back! read more

Meh... I'm a Soquel Native and actually worked in this building when it was a deli. The good: Nice workers, some cool art, live music, vegan food, fish tank The bad: coffee no good, dorks hogging up the tables with their laptops trying to look like they are working but really just IM or twittering things that could be done on their cell phones thus opening up a seat for Jaydog. I go there because the coffee is better than the Bagelry (not hard to do), they are a true community spot and the kids that work there are usually pretty nice. Parking sucks. More movie nights! read more

The specialty drinks are creative and delish. I haven't actually tried the coffee yet, because I feel like I need to get through the esperesso menu first! It's always a treat. Very cute, comfy and funky vibe. I love coming here, and wish it wasnt so far from my home base. read more

Everything a cafe should be: Off the wall decor and name, coffee is good (they even make cortados), they serve coffee in real mugs (not paper cups), food, and most importantly beer, are also available. Another nice touch is the clientele. Most of them are having conversations instead of playing with a laptop or IPad. read more

I'm not a coffee drinker...so this is just for the many cups of hot cocoa I've ordered. I love the fact that they steam the milk with the espresso machine...and use real chocolate. My issue is with the staff and atmosphere. I double checked my phone to ensure it was August 2015....but the " ambiance " was the groovy 60's in my hometown of Berkeley. Only thing missing was a black light and a McGovern poster in the corner. Maybe less hippie homage and more tidy appearance would help usher in the modern age? read more

I am Not a huge Fan of the Ugly Mug, I think it is OK, they have a small kids section in the back...a little cramped makes it hard if there is already a kid there or if my 2 have to share...it becomes a discussion on sharing and being kind... The Bathroom is just as cramped... The sofas are well used and dirty, and my son who has asthma and is EXTREMELY allergic to dust mites cannot sit on them without later suffering from an asthma attack...But this is a little quaint unique place to go...a small taste on downtown Santa Cruz, in little ol' Soquel. I have not had bad coffee or a bad experience here at all, and it is a nice stroll to go down to the ugly mug for coffee,cocoa and a cookie ;) The staff are so friendly and consistent! Downfall...No place to plug into when you sit at sofas...so mom and dad trying to get a little comp. work down as the kids play... make sure that Battery is charged full! read more

The Ugly Mug - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

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I like to be polite to people who provide customer service because I have been in their shoes, so I always say hello and ask how they are doing. This morning I asked the older man who was taking orders how he was doing and he immediately started mocking me and trying to mimic my accent. He went on repeating what I had said 3 times and every time exaggerated the 'accent' more and more. I hope he was just too caffeinated to be able to tell what'stheproperwaytotreatcustomers, because if he was trying to be funny he totally missed the mark. read more

I live around the corner from the Mug and it is my favorite morning spot. Good coffee, friendly conversation, and the best egg and cheese around. What more could you ask for? read more

Gritty Kitty I miss you! This is the best coffee shop in the world. Ever get a mocha with home made whip cream in the shape of a rose on top? Well here it can happen. The Gritty Kitty is best treat on a warm day ever, even on a cold day. It's gelato and crushed espresso beans and milk I think. So delicious. It gets you cracked out just enough, but not to much. There's free internet, and even a calming little section for the kids to hang out. With fish tanks. There's local art work on the wall. You can always get catch the news as well, ie:the metro. It's a real gathering place, which is important to locals and the owner. I just love it and miss it. I will always visit you when I'm in town. read more

I've seen amazing things happen at this coffee shop. The owner (Steve) is serious about his shop being a place for community gathering. They've had peace vigils (complete with a conservative customer screaming at the baristas) and LGBTIQ dances along with stitch n bitch circles and frequent music events. The staff here is sweet and attentive and the drinks are great. read more

Wonderful service and delicious coffee! I couldn't decide which roast I wanted, so the owner let me taste before I bought. I totally appreciated his kindness. read more

We enjoyed being here. It felt very comfortable and their cafe mocha is dreamy. The staff is helpful and friendly. I'm eager to go back and just hang out with a good book and another mocha. read more

I wanted to write a review for the MUG for a while now. I don't know who the owner of this establishment is, but alls I have to say is thank you for allowing all kinds of people to work with you- and for you. I cant tell you how uplighting it is to me to see people having an opportunity to be a part of a team. You are not just a business in this community to me. This is a special place to a great many people. And the coffee is off the charts! Thank You! read more

This place is such a fun little coffee shop, very friendly baristas & great drinks. I used to come here to study back when I was in high school. There's plenty of tables & it's never too loud so it's perfect. I always get a soy vanilla latte, & the ones they make here are definitely on my top 3. Great local vibe, always a pleasure coming here! read more

I just moved to Aptos about 2 weeks ago, and finding "my coffee shop" is on the top of my priority list. Especially while being unemployed and not having Internet. The coffee shop closest to my house is like being stuck in the midst of a day care center and half way house. Read: loud, cold, with plastic, grade school-type chairs along with intermittent, abrasive customer outbursts. So, I journeyed further down Soquel to this restful little place place. It is slightly reminiscent of the bakery that Ana Pascal owns in Stranger than Fiction: homey, community vibe, organic, gluten free options, loose tea, great coffee. OK, I haven't tried the coffee, but I'm sipping on the orange blossom green tea and I feel very healthy. It's crowded and noisy enough so that I don't feel self-conscious, but not so chaotic that I should be getting paid to baby sit. I dig. Minor downfalls: The awesome Alice in Wonderland-esque bathroom smells like urine, some of the outlets don't work and it could be a bit cleaner overall. Small issues in the grand scheme of things. read more

Best coffee shop!! Small / locally owned no mainstream / hipster bull crap!! Such character, good price for the quality, and I don't know the guys name with the gray curly hair and glasses, but he's the best!! read more

I'm visiting the Santa Cruz-Soquel area for a week, and I've found my cafe. The Ugly Mug is just what I want in a cafe. It's unpretentious, prices are reasonable, and the clientele seems mellow and very much Nor Cal (as opposed to So Cal), which I mean in the best way possible. There's a two-hour public lot nearby, which is convenient, and they of course have free wifi and ample plug-ins. Service was great--my barista was adorable and charming (and efficient), and the somewhat older, hippyish barista who appeared to be in charge seemed like the kind of guy I'd want as a friend. Good stuff. read more

Beer, coffee, ice cream - check! Free wi-fi and a typically kind and always easy-going staff, check! I like The Ugly Mug. It's not just because they fill their mugs with tasty beverages, which makes this girl's mug a smiley one, it's that they have a sweet neighborhood energy and lots of seating without feeling overcrowded. *Bonus!* The owner was hanging out during the Venus eclipse with a telescope angled for a sidewalk display of the event. Mmm, education. Yeah, I'm a geek, what of it? There's always a diversity of age hanging around. The only real downside is that it can get a little busy during the school year, and on warm days, it's pretty toasty inside. read more

The Ugly Mug is my favorite place to sit for long hours and have coffee and I'm proud (and surprised) that I'm the first to be reviewing them. First off- their coffee is amazing. By far one of the best roasters I've encountered in Santa Cruz. Rich, flavorful and incredibly smooth, not to mention very affordable and environmentally friendly with their re-fillable mugs (that are ugly. Hence, the name). In addition, they have a great number of innovative and equally delicious blended and espresso drinks, some made with yummy gelato that they also sell by the scoop. The Ugly Mug gets -1 star for having not so great food. A few fresh sandwiches or bowls of soup would really round this place out but all they've got is pre-wrapped burritos that they toss in a microwave for a bit then serve at nuclear temperatures. The room is separated into one loungey couch area and a larger area with plenty of plug-ins, small tables, and seats so all us wireless-hounding pirates can come with our laptops and not have to worry about our batteries dying on us. They also host some live music nights that are chill and mostly acoustic, but never overpowering. Unlike some of their other Santa Cruz high-quality coffee cohorts (*ahem* Lulu's *cough*), the Ugly Mug is never snobbish or passive-agressive. What you see is what you get, and what you get tends to be delicious. I have never felt uncomfortable sitting by the window for 2 hours writing in my journal or reading while enjoying a cookie and some truly yummy coffee. It's a bit out of the way for all us lowly college students, but definitely worth the trip! read more

Staying in Soquel for a wedding over the weekend, My family and I couldn't jusify spending ridiculous $$ on room service breakfast from our hotel. The Ugly Mug sign caught my eye and sounded promising, as I come from Eugene, where locally owned coffee houses are plentiful, and the hippy vibe lives strong. Enjoyed a simple assortment of bagels, muffins, pastries and grilled breakfast sandwiches. I lucked out and scored the last bowl of perfectly cooked, creamy steel-cut oatmeal, opting for a splash of milk and sprinkle of brown sugar instead of the raisins and syrup offered for an additional charge. A 12-oz eco-cup of o.g. oj topped off my breakfast. My sisters enjoyed their hot chocolates and bagels; my father was satisfied with their strong house coffee and hot breakfast sandwich of egg, cheese and ham on a crispy grilled croissant. All this for about $25. Which was less than what we would have paid for ONE Denny's "Grand Slam"-style breakfast, offered at the resort. 3 stars for food and coffee and vibe; fourth star for the (assumed) owner who dropped by our table, mentioned he had seen us outside checking out the place, and thanked us for coming in. read more

Stopped by here for some local coffee and we were blown away... literally. Good game of battleship (by the fish tank) while drinking fantastic coffee drinks. The owner even came by and made sure we knew the old school rules when someone loses their battleship ::shouting:: "YOU SUNK MY BATTLESHIP!!" Super nice people, great drinks and altogether fun coffee shop on the corner. read more

I usually refer to yelp to find a coffee shop to go to. Yesterday was different. We have driven by this place a number of times and wanted to check it out. This place is in the middle of Soquel Village, a place that we never really ventured before, just drove through. There are a lot of great businesses, including a few Mexican places, a couple Chinese places, a number of hair salons and of course The Ugly Mug. Something about the name of this place really draws me to it. The staff here are very friendly. One staff person told me that they love working here because their boss is extraordinarily kind and "I know that he got my back.". The decor is eclectic at best. To be honest with you, I wanted to take a bucket, sop and a mop and clean the whole place from top to bottom. This is not to say it is disgusting but it would use a good spring cleaning. I had a regular cup of coffee in a regular coffee mug that I would find in my cabinet. Now I know who to donate my old coffee mugs too. I really like this idea. It is a wonderful way to conserve and it cost a bit less too. The coffee was delicious. We paid a very reasonable 4.85 for a cup of joe and a latte. My partner said that his latte was the second best he had in Santa Cruz and this means a lot. We really enjoyed sitting there by the window watching the town pass by. In conclusion, we give this place 4 stars. I want more then anything to give it 5 but I had to take 1 star off because it was not up to par on cleanliness. I asked partner if he would come back and he said he would come back on occasion which I concur. read more

Stopped in early last Sunday morning. Have always meant to try it, but I have unfortunately always been on my way to something (usually late). Finally! Had a great macchiato, smooth with good body. Also bought quite a few pastries and, to be honest, I wasn't expecting much. Most coffee house pastries are so-so. But, these were pretty incredible. I need to find out who delivers them and get to the source! The owner was really friendly and the whole vibe was quite down-to-earth. A number of older folks were there showing off their new iPads, which apparently have become the new morning newspaper. Fun to see. I'll be back the next weekend I do an early run on the beach. Well worth the stop! read more

Eclectic atmosphere and community coffee shop with a great tea selection! I love their cozy atmosphere. The wooden tables are perfect for getting work done, they have WiFi and a fish tank, and community open mic nights as well. Great place to spend time if you have some studying to do or can work from anywhere. read more

Loved finding this gem in our travels! Amazing Mocha, and pastries. Can't wait to go back.

There's a sweet little area for children in back near some comfy, well-used sofas. Haven't tried it out with little ones yet, but they've made efforts to make this place kid-friendly. There's free wi-fi and a few rental computers if you don't have your own. Also, I love the ambiance. Two fish tanks separate the tables from the sofas, there's great music playing all of the time (today, we heard Stereolab, Massive Attack, and old Cure tunes), and the baristas are definitely super friendly. At the barista's recommendation, I ordered the Ray-of-Frickin'-Sunshine, a sweetened soy double cappucino with orange zest. Muy yum. Heather had the Caffe Borgia (a double espresso parfait with steamed milk, orange zest and whipped cream). I have also never been disappointed with my lattes or mocha orders here. I have to mention that they carry the vegan goodies, too -- good stuff from Nina's Kitchen and Kerri's cookies. No Ugly Mug-branded mugs here either, just an eclectic collection of different...well, mugs...! If you come often, you can hang your mug on a rack in the back. I love how they appreciate community like that. read more

I love the UglyMug. Raw Milk Flat Latte......drool! We drive over from Los Gatos at least once if not twice during the weekend just to get a latte from the Ugly. The staff is always friendly and very awake, the place tends to be filled with SC/Soquel locals. You will definately pay close to $10 for 2 rw milk latte's , but it is soooo worth it. read more

Got to Capitola too early to go to the beach right away so we stopped here for some studying (aka needed wifi) and a morning drink (had already had coffee so wanted something different), and this place was perfect! Its fun and had plenty of seating. The wifi is fast and you can pay for something faster if you need (great option!). The coffee is tasty and the Santa Cruz chai was strong and warming. They have plenty of fun drinks and the basics as well. Overall, great! Be careful of parking near by, most requires payment. Check sign carefully and ask the coffee shop worker to be double sure! read more

Definitely off the beaten path. The place is very colorful and eclectic and has a very cozy feeling. I do agree with what some one else said, it could use a little cleaning but, it's not gross or anything like that. Just a little...shabby... but that's also part of the charm. The coffee it's self is very good and they have a lot of vegan goodies. The prices are cheap too. This is a good place to come and just sit and relax or work on home work. read more

Some of the best hot chocolate I've ever had. I used to come here in high school in like '04-'08 and would always get it. I've since moved out of SC but just went back this weekend and the hot chocolate is still the best. Will be back more frequently!!! read more

I love this place. They have a good vibe. I like to study here but it can be a little loud when it's busy. The espresso is good and they have options for raw milk, hemp, oat, etc. the employees are very friendly and will make your drink the way you want it. Nice art local art on the walls and they also have a fun open mic on Mondays. I think this place has a community too. Everything I want in a coffee shop read more

I don't go often, but I love the ugly mug. Anyone that knows me knows I live my coffee. Nice ambiance and great staff

Awesome coffee and great service ! I would highly recommend the caramel macchiato. Also a good place to relax :) read more

The Ugly Mug - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

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This is great place to go ,for Coffee and oatmeal the owner is great guy ,call you bye your name,the girls are great

was greeted immediately when walked through the door. saw employees joking around and having a great time with other guests who seemed to be regulars. they seemed to genuinely enjoy their job. told them it was our first time and we were given a card and told our next coffee was on the house! we got the self serve. their custom blend didn't stand out more than other coffees but it was still enjoyable. we also got the witch hazel which was delicious! we were also given paper straws to use which was nice. would recommend to anyone looking for a friendly coffee shop. will be back :) read more

The Ugly Mug - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

Love this place, nice people, outlets, the choice between regular (free) wifi or fast (paid) wifi. Great work, chill, or convo space. My only request: Pleaaasseee stop with the heavy metal on you soundtrack, unless you're doing it to encourage faster turnover ;D read more

Great place for coffee with good service. Would love to go back for live music. WiFi is a bit slow.

I had the pleasure of visiting The Ugly Mug. The staff was friendly. They offer unique drinks. I ordered the Al Pacino (mocha). Not my typical drink but it was delicious. I'd definitely visit again! There is street parking and a parking lot is available behind the shops as well. read more

Laid back barista, great cafe vibe; but the La marzocco swift and linea couldn't help the barista pull an espresso with anything more than char. His shot lacked any sort of body. Maybe he was just off his game. I would come back though, but I would only get some food and maybe a drip. read more

The Ugly Mug - La marzocco swift and linea combo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Soquel, California

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