My older sister, her coffee loving boyfriend and their awesome Instagram posts inspired me to write this post about specialty coffee bars and shops in Orange County. Their favorite weekend pastime is shopping at the farmers market with a cup of gourmet coffee in hand – hipsters, no?
Either way, it was their coffee quests which convinced me it’s time for all of us take a page out of their brew book and graduate from Starbucks. There are tons of great artisan coffee roasters popping up all over Orange County so there’s no excuse for a sub-par cup of joe.
Here are 6 specialty coffee bars in Orange County to try so you can start your artisan coffee schooling.
Portola Coffee Lab
Named the 2015 Roaster of the Year, Portola Coffee Lab is a must visit for any self-respecting coffee lover. The baristas wear lab coats and the big beakers of slow drip coffee complete the science setting. You can order by the cup or by the bag of freshly roasted beans from all around the world.
Owner Jeff Duggan and his wife Christa are all about uncompromising quality in their coffee roasting. Their brewing may be slow and inefficient but it’s unbeatable.
The Costa Mesa location at the OC Mix also has Theorem, a 6-seat coffee concept bar with seasonal creative creations. The drinks served on these menus vary as much as the baristas do, but have included cocktail-inspired drinks such as a Coffee Sour, an Old Fashioned prepared with slow drip cold-brewed coffee barrel aged in oak for six months, and a cold-brewed coffee sangria, to mention just a few.
Source: Flickr
Here’s what my sister and I had when she dragged me out of bed one Saturday morning for a taste and a trip to the farmer’s market (iced mocha and latte).
Portola Locations:
- Costa Mesa – OC Mix
- Santa Ana – 4th Street Market
- Tustin – Union Market at Tustin District
- Orange – Provisions Market in Old Towne Orange
Gypsy Den
Eclectic style, healthy food options and strong coffee sum up the Gypsy Den experience. It’s a great place to grab lunch with a variety of soups, salads and sandwiches plus it’s open late if you’ve got a 10pm hankering for a good cup of coffee.
The eclectic décor and environment creates a cool bohemian hangout.
The list of extra events and activities makes Gypsy Den an especially cool place to grab a cup of coffee. There are bottomless mimosas on Sundays at all locations from 8am-3pm, open mic nights every Monday in Santa Ana and Wednesdays in Anaheim plus live music throughout the month at various locations.
Yes, there was a face in my froth when I went for a late night vanilla latte at the Costa Mesa location. Impressive latte art from Gypsy Den!
Gypsy Den Locations:
- Costa Mesa – L.A.B
- Santa Ana – Grand Central Café
- Anaheim – Arts District
Hopper & Burr
Set up each morning on Main and Third in Santa Ana, Severson’s Hopper & Burr is another way to satisfy your caffeine craving. This pop-up coffee bar is located at Little Sparrow, opened by Orange County barista Truman Severson, formerly of Portola Coffee Lab. Small, perky little world isn’t it?
Hopper & Burr features a simple menu but according to their website, they’re happy to make you anything. Their menu includes filtered coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte, and mocha – simple and sweet!
Severson is looking to make his pop-up bar a permanent fixture, hopefully somewhere in Santa Ana. Stop by any day 7am-3pm and try it out.
Source: Hopper & Burr Instagram
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee
Sidecar Doughnuts & Coffee serves up signature coffee blends alongside daily fresh doughnuts made from scratch. I decided to include this one too because if you’re out for some coffee you might as well get a gourmet doughnut too.
Their coffee is top notch because they teamed up with Portland-based coffee roasters, Stumptown Coffee, to bring the people everyone’s favorite cold brew stubbies plus two signature blends: Forty Winks and Colt’s Tooth.
Doughnut flavors change every month so coming back for more is a must!
Kéan coffee
A bit more established than the other new comers on this list, Kéan was one of the first specialty coffee joints in Orange County. Offering some of the finest fresh roasted coffees from around the world, Kéan has a welcoming neighborhood coffee shop feel with the beans to back it up.
Founder Martin Diedrich cups numerous samples of green coffee from around the globe, harvesting from the best coffee growing regions of the world. Martin only roasts coffees that are in season so they’re fresh and flavorful.
Kéan Locations:
- Newport Beach
- Old Town Tustin
Cafecito Organico
Cafecito Organico opened originally in LA and their mission is all about their organic roots. According to their website, their mission is to “Ensure that coffee protects and enhances livelihoods and biodiversity.”
All of their coffee is roasted locally, in small batches, working with sources to make sure their workers are treated well and their crops are chemical free.
Source: L.A.B. Instagram
Cafecito Oganico Locations:
- Costa Mesa – L.A.B.
- Anaheim Packing District
- Various LA locations as well: Silver Lake, Malibu, as well as the Atwater Village, Hollywood and Silverlake Farmers Markets.
Take a break from your basic Starbucks brew and try something new next time you have a caffeine craving. If we missed your favorite artisan brewer or local coffee shop, leave a comment and let us know where we should head next for a great cup of coffee.
