Top 5 Coffee Hot Spots in the OC

Blended, Iced, extra-hot, 2 pumps vanilla, upside down, no foam, extra whip, double-shot; coffee is the talk among college students. However, have you ever thought about which coffee spot is most fitting for your coffee needs and style? Do you need a quick cup for a pick-me-up or just want to play hipster and lounge in a coffee shop with your favorite book? Check out these top 5 coffee locations in Orange County to see which fits you best.

Alta Coffee – Newport Beach
Alta is a small coffee shop located close to the beautiful shores of Newport beach. Alta has a specific quaintness about its setting. The seating area of the coffee shop is rather small, but provides a homey feel. Not only is the coffee great, but Alta has also enforced green practicality within its production. If customers are consuming drinks at the shop, they are given glass mugs, similar to those you will find in your grandma’s cabinet. Alta also encourages regular customers to bring their own mug and leave it at Alta for future use. Its coffee brings the feeling of a good homemade cup of java– simply delicious and ultimately, simply enjoyable.

Personal recommendation for deliciousness: Vanilla Chai Latte

Gypsy Den – The Anti-Mall/Lab
Atmosphere is everything, and at the Gypsy Den you’re not just going for the delicious Chai. Gypsy Den is located within the Anti-Mall/Lab next to all the array of incomparable shops. The Gypsy Den’s artsy décor and collection of mismatched coffee cups generates the feeling of new type of coffee consuming experience. Not only does Gypsy Den serve a hearty cup of coffee, but their menu is full of healthy and eclectic options. From their lunchtime Caprese Wrap to their breakfast inspired Treasure Bowl, these choices inspire the healthy eating for all their customers.

Personal recommendation for deliciousness: Chai latte and bite to eat from their menu

Milk & Honey – The Camp
Directly across from the illustrious Gypsy Den, is the humble but thriving Milk and Honey coffee shop. The name speaks for itself in describing the deliciousness of its organic espresso. The atmosphere is like usual coffee shops except its meekness is overpowered by its specialty of unique items. Not only is coffee served in its full organic style, but their special menu includes exclusive items such as Green Tea Delux, Green Tea shaved ice, red bean center, topped with kiwi, pineapple, mochi, coconut, and more red azuki bean. Milk and Honey is definitely a top based around the uniqueness and organic style of menu.

Personal recommendation for deliciousness: Shaved Ice: M&H Special

Kean Coffee – Newport Beach/Tustin
From Ethiopian style coffee to the rich dark roast blend, Kean Coffee is just what the name allows it to be, coffee. Their large selection of coffee brings new opportunity to the normal consumer’s tastebuds. The different blends of coffee provide a deeper look into the culture that is Kean. Some of the blends they offer are from the countries of Bali, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, and Guatemala. Kean’s distinctive coffee selection differentiates it from the majority of coffee shops by providing coffee that refers to the culture it came from. Kean Coffee is more than the simple coffee shop, it dives into the tasting of what coffee was meant to be, traditional and cultural.

Editor recommendation for deliciousness: The Grasshopper, a beverage consisting of espresso, mint, and vanilla

Portola Coffee Lab
Bright, passionate, alive, and creative are just some of the words used to describe this exclusive type of coffee shop! Instead of just brewing your coffee for you, Portola brews it right in front of you. The baristas roast, grind, and brew the coffee all right in front of the customer. Portola is also open to share their recipes– they want their customers to understand the techniques of making their coffee and why their coffee tastes how it does. Portola’s unique way of production draws all types of people to taste their coffee, but Portola is ideal for the true coffee lover who enjoys the bitterness of the java bean.

Barista Senior Noah McKeown’s recommendation for deliciousness: Gaspar, a beverage consisting of espresso and milk, steamed only to 120 degrees to maximize milk sweetness and texture.