.
.

PDF Document was moved: https://bit.ly/2ulojle

.
.

Wow! Like most of us, I drink plenty of coffee. It was suggested I check this place out and was super impressed. As soon as I walked up to the storefront and saw the cool sign and the outside seating I was intrigued. The whole place has a great vibe, then you walk through the door and the great tea smell hits you. I checked out the various tea “flavors”… Again, Wow! You can get lots of great tea at various places, but the selection here has a wonderful selection of teas I’ve never seen anywhere else. If you are a real tea person and haven’t been here yet, you are missing out… You gotta head down there and check out the selection. But I wasn’t here for tea, I came for the “vanilla latte better than any you have ever had”… See, vanilla latte is my jam, I love them. I was not disappointed. Stumptown coffee, which I’ve heard about but not had until now, as the coffee. But the flavor did not appear to be the ubiquitous flavor brands you typically see… Whether it was the coffee, the milk, the flavor, or the great vibe the place has… This was truly the best vanilla latte I have ever had. As a side, I was able to try one of my table mates green tea latte with matcha… I was hesitant… Largely because I thought it smelled like hay, but I was undeterred in trying something new. Again, wow!!! I have actually tasted hay, and the matcha did NOT taste like hay. It mixed in great to make it a drink worth having on occasional breaks from my first love – the vanilla latte. I also got to try a Mochi muffin. Yum! Check this place out. You won’t be disappointed.

• Boba Junkie – Menu with Prices – 1200 W Warner Ave unit b, Santa Ana
• Bluestone Lane Santa Monica Coffee Shop – Menu with Prices – 631 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica
• Midori Matcha Cafe, Old Town Pasadena – Menu with Prices – 165 S De Lacey Ave #1049, Pasadena
• 10 Speed Coffee – Santa Monica – Menu with Prices – 1919 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica
• Sunergos Coffee – Menu with Prices – 1647 Norris Pl, Louisville
• Matcha Cafe Maiko – Garden Grove – Menu with Prices – 9738 W Garden Grove Blvd Unit #8, Garden Grove
• Valentine Coffee Co. – Menu with Prices – 5918 W Vliet St, Milwaukee
• Republik Coffee Lounge – Menu with Prices – 854 E Green St, Pasadena
• The Only Cafe – Menu with Prices – 2678 W 4th Ave, Vancouver
• Turks Coffee Bar – Menu with Prices – 1276 Commercial Dr, Vancouver
• Hug Life Anti-Dairy Ice Cream n’ Stuff – Menu with Prices – 14241 Euclid St C115, Garden Grove
• Mai Kai Kava Bar – Menu with Prices – 17 W University Ave, Gainesville

Boba Junkie – Menu with Prices – 1200 W Warner Ave unit b, Santa Ana

Boba Junkie is a small boba shop in a sketchy looking plaza. It’s pretty small inside probably only 5 tables. I came here one night with my boyfriend because we were in the area and wanted to try it. I think we were pretty disappointed in their drinks. We saw Yelp reviews and pictures hyping it up but I think the drinks fell flat. We got the matcha latte and the house drink and both were somewhat disappointing but the matcha latte was more disappointing. The matcha latte didn’t taste like matcha at all. My boyfriend says it tastes like seaweed… The house drink was way too sweet. The earl gray base was ok but overall drink was too sweet. Both drinks were sweet and it ruins the flavor. I don’t blame them since I have a lot of expectations when it comes to milk teas since I’m in love with milk teas but this place fell flat.

Bluestone Lane Santa Monica Coffee Shop – Menu with Prices – 631 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica

I have been want to try out this place for a while now! I always see their aesthetic coffee drinks and avocado toasts all over instagram, so I was definitely excited to come out to their Santa Monica location and try it! Immediately, I noticed that the coffeeshop was located right next to Sidecar Donuts, which was amazing! Also, it is walking distance to Third Street! Arriving at the location, I would say it was a lot smaller than I expected, but exterior and interior design of the place was super neat and bright! The staff was super nice and immediately greeted us when we entered. Good vibes overall just from walking in! I ordered their Matcha Latte and my friend order their Iced Aussie Latte! And we also tried their classic avocado toast! I love how the Matcha Latte was not sweet, so you get the strong flavor of the matcha. And this drink automatically comes with almond milk, which was so good! According to my friend, she said the Iced Aussie Latte was really good! The combination of the bitterness of the expresso with the sweetness of the vanilla ice cream makes this drink perfect! My friend said this drink is definitely more like a dessert, so if want to indulge she recommends!! And lastly, we order the avocado toast, which was so good!! The whole grain bread that it was served with tasted so good, and they were very generous about the avocado as well!! One thing I would say is that there is not a lot of room inside to sit. There is more room outside but it is honestly not too spacious. So definitely not really an ideal place to do work or study. Overall, great experience here! I definitely recommend and would come here again!

Midori Matcha Cafe, Old Town Pasadena – Menu with Prices – 165 S De Lacey Ave #1049, Pasadena

I love everything Matcha! I passed this place before and since it was advertising matcha I bookmarked it on yelp. After finishing up at the gym I was craving a cold drink and thought a matcha drink would be perfect. There’s street parking available, but all are metered. I saw a sign inside that says free parking on Dayton street. Once I entered I was already impressed with the store. The interior was done in a clean and classy manner. There weren’t too many decorations, just enough to make it inviting. Their menu revolves around Matcha and I decided to go with their Iced Matcha Latte with low-fat milk (fat free is not available, only 2% and low- fat). The total came out to be $6.57, which is a hefty price for a drink. Since the drink was quite expensive I was hoping the quality was amazing and it did not disappoint. I saw the staff make the drink. They used actual Matcha powder, which based on the taste was high quality. A Matcha drink is not complete unless a Bamboo whisk is used and they did just that. Before milk was added the matcha drink was 85%/90% full! At other locations it’s all about the milk and less Matcha. Once I got the drink I was excited to give it a try. After the first sip I was instantly in love. It was the perfect Matcha drink. Matcha itself isn’t sweet, so don’t expect the drink to be sweet. There is liquid sweetener if needed, but I like my matcha natural. Overall I was impressed with my drink and will be coming back to try their soft serve or even another drink! The drinks may be a bit expensive, but the quality is definitely there. Also it’s a perfect place to catch up with friends over a hot/cold coverage or if you need a study place this is it! Update: I tried the Matcha coconut and it is the best. They use Harmless Harvest coconut water which is my favorite!

10 Speed Coffee – Santa Monica – Menu with Prices – 1919 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica

Great place to meet up, do work, or grab a drink to go. The coffee here is solid. I tried the latte that has a great rich espresso flavor and is well textured. I also tried the iced matcha latte which was delicious and refreshing. It was a little on the lighter side of matcha, and not so bold of a flavor. I tried the Kouign Aman, which was absolutely delicious! It was very flakey and pleasantly flavored with a vanilla custard inside that was not overly creamy. They have a packed garden salad with some good mixed vegetables, and a couple packed sandwiches (steak; cáptese) for sale as well. The cafe has bicycle decor and has plenty of natural lighting. It is spacious and has a long communal table with many outlets (at every leg). I will say if you’re the type of person who needs a lot of table space this may not be for you. The large table has missing blocks in the middle region for design purposes, which takes away space. However, it was not very busy so there was still a decent amount of space to work with. They also have some low tables, lounge-y chairs, and bar style seating facing Santa Monica Blvd. the wifi is reliable and pretty fast. They have a 15 minute parking spot behind the shop; great for grabbing a drink to go.

Sunergos Coffee – Menu with Prices – 1647 Norris Pl, Louisville

My first time at Sunergos Coffee! After a relaxing yoga session an iced coffee sounded great. I wasn’t sure what to expect for parking but Sunergos has a small parking lot and the street offered much more. The shop had its garbage doors opened to show everyone sitting inside. A few tables and chairs offered a 70’s vibe and picnic tables sat next to the building to provide more seating. I also noticed a high top ledge next to the door where a gentleman stood working on his laptop. The staff was very friendly and took my order right away. I waited only a few minutes to get my iced latte. One shot of vanilla was included at no charge. With tip, the large was slightly under $6. Overall it was okay. It didn’t have a strong coffee or vanilla flavor which made it “meh” compared to other coffee shops. I drink coffee for the flavor as much as the caffeine punch so if I revisit I would try another drink. Sunergos has a great vibe from the open doors to the music and vintage furniture. I enjoyed cracking open a book and browsing my phone. This would be a decent spot to sit with a friend but the tables are fairly close so don’t come and expect privacy. Besides the drink menu they offer a small menu of food. This is also a dog friendly shop with dog bones on the counter.

Matcha Cafe Maiko – Garden Grove – Menu with Prices – 9738 W Garden Grove Blvd Unit #8, Garden Grove

I’m in love with Maiko! I’ve been there three times already in their first opening week. As the name suggests, Maiko is a tea/dessert shop focusing on Matcha products. In addition to their Matcha desserts, they also have a variety of teas — some unique to Maiko such as their Kuromitsu milk tea (black honey milk tea). I’m a huge matcha fan! This place is now my favorite Matcha place in the area. It’s definitely better than Mr. Matcha and is of a higher quality Matcha then Midori Matcha in Costa Mesa. The tea they use is really strong and full of that matcha flavor. Interior wise, I think the store is cute. It has a neon sign, a mural, and loads of paintings and signs. It’s purposely designed so you can take lots of photos for your ig page. It’s actually a surprisingly large store because there’s a game system in the back near the bathrooms. I think the store could definitely benefit from more seating though. I hope they’re also in the words to get AC installed too because it’s been pretty warm inside and it’s only get warmer as the summer months appear. Matcha Soft Serve (5/5): Amazing! You can order this in a cup or cone. It’s full of bittersweet matcha tea flavor. It’s a good mix between icy and creamy. I personally recommend the cup, especially for hotter days because the ice cream melts pretty fast (as most soft serves do) and then you can have it neatly form to drink at the end. Definitely get if you’re a big matcha fan. Matcha Vanilla Mix Soft Serve (5/5): I tried this and I was really impressed by how well it blended together well! The sweet vanilla actually pairs with the matcha really well and works to enhance the matcha. Get this if you’re okay with Matcha and/or prefer something on the sweeter side. Hojicha Soft Serve (5/5): I actually hate Hojicha lol but I surprisingly really enjoyed this!! Hojicha is Roasted Green Tea which makes it a bit more nutty tasting. I’ve always thought Hojicha tasted reminiscent of pistachio but you can definitely still taste the strong tea flavor here and hence, less nutty taste. It’s sweeter than the Matcha but doesn’t lose the tea taste. Matcha Latte (5/5): I really like their Matcha Latte but tbh it’s just their Matcha Soft Serve but in drink form. If you don’t want a dessert, just get this, it tastes exactly the same. I loved it because it keeps the same wonderful matcha flavor and isn’t overly milky like Mr Matcha or Starbucks is. Get the large because at $4.50 it’s cheaper than Starbucks grande lol. Maiko Special (5/5): I’ve always wanted to try these parfait desserts because of their prominence in anime and I really enjoyed Maiko’s version. You can order this with any ice cream flavor. It comes with Soft Serve, Red Bean, Mochi, Chestnut, Jelly, Matcha Tea, and Brown Sugar at the bottom. At $7 it isn’t cheap but I loved this dessert so much. It has a lot of different elements in it and I never got tired of eating it. Every bite had different textures and flavors so I felt like I could eat it forever because of the variety in one cup. Surprisingly when I got close to the end of the dessert, I mixed up the brown sugar with the matcha. I expected it to be overly sweet now but instead I was impressed how the entire flavor was changed. The brown sugar mixed with the rest of the soft serve and tea to add another flavor to it!! It’s definitely their signature item for a reason. There’s lots more stuff I can’t wait to try at Maiko such as their shaved ice and their various tea drinks. I’m so glad Maiko has come to the community and I can’t wait to come here often for a Matcha fix.

Valentine Coffee Co. – Menu with Prices – 5918 W Vliet St, Milwaukee

Update on 6/11/19 & 6/12/19: returned and tried their seasonal Lavender Latte (hot) and vanilla bean latte (hot). The lavender latte was very flora and calming and the lavender taste stayed in my mouth for a long time. The coffee itself tasted not very strong. So that is something perfect for when you feel you want not just caffeine but a bit more fun/flavor. The vanilla bean latte was very smooth, rich and sweet. But the level of sweetness was just right – I mean you would definitely say it is a sweet drink but it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable. Previous review: I have bought bags of coffee beans from them, and they are all in season, fresh and great beans (I judged beans by their colors, smells, shapes, and the feelings when I hold them in hand). However, for some reason I never sat down and tried their latte or mocha which are recommended by many people until recently. Sooo, I went on a weekday morning to grab a large sea salt mocha (all sizes include 2 shots as standard) and a power scone. First of all, temperature of the drink was right, which was very important for an espresso drink to me. Second, the milk foam was light yet dense. Well done! Third, the drink was no over sweet but smooth and rich. In addition, the power scone which is not sweet yet dense and nutty went very well with the drink. So together, they really warmed and energized me up! Atmosphere was great. Staff were roasting or making coffee, some customers were reading, others like me were grabbing coffee for work.

Republik Coffee Lounge – Menu with Prices – 854 E Green St, Pasadena

I am fairly excited to learn a new coffee shop just opened (June 2019) in Pasadena and I recently came here to grab a quick bite. I found a street parking spot on S. Hudson Ave (about one block away) and street parking is free on Sunday. The shop was pretty crowded at 3 PM and unfortunately they ran out of matcha croissant already. Interior decoration was trendy and their background music got some acoustic versions of pop musics. They have pretty limited outlets, but there are two Wi-Fi access points with the same Wi-Fi password. Their breakfast menu is available all day and lunch menu starts at 10 AM. I thought about getting a cup of Black Vanilla Latte (aka charcoal latte – one of their signature drinks), but I decided to order something I am familiar with – a regular cup of latte. *** Latte ($5): The drink tasted slightly more dark roasted than milky. Latte wasn’t as sweet as lattes from other places. Personally I prefer my latte a bit more milky with an extra sweetness kick to balance out the milkiness, but overall it was a solid cup of latte. Ham and Cheese Croissant ($5.95) – I think this coffee shop nailed their croissants down. Yes croissant was a bit cold, but it tasted great! Bread didn’t taste stale and it was one of the better croissants I have had in my recent memory. *** Make sure to take advantage of the Yelp check-in offer (10% off on food & drink order) because a $6 croissant is pretty pricey. I would love to come back here and try their other items next time I visit Pasadena! P.S. – You can easily sign up for Republik’s rewards program by entering your phone number during the check out (earn 1 point for each visit with $1 minimum purchase – 10 points = one free item from 14 qualifying items).

The Only Cafe – Menu with Prices – 2678 W 4th Ave, Vancouver

This is an Asian/Japanese-style cafe located in Kits, on 4th Avenue. In addition to serving up various drinks, both hot and cold, they have various sandwiches and baked goods. I had a Matcha Latte, Japanese Cheesecake, and Matcha Pound Cake. While I wasn’t a huge fan of their cheesecake, I enjoyed the pound cake and was impressed by their latte, which had a pretty good matcha flavour. The staff was friendly and the prices were fair. This is definitely worth checking out. Matcha Latte ($4.75): 4/5 The latte was actually not sweet at all, but was slightly bitter with a creamy texture. It had a pretty good matcha flavour, which was quite impressive seeing that most matcha-flavoured drinks tend to be a little weak. Japanese Cheesecake ($4): 3/5 The cake was more light and yogurt like compared to NY cheescake. The filling was creamy and tangy, but a bit lacking in flavour and gummy in some areas. Unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan of the crust beneath, which was a bit grainy. Matcha Pound Cake (around $4-5): 3.5/5 The cake was a bit hard, but still tasty and had a mildly sweet flavour. The matcha flavour was a bit weak, but that is kind of expected from most matcha-flavoured desserts. Summary: Food: 3.5/5 Price: 4/5 Service: N/A Overall: 3.5/5 Recommendations: Matcha Latte, Matcha Pound Cake

Turks Coffee Bar – Menu with Prices – 1276 Commercial Dr, Vancouver

Cute little coffee shop on The Drive with yummy coffee and a patio perfect for people-watching. My friend and I stopped in here after brunch to grab some lattes to go. For me a vanilla almond milk latte and for my pal a regular vanilla latte. I loved my little caffeine fix. I’m not sure if it was the coffee itself, the vanilla, or the almond milk, but whatever those baristas did, I really, really enjoyed my latte. Seems like a great place to hang out and catch up with a friend or post up and get some work done. It’s quite small in here, so I can imagine that it would get full quickly, especially on a warm, sunny day. Overall, yummy coffee, friendly baristas, and cute decor from other local businesses. While there are plenty of coffee shops on The Drive, this one will definitely be one of my top ones to visit and recommend.

Hug Life Anti-Dairy Ice Cream n’ Stuff – Menu with Prices – 14241 Euclid St C115, Garden Grove

This place was recommended by my bf sis and I was a bit hesitant at first because usually an ice cream place would have a few vegan selection. But Hug Life had an entire store devoted to vegan. I’m glad I tried this place because you can’t tell that they use almond milk, coconut milk, non-dairy. They brew their own coffee and tea so I sampled Viet coffee and Thai tea. I expected the Viet coffee to be more creamier like ca phe sua da. The Thai tea is decaf and tastes just like Thai tea. Then I went fruity and tried the mango chamoy which is a sorbet. Very good. But my final choice in a small cup 50/50 meaning two scoops in a small cup of banana boy and matcha monsta. Banana boy is exactly like banana bread. The matcha monsta is matcha with oreos. At first, the matcha sample was yummy but when I got the scoop, the oreos was too much and I could no longer taste the matcha. The bf got the mango chamoy drink. I think the guy went crazy with chamoy and tajin. I ended up scooping the mango instead of drinking it through a straw. Don’t forget to check in to get a free topping!

Mai Kai Kava Bar – Menu with Prices – 17 W University Ave, Gainesville

Brief stop in Gainsville resulted in visiting Wyatt’s! The Coffee Mayday Affogato made vanilla ice Cream with espresso was spot on. Venti Vanilla Latte was definitely driven by the great coffee.There are great pastries available. The Guava Croissant was to die for. Loved the cool ambiance vibe . Obvi that Mai Kai was loaded with students on laptops. Loved the social environment! I’ll have to remember this caffeine pit stop!