Coffee brightens our mornings and acts as an afternoon pick me up treat. Across The Irvine Ranch, several cafes offer variations of this brewed beverage. From hot pour overs to specialty lattes and iced coffees topped with sea salt-flavored foam, there is a cup of joe for every mood. For your next caffeine fix, consult this list of must try coffee shops.
Blk Dot Coffee opened its first cafe on Jamboree Road in 2015. Founded by sisters Mai and Stacie Tran, Blk Dot’s claim to fame is the original VTM® coffee, a slow drip iced Vietnamese coffee drink, sweetened with a proprietary combination of house made condensed milk and house creamer. Eleven years later, the family expanded the Blk Dot footprint to twelve sleek locations. The menu updates frequently with a variety of specialty beverages. Sea salt cold brews and hot spicy honey oat milk lattes entice patrons with adventurous taste buds. The versatile menu also offers classic coffee and espresso drinks, along with delectable breakfast bowls and avocado stuffed bagels.
BLK DOT COFFEE
Alton Retail Center
15342 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92618
Irvine Spectrum Center
924 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, CA 92618
The Market Place
13788 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92602
The Bluffs
1314 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, CA 92660
Crystal Cove Shopping Center
7958 Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, CA 92657
Joe & The Juice at Fashion Island is the first Orange County outpost for the Copenhagen-based coffee and juice chain. Recognized by its trademark pink and purple cups, and its rose-hued Scandinavian-inspired store fronts, the brand serves freshly brewed coffee, cold pressed juices, and smoothies with a focus on wellness. The baristas have mastered classic coffee bar drinks like flat whites, Cortados, and Americanos. If you are looking for a drink that goes beyond your traditional cup of joe, try the Honey Vanilla Matcha Oat Latte, which blends matcha with house made vanilla honey cinnamon syrup.
JOE & THE JUICE
Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr., Suite 845, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Snooze, an A.M Eatery, a fun, mid-century modern-inspired breakfast cafe at The Market Place, serves a variety of pancakes, French toasts and eggs benedicts along with other riffs on breakfast classics. But it just wouldn’t be a proper diner without refillable mugs of coffee. Snooze brews its signature house blend using Guatemalan grown coffee beans, while its decaf house coffee is 100% Colombian. Both are roasted at Allegro Coffee Co., in Denver where Snooze got its start. The menu also features Nitro cold brew on tap and specialty drinks, like a French toast latte, made with two shots of espresso, French toast mix and a topping of whipped cream, cinnamon toast crumble and a cinnamon toast stick for garnish.
SNOOZE, AN A.M. EATERY
The Market Place
3032 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92782
Ralph’s Coffee is a concept from American fashion house, Ralph Lauren. The luxury brand launched its designer coffee concepts in New York in 2014 and the Fashion Island location is the first cafe in California. A preppy green and white color palette brings American classic style to this flagship coffee shop attached to the new Ralph Lauren boutique at Fashion Island. The signature Ralph’s Roast beans are designed specifically for drip coffee and are roasted by well-respected La Colombe Coffee Roasters. The popular vanilla lattes are brewed with house made vanilla syrup. For a sweet treat, order the Coffee Soft Serve Ice Cream or an Affogato featuring Ralph’s soft espresso poured over vanilla soft serve.
RALPH’S COFFEE
Fashion Island
401 Newport Center Dr., Suite A201, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Owners Tiffany and Raffi Sepetjian pride themselves on authentic French bread, pastries, and beverages served with European flair. At Pandor Artisan Bakery and Cafe, Viennoiseries, made using an Austrian technique to laminate the dough with butter, are baked in-house from scratch everyday. The same care is implored at the coffee bar where guests find espresso macchiatos, frothy cappuccinos, and Pandor’s signature drip coffee. The menu also incorporates international influences such as cinnamon, toasted almond-flavored horchata lattes or the noisette latte with hazelnut infused-espresso and steamed milk, which sips like sweet Nutella. Pair your beverage with an authentic French chocolate croissant with flaky, hand‑laminated dough wrapped around premium Belgian chocolate.
PANDOR ARTISAN BAKERY AND CAFE
The Market Place
13124 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92602
Westcliff Plaza
1126A Irvine Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92660
This neighborhood coffee shop in Irvine is committed to serving ethically sourced, single-origin coffee with the intention that you feel good about your daily drink. Inspired by the hummingbird, Blue Hummingbird Coffee is dedicated to pollinating small coffee farms around the world, sourcing coffee beans from farms in Central America, Brazil, and Sumatra. Its signature drink, the Blue Hummingbird Latte, also takes a cue from the brand’s blue mascot. Housemade spirulina syrup, from nutrient-rich blue-green algae, gives the latte a light blue hue. The beverage is flavored with sweet vanilla and pandan.
BLUE HUMMINGBIRD COFFEE ROASTERY AND TASTING ROOM
Tripointe
13844 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92618
Known for its organically grown coffee, The Lost Bean is also committed to sustainability. The shops use biodegradable corn-based plastic utensils and its paper products are made from mostly recyclable materials. The cafe at Woodbridge Village Center serves freshly pulled espresso shots and coffees prepared with organic beans that are roasted in-house. Signature hot and iced coffees remain popular along with sweeter options such as pistachio cold brews and the Ice Blended Monkey Mocha featuring chocolate and banana.
THE LOST BEAN
Woodbridge Village Center
4632 Barranca Pkwy., Irvine, CA 92604
