An independent Southern California coffee guide

Follow your
coffee curiosity.

Explore 25 coffee stops from Irvine and Riverside to Malibu, San Diego and the desert. Find the place worth your next detour. Real café details, useful local guides and room for the unexpected.

A field guide to the good stuff

Explore by area

Orange CountyLos AngelesSan DiegoInland EmpireVentura & Santa BarbaraCoachella Valley
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Find your next stop

Search by shop or city, then open a café page for its coffee, roasting and space details. Wi-Fi and noise are labeled as unverified when we do not have reliable evidence.

25 shops

Orange County · Coffee craftsmanship

Stereoscope Coffee

Buena Park

A polished stop near Anaheim for carefully made espresso and a rotating selection of coffees.

Orange County · For the coffee purist

Portola Coffee Roasters

Costa Mesa

An Orange County specialty coffee fixture with a focus on roasting and precise brews.

Orange County · Coastal hangout

Daydream Surf Shop

Newport Beach

Coffee meets surf culture in a relaxed Newport space that makes the visit feel like an outing.

Los Angeles · Design-forward favorite

Maru Coffee

Los Feliz · Los Angeles

A beautifully considered café known for its roasted coffee and lively LA coffee scene.

Los Angeles · Explore new roasters

Dayglow

Silver Lake · Los Angeles

A destination for adventurous drinkers, with a curated selection of coffees from different roasters.

Los Angeles · All-around pick

Verve Coffee Roasters

Arts District · Los Angeles

A roomy Arts District stop for espresso, a coffee break, and bags to take home.

San Diego · Creative drinks

Mostra Coffee

Hillcrest · San Diego

A San Diego roaster with inventive drinks and a strong local following.

San Diego · Stay a while

Communal Coffee

North Park · San Diego

A bright neighborhood café with coffee, food, flowers, and space to linger.

San Diego · Easygoing favorite

Better Buzz Coffee

San Diego

An approachable local mainstay with many San Diego locations and a full drink menu.

Orange County · Near campus

MoonGoat Coffee

Irvine · UCI

An Irvine stop serving MoonGoat’s roasted coffee near UCI.

Orange County · Meet over coffee

Wall Writers Coffee

Irvine · Spectrum area

A welcoming coffee bar at The Spark on Irvine Center Drive.

Orange County · Anaheim coffee bar

LAMILL Coffee

Anaheim · Platinum Triangle

A coffee bar near Angel Stadium for an espresso before exploring Anaheim.

Inland Empire · Roast at the source

Arcade Coffee Roasters

Riverside · Tasting Room

Visit Arcade’s original café and roastery on Chicago Avenue.

Inland Empire · Coffee and brunch

Arcade Downtown

Riverside · Downtown

Arcade’s Main Street café pairs its coffee program with pastries and a seasonal food menu.

Inland Empire · Local roaster

Lift Coffee Roasters

Riverside · Chicago Avenue

A Riverside coffee shop and roaster a short drive from UCR.

Inland Empire · House-roasted

The Press Espresso

Temecula · Vail Headquarters

Ethically sourced coffee, house-made syrups and pastries at Vail Headquarters.

Los Angeles · Malibu coffee break

Blue Bottle Coffee

Malibu · Civic Center

A Malibu café for Blue Bottle espresso and seasonal coffee.

Los Angeles · By the beach

Caffè Luxxe

Malibu · Carbon Beach

A European-style espresso stop with outdoor seating near Carbon Beach.

Los Angeles · Pasadena institution

Jones Coffee Roasters

Pasadena · Raymond Avenue

A neighborhood roaster with a lively community and regular music.

Los Angeles · Westside pick

Goodboybob

Santa Monica · Broadway

Pour-overs, espresso and a curated food menu in Santa Monica.

Los Angeles · Neighborhood stop

Steelhead Coffee

Long Beach · California Heights

A Long Beach coffee bar on Wardlow Road.

San Diego · Direct-trade coffee

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

La Jolla · The Village

San Diego-roasted single origins and blends near the coast.

Ventura & Santa Barbara · Ventura local

Prospect Coffee Roasters

Ventura · Laurel Street

A neighborhood coffee bar with rotating single origins and espresso.

Ventura & Santa Barbara · Roastery café

Dune Coffee Roasters

Santa Barbara · Anacapa

Santa Barbara coffee from a roastery alongside its Anacapa Street shop.

Coachella Valley · Desert stop

Cartel Roasting Co.

Palm Springs · North Palm Canyon

A Palm Springs outpost for Cartel’s specialty coffee.

Popular city guides

Coffee in Irvine (2)Coffee in Riverside (3)Coffee in Malibu (2)
Planning to work from a café? Wi-Fi, outlets, seating availability and noise can change during the day. Check the shop’s current information before making the trip.