Back in again, - pretty regularly and often whenever I am within 20 minutes of this area. The yuzu matcha tonic. Omg. Its so delicious and then you can get the dehydrated orange slice afterward! Mel and Sev are who I usually see and theyre always so friendly and accommodating. I love this place. Clean, intentional seating, merch in the corner, sniff their beans, and enjoy a genuinely nice selection whether its espresso or matcha. Yum! read more

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My new fave cafe FRFR!! My husband and I stopped by this cute cafe pre-wedding since while we were looking, we saw that they had Asian Coffee Beans and matcha. We had to see what made the beans Asian and walked in to a very cute and clean looking cafe. When we were at the counter, the staff was immediately attentive and walked us through the bean selection process. My husband settled on a vanilla latte with beans from Lao (I believe it was called Lao Wang) and I got a strawberry matcha. Delicious, strong, and not too sweet- the highest caliber of Asian compliments! Parking is ample, there is seating for studying or catching up with friends. :) I liked it a lot! read more

Cafe Refuge - Strawberry matcha and Vanilla latte with LAN Xang beans (from Lao!) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Food: Cafe Refuge's strawberry matcha was delicious with a really sweet strawberry jam at the bottom. Their lemon olive oil cake was also delicious with subtle lemon flavor and a moist olive oil coating. Service: The waiter taking my order was so kind and explained Cafe Refuge's most popular coffees and matchas and that their olive oil cake was made by the owner's wife. She was also kind to take an interest in the book I had brought and ask about it. Ambiance: This cafe is narrow with some tables, a clean bathroom, and soft pop music playing. When you come, please order your drink and treats for here as they come in a beautiful glass/plate and look so appetizing! Such a nice way to romanticize your life! Lastly, their restroom password is on the receipt, and their hours are generous as they are open from 8-5 PM all days. Hope you try Cafe Refuge to hangout with friends or study and order your drink for here! read more

Stopped by for a quick meet with a friend. Easy parking and 5-6 tables inside with friendly staff. I tried the Coconut Matcha because I was interested in how the flavors would go together but I don't think I'd get it again. It wasn't as sweet as I had imagined and the coconut water taste was very distinct/strong and didn't seem to blend well. Most others on Yelp enjoy this drink so it probably depends on your taste preferences and preferred sweetness level. It's just not the drink for me but the overall experience was fine so if I were in the area, I'd return to try another drink. read more

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Tried this spot for the first time and loved it! I came in with high expectations because I heard they use ippodo matcha, which is one of my favorites. I got the honey matcha latte with oat milk and it tasted great. It had a bit of nuttiness to it as well. There's also seating inside - I'd come back to study! read more

Cafe Refuge - Honey matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Really aesthetic cafe with tasty matcha drinks. I got the strawberry matcha and it was perfectly sweet and great quality matcha. The gals at the shop were very nice and patient as they helped me find the best drink to get! read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

New coffee shop in Costa Mesa!! They're known for their coffee beans which are sourced from Asia, so you already know the coffee is gonna be STRONG. We loved the experience of being able to smell & select our own coffee beans. WHAT WE ORDERED: - Iced vanilla latte w/midnight blend - the coffee beans definitely added a unique taste & stronger caffeine! SO YUM! - Strawberry matcha latte - fell short of expectations, they use ippodo matcha but it was pretty watered down, strawberry jam saved the drink - Brown sugar hojicha latte - regretted mixing/stirring as the hojicha tasted stronger when I didn't, became pretty diluted AMBIANCE: Work friendly approved! Not at all busy on a Thursday afternoon, so no issues with seating despite only 5 tables. Few outlets, abundant parking, & pretty clean. As a matcha snob, their matcha is not worth it but as a coffee enthusiast, I'd definitely come back! The only reason I'm not giving them a lower rating is due to their service. Super sweet & friendly owner & staff who provided me a free drink after a small mishap. You can tell they genuinely value their customers! read more

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Cafe Refuge is a newer Asian-inspired coffee and tea shop with uniquely sourced ingredients from Asia. They are located in a plaza with a decent amount of parking spots. Inside, they have a very cozy and modern vibe with a solid amount of seating. Wifey got the Brown Sugar Hojicha Latte and I got the Matcha Coconut. We both thoroughly enjoyed our drinks and the flavor profiles that were developed. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. We will definitely be back next time we are in the area! read more

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Cafe Refuge is a relaxing spot that served really really strong coffee. The beans are from Southeast Asia. Fabulous as I really needed the caffeine boost. My latte was delicious. Well worth the trip and I'm come back to try more. Easy parking at lunch time. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

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I love the bright and elevated ambiance and kitty theming of this spot, but the drinks were watery. Came with 4 friends on Jul 18 Sat morning around 945am for matcha lattes and coffee lattes. I got the honey matcha latte as is. I liked that the honey part was drinkable, but the matcha was not coming through much. All of us felt the drinks were watery. Probably just needed more matcha/espresso? Luxurious ?vinyl green booths line the walls, with light wood and bright interior. The greenery was a lovely touch. Seems like a pretty place to work or study. Cat shirt merch was very cute. I probably would get the green shirt if it had a small design on the front left and maybe bigger design on back rather than a large design with words om the front. Hopefully, the drinks will improve as they are open longer. Hope to come back and try again! read more

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Came here for the yuzu matcha tonic since it's my new obsession. Very cute coffee shop but the yuzu syrup wasn't the best in my opinion. It was very sweet and didn't mix well. The matcha was high quality but with the yuzu it wasn't the best taste. I definitely will come back to try different drinks before setting my final star recommendation. read more

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My new fav cafe! Cafe refuge was 10/10. It's beautiful and clean inside. They play music but it's also extremely quiet which makes it a great place to do work. Everyone in the cafe was doing work or school work when we arrived. The service was excellent. Everyone was soooo sweet and helpful. They were so welcoming and really made the experience special. We ordered the honey matcha latte which was really good! It was the perfect amount of sweetness with the honey. They made it beautifully and it tasted great! You can tell they use quality matcha too! This is definitely my new cafe!! Extras - the bathrooms are super nice and clean! There's a good amount of parking too which is nice :) There are also wheelchair accessible tables read more

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Super excited to try Cafe Refuge. Vietnamese beans. Roasted in house. Got myself a honey latte. Only syrup that they make in house. Wasn't a fan Too much hickory in the beans. Not balanced at all Used the midnight beans fyi They also have vanilla latte which is monin syrup. Was hoping they at least offer a Vietnamese coffee to try also but they didn't. Overall. I love the selection of beans. Love how they roast there. But my drink just didn't do it. Wanted more options read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Another awesome find! Thank you for steering me here Yelp. When I arrived, the whole team was warm and welcoming. I mentioned it was my first time here and they said usually customers smell the beans to pick their coffee. How fun and different! I did and picked one and then asked for help on what to do next. I opted for a honey latte. I also ordered a jalapeño bacon croissant. The drink was really good! The flavors were balanced and enjoyable. I also liked the croissant. The bacon wasn't mushy and the croissant was soft and flaky. The environment is lovely. A few tables to sit at and everything is really clean. I'd definitely return! There are lots of matcha drinks that also sound fun! read more

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Cafe Refuge for a pre-work try Across from the golf course, easy to spy Ordered the honey matcha latte, ice Very well-lit and simple aesthetic, nice The matcha was hand whisked smooth and great I don't think I was a fan of the honey syrup (a bottom of the glass pending stir fate) Possibly too sweet for my taste I still drank it as $8.25 not to waste Overall, I would come again for a regular matcha to sip Or a croissant if in the mood for a treat trip xoxo -Op read more

Cafe Refuge - Honey matcha almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Overall, a very good coffee shop. I usually am pretty critical about coffee shops as they have to stand out in some way and cafe refuge stood out by having their coffee sourced from Asia and roasted locally at their shop. My wife and I got an iced americano and a strawberry matcha. The coffee was okay, very typical of any coffee shop in OC, and the strawberry matcha was definitely better than most shops as it was well balanced by not being overly sweet and tasting pretty natural to strawberry. The location is great with tons of parking so I completely recommend if you are in the mood for a dressed up coffee or matcha beverage, just don't expect their beans and black coffee to blow you out of the park. They also have a very cute logo which makes their merch look amazing. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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GRAND OPENING DAY Cafe Refuge is Costa Mesa's newest standout. Owned by Noi & Tiffany, this shop is rooted in a powerful story of resilience, honoring Noi's journey as a Lao war refugee and celebrates Asian culture through specialty‑grade beans sourced directly from Asia. What began as a local coffee cart has grown into a beautiful space that highlights Asian coffee culture with intention and heart. They're currently brewing incredible beans from Lao and Vietnam, with Philippines coming soon and future plans to source from Taiwan and beyond. Asian coffee doesn't get enough love, and Cafe Refuge showcases it beautifully, deep, grounding, and unforgettable. Their drink menu is stacked: excellent matcha, excellent espresso, and my personal favorite is the Coconut Matcha, which is refreshing, vibrant, and generously matcha‑forward. They also offer Oat, Almond and Whole Milk for alternative‑milk lovers. Don't forget the fresh croissants and pastries. Ask to have them warmed, it's the perfect treat alongside any drink. TODAY'S ORDER: 01. Coconut Matcha -- $7.50 -- 5 Stars - One word: REFRESHING. Perfect sweetness, deep green color, and clearly high‑quality matcha -- unlike the pale green you see at many OC/LA shops. 02. Honey Latte w/ Oat Milk -- $6.25 -- 5 Stars - Perfect ratio of espresso to milk, with just the right touch of honey. Smooth, balanced, and honestly addictive. PARKING: Plenty of parking in the plaza on the corner facing Harbor Blvd (next to the AYCE Sushi spot, Sherwin‑Williams Painting Store, and Big 5 Sporting Goods). DECOR & MERCH: Clean, modern aesthetics with beautiful emerald green seating. Can we talk about the bathroom, you don't often find or see one that is clean and smells good! Adorable merch too - tote bags, sweatshirts, tees, hats, and of course, their coffee beans. CUSTOMER SERVICE: The baristas are friendly, warm, and helpful...a refreshing change from shops where smiles are hard to find. DRINKS: I love that their coffee isn't overly acidic, and their sweetness levels are spot‑on for both drinks I tried. VERDICT: A meaningful story + exceptional coffee = an easy 5 stars. Thank you for a warm visit. I wish you nothing but SUCCESS. I will be stopping by often. NOTE: The Laotian Vendor serving authentic Laotian desserts was only for their Grand Opening Day. The items will not be available post-Grand Opening. read more

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What a cute spot with a simple, straightforward menu! Today is their grand opening so they had a 20% off drinks promotion. Parking is easy with a shared lot and very accessible off of Harbor. Upon entry, you see this open and clean space that is both welcoming and minimal. Love the matcha green booth seats! Now the drinks: we got the Honey Matcha Latte and Lan Xang Pourover. The matcha is tasty and refreshing with the sweetness of honey. Didn't make any adjustments because when asked how sweet, they said it's made to the asian palette of sweetness, which means "not too sweet" (aka the perfect level!). The pourover is also refreshing and it definitely packs more of a caffeine punch if that's what you're looking for. Lastly, the merch! Love the design and simplicity of their logo on the items. We won a tote from their social media contest and can't wait to use it. It even has extra pockets on the outside, perfect for water bottles or anything you need quick access to. The owner Noi is also super friendly. Definitely worth checking out and grabbing a drink if you're in the area. read more

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Genuinely, this is the best vanilla latte I've ever had! I didn't expect to enjoy the coffee at Cafe Refuge as much as I did. I was in the area and wanted to grab a cup of coffee, and since this café was the closest one, I decided to give it a try. Very clean and cozy, great place to come read a book/study. When I arrived, the café was pretty full, with only one table left! The staff were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. You can tell they genuinely know their coffee and care about what they serve. The vanilla latte completely exceeded my expectations and is honestly one of the best coffees I've had in a long time. I'll definitely be coming back!Highly recommend if you're in the Costa Mesa area. read more

Cafe Refuge - Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This is a very cozy cafe with a simple and clean aesthetic - although there isn't a large amount of seating inside the cafe so it may be difficult to sit down during peak hours. This place has a large parking lot for easy parking. I went to their grand opening - all the staff were welcoming, very friendly and provided very good recommendations. I got the Strawberry Matcha Latte which was very refreshing and well-balanced with the matcha and the strawberry. The strawberry was light and slightly sweet which complemented the earthy matcha but did not overpower it. I really liked the drink! My friend got the Orange Expresso Tonic. Overall a super cute spot, definitely would want to come back and try their other drinks. read more

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Really excited to have an Asian owned and operated coffee and matcha cafe, with an exclusive focus on beans grown and sourced from southeast Asia, in central Costa Mesa! What I love about the experience here is that you can select which type of coffee bean you want in your drink. We went during grand opening and they had three to choose from - I chose the Lan Xang from Laos - which had a more chocolate-forward aroma - as a pour over on ice. You can sniff test the aromas of the three beans from their sniff bottles, which is a very unique experience compared to other cafes where it might not be clear what beans they're serving. The space is minimal, yet beautiful, highlighted by their beautiful jade green booth seating that lines the length of the cafe. Walking towards the back of the cafe, you see their roaster and knowing they roast their beans fresh on site makes me love them even more. Staff is super friendly and owner-operator Noi is a great guy. Looking forward to returning soon and trying their espresso / matcha tonics! read more

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We decided to drop by on the way home from a kid's birthday party as we desperately needed some caffeine. The shop was very easy to find and parking was easy. We got the Coco Expresso, Yuzu Matcha Tonic, and Strawberry Milk. We usually ask for 1/4 sweet whenever we get drinks but we decided to try the drinks with their default sugar level because the owner explained that the drinks are not very sweet to begin with because they wanted to let the coffee and matcha flavors shine. We were glad we listened because the drinks ended up being the perfect sweetness for us. My husband likes coconut water and coffee so he loved his Coco Expresso. The Yuzu Matcha Tonic was so refreshing and yummy! I'm glad they have matcha tonics in addition to matcha lattes because I'm not really a fan of lattes. Our daughter enjoyed her strawberry milk as well. I had a sip and it was actually really good even though I'm not a milk fan. My daughter also enjoyed watching them make the matcha drinks and grind the coffee beans. The interior is very nice and spacious with lots of seating, and would be a great spot to just hang out and catch up with friends. We will definitely come back whenever we are in the area! read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Grand opening weekend when we went on 5/30/26. There was a slight discount on some items, which was nice. Located at the north end of the Big 5 / Sherwin Williams / Centinela Pet shopping center. Across from the Costa Mesa golf course. Fast and friendly service in a casual atmosphere with indoor only seating. Order at the register and they call your name when your order is ready. I got a strawberry matcha. Wife got a coffee drink, and kids split a strawberry milk. Also got two croissants - plain and bacon jalapeño. Minimal food items of the croissant variety, but they heat them before serving. Everything was great! Around $30 with tax and small tip. Not bad given today's crazy world. read more

Cafe Refuge - Strawberry matcha, strawberry milk split for two kids, some iced coffee drink, plain croissant, and bacon jalapeño croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Walking into Cafe Refuge, everyone greeted us right away and the whole place felt super friendly and welcoming. It wasn't too busy inside, so definitely give this cute spot some love. The menu is short and simple, which I actually liked because it made ordering easy. I tried the honey matcha latte and it was really good. The honey flavor definitely stands out the most, but it made the drink taste smooth and delicious. My partner got a coffee and loved that you can choose which beans you want, which makes the drink feel more personal and unique. I also love that they roast their coffee beans in-house and focus on ethically sourced Asian coffee and teas. There's also plenty of seating, so it would be a great spot to study, work, or just hang out. Overall, Cafe Refuge is such a cute new coffee shop in Costa Mesa, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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The coffee and strawberry Matcha here is pretty good and they have plenty of parking. It's a really cute coffee shop but the only downside is there's a lot of people here that like to study and work and the staff sometimes asks would you like it for here or to go and if you say here there might not be seats for you. They told me that I should ask another person if I could sit at their table with them, which is a little weird in my opinion, especially since they're studying. read more

Cafe Refuge - Cold brew and strawberry matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

As soon as we walked in we were greeted! They were all friendly! We got 2 drinks: Strawberry Matcha with Oatmilk Iced Pour over Both drinks were really good! For the iced pour over they said they don't do it iced yet but still made it over ice for us The inside has a variety of seating! The place is overall beautiful and has amazing photographs on the wall! read more

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checked out cafe refuge on a weekend morning and i was surprised there wasn't a line because this was the best matcha i've tried in oc hands down! if you like the actual flavor of matcha you'll really be able to taste it, they use ippodo and have several types of sweetners. the brown sugar shaken latte was also good, i added simple syrup after to taste for a bit more sweetness. there's a lot of parking in the shopping center and decent amount of seating, great study spot too read more

Cafe Refuge - iced matcha latte and brown sugar shaken latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

As soon as you walk in you get a calming feeling. I really enjoyed the interior. The green decor was really soothing and serene. The service was really great. The employee who took my order really took his time to explain the different blends. The drink tasted delicious. read more

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Very cute cafe with very friendly staff! I would go back to try their coffee but unfortunately I did not think the matcha was amazing. Would still recommend as taste is different for everyone. The parking was easy and it was clean and comfy inside. read more

Cafe Refuge - Matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Cute cafe by our old neighborhood. Stopped by on the way from an errand. Per usual, i had the matcha latte opted for oat milk today. Good quality matcha, i enjoyed it. And hubbs got an iced americano which he also liked. Their pastries were running low, snagged the last jalapeño bacon croissant which was pretty good too. I like when it's warm so definitely a plus that they offer it to be warmed. Staff are nice, cafe is clean, very new and packed with customers. read more

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Stopped by here to do some work. Ordered a coconut matcha latte less sweet. The workers were very welcoming and attentive. Matcha was great quality. Clean interior with some tables to get some work done. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coconut Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Please come for the coffee. These are the best latte's in OC. This is how it should be done!! read more

Cafe Refuge - Vanilla Latte and Matcha Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really authentic and yummy earthy matcha. There was no line when we walked, drinks were made quickly. It was quiet, a few people were there working on laptops. They had self serve simple syrup and vanilla to add to your liking. Great addition to the area, I will def be back read more

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Here for the soft opening! Check out this Asian owned coffee/tea shop. Plenty of seating, nice variety of drink options, super friendly staff. read more

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Saw that this was new in the area and wanted to check it out. Did not disappoint!! All their drinks are made to order. I got that yuzu matcha tonic and my husband got the matcha coconut. Both were really delicious! Definitely coming back with my friends read more

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Soft opening review. Very nice staff and damn good coffee. Menu is somewhat limited right now but coffee drinks and matcha drinks on menu with some croissants. It's very clean and mellow inside which is perfect for a coffee shop. No internet right now but told it was coming soon. I will def be back. #supportsmallbusiness read more

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As a cat lover, and having two cats myself, when I saw an ad for this place on Instagram, I immediately fell in love with the logo and had to look up the place. Upon arrival, I noticed the place was really clean, the cute merch that was on display was AMEOWZING that I had to PURR-chase one item (although I wanted everything). I went in not planning to purchase any merch, but I ended up grabbing the adorable black tote. I was very happy with my purchase. The tote was very large and roomy. The aesthetic overall was definitely pleasing to the eyes. Loved the color schemes, and the ambience when I was there was very relaxing. Staff is nice. Menu is pretty straightforward and simple. Choose your beans and choose your drink. They have 3 kinds of beans to choose from and they also have 3 sample bottles that you can smell the beans to help you decide. I chose the midnight blend and chose cappuccino for my drink. My cousin got the honey oat latte with the Lan Xang beans. Both drinks were so fresh and delicious. I love the taste of fresh coffee beans! Oh, when it came to milk substitutes, I believe they only offered whole milk and almond milk when I asked if they had soy milk. So I chose almond milk for my cappuccino. Oh yeah, and there is ample parking, so that's a plus! read more

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I've been looking for newer cafes in the area that would offer something different. The drinks, service, and attention to care goes beyond here. They give 3 different coffee bean options: Lao, Midnight, Da Lat. We went with Lao for the Honey Latte, it was SO smooth. No acidity at all. Perfectly sweetened. Reminded us of coffee in Korea, Love this. I got the matcha yuzu tonic. The matcha color is insane. I think it was the perfect balance of yuzu and matcha, not too sweet or too citrusy. Will come back here! read more

Cafe Refuge - matcha yuzu tonic - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Was exploring and searching the best matcha drink in the area and found this 5 star cafe. Came early in the morning and it seems new. There's still a grand opening signage in front of the cafe so i assume this place is new? Inside is neat and minimalist...They also selling their merchandise which is pretty cool. Got the strawberry matcha and the staff were kind and even advised me to stir it before drinking to fully enjoy it. You can really taste the quality of the matcha. It had a vibrant flavor and smooth finish with no bitterness. Definitely worth checking out if you're a matcha lover. read more

Cafe Refuge - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'm always looking for new coffee places to try and I'm glad I stumbled upon this one. It's a fairly new spot that just opened up in the plaza. They have a unique backstory and it seems like the owners are very passionate about what they do. As for the coffee, they specialize in coffee and tea from different Asian countries, currently three options of beans to choose from, all with their own unique flavor. The service is amazing, they're always so kind, even if the cafe is busy, they make sure that each drink is made correctly. The ambience inside is mellow, there's seating for studying and there's plenty of parking outside. read more

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