For being the only coffee shop at 2nd and PCH, an upscale shopping center literally by the Marina, I didn't expect to feel deceived when I stopped by on a Saturday early afternoon.
I don't visit the area often, but I've known about Caffe Luxxe for a while. With coffee shops in the LBC being a dime a dozen, this one at first glance seemed to boast a pretty upbeat, family-friendly atmosphere with a nice view of Alamitos Bay. I assume the word "luxxe" is related to the word "luxury", so that must explain the relatively high price tags on their drinks, especially for their cup sizes.
I had planned a day trip to this part of town, but didn't pack any water. I was starting to feel a little drowsy and thirsty that this would be the perfect time to order a coffee drink from Caffe Luxxe, which is located on the Marina side of 2nd and PCH.
As soon as I entered, I saw the numerous coffee bags by the front counter as well as shelves of merch by the wall. There were a few customers in line, but the line went by quickly that before I knew it, it was now my turn to order.
The left side of the menu caught my eye because it was their seasonal summer menu. The orange box in the middle showcased their limited edition coffee drinks: Coco Di Luxxe, The Honey Buzz, and Summertime Chill Iced Coffee. The first two only had one price, and I couldn't tell if it was a Small or Large. After asking one of the baristas, she told me both were the Small size, and they were $1 more than a Large Summertime Chill Iced Coffee. I asked to see the difference between a Small and a Large, and she showed the cup sizes to the right of the register.
The Large was $1 more than the Small, but it looked like it was worth the upcharge with how much larger the Large was, so that's what I went with: Summertime Chill Iced Coffee, which the menu says, "Refreshing, light body, cocoa, summer rainier cherry, sangria, grapefruit, smooth finish".
She asked if I'd like for her to leave room for some cream and sugar. I said just a little bit for the cream. Her male co-worker, who was pretty friendly, finished ringing me up at the register.
Literally a minute later, I saw another barista, who appeared to be disgruntled, quickly pour some iced coffee into a cup and simply said, "iced coffee" when he was done. I didn't think it was mine because he didn't say, "Summertime chill", so I thought it was someone else's. However, the first barista who assisted me did say it was mine, saying it was just an "iced coffee" almost as if to gaslight me.
Suddenly, the screeching brakes sound effect played in my mind.
Wait, did I just get deceived by this seasonal special, thinking it'd taste like summer when it was just any ordinary iced coffee I could get from somewhere else, like Dunkin' or Krispy Kreme?
The cup did not have a lid when I picked it up; I had to go to the counter on the opposite end of the shop to get a lid for my iced coffee.
I appreciated how it was nice and cold, but after one sip, I definitely felt like it was a gyp (rhyme intended). Either that, or there was miscommunication with the team of baristas preparing customers' orders that I actually picked up someone else's drink, and someone else picked up my drink instead. The latter I'm ruling as a good possibility because the disgruntled barista who poured the iced coffee into my cup came into the scene after I had paid for my order; I thought the female barista I initially spoke to would have prepared my drink because she had asked if I wanted to leave room for cream/sugar. This does not add up...
The iced coffee I got was pretty much any ordinary iced coffee that I could get from, shall I say it again? Dunkin' and Krispy Kreme. The flavor did seem bolder with the cream they added, but there was quite a lot of ice in my cup, which was 16 oz, so there really wasn't that much room for the actual iced coffee. I was able to finish my drink before I reached my next destination.
The tables, both inside and outside, were occupied for the most part, but it does seem like a good place to get some studying/work done. And did I mention the view of Alamitos Bay? Too bad the coffee shop is on the ground level as opposed to the second level, so the view of the bay isn't as good compared to Ola Mexican Kitchen.
I didn't check the price of an iced coffee, but I do feel like I overpaid for something I didn't actually get. I didn't taste any cherry or grapefruit in my drink, and there weren't any notes of summer flavor in my drink at all! So why was it even a summertime iced coffee? More like bummertime iced coffee if you know what I mean.
I'm glad I stopped by Caffe Luxxe, but I highly doubt I'll make a return visit. They do have an app called Luxxista Rewards, as alluded to on the bottom of the summertime menu, so if you're a regular or at least a coffee aficionado who lives nearby, it might be worth looking into. For me, I'm not even going to bother, especially since I'm not even that close to Caffe Luxxe.