What an adorable little place, with cute atmosphere! The staff was all super friendly from the cashiers to the baristas. The coffee was smooth, I applaud their ability to flawlessly whip a thick foam on non dairy milk and even decorate the top, oh and also their cups are so darn cute! I will definitely be back next time I'm traveling to Monterey. read more

Captain + Stoker - Outside the cafe - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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We were in town for a street festival. We wanted to start the day with some coffees. This location is right on the main street. So there was a line. The barista s kept the line moving. Good thing I pre read the menu. When I got to the front, the barista said what do you want. Not the most polite greeting. But I truly understand that this was not a normal day. So I quickly explained what we wanted. The coffee was good. A nice smooth roast. Because of the crowds, I didn't get to look around. Is it just me, or has coffee really gotten expensive. read more

Captain + Stoker - Sign - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Passed through Monterey on Wednesday and stopped for a beautiful matcha latte with their in house vanilla sweetener and a vanilla custard bread. YUMMY. I wish I had taken a picture of the latte because the way the milk floated through the matcha was so pretty. The person who took my order had such calming, welcoming energy, which matched the vibe of the shop itself. Very simple and chic. The person making the drinks was super speedy too. I was in and out in under 5 minutes. They're awesome. I'll definitely stop by next time I'm in the area. read more

3 stars -- solely because the espresso shot (they only offer a double) was too bitter and tasted slightly burnt. It came across as the shot being over-extracted. The iced latte with almond milk and hazelnut syrup was good overall. No areas for seating, standing room only, and a little tight when waiting for our drinks while other guests came in for ordering. read more

Captain + Stoker is a great spot with a welcoming atmosphere and quality food. The chocolate croissant was absolutely delicious--flaky, buttery, and perfectly baked. I also ordered the iced vanilla latte. While it wasn't as strong as I personally would have liked, it was still smooth and enjoyable. Overall, it's a great café with tasty pastries, good coffee, and a relaxing vibe. I'd definitely come back to try more from the menu. read more

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Stopped by to have a latte and was blown away by how good this place made it. This was a Goldilock drink for me - the espresso, the steamed milk, the microfoam, and the drink temperature were JUST RIGHT. I truly enjoyed it. Staff was cordial and efficient. There is no seating inside so ordering and heading out with your drink is the way to do it. read more

Captain + Stoker - Hot vanilla latte - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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As a former CSUMB student, C+S has been my absolute favorite cafe to go to for study spot, chill vibes and really great avocado toast. The service was always great and extremely dog friendly. I enjoyed how open it was. Every Monterey drive down would always start at Captain + Stoker. The avocado toast was home-made sourdough, avocados, arugula on top with flaky sea salt, lime and red chili pepper on top. However, I returned recently after almost a year and it was really upsetting to see the avocado toast go up $4-5 and become significantly smaller and lesser quality since. As a loyal customer, it's quite discouraging to see especially when I frequently made trips to Monterey to enjoy this place. I understand that Monterey is expensive however the jump in price was disheartening. I will always adore this cafe and I will continue to choose it as an option when I'm in the area but I am hoping for more food options as well! read more

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Overall this spot is very cool with a lot of great coffee and pastry options. I enjoyed my seasonal (wintery) iced latte with macadamia milk. Very cool that they had a lot of milk options too! They also sell cool shirts and various coffee mugs and travel cups that I was tempted by (but resisted!). I wish they had their menu available at more spots than the counter when ordering. I would have loved more time to check it out before feeling rushed to order with a long line behind me. I also think I accidentally ordered a gluten-free muffin which was great but I only found out because it said "GF" on my receipt. Coffees took a while to make but not too too long. And the restroom was nice and clean. I'll be back sometime when the line doesn't look too long. This seems to be a very popular spot! read more

The vibe in here was really nice and there was a decent amount of seating. Outside didn't smell great, but once you walk in, it's clean and inviting. The staff works hard making coffees...there was a long line, but it moved fast. We waited about 15 minutes for our drinks. The flat white was delicious and the seasonal Snickerdudes was great as well. They also offer canned kombucha and fresh-pressed juices in glass bottles, which was a nice surprise. The kitchen was closed the day we went, so we didn't get to try food. Overall, I would definitely come here again! read more

Captain + Stoker - Flat White - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Such a fun spot in the heart of pacific grove. Inside is small but an easy walk and take your gorgeous coffee cup to go. The staff was very friendly and the drinks were incredible. I tried both a seasonal menu item and just a regular latte and both were delicious. read more

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Mocha: Rich chocolate flavor. Made with 2% milk. Beautiful design on top. Not too sweet. I love this place. Friendly service. I love stopping here when I'm in Pacific Grove . read more

Captain + Stoker - Mocha - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Danny and Liam were so kind, and made me a delicious iced vanilla latte. Great coffee shop to check out while in the Monterey area.

Smaller menu here compared to their Monterey location--so if you're hoping for hot food items like avocado or banana toast, they don't have them in PG. Just coffee and pastries. There's no seating inside at all, other than a small high-top counter by the window (no stools though). You can wait there for your coffee, but I wouldn't recommend trying to hang out, especially if it's busy and there's a line out the door! As for their coffee, which I do like-- however, it leans more on the acidic side. They only serve one size for hot and iced drinks. I want to say the hot is around 8oz and the iced maybe closer to 16oz-- I could be wrong on the sizes though, but the iced looks a bit bigger. Still, if you're someone who likes "large" sizes, CS might not be for you. That said, they're still worth a try, especially their seasonal drinks! My favorite so far has been the "Garden Party Latte," made with their house-made strawberry pistachio syrup-- so good! read more

Captain + Stoker - Gotta love when tourists come to town and crowd up the entrance :) - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Nice little neighborhood coffee shop that was a quick walk from our hotel near Lovers Point. Smaller menu with all the classics as well as a pastry case with various morning treats to choose from. Grabbed a matcha latte with vanilla sweetener. Not the best matcha latte I've ever had, but it gets the job done. Small on the inside with not many seating options, which is a bit of a disappointment because I wanted to sit for a bit and enjoy my drink. But perfect for the grab-and-go coffee. Staff were friendly. It was a bit busy when we were there, but they were still pretty efficient. Good stop for a quick coffee. read more

This is a super cute coffee spot in a great location in like the downtown area of Pacific Grove. Their staff was so nice! I had a honey lavender latte and a GF chocolate chip muffin. Definitely worth trying! read more

Captain + Stoker - More cute signage - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Stopped by on a weekend trip to Monterey. I loved the seasonal honey lavender latte, it had a nice smooth taste. Great staff and quick service. This location is small and more of a grab and go. read more

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Great ambiance and local coffee culture. Bakery items were great. Coffee was mediocre compared to other small roasters I have been to locally. Great place if you want to grab a quick coffee in this part of town. read more

really great spot for a great, quick coffee. Stayed in Monterey for the weekend and we stopped by before hitting the road back to Silicon Valley. There were a few people in front of me in line but it moved super quick. Ordered 2 iced Americanos and they were great. I am a fan of their espresso so I bought a fresh bag to bring home too. This is not the type of place to sit around and enjoy your coffee as it's very small. It's definitely a better grab-and-go spot. Plenty of parking nearby too. Love! read more

Service was great! And coffee was exceptional! Loved the little corner it was located. I got to people watch and enjoy the scenery and enjoyed to walk from the hotel. read more

I'm not here to knock down their rating but just letting anyone know that if you order cold brew they will sell you a can from the fridge for $6, not fresh brewed. read more

Some Youtubers on YouTube recommended this place so we're checking it out! Nice and corky and quaint really super fun music in the background with that cool vibe! read more

Captain + Stoker - Excellent muffins, nice strong coffee! - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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The coffee here was so good! A must if you in the area. Avocado toast simple and so tasty. Service was good and quick. A relaxing environment. read more

Captain + Stoker - Vanilla latte and a cold brew with a side of avocado toast - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Been to the Monterey location so was pleasantly surprised they had opened one in Pacific Grove. Tried the Dark Matter which is the black tea prepared similar to matcha, served over ice with milk, It is sweetened to start and its the perfect amount. The service is friendly and fun. It's small and the drinks and food are meant to go (unlike the Monterey location where there is decent seating). If you've been wanting to try Captain + Stoker go here :) read more

Captain + Stoker - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

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Took a quick trip to Monterey this weekend, and I'm glad I got to try Captain + Stoker. I'm ashamed to admit, but I think I've become a coffee snob over the years. The flavor has to be just right -- not too bitter, dark, or acidic. I gravitate towards toasty flavor profiles, and the latte I had at C+S perfectly hit the spot. This is their smaller location (without seating), and we'll be checking out their larger one later today before we head out of Monterey! (Need to get it at least one more time before I leave) read more

Captain + Stoker - Latte with whole milk - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

If I'm ordering a latte with an extra shot, it's because I'm exhausted and need the caffeine and a sugar blast. The sugar also helps cover up how unpleasant espresso can be for me. Captain + Stoker made me the absolute best latte I've ever had. I took a sip of the foam to keep it from spilling when I put a lid on and I was really surprised by how it tasted! I ended up not adding sugar and enjoyed it on my drive back to Los Angeles. I wish I knew enough about coffee brewing as well as afford the equipment to duplicate the magic the barista there created. Next time we visit Pacific Grove, we definitely plan on going back! read more

Food: delicious! we ordered the crossaint sandwich without the bacon and pb banana sourdough toast with affogato and matcha latte! If you want to try the best affogato ever, then you better run, don't walk! Service: good, I wouldn't rate it outstanding but the reason for 5 stars is for the quality of the food, quality of the drinks and impeccable design of the coffee shop! Maybe the customer service can work on smiling and being friendly a little more.. Ambiance: it's a coffee shop that would instantly became your fav if you lived there, I know it would of been mine for sure read more

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We learned why there was a line out the door -- the lattes are perfect and beautiful. Five stars for the quality of the drinks served. They were out of all food by the time we were there (mid-morning), which was a bummer because somebody in our party was hungry. The vibe of the shop is warm and positive, so we also wished they had a place to sit. Would definitely return for a quickly and precisely made to-go espresso drink. read more

Really smooth light roast coffee. Creamy and not bitter at all. Most of the local spots use their coffee beans and I can see why! However, it's always a long line out the door, with barely any standing room inside, absolutely no seating options, and limited pastry options. The pastries were 10/10 though! The brioche with vanilla custard was one of the best pastries I've ever had! Definitely a "To Go" spot, but worth the wait. read more

Captain + Stoker - Mocha + custard-filled brioche bun - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

I was disappointed by this place but the coffee & pastry were really good. The cups they have are TINY and no Fall flavors? WTF? So, 5 stars but we're going someplace else next time for sure. read more

Perfect small town coffee shop. Delicious coffees, teas, and baked goods. We always stop in every time we're in town! Buy their beans too since they roast their own stuff! Thanks Captain + Stoker! read more

AWESOME COFFEE + ALL ARE WELCOME VIBE + ROOM TO BREATHE FREE - I don't live in Monterey. Passing through I chose this converted "service station" called to us. On our mountain tandem I am the Captain and my daughter has been the Stoker for more than 25 years.. My double macchiato and avocado toast blew me away and the C & S sticker has adorned my Klean Kanteen ever since. Three times in six years C&S is a "reason to come to Monterey" and the food, sea , nature are all footnotes. When locals line up at 6:30 to get their coffee and brown bag lunch, you know the place has got it right: a smile, great caffeinated drinks and healthy/delicious food at a fair price. Business suits, defenders in uniforms, cyclists, tourists, people on scooters and in classic cars. THE VIBE IS RIGHT - NO INSIDERS & NO OUTSIDERS JUST "COMMUNITY" DIG IT & GET STOKED! read more

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This is such a cute coffee spot by Monterey! Everything is bicycle themed which is unique and a little quirky, but I'm about it. There's a decent amount of seating so I feel like this would be a solid spot to work, study, or catch up with friends. Service was friendly and I got my coffee pretty quickly. I ordered a pour over and I'd say that they do it pretty well here and would recommend it! They also offer food on their menu as well, so you can also grab some breakie here if you're inclined. read more

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Really amazingly executed coffee (& LATTES!), by some really cool folks, with great attitude and energy. Welcoming, down-to-earth & eager to caffeinate you with their best. The shop is small, but you can post up (literally, standing) at the counter with street view, or sit on the two person wooden bench outside. They have some merch: tees, hoodies, tumblers, stickers & what seemed like a limited stock of coffee beans (at least today). I really enjoyed our stop, and it was worth the incline bike-trek up to the shop from the bike trail by the sea ^_^ We will definitely return to this quaint coffee shop with the coolest of peeps :) Thank you, Captain + Stoker! read more

Captain + Stoker - Latte - GREATTTT! - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Great matcha and service. Also in a cute part of town and easy to find. Conveniently next to a thrift store as well. The matcha was not too sweet and was made with ceremonial grade matcha. Definitely recommend to anyone who wants a lil drinkie. Also had cute stickers! read more

Unique little spot in downtown Monterey Good parking around the area but can get a bit congested because it's by the Sports Center. Fun vibe from the baristas. Always willing to make recommendations without making you feel like a dope. Some of the yummiest small batch coffee around. read more

It's a quick walk from Lovers Point Inn, and in a great part of their little downtown among plenty of shops. Unfortunately the coffee is just okay, maybe I didn't order a good drink, but i did french press . wait time isn't bad though even with the line out of the door, but the place is small lol! Nice people, ok drinks and cheap read more

I loved Captain + Stoker. My bf and I had been visiting the area and were hoping to find a cute local coffee shop to stop by for some liquid go-go juice. The line for Captain + Stoker was out the door; you know it's good when you see people happily waiting. The space itself felt very relaxed and modern. It is small with no seating inside or outside the coffee shop. They do sell pastries in addition to their modest drinks menu. I ordered a Mocha with oat milk. My partner ordered his usual; whole milk latte with some simple syrup. Both of our coffees were excellent. Not too sweet, which let the coffee flavors stand out. Everyone who was working that morning that we interacted with was super polite and friendly. We left the coffee shop feeling excited to take on the day. Captain + Stoker is the perfect small coffee shop to start the day! 10/10 recommend read more

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Excellent coffee! And the pastries are amazing! I know there's that other place across the street that is known for their baked goods, but I came for the coffee. I ordered a cappuccino with oak milk, dry. Now that's not always possible to get that much foam with oat milk but C+S made I perfectly!! Now we're talking a real cappuccino. I also ordered an apple croissant. It was fresh, flaky and delicious. Also, I love that their cups, lids, bags... were green! Thank you for taking care of the earth. read more

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I ordered an iced vanilla matcha with oat milk and it was so good! I like matcha that has an earthy taste so this was perfect (-: read more

Captain + Stoker - Coffee Roasteries Near Me - Pacific Grove, California

Great Americano! Service was pleasant. Visited a few different locations on my trip including the stand at Laguna Seca - all of them were consistent with pleasant service. read more