Short story:
1. Banana matcha 1/2 sweet: Still very sweet…read more *The syrup is homemade* so perhaps that's why. Banana pudding topping was yummy and taste homemade, too.
2. Avocado toast with egg: 2 pieces of sliced sourdough with generous avocado spread on each. Scrambled flat egg on one. Tasty value buy.
3. No charge for milk alternative.
4. Ambiance: Magnificent. (Except the bathroom. Which can use a little more attention.)
Long story:
People, don't be mad at them because they're in the hood. People in the hood like coffee and matcha too. Like meeee!
Me Gusta Cafe genuinely surprised me. I expected a tiny, quaint shop, but it's a bright, beautiful, full-sized cafe with plenty of seating, outdoor tables, its own parking lot, and a gated entrance. Also a nice pop music soundtrack to bob your head to.
The staff were friendly, and the prices are very reasonable. I ordered a banana matcha and avocado toast with egg. The matcha was decent, but even "half sweet" tasted extremely sweet. If you prefer a lightly sweet drink, order it one-fourth sweet.
They don't charge extra for alternative milks, which I really appreciate.
The avocado toast came with two slices of non-buttered sourdough, very generous portions of real, mashed and lightly seasoned avocado, and a scrambled egg. At about $5 without egg or $7 with it, it's a great deal. It was simple but satisfying. Much better than the smear of avocado most coffee shops provide.
The only real issue was the bathroom. It's outside and key-accessible, which makes sense for the location, but it needed more attention: the toilet bowl, soap automatic dispenser not working well, door and handles need a wipe down. Not terrible, but the bathroom simply didn't match the cafe's entirely crisply clean appearance.
Overall, San Bernardino is really lucky to have Me Gusta Cafe. I wouldn't go there looking for a high end ceremonial matcha experience, but for a comfortable place to grab a drink/bite to eat, relax, study, or meet a friend in San Bernardino, it's a great choice. I will definitely be back to try their coffee and to see what a non sweet or 1/4 sweet matcha taste like.
P.S. They have so much space outside, I hope they decide to host events in the cooler seasons.