Mmmmmmm Coffee Code.... I wish I had some right now :[
Ambiance - Solo person who wants to plug in earphones and maybe do about an hour or so of work while drinking coffee or couple of friends who wants to gossip over coffee and tea. I have never stayed here to enjoy my coffee, but the above mentioned are the two groups of people I typically see here when I stop by with coworkers after lunch.
Drinks - This is totally going to give me away! I will always order the iced coffee with cream and sugar and coffee ice cubes *note that the coffee they use to make the ice cubes is different than the coffee they use for the drink. I usually try to venture out and try new things, but I tried this once and have been hooked ever since. Only drink I will get from here. So good that I even got a few of my coworker's hooked on it too. The drink is so harmoniously balanced between the creamy, the sweet, and the caffeine. Best part is, the more you drink, the stronger it'll get since the coffee cubes are melting and making the drink stronger; but since it's so gradual, you won't notice the change.
Caffeine - I don't know what kind of beans they're using, but their coffee packs a punch! Great for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up when you're dreading going back to work. Just the thing you need to keep you going and going and going and going.....
Consistancy - This is where I had to take 1 star off. I usually will exclusivly go during lunch time Mon-Fri (very very occasionally on weekends) and have noticed 4 people who work there. This drink has been made by 3 of the 4 people I have seen. Of those 3, I want to say one of them might be new? When he makes the drink, it doesn't taste like the others... Sometimes it's too sweet or too creamy or not sweet/creamy enough. Over the past several months it has been getting better, but I still remember this one time he made my drink 3 times.... First try he forgot the coffee ice cubes (it's fine, I know my order isn't normal). Second try he poured the drink he already made into a new cup with coffee ice cubes, but the sugar didn't transfer (tried to just suck it up and drink it, but it was too bitter). Third time was a little too creamy, but it's ok - still delicious. My coworker has also noted the inconsistancy in his drinks (usually an iced white chocolate) when this individual creates it. Overall, he'sbeen getting much much better!
Knowledge - They really know what they're doing. I still remember the first time I ever came to this location. It had been about a month of starting my new job, I've been working extremely long hours and not getting enough sleep. I had tried every remotely decently reviewed coffee place near my work (3 Starbucks, Coffee Bean, and various mom and pop places) all to end up down the sink. So, I started looking for places on my commute to work. All the highly rated coffee joints I tried near work all had this sour taste to their coffee's (I would always ask for the barista's recommendation when not going to Starbucks or Coffee Bean). Tired and cranky, I just wanted to find a decent cup of coffee. One morning I come in with some of the worst panda eyes I've ever had and give the guy the same spiel, "What can you recommond that is really super strong and sweet, but dondoesn't have that sour taste." Most people looked at me like I was crazy "Sour taste? What sour taste?" but then this guy wasn't normal. He recommended I get their iced coffee with cream and sugar and while making the drink explained that most people actually look for the hint of the sour (acidity); that when people compete coffee beans they are creating beans that can achieve the perfect trifecta of acidity and 2 other things. I wish I had paid more attention that day so I can remember exactly what he said, but I was a bit tired. On a few other occasions, different employees have educated me about coffee and tea in general and so much of what they say makes sense.
Bottom line - I'l keep coming back for that great cup of coffee. Not going to lie, I'll even make a detour to this place if I need to go to the Fullerton/Buena Park area! read more