A short review of a place that recently opened on our radar. Copa Vida occupies the large space that took over Red, White, & Bluezz defunct location. We heard of it one night maybe two months ago when we were dining at Oasis Cafe next door and there was a private party going on here when we first got whiff of a coffee/tea place opening soon. So far we've only stopped by for a couple iced teas and I forgot what the fellow behind the register called it but it was a brew that they had been pitching. It was unsweetened and refreshing, the kind of tea that you might pound down after exercising; I want to say that it was some sort of "invigorating" tea but that doesn't sound totally right... http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/copa-vida-pasadena?select=L6solc3HpPVcsCB19CHD4g#7ojPP5GmiqbclQi4EJdCqQ I'm familiar with the space having dined at RW&B, It has a minimalist sort of setup, at least for the start, but from our 10 minutes there, they seemed to already attract the wifi squatting crowd http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/copa-vida-pasadena?select=L6solc3HpPVcsCB19CHD4g#BzgPHhOC2JQqe1HpCve4aA. I might have joined them at one time but I've stopped turning coffee shops into my office for a while now. There is a more "refined" enclosed area with lower ambient light, but I haven't determined the distinction yet http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/copa-vida-pasadena?select=L6solc3HpPVcsCB19CHD4g#uZtDqIAawv6LTn_0c8uK3w. Perhaps it's a spot where friend might gather over coffee/tea and pastries, which at first didn't seem too inspiring; I could be tempted by local vendor Europane's pastries if CV was still looking for something in the area... So there you have it, a little antiseptic feeling on one side, while more subdued and comfortable on the other. I could see myself coming back once I understood CV a little better particularly with their tea offerings http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/copa-vida-pasadena?select=L6solc3HpPVcsCB19CHD4g#lHYLPhx_NlN8lgf5PmZCGQ, but they're already competing in a somewhat competitive coffee space with my beloved Jones down the same street, nearby Intelligentsia, and if that isn't enough Urth Caffe finally opened on Colorado a little further away... read more

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My new favorite coffee shop in old town!! It is serious about coffee, but also have a variety of food. Though I've never tried their food, they look delicious! I like their coffee a lot. They have the shakrado which is great as a summer drink. Other drinks are good, but that one is my to-go if it is really hot here in Pasadena! I think their cubed ice is of high quality, which makes their cold drink stand out. I think intelligentsia is serious, here is serious but with a little more fun! read more

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Lots of people come to study here, it's an open space which is nice! They're doing some construction on the outside. Wifi is not available until 3PM on weekends, so beware! Also, it was a hot day when I came in, and it was hot inside. I was literally sweating while inside :( read more

I went to Copa Vida (CV) with my family when we were out in the Pasadena area, and it was a memorable experience for me not only because of the quality drinks, but also because of the ambience and décor. I don't consider myself a coffee shop expert by any means, so I always rely on my brother for recommendations of what to order. From the outside, CV didn't look too big ... but once we got inside the coffee shop, I noticed that, lengthwise, it was actually pretty extensive. The crowd wasn't crazy at all around 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday, which was nice. There were a few people in front of us in line, but the line moved quickly. Since my family already had breakfast, we were just strictly there for the coffee. It took some time for us to figure out what we wanted to order, but thanks to my bro, we were ready by the time we got to the front of the line. I loved the feel of CV--after you order, you can go wait for a table or watch the masters brew the coffee from behind the large counter. There's also a large retail area to the right; I liked seeing all the CV merchandise organized in an orderly fashion. I'd definitely return to this coffee shop if I am ever in the Pasadena area. Here's what we ended up getting: "Mocha": This tends to be my go-to order at coffee shops, since it includes mostly chocolate, some milk and a hint of coffee. I loved the sweet, smooth and velvety texture of this mocha drink. I ordered mine with soy since I can't have regular milk, and I love how the drink was piping hot in my coffee cup when I got it ... there have been instances when I got luke-warm coffee. The taste was smooth and rich but not overly sweet, and I enjoyed sipping my mocha little bit little while it was still really hot. I'd recommend this drink for anyone who doesn't want a strong coffee flavor but still wants that subtle taste. "Cappuccino": Both my brother and dad ordered the same cappuccino drink. I can't remember the specifics of this one, but both of them really liked it. My brother tends to order something different from every coffee shop that he goes to, but he said he appreciated the taste of this cappuccino in particular and drank it slowly ... sip by sip. "Green Genmaicha": My mom doesn't drink coffee so she ordered this tea, but this really reminded me of the "Genmaicha" tea packets that I make for myself on a different basis. The only difference was that this tea came in its own little ceramic/porcelain cup and it was freshly made ... no tea packets. On the menu, this was described as spring grass, toasted rice and popcorn, and the tea itself really did embody that medley. With one whiff of the tea, you get that toasted rice smell, but when you start to drink it, it does remind you of toasted popcorn, but it's refreshing like grass. If I ordered tea from CV, this would probably be first up on my list. "Charcoal Roasted Tung Ting": This flavor definitely sounded scrumptious to me, and I look forward to ordering it one day. It features burnt caramel, coffee and brown sugar ... I think I'm more intrigued about the blend more than anything else, so I'm curious to try it. I do love the sweet flavor of brown sugar, but I'm really interested to see how it'll blend with the burnt caramel and coffee. "Egyptian Chamomile": I really like the calming feeling of chamomile, so if I opted for tea instead of coffee, this would be a strong contender. It's described on the menu as sweet, calming, soothing and floral. It sounds like the "Calm Tea" that I like to get at Starbucks, so I'm sure I would enjoy this CV version. "Hot Chocolate": If it's cold outside, I definitely crave hot chocolate, so I would be down to try the version at CV if the weather cooperates! "Croque Madame": If I were hungry and actually wanted to order breakfast from CV, this would be my first choice. It includes ham, caramelized onions, tomato, gruyere cheese, egg and béarnaise sauce. I probably would order my dish sans the tomato and onions, but everything else--especially that egg and rich cheese sauce--sounds sublime. I do love open-faced sandwiches, so I'm sure I wouldn't be disappointed by this gourmet-sounding one. "Chorizo Egg Hash": If I were in the mood for something savory for breakfast, I would order this dish that's only available during the weekends. It includes beef chorizo, russet potatoes, sunny side egg and jalapeno cilantro sauce. I would probably just ask just how spicy that jalapeno sauce is, but I'm excited to taste this brunch entrée one day, especially because it includes russet potatoes. And hey, sunny side eggs just make everything better. read more

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I love Copa Vida. It is the perfect cafe, with plenty of seating and the best employees to compliment the store's charm. Since there isn't loud music blasting, it is ideal for studying and for a date because it is very calming and soothing. I randomly walked into it, craving a hot chocolate. I was in a rush, which was why I did not get to sit and enjoy my drink, but the barista was sweet and quick. He not only made a delicious cup of hot chocolate, but he made cute foam decorations on them with the cream. This added to the warmth of the coffee shop, thus making it harder to leave. I am anticipating returning because of how I felt at Copa Vida. When customers are beginning to obsess with the food and drinks served, that's how you know this business is doing well and will continue to strive! read more

Copa Vida - So cute! Hot chocolate - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Copa Vida is another Third Wave coffee house. The baristas have participated in various Barista Competitions and have either placed or won in the past so you know they have skills to whip up some good coffee drinks. It's a nice and comfortable space inside with plenty of tables and seats available. In addition to great Third Wave coffee roasts, they also have some very tasty pastries and sandwiches as well. I've had a few pastries here and I can tell you, they are very good. On the weekends, they do limit the wi-fi in the morning to early afternoon in order to accommodate the brunch crowd which is not the first place I've found that does this so if you're looking for a place to hang out for a while with your laptop, you might want to call first to be sure. Other than that, come here for some great coffee and eats. read more

Copa Vida - Cappuccino with almond milk - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I only stopped in briefly for a Copa cold brew, but I really like this place. It's very spacious and clean and has a modern feel to it. You can tell these guys care about good coffee. Their website says they are certified by Coope Dota, a leading Coffee Producer of Costa Rica. Their baristas have won various latte art awards. Hopefully next time I'll have time to sit down and grab a bite and a hot latte. The line wasn't too long and the service was good. My iced cold brew was perfect to start my day. read more

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One of my favorite coffee shops, I finally had the time to sit down and try their food menu. This time I wanted to study with my friend, however they actually don't turn on their wifi until after 3:00. I ordered the Croque Madame and my friend ordered the Chorizo Egg Hash Presentation & Ambiance: Beautiful and very hip. My Croque Madame was delicious and from what I recall, my friend enjoyed her Chorizo Egg Hash! The Croque Madame was packed full of flavor and I love love love how their house bread was crunchy at the edge and soft towards the middles, because usually when it comes to those types of toast... it's usually rock hard, making it painful to eat. I seriously loved every bite of it. As for coffee, I tried their minty milk tea latte and it was pretty good... I really liked my friend's drink a lot though! Their coffee machines are super nice... it's beautiful haha I can't even describe it. Definitely one of my go-to coffee shops! As for parking, there's always the 90 min free structures or meter parking! read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Decided to come here for brunch over the weekend and ordered the Chicken Salad Sandwich and a Cortada. Cute shop, strong coffee, and the sandwich was pretty good too... So why 3 stars, you ask? Because of their lack of customer service and their staff. The staff here are unfriendly. Not one of them smiled at customers during the entire time I was here, and the girl who took our order made me feel like we were bothering her when I had to get her attention to take our order. So rude! They also forgot to make my drink and when I went to check on it, the guy I asked did not even apologize and only turned to ask the other guy to make it right away. We did not feel welcomed here and it was not a pleasant experience at all. So unfortunate because I had been so excited to try Copa Vida! read more

Copa Vida - Brunch - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Located in what used to be Red White and Bluezz. Still have live music on certain days. Place is very open and sterile. Good place to impress a first date I would say :-) I would come again for the seasonal pumpkin fair. Had an apple pumpkin latte or something that was very good. Funny thing though I was sitting and talking to my friend and we were having some deep conversation and she said there was a spider repealing from the ceiling onto to my face and I started swatting away and almost knocked over the light fixture lol. Smooth. Anyhow this place is a must try. If nothing else then just a cool place to hangout and study. Parking street or Raymond Public Garage lot. read more

Copa Vida - Apple pumpkin spice thing and blackberry muffin :-) - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Great place for a cup of cold brew in the morning! I went here a few times while working in Pasadena. It was close enough to the hotel that I didn't have to get in the car so it was great for breakfast. They open up at 7 a.m. and have a few options on the breakfast menu. I opted for the chorizo hash of course, obviously I wasn't dieting. It was pretty tasty and very filling , they serve you a lot! It's a pretty big spot they had a whole room in the back that I didn't see until after leaving. Mind you I had not had coffee yet so I wasn't very observant. I think I gave the staff a good laugh when I was trying to get it together to order. I plan to be in Pasadena for business a few more times this year so I can't wait to try lunch there. They will definitely see me again with my running clothes on getting to start my day. read more

Met up with my brother who was in town from Sacramento and an elite yelper. The pressure was on to take him to a place where he wouldn't be disappointed. Initially, we picked Russell's around the corner from Copa Vida. The wait was over 1hour so we decided to take a stroll and see what else Pasadena had to offer in terms of food. As we made that corner, we ran into Copa Vida. The first impression was this place is going to be pricey or boogey. We didn't let it discourage us from walking in and I'm glad we did. I ordered the huevos rancheros and it was the most pretties and yummiest food. The service was good even though we sat in between two other tables close to eachother it felt like we were tucked away in the nicest brunch place on Colorado. Overall the place was good and highly recommend if you're in the area. read more

You know Copa Vida is a great study spot because of all the textbooks and laptops in sight. There are two sections to this café, the area in front when you first enter (this place is more for people who want to eat/drink/chat), and the back area behind the cashier (where most people study). Free wifi is available (except during brunch times on weekends), outlets are available, and there are also plenty of seats available. I can't speak for the drinks because I didn't order one, but I ordered the biscuit with peach jam and it was quite delicious. I saw the other sandwich items and they look delicious as well! Parking is street parking/parking lots around the main Pasadena hub--shouldn't be hard to find at all. read more

Copa Vida - Biscuit with peach jam - they cannot heat things up - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came here to do some studying. Found a great spot to sit at in the front area and was able to find a plug and connect to Wi-Fi easily. I started out with a Chai Tea latte which was pretty good and then I had a stroopwaffel which was just okay. Overall very busy spot and enjoyed my time here. read more

Vibe- Upbeat, down to earth, hipster, study friendly. Visuals- 5 stars Ambiance- 5 stars Study friendliness- 5 stars Family friendliness- 4 stars (more of a college group) Noise- medium to high, depending on which of the two rooms you're in I got a biscuit and tomato soup and a white tea. I think the biscuit was hard to finish, and I've had better tomato soup, but the tea was magnificent. The food alone is not what you come to this place for. Its the drinks and atmosphere. read more

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We ate here after my daughter had her bridal fitting at Lovely Bride. I saw a line so I figured food was desirable in here. I got the: Ultimate Wedge Salad: Iceberg lettuce, blistered cherry tomatoes, rendered guanciale, deconstructed ranch dust, cured egg yolk, dill, vegan green goddess dressing If you're used to eating Blue Cheese Wedge salads you will not like this salad. I got it with bacon, smh. This salad SHOULD come with pancetta however it didn't. My daughter paid a $2 up charge for the long strips of greasy bacon. The pork should come crumbled where it is not even noticed. These (2) strips of bacon were laid out flat next to the salad, smh. The cherry tomatoes were yellow with black blisters that should have been charred on a charcoal grill, smh. The egg 1/2 was somewhat raw. The green goddess dressing should've been used for some other salad. The latte was delicious! My mother ate: Smoked Salmon Toast Coriander mascarpone, kumquats, fava beans, pickled spaghetti squash, micro pea tendrils, nasturtium leaves My mother does not like coriander. She never had kumquats and she does not tend to like sweet things. She says the dish was not memorable and there was NO distinct taste except the salmon. My daughter got: Classic Avocado Toast Made with avocado, chili oil, Jalapeno- cilantro sauce, radishes, pickled red onion and arugula (Vegan) She says she would NOT order this again! She liked whatever coffee she had. read more

Great local corner coffee shop with decent prices for quality coffee and food! My friend and I ordered the chilaquiles, salmon with cream cheese on toast, cappuccino, and plain coffee. All very delicious and presented beautifully. Seating inside is generous so there is usually a place to sit even on a busy day. Staff is friendly and courteous, too. Would recommend over a basic Starbucks any day. read more

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Stopped by Copa Vida after dropping off a friend in Pasadena. This cafe is location near the downtown area of Pasadena. There is a parking garage located right across which offers free parking for the first 90 mins. Cafe seems to have plenty of room with great lighting and spaces for people to socialize.Even coming on 12/26, it was pretty crowded at 2:45. Ordered a Cappuccino and an Iced Latte. Both of which were fantastic. Great texture and not too overly done. Would come back again to maybe check out their beans! read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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While I did enjoy my mocha, I wish they have a few more menu options as well as more than one size of the drinks. $5 for a small mocha, literally a few sips is steep, I prefer to have a larger drink to last me a while. Service was fine, the space nice, clean, bright , modern and simplistic. Located downtown so there is metered parking all around, tasty and good quality, but there are better options in the area. read more

This is my go to Pasadena Cafe! I love their Cappuccino & different Latte specials they have throughout year. Everything on the food menu rocks. The have awesome eats!! read more

Copa Vida - Cappuccino - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Located near the main strip of Old Town Pasadena, Copa Vida offers a coffee and tea program, as well as sandwiches, salads and brunch. The drinks come with a description of ingredients and flavor notes to help you make your selection. You order and pay at the counter. On my first visit, it was a warm evening so I sampled the iced tea on tap. The ENDURANCE (black tea: pu-erh, cinnamon, goji berries) was good, but I decided to forgo the caffeine. The MEYER LEMON (green tea: lemon, sweet, light, lingering) was refreshing and lightly fragrant so I went with that one. I also tried the BLACKBERRY THYME MUFFIN which I found to be bland and dry and otherwise forgettable. On my second visit, I came for brunch. This time I tried the CORTADO and ordered the CHORIZO EGG HASH. The russet potatoes are made like extra crispy hashbrowns (the way I like it!) and then topped with beef chorizo, a jalapeno cilantro sauce and a sunny side egg. It's a modest portion at $10 and may not satisfy some appetites, but I enjoyed it. My drink was excellent. The space is quite big so even with some folks on their laptops, I didn't have any trouble finding a table. read more

Copa Vida - Cortado - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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A cup of Coffee.... A cup of tea....A Cup of Life Move over Intelligentsia & Bird Pick there is a new kid in town: Copa Vida! I have waited for this place to open for the last few months, the space is huge and I have been peaking in while it was under construction. Very open concepts design with 2 settings: light & airy - the main entrance & then into a darker & calming room - separate room with a coffee bar! As I was talking to co-owner Steve, I think I understand their whole motto for coffee & tea, they want to deliver the best cup of Coffee & Tea. 1) Teas are brewed in this special French press & siphon machine called Alpha Dominche. He actually showed me how the machine worked it so cool ! It delivers the hot water at a specific temperature and time that they think extract the best taste out of the tea. The extraction of the flavors also comes from the pressure that is released into the tea ! Delivering the perfect steeped tea EVERY time. Simply awesome & amazing... yes I am a little geeky! The oolong & green tea are so good and refreshing. 2) Coffee are also hand crafted ! hot drinks has an intricate design on top It's been too hot for me to get hot drinks so I have stucked with the cold one. I love the semi-freddo so good & delicious, it's a double shot sweetend poured over ice & the perfect size. I also love their iced cold coffee, which was pretty amazing. There is station to add your sweetener agave, honey, or simple syrup. Food is served at specific hours but looks delicious & also hand crafted & makes a huge competition against URTH café which just opened in Pasadena. Their pastries are delicious ! I am in love with their Kumquat Pistachio Croissant I love the hipster, clean, fresh atmosphere of this place ! Makes a nice place to catch up with friends, work on that project (there are outlets & wifi), or even read a book. The barista wear cute outfit & are super nice! I am probably going to be a regular here and would love to work for this cute coffee shop. Parking: Green Street for 90 minutes free! read more

Copa Vida - Kumquat pistachio croissant with an iced coffee :) perfect sunday - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I needed a brunch spot. I needed to get out of Burbank. I needed there to be life around. I rarely choose Pasadena. Usually my go to is some where on the east side, just not Pasadena east. I found this place, saw the reviews (thank you trusty yelp) and headed over that next morning. Service was nice. Coffee was (emoji with the thumb and forefinger making an o) and the food was good. I got the Seasonal Toast, which was an egg salad. It was rich and tasty. I'm not a huge bread eater. As in, I rarely eat it, so when my egg salad arrived on a giant piece of bread, I was a little disappointed. I was hoping for more egg salad and less bread. My husband got the chicken salad which was equally tasty and equally bready. I don't know if I will come back here out of sheer desire of wanting to, but if I was in the area and needed somewhere to get good coffee, then yes, I'd come back. read more

Copa Vida - Chicken salad making an appearance in the background. Up front the seasonal toast. - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Anytime I'm in Pasadena I need to visit this cafe. It has everything you need, great coffee, great food, helpful and friendly staff, and a beautiful space. I generally go for something sweet, like one of their delicious donuts (with seasonal flavors). but recently I tried one of the breakfast burritos which was also delicious. You probably can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Definitely worth stopping in if you're in the area! Also a great spot to work as the atmosphere is very relaxing! read more

Copa Vida - Donuts & Coffee - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Los Angeles' coffee landscape is increasingly dotted with boutique shops serving coffee that is to Starbucks as an In & Out burger is to a Big Mac. There is the old guard (LaMill), the successful immigrant (Intelligentsia), the homegrown hero (Handsome), the hole in the wall (Cognoscenti), and the soon-to-be imperial conqueror (Stumptown). Five years ago one essentially had to drive to Silverlake for a great cappuccino. Today, most Angeleno connoisseurs can have world class coffee within a fifteen minute drive. Enter Copa Vida, an Old Town Pasadena boutique equally obsessed with excellence in tea and coffee. The enormous space contains a large coffee bar, tea bar (using a $20,000 Alphadomiche machine to steep the perfect cup of tea), and abundant seating. Double doors open from the coffee and tea bar onto the slow bar, where tasting and cupping adventures await the true lovers and students of fine beverage. Beyond this, Copa Vida has a full kitchen and offers brunch and freshly baked breads. Considering Copa Vida is around the corner from Intelligentsia, across the street from Amara, and down the street from Jones, they are quite ballsy to say the least. But this shop can readily hang with the finest coffee shops LA. Beyond this, the service is friendly, the quality of the tea is equal to coffee, and there is parking directly across the street. While I will avoid superlatives relating to Copa Vida (except that the cold brew coffee on tap is the best in LA), suffice to say, there is no better environment to drink fine beverage of which I am aware in Southern California. read more

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I got the iced vanilla latte and a bunch of the bakery items which were all !!! I especially enjoyed the big cookie that the barista recommended--i got another to-go. The inside has a lot of seating to work, read, people watch, socialize etc. Definitely will be back soon! read more

I pass by Copa Vida often because I always park in the Raymond structure. It always looks so cozy with plenty of people studying at all hours of the day. I still haven't gone inside, but I finally had a chance to try their offerings! The chocolate chip cookie gives Proof's chocolate chip cookie a run for its money! I thought Proof's cookie was the best EVER but now, Copa Vida has me rethinking. Also, their chocolate croissant was also amaze. Not only was it standard chocolate but also nutella; ugh, double the delicious. The black coffee was good - no complaints. read more

Cute place, nice to have a meeting in with ample seating. Both the food and espresso drinks were good. Average price on drinks, menu a little pricy for breakfast food. read more

Copa Vida - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cute cafe, no doubt, but not as impressive as I expected after reading all these reviews. I really liked the space, which is so much bigger inside than what appears outside because there is a second, larger room in the back. So even though it can get crowded and there can be a long line, there are plenty of seating options, not to mention, the staff is pretty friendly and quick with the orders.There are a lot of tea and coffee options to choose from and a couple food items. I'm not exactly a coffee connoisseur, and am usually an avid tea drinker, but for some odd reason I decided for a coffee that day, so I ordered a Shakerato. I actually really enjoyed the drink; it was pretty much an iced latte and it was strong enough to wake me up, and also wasn't too sweet. My beef with it is that it's pretty pricey...like I said I'm not a coffee person, but I'm pretty sure I could get an iced latte elsewhere that would taste similar and still give me my caffeine fix. For a small bite, I ordered a Breakfast Burrito with bacon. I don't really know what I was expecting with this, but I was merely satisfied. It wasn't the tastiest and it was a little on the bland side, but it wasn't completely bad either. All in all, it's an okay place to get a cup of coffee or tea and even something to eat. It also seems like a really cool place to get some studying or work done because of the space, free wifi, and overall atmosphere. read more

Copa Vida - Back: Chorizo Hash; Front: Breakfast Burrito and Shakerato - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I honestly just wasn't impressed. I read reviews and was recommended by many of my friends to this place and it just didn't do it for me. Whenever I try a coffee place I just get a simple latte. Something you can't mess up and it's just standard for me. And this latte was sooooo sub-par and on a girly note, the art was awful! When I asked for the wifi password they were hesitant to give it to me. Sorry I'm no regular, but trust me, I won't be. The staff was rude, unwelcoming and not friendly in the least. The atmosphere wasn't what you would expect from a coffee place. I just didn't feel welcomed. But they won't have to worry about welcoming me, I won't be back. read more

Copa Vida - Sweetened latte....it was alright. I wouldn't recommend it. - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Opening a specialty coffee shop is always a good idea. But what happens when your barista invests his life into his shop because he's passionate about every detail of serving you? You get great coffee and you'll want to tell others. I want to share three memories I'll cherish from this morning's coffee run. 1) The Coffee - Bright and sweet. Guatemala roasted fresh by Ritual Coffee Roasters, brewed in a stainless Hario V60 pour-over, with forward notes of Green apple and cranberry. AWESOME. 2) The Shop - Clean and comfy. This shop has a unique vibe of laid back elegance. There are handmade wooden tables throughout. A bright white inlayed ceiling in the front of the shop, and a dark mahogany inlayed ceiling by in the back where you'll find a slow brew coffee education bar and exposed brick wall. Fresh orchids scattered tastefully, and most of all...REALLY CLEAN. 3) Sam "Our Barista" - Not only can he crank out beautiful designs on Lattes, but he HANDMADE every table in the shop, other family members made the signs, the counter, the brew bar station...etc. When the line slowed down Sam did not stop cleaning. Cleaning out the grinder's bean hopper, cleaning the dispersion screens of the espresso machine, this barista scrubbed away every microgram of coffee residue behind the bar because he wants you to have a good cup of coffee just like the one he made me. Because the quality of your cup of coffee is the most important handmade item in his shop. THANKS SAM!! read more

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People blow smoke too much so I'm just going to keep it 100. Is this a good cup of coffee? Without a doubt. However, if you're not a coffee connoisseur then you might not like or appreciate it. In that case, I would go elsewhere. I can only speak to the iced coffee since I can't remember what I got last time I was here (but I do remember I liked it). The coffee had a nice, smooth chocolate finish. Reminded me of the chocolate finish in Stumptown's cold brew. What I care about in coffee is that it doesn't taste too acidic, bitter or burnt. You'll find none of that here. I've heard from several people that breakfast/brunch is very good so I'll likely be back to try this. The staff is moderately friendly & get the job done. I definitely had more friendly service when they 1st opened though. If you're cruising old town and looking for java, this is your best option out of the 5+ coffee shops around. read more

More of a 3.5 stars!! Came on a Saturday at 1:00 and there was a small line. Overall, hot food is underwhelming for the price. I ordered the Croque Madame and it was good, but NOT $14 good. It was an okay size, had ham, cheese, and tomato. I did not taste caramelized onions. I could have gone somewhere else and gotten way more better tasting food for $15. I would pay $7 for that meal NOT $14. It was bland besides the taste of the salty ham. Even the egg was weak and small. The side of tomato soup was good but not creamy or rich, which i like!! But I would never get again. My BF got the Chilaquiles. He did not like them that much. They lacked flavor, too much mushy tortilla chips. Also again, not worth $12. Super UNDERWHELMING. Never again we said.... Also the coffee tastes so weird. We ran into a bunch of friends and they were all drinking tea because they also hate the coffee. This place is a very cute study spot, i LOVE how they have two rooms. One room is louder and the other one is more quiet and more people are studying in there. But I would never study here because of the parking. Another problem is PARKING, yes you can park in the free lot only for 1.5 hours though so I would nit recommend coming here to study if you are gonna be more than 90 minutes. ALSO on a Saturday, the parking garage was FULL. Luckily I was able to find meter parking close by. So its good if you are just gonna be there for a little bit. Staff were nice but one lady was really rude when we tried to clean up our dirty dishes. I checked in on yelp for 10% off a food item but it was still hella expensive. HOT FOOD IS NOT WORTH here. I would rather go to literally any other brunch/cafe shop. read more

Copa Vida - Croque Madame OVERPRICED - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love the ample seating and outlets in this location. Wifi may get slow occasionally, but it's not too bad. The espresso is very light (I had it in a latte), especially compared to Intelligentsia. I find that it is also on the sweeter side, as compared to the other locations around (Intelligentsia, Lavender and Honey, etc) though I can see how some people would like it. Perhaps the latte just isn't to my preference, as I'm an avid fan of Klatch and Aroma (neither in the Pasadena area), but it's okay. read more

One of my favorite coffee shops in Pasadena! I love coming here whenever I'm in the area or shopping around Old Town. They have a good variety of teas, Juice Love juices, and your standard coffee/espresso options. Usually I don't like my coffee flavored or anything, but on occasion, I do enjoy a sweet latte here and there. When I do, I always opt for their Shakerato, which is an iced latte sweetened with agave. They also have a lot of delicious lookin' pastries, ice cream sandwiches, donuts, etc here! I haven't tried any of their breakfast items, but I'm sure I will be back in the near future to give them a try. I can see this as a nice spot to grab coffee with a friend, but it is kind of a hit or miss if you'll be able to find seating or not. From the handful of times that I have been here, it has always been pretty busy. +Free 90 min parking structures around the area! read more

I've been there twice now, it's always great place especially for brunch. Went here today with my friend and they got the kale salad was really good and I got the sweet potato hash was good as well. The staff is always nice and friendly. The vanilla lattes are really good as well. Today we didn't have money for the meter but the Guy behind the cash register was really nice and give us change. Highly recommend definitely love this place. It's better to go a little later around like one or two it's not so packed. Opposed to morning or early lunch read more

Hard to find places that serve a cortado, and it was great here! Served in a small glass and perfect temperature. I came for brunch and there was a citrus beet salad on the menu which on its own was great, however I added chicken breast which was freshly prepared but lacked any seasoning whatsoever and was a too crispy. I came with a few people and ordered on my own number at the counter and my salad came out about ten minutes later after theirs even though I was next in line. They were very happy with the French toast and the chorizo egg hash (which I tried a taste too, yum). The menu online was different than what appeared available. Overall pretty good experience. read more

Copa Vida - Cortado - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Went here for lunch on a weekday, during work. This place is surprisingly big, made up of 2 rooms. The ordering area/bar place connects between the 2 rooms. There is a lot of seating, not as small as I was expecting. Nice set up for people who just wanna be on their computer in public places, saw a lot of hipsters there with their macbook pros. This is a great brunch/lunch/coffee date place. The coffee is okaaaay, it's got that sour blond roast taste going on which I don't love. I'm sure their mixed drinks are good though, but the plain cold brew isn't my favorite. I prefer the cold brew from Homebrew located a few blocks away. Their croque madame is awesome! Shout out to the service, they subbed the ham with turkey upon my request! I really appreciate that. So many times I've been denied a croque monsieur/madame because for some reason they are unable to switch the ham out. I will come back here for this sandwich, I love the bernaise and the egg! Also their grilled chicken sandwich is very good too, the chicken is crazy moist...you can cut it apart with a butter knife. So delicious. Only downside is that this place is pretty expensive...BUT you get a good amount of food so it is worth the price. You just have to save the rest for later if you don't want to fall into a post lunch food coma at work. Their sandwiches come with a side of chips, salad, fruit, or soup. A medium sized thing of coffee was around $3.50, which is around the usual price for cold brew iced coffee in this area I've noticed. Their donuts looked beautiful, so gourmet and perfect. I definitely plan on coming back for a cheat here. And also very intrigued by their affogato options as well. read more

Copa Vida - Grilled chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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These guys know their stuff when it comes to coffee and tea! Super knowledgeable and will help you figure out what to order if you're having trouble. Super clean and open space with free wifi. Noise level isn't bad. Food was delicious and on point. I don't think I could ever go back to Starbucks after having the coffee from here. Definitely coming back here and plan on becoming a regular when school starts! read more

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Parking: Street (metered) or Lots (find the 90-min free lots scattered around Old Town) Payment: Cash or credit ------ Apparently, this place is the cup of life! I learned some Spanish that day. Priced a little higher than your average chain coffee shop, it has the quality to back them up. I had the Garden of Eden tea on a hot spring day and it hit the spot. Just the right amount of light sweetness while still refreshing. The space is very open and the crowd is a mix of studying and light conversations. I would definitely come back here more if I didn't have to worry about parking. read more

Copa Vida - Love the space! - New American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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