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Criterion coffee

4.8 (252 reviews)
Closed 7:00 am - 6:00 pm

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CRITERION COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating
Good for working

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Recommended Reviews - Criterion coffee

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Lauryn M.

This was such a satisfying impromptu coffee experience. My friend and I drove in from San Diego for Masters of Taste at the Rose Bowl, had some extra time and decided to grab coffee and picked this place based on it having the highest yelp rating for coffee in the area. The place is small and intimate downstairs but also has an upstairs seating area. We were pleasantly surprised when we walked in and they had a live cello player performing ! Customer service was also really good considering it was crowded. We ordered the affogato and the banana date latte. Both which were beyond phenomenal and we are coffee snobs. The banana date latte was giving very much smoothie vibes so not a strong coffee presence and very banana forward and well, I was in LOVE. The affogato was really good because the espresso was strong and had good flavor. 10/10 recommend and will be back when I am in the area. They also sale ice cream which we didn't try but is supposed to be good so if the coffee is any indication of how the ice cream will be, I think it's worth a try.

Upstairs nook.
Sharon G.

I grabbed breakfast at this cozy cafe when I was last on a trip to Pasadena. It's in a charming part of town with a big tree out front. The coffee was hot and delicious and I got a big slice of lemon pistachio cake. What a combination. It was so rich that I couldn't eat the whole thing, but in a good way. If I lived locally, I would love that upstairs coffee/reading nook.

Meerim M.

I've been going to Criterion Coffee almost every day, and it has become one of my favorite places. The quality of the food and ingredients is really noticeable -- everything tastes fresh and well made. I especially love their pancakes. They are soft, flavorful, and clearly made with good ingredients. You can tell the kitchen pays attention to quality and preparation. The coffee is also very good and pairs perfectly with breakfast. The atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, which makes it a great place to start the day. Service is nice always. Overall, it's a spot I keep coming back to because the food, coffee, and quality are consistently great.

Interior
Thuy Dan T.

Came for a quick brunch and the spot if very cute! A homey cafe with two seater style tables and even some upstairs seating it looked like. Plus some cute outdoor seating too. I got the Dubai latte hot and the healthy wealthy plate. The Dubai latte tasted like a regular latter with crushed pistachios on top so I wished the chocolate/nutty flavor came through more, but this flavor might have been better cold instead. At $9 with an oat milk substitution, this was pricey to me. The healthy wealthy plate came with eggs, salmon, avocado, waffle, and a side salad. A solid breakfast but at $19.50, still felt a little much with half the plate being the side salad. Tasted healthy though!

Avocado Spinach Smoothie
Sofia V.

Criterion Coffee is a delightful spot in Pasadena. Today, I had the avaocado spinach smoothie, which had a creamy and thick texture. I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor, and felt it was missing something. However, I came once before and enjoyed the hot matcha latte! Calming, modern decor with a second floor with more seating, though it seemed pretty packed. Service was excellent and I'd come again to try more of their speciality lattes.

Pancakes
Temirlan T.

Criterion Coffee is genuinely one of those places that feels like the owner actually cares -- and she does. Everything here is exceptional. The hazelnut latte with an extra shot is perfectly balanced, rich without being overwhelming. The almond croissant is flaky, fresh, and absolutely worth it. The pancakes? Outstanding presentation and quality -- you can tell real thought goes into every plate. What sets this place apart is the commitment to organic, Whole Foods-sourced ingredients. You taste the difference. The ambiance is warm, the service is personal, and the owner is hands-on in the best way. This is a 5-star experience, no question. Big hug from Tim & Meerim.

Downstairs seating area with the coconut tart and pistachio coffee. Try it and you'll love it!
Jamie P.

Wow, just Wow! I recently tried this place with a girlfriend and we ordered a chia tea, pistachio latte and a coconut tart and everything was tasty. They have a variety of milk options for those who need it and some gluten free options. I seriously dream of the coconut tart. It was the perfect blend of creamy and sweetness along with the crust being soft. The coffee was amazing, great pistachio taste but I would have loved if they added crushed pieces, I felt that would have put it over the top. My friend loved her tea Chai and then have an upper and lower seating level. Service was exceptional, cozy feeling but bright and airy at the same time. I genuinely don't like coming to Pasadena but I will for this place.

Janelle N.

First time trying Criterion Coffee today and so glad that I discovered this gem in Pasadena! They have your traditional coffees, and also a list of autumn/winter specialty drinks. They also had lots of food options but a bit on the pricier side. I loved their interior seating, it is so beautiful and felt so cozy. They have a couple tables outside as well. Although there was only one person working at the front, service was really quick. I got a hot pistachio vanilla latte. It was the perfect sweetness and earthiness. The pistachio and vanilla complemented each other very well. My only complaint is there's limited parking and all of it is metered. I look forward to getting some work done here one day! P.S.~write a yelp review and you'll get a free drip coffee, croissant, or cookie for same day redemption :)

J C.

This place has not disappointed me; always friendly service staff and creative baked goods and drinks! They are clean, organized and provide a cool and comfortable experience for all!

Heaven!
Zee P.

Criterion Bakery has become our go to café and truly one of our favorite places. For over a month now, it's been our weekend ritual, the perfect treat my partner and I share. Live jazz, beautiful energy, incredible service, and owners who are genuinely kind and present. It feels special every time. The husband and wife owners have created something truly meaningful here. From inviting the community in for a holiday weekend filled with music and giveaways, to simply showing up with warmth day after day, their care is felt in every detail. Our favorites never change, the avocado egg sandwich and a slice of the owner's homemade mandarin walnut cake, which is absolutely wonderful. We even brought family here on Christmas Day after being told they'd be open, only to arrive and see their door glass boarded up. Learning they had been victims of a burglary was heartbreaking. And yet, despite everything, despite exhaustion and personal loss of rest and time with family, they still showed up to serve their community. This goes far beyond business. It speaks to who they are. Criterion is warmth, home, resilience, and generosity, paired with excellent food and drinks. If there are awards to be given for heart, community, and commitment, I hope they receive every single one. Support them!

Daniel L.

Tried the pistachio latte. Very well balanced on sweetness, milk, and coffee. The pistachio cream was very pleasant but too thick to actually pick up through the straw. I personally really enjoyed it and would come back. Parking is hit or miss since it's downtown pasadena. Had a handful of seats for people to study/work. 4.5/5

A promotional sign displayed on a terrazzo surface advertises a deal where customers can receive a free item—either a fresh drip coffee, croissant, or cookie—by sharing their experience on Yelp or Google. The sign includes instructions to show the review to the barista for same-day redemption. The sign features a coffee cup image and a small icon of a coffee mug at the top.
Michelle A.

Solid coffee and food. The cappuccino was strong and the service is very friendly! It's a quiet location good for working on your laptop. My breakfast sandwich was just okay. It could use some seasoning on the eggs and an aoli or sauce. But the croissant was AMAZING!

pistachio vanilla latte - A latte with foam art, featuring a heart-shaped design, is served in a white ceramic cup on a matching saucer. The cup is on a marble table, with a small packet of cookies partially visible on the side. In the background, there are menu signs and a QR code, indicating a coffee shop setting.
Ginger I.

I geeked over the interior of this place a bit. After months of wanting to try Criterion, I finally went today. There is ample indoor and outdoor seating and a stunning interior to go along with it- even the restroom tiles were cool I love that there's a more secluded section to sit upstairs in case you need some extra peace. I ordered a pistachio vanilla latte and grabbed a strawberry white chocolate chip cookie as well. The cookie was good. I loved the latte. It was the perfect texture & the flavors blend together nicely. The baristas are really friendly and gave great recommendations. One thing that stood out to me here was that they have so many different flavor combinations, whether seasonal or permanent menu items. I would love to see more options like this at other third wave coffee shops! Criterion Coffee is a 10/10 spot. I will be back (:

Interior (Part 2) - Inside Criterion Coffee, the wall displays multiple black shelves holding coffee bags, cans, and decorative plants. A wooden counter runs along the wall, with coffee-related items and a small pumpkin decoration. The seating area includes round white tables with black chairs. Near the entrance, a glass door with an exit sign is visible, and a clock hangs on the wall. The space has a modern, minimalist decor with a cozy atmosphere.

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29 days ago

Great ambiance for either working or having a lazy afternoon with your friends. Love that they have vegan pastry options.

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1 month ago

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1 month ago

The pistachio rose latte was amazing here. It's a great place to study with calm music/nice ambiance!

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2 months ago

I really liked Criterion. It was my favorite of all the coffee places I tried in Pasadena. Very friendly also. Clean. Good coffee

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Ask the Community - Criterion coffee

How is parking?

Street parking available first come first serve Parking garage a couple of blocks away

Do they have their own bread? Bake their own pastries?

Hi Dear Jenny! We use top-quality bread from one of the best artisan bakeries in Los Angeles, and we bake most of our pastries fresh in-house daily. Everything is selected… Read more

Does this place have outlets for use? I'm deciding where in Old Town Pasadena would be a good spot to work for a day.

Suggestion: check with the staff first. If it's a slow weekday they might welcome the patronage.… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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I LOVED MY DRINK! As soon as I finished I wanted another one. Such a treat. It's a cute cafe with a…read moregreat selection. They certainly have a diverse menu that rotates and it seems they are in the specialty coffee / matcha lane. Cream tops, fun flavors and such but they use good coffee beans so I am sure there regular standard cafe items are also really good! The service was quick and the space was spacious to work but it does get crowded! They have a nice patio too! I can't wait to come back!

Danbi Coffee is aesthetically pleasing and has delicious brews that satisfy anyone's taste pallets…read more Being in Pasadena, I'm surprised it wasn't heavily trafficked as other locations. I'm assuming because it isn't near the shopping areas of downtown, so it's not quite as bad. They have a designated parking area in the back of the coffee shop, but you can easily find parking on the street. We came on a Sunday morning and noticed all the seats being taken up inside. They have seats lined on the exterior of the perimeter of the store, too. The AC was blasting when we came, matching the cold, rainy temperature outside... we actually didn't end up staying here for long due to the that. When we were in line, we were able to peruse the merchandise that they had for display. Shirts, snacks, or drinkware. We also decided what items we had wanted from their menu. I was quite disappointed that they discontinued their mochi drink. I ended up getting their banana latte and my fiancé ordered their coffee coffee latte. We also ordered their beautiful dessert. Their banana latte was good but it truly tasted like an overripe banana; the type you put in your freezer to save for banana bread. I didn't quite like it. It was also topped with toffee bits, which gave the drink a new appeal. I think I preferred my fiancé's drink over mine. We ordered their Tropical Fruit dessert as well, which reminded me of the viral pastries I would see influencers eat. It had a crunch exterior made of chocolate with real mango chunks inside. It was mixed with passion fruit mousse and coconut crunch and sponge, like an almond joy bar. It was delicious but quite expensive to purchase. I'd love to try their other ones such as the Dubai chocolate one or their raspberry. Overall, the experience was quite decent. Their workers are very stressed and fixated on pumping out the drinks at a fast rate. I'd come back if I'm ever in the area, to try other drinks they have alongside their desserts.

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Came here after checking out Descanso Gardens and was worried they'd sell out so I placed an online…read moreorder. Picking up was smooth and easy but parking was awful. We had to circle the area a few times to find street parking. It would be nice if they had a designated parking lot in addition to street parking because some of the businesses around there had that. There was seating inside despite the store being pretty small, so my bf and I just ate inside. The cakes were pretty good! I got the Matcha Yuzu and he got the Kinako Chestnut. I couldn't really taste the yuzu until I tried only the first layer of cream. The matcha overpowers the yuzu a lot because there was two layers of matcha cream and one layer of matcha cake. Still really good and can taste that the matcha is high quality! As for the kinako chestnut, we couldn't taste the chestnut much but there were some chestnut pieces hidden in the cake! I would love to try the peach one as well but this place is quite far. Hopefully I'm in the area when they have the peach seasonal again.

Rating is solely for the egg salad sandwich! I really wanted to like this spot because I've been in…read moresearch of a new egg salad sandwich spot, but this unfortunately did not do it for me :( The bread was nice and crispy, but the egg salad made me feel a bit nauseous-- almost too eggy and mayo-heavy? I wish there was a bit more seasoning or maybe something more than just egg in the egg salad-- it just felt like a lot of cream and egg. Also, the size of the sandwich felt a little small for $11. The space itself is alright, and staff were friendly! Parking was a bit hard to find, and I had to circle the block to get a spot a few minute walk away on the street. I'd consider coming back to try a warm sandwich or a latte, but I probably wouldn't get the egg salad sandwich again!

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This place is so much more than a tea house. It's a reset, a tiny retreat that gently reminds you…read morelife doesn't have to be lived at 100 mph. I just finished a hike in Altadena, found Callisto on Yelp, and wandered in looking for a quiet post-trail moment. Instead, I was met with such a genuine warmth that made me feel like a guest instead of a transaction. The owner herself took my afternoon in a much softer direction. I ordered the afternoon tea service and fell into my book. This is the kind of place that invites you to read, write, and decompress. My tea of choice: Yellow Brick Road with osmanthus flowers blended with Darjeeling black tea. It tasted like sweet blossoms dipped in honey. The service also comes with three mini savory toasts, a scone with mascarpone cream and marmalade, and dessert. I chose the chocolate peanut butter cupcake which sent me into a blissful chocolate haze for the rest of the day. If you crave quiet, delicious, almost healing moments, you need to come here. Wendy, thank you for taking such good care of me and inspiring me to chill out for the rest of the afternoon.

My book club met here for our January meeting. Parking was a breeze, for context we had arrived…read morearound noon on a Sunday. Their tea menu has beautiful descriptions that helped us choose the perfect teas that aligned with our book's themes. We had a larger group and the owners were a delight to work with to make the reservation to accommodate us and schedule a tea tasting. We had a wonderful experience and enjoyed the delicious teas.

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I've heard some good things about this place and from other fellow yelpers friends, it must be…read moreworth it. Had a dinner reservation with some girlfriends celebrating two of their birthdays. The restaurant itself isn't too big but it does a pack a nice punch. Cute patio out front that takes some of the sidewalks and streets. Plenty of heat lamps which helped with the chilly nights. We got seated at one of the tables on the patios which was nice. Didn't really utilize inside area except for the restroom which it's quite cute in there. The rooms were pretty well decorated and executed. Nice bar area too. Like mentioned, we got seated on the patio and the heat lamps were great. Down to the menus, it's quite limited on dishes. Seemed like there were more shared plates versus the entrees. Drinks, it was fairly decent with their cocktails and wine. Service at the beginning was great. The staff were amazing and very friendly. We didn't order right away as we were still waiting for the last one to show. But did start off with some drinks. It didn't take that long for the first round which was nice. Food wise, the shared plate was a mixture of everything. Some of the olives, which is exactly what it is. The Belgian fries, nice thick cut fries with shredded pecorino cheese and a nice aioli sauce. We ended up getting a second order of it. The albacore tuna crudo was a hit which was really tasty. Chili ginger relish, mint and shallot, can't go wrong with that. Lastly the meatballs, tasty and very great for sharing. Entrees, the pan seared sea bass which I loved. Portion is pretty tiny which also seemed like they were a shared plate. Almost tapas styled. Nice chimichurri sauce and a side salad. The chicken Milanese also with a side salad of arugula. Simple dish but quite tasty. One of the salads that was somewhat hyped up by the waitress but it was just a salad. Decent but nothing major to rave about...lol... also the confit oyster mushrooms was major hit. Something that simple but quite tasty. And lastly the pan con tomate, rustic sourdough with tomatoes and burrata. Tasty as well. Overall the meal was good. From there, the second round of drinks did take a long time to arrive and with then plates that we shared, trying to get someone to clear the plates was another thing. Took a long for someone to clear the table before more items came. Even when the entrees came, all the empty starter plates were still there. And if someone did clear the plates, some was still left on the table. Finishing off the night, we did have the dessert which we tried all three. As it was two of our girlfriends birthday, they brought out a little bubbly for us to celebrate with the dessert. That was quite sweet and nice. Honestly opinion with the dessert, they were just ok. Nothing major to rave about. We tried all three on the menu and they were just ok. Overall, the food was great. Service was nice and the staffs were all very friendly. It did take a while for plates to get cleared from the table and second round did take a while, but it was manageable. It was a sweet gesture with the bubbly with the dessert which was greatly appreciated. The place is nice and great for catching up. Menu is limited and portions are quite small. You would have to get a good amount for sharing. Entrees, depending on what you order is small as well. But we enjoyed ourself.

Service: 5 stars, our server Kiana was outstanding. I troubled her for a glass of ice, she…read morebrought me a glass of ice and filled it with water for me and said I filled it with water for you! She read my mind and knew without me saying. They serve lukewarm water and the a/c was on but was not on ..if u catch my drift. The front hostess was also phenomenal, I had reservation for outdoor seating but since she saw that the sun was like glaring, she asked if I wanted to change to inside. Very obliging and accommodating. Food: 5 stars, surprisingly good, right amount for us. I was full but I can see where other reviewers say portions are small. It's small if u're a heavy eater. But the quality is definitely there. Ambiance: trendy, high energy, casual vibes where u can lounge and have a beer while munching on fries...or u can choose to be poshy and have a glass of wine with a salad and Chilean sea bass. It's flexible to accommodate both as there are different sections. Parking: street metered 1 hour parking. 3 stars, not their fault but 1 hour is simply not enough. It can get super busy and the server can be pulled left and right, so cut them some slack during super busy hours. Will definitely be back. Highly recommended .

Criterion coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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