I recently had a negative experience at Criterion Coffee and left a review about it. Almost immediately, the owner reached out to me personally through Yelp to apologize and offer a refund. I really appreciated the effort he made to address the situation and make things right. He seems like a genuinely good man who truly cares about his customers and his business. Criterion is a lovely place to sit, relax, and enjoy a cup of coffee, and it's a breath of fresh air to see an owner who cares so much about his establishment and the people who walk through the door. Please give them a try. read more

Criterion Coffee is truly one of the best cafés in LA! Everything about this place is wonderful -- the food is fresh, delicious, healthy, and made with quality organic ingredients. The café is always beautifully maintained, the atmosphere is lovely, and the staff are genuinely warm and welcoming. You can feel the care and attention that goes into every little detail. It's the kind of place you keep coming back to, not just for the great food and coffee, but for the whole experience. My absolute favorite café in LA. Highly recommend! read more

Pros: The location is beautiful! I walked in and it's so wonderful. Nice place to eat. People are wonderful. Cons: Parking is so difficult. Just be ready to pay. Also, I don't think they validate. Food is ok. Avocado toast had cucumbers and feta cheese. I don't think it's a good combination. read more

A cozy busy cafe with surprisingly good food! There are limited tables in this spot only really because it's usually so full! They have an upstairs seating area in addition to the downstairs, and at least two tables outside. The bathroom is clean and spacious. My favorite thing here is the ham and cheese omelet, and I don't even care for ham usually! They use a nice quality one that isn't the weird pressed stuff and isn't intensely brine-y. There is a generous layer of cheese and, shockingly, the think omelet wrap of eggs isn't overcooked! It's a real rarity in most restaurants, to receive properly cooked scrambled eggs like this. Kudos to them. The salad served alongside it is good quality with an interesting vinaigrette dressing (sometimes they are a little heavy handed w the dressing). I'm not personally such a fan of the drinks, but all food I've had here has been solid. They have excellent rotating seasonal items as well. We've sampled the peach & burrata sandwich (fabulous!), crepes w ricotta & fresh berries (nice!), mushroom omelet (solid!), and several hot and cold drinks. Service is efficient, friendly and informative. I always feel comfortable here. It's a solid neighborhood location and one we have and will continue to return to many times. read more

Appreciate that this place is early for a morning grab. Staff was very nice and welcoming. Latte was good too. The avocado toast wasn't quite as surprising but they give a generous amount of avocado spread. Interesting mix of strawberry on top. Tastes healthy at least! During the weekday, free parking on the street till roughly 11am. Easy to find if you circle the block versus doing the $5 lot next to the cafe. read more

Criterion coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cool spot to meet up a friend (not ideal for groups more than 3). Street parking is tough but there's a paid lot and garage nearby. Busy place, long wait times for tables on weekends. My friend and I both got the coconut cream cold brew but was not a fan of the taste of the cold brew. Pricey for what you get. read more

Criterion coffee - COCONUT CREAM COLD BREW (ICED) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

2nd time back here with hope to check it out a bit more - not at last since it is so highly rated. Interior is nice, 2 levels, comfi chairs on upper level that seems almost like a library or book store. All nice, but I would not rate the consumables top. Maybe 3 stars at best, meaning the specialty coffee was just about average with no chance to knock out my expectations. And the pastry stuff was aging quickly and was best consumed with additional liquid. Fazit: overrated. read more

Good location; clean; good service; good coffee; good food; good atmosphere...Comfy and Cozy!

Excellent ambiance for working! Outlets are readily available, great working music, and seating is comfortable. I ordered a pumpkin mocha, which I thought was quite sweet despite my sweet tooth, so I would consider that going forward. They also have a rewards system which is always a great incentive. read more

Criterion coffee - Pumpkin mocha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Coffee was great, the bagel was alright. In my opinion the food was way overpriced for average. The vibe inside is awesome and the staff were super friendly. I definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

See all

This is a really cute and quiet coffee shop. They have seating by the coffee bar and an upstairs which is nice. I ordered an iced vanilla latte and a smoked salmon bagel. The barista was super friendly and helped me choose what to order. My vanilla latte was great! Not too sweet and a really nice flavor. It also came with some espresso chocolates which were cute. My boyfriend and I shared the smoked salmon bagel and it was good. A little expensive but it was good. I will definitely be back! read more

See all

Came in to get work done and stayed way longer than planned. Got a flat white almond and it was delicious. The space opens up when you walk in so you're never fighting for a table. Plenty of seating, great wifi, and a crowd that respects that people are working. Playlist was also perfect. And the staff were super friendly. Def coming back! read more

Criterion coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I think you could consider the coffee passable, but I can't quite figure out what was going on with the food. In some ways it was over complicated, seemingly in a misguided attempt to make it fancy, and in other ways it was downright puzzling. An English Breakfast... should not have waffles, and "sausage", that in reality was just American hotdogs sliced into quads at the ends. There's no service to speak of, since it's just an "order at the counter" kind of situation. Seems like a nice and very pleasant place though, and if the food were better I'd return for some of the events is seems like they host. read more

The coffee is amazing! Some of the best in Old Pasadena. The staff is always great, there's lots of seating on two floors, and the environment is perfect for a meetup, breakfast (popular), or getting a little work done. read more

Criterion coffee - Main cafe seating area - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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. read more

See all

Cute spot with lots of space for studying/hanging out! Food/drinks are not bad. Can be a bit pricey though. read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

I understand that anyone can make a mistake in a small business and I accept that and what makes this now a five star review is how the owner took responsibility for the error gave me a full refund without problems and in the end that is what really counts. Thank you guys and I will be back. Yelp should really erase the negative review I left yesterday because now it does not count. The wrong has been well corrected. read more

This cafe is a great spot for studying/doing work! Their seating area is quite spacious, with an additional second floor with tables and chairs. Their pastries are delicious and they have numerous drink choices to select from. I opted for the strawberry matcha latte, which was great. Would definitely go again! read more

Criterion coffee - strawberry matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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. read more

Criterion coffee - Avocado Spinach Smoothie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

was down the street shopping and this was the only legit breakfast place. workers had like boho gypsy vibes. I ordered my food. $53. wtf!! I pay it in absolute shock and digust of high price and I wait for my food. Took an insanely lomg time to come out. I ordered a tropical lemonade. the chick gives me a mojito. then argues this is what I ordered which clearly was not. I ordered the truffle mushroom brie toast. extremely hot and fresh. very tasty. i ordered the blitzes berry crepes. tasty but ricotta and sour cream dont go inside. overall $55 for breakfast and I leave broke and disappointed. oh well. read more

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. read more

Criterion coffee - Downstairs seating area with the coconut tart and pistachio coffee. Try it and you'll love it! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

While enjoying a morning walk in old town, we decided to stop by Criterion for breakfast. They have outdoor tables which was great since we had a dog with us. I like to support a small local business and the employees here are very friendly. I enjoyed my drink and my food was very tasty. I had an espresso drink with banana and it was so good! read more

Criterion coffee - Breakfast - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Good service & food. You might have to chill a bit but worth the wait for the omelet

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 :) read more

See all

Yes the everything bagel was delicious. But $18 for 1 thin slice of smoked salmon is highway robbery. read more

Criterion coffee - 1 thin slice of smoked salmon for $18 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Super cute place! Great vibe, friendly staff and great coffee and food:) Love the loft too! Looking forward to returning. Easy parking across the street. read more

Matcha was clumpy and had an unfamiliar taste than any other matcha I've had. And food (ham and cheese croissant warmed up) took 20 min. I was trying to be patient but when I told the server I was still waiting on my food she responded very rudely saying she needed more information. The other server I think took note cause she was extra kinda after delivering our food. Side note: avocado toast not actually toasted but still yummy. Overall, food is ok. Coffee was good. Would skip the matcha. Service was decent minus the server who is rude. Place is nice and cute. read more

Really enjoyed Criterion Coffee! The coffee was excellent--smooth, flavorful, and clearly made with quality beans. I especially appreciated that the drinks tasted balanced and not overly sweet. The atmosphere is clean, modern, and relaxing, making it a nice place to sit down and enjoy a good cup of coffee. The staff was friendly and welcoming as well. read more

See all

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! read more

Criterion coffee - Heaven! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Beautiful atmosphere, cozy seating, and solid coffee. Service is order at the counter and brought to your table of choice. The space is intentionally aesthetically designed and I love the touch of a fresh flower arrangement on the table. Definitely great for a coffee date or independent working. read more

Criterion coffee - Salmon Crepe Rolls - lovely presentation, tasty savory crepe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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 read more

Criterion coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) is one of the best. Extreme euphoria rammed hard into me as the urge to scream words of joy filled me. Tears of immense happiness trickled down as I continued to sip. I ordered the Pistachio Vanilla Late ($7.50 - Whole Milk - Iced). "ThAt's GoOD!!! aHhH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I visited Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) on Thursday (around 1:14PM). The business is located in Old Town Pasadena; the parking situation is very bad. Expect to pay money for parking (ex: Meter Parking, Paid Parking Structures). Many Meter Parking Spots have maximum time limits of one or two hours, so splurge on a Paid Parking Structure if deciding to spend a lot of time at Criterion Coffee (Pasadena). Eventually, I found parking at Pasadena City Hall. It's a leisurely six minute walk to Criterion Coffee (Pasadena). I paid $1.25 per hour; meters accept coins or card. This is enforced from 7AM to 5PM. Service is immaculate at Criterion Coffee (Pasadena). Staff (receipt says Solara) is professional, knowledgeable, and very accommodating. All Staff carried a cheerful smile, and Staff worked nonstop. When Solara carried the completed drink to my table, two minutes and 46 seconds had passed. Very quick! As mentioned, I absolutely adored the Pistachio Vanilla Late ($7.50 - Whole Milk - Iced). It's functional and flavorful. I greedily grabbed onto its caffeine embrace. I felt awake. With sips, I let the flavor of fresh pistachio whisk me away on a journey. The coffee is not overly sweet nor bitter. It's not overly milky nor acidic. Its chill, bright liquid flowed like silk. It's just... pistachio. This existence is embedded in the coffee, whereas there's no distracting artificial masking. I absolutely gushed how they built upon the coffee's flavor On ambiance, Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) is exceptional. The location is very clean, well-ventilated, and functional. This business efficiently uses its space. The ground floor's interior contains eight tables, and there's two small outside tables. There's about six electrical outlets embedded into the long, vibrant couch. If you walk upstairs, the above floor contains six small tables. I happily noticed the big electrical adapters on each socket. There are many spots to plug! Customer internet with password is available; customers need to speak with staff for the information. The music is soft, smooth, and soothing. In addition, Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) has two chess sets (each on different floors). The ground floor has a self-serve water station. Near the back, there's a gender-neutral restroom. On the above floor, there's also a tiny stack of books and magazines. I also love how Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) felt extremely clean despite the many items, furniture, and ornaments. The colors were very vibrant. I even shared a small laugh when I saw the fake bookshelves upstairs. All in all, it felt like a sparkling, upscale cafe. There's magic here. If I were to nitpick, the menus were poorly maintained and sticky. Overall, Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) is one of the best. The Pistachio Vanilla Late ($7.50 - Whole Milk - Iced) is extremely delicious. I'm ecstatic the hype is real. The care and effort put into this establishment is very visible. Horrible parking aside, Criterion Coffee (Pasadena) is a must-try. 5 out of 5 - "GO!!" read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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 (: read more

See all

I decided to come here and meet up with a friend. The ambiance is so cute and is totally up for working from here. There is plenty of space and an upstairs. I ended up ordering a pumpkin spice latte with less sweetness and the pistachio loaf. The latte was perfect and not too sweet. The loaf was great and had plenty of pistachio. I definitely want to come back and try other drinks and treats. The service was stellar and she was so patient while I decided. You order first and then go to a table. I was brought my items and it did not take long. I really appreciate this place. read more

Criterion coffee - Pumpkin spice latte and pistachio loaf - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

The food here is delicious! I loved the matcha they serve, and the breakfast as well. And the service? So nice! All the workers were happy to help out. Ambience was also a great 10/10. I would definitely head back!! read more

Cute space & lots of outlets! red velvet strawberry cake was terrible though. way too dry (definitely had been sitting out for a while i think). too dense for me as well. read more

Criterion Coffee Mission Statement: Ignite Your Daily Adventure With A Cup Of Criterion Coffee. At Criterion Coffee, We Do More Than Just Serve Coffee - We Create A Cozy Environment For Friends, Family, And Coffee Lovers. We Collaborate With Unincorporated Coffee Roasters To Deliver The Highest Quality Coffee To Your Cup. Our Café Reinvents Classic Techniques And Adds A Modern Twist To Staple Breakfast Dishes. We Use Organic And Fresh Ingredients To Craft Exceptional Pastries, Sandwiches, And Salads. Each Product Is Freshly Made From Scratch Every Single Day. Criterion Motto: Meet the Criterion. Promotion: Write a review, get a free cup of drip for free. Didn't see this promo before purchasing out drinks, but it does exist. Pastry and Bread Program: Pastries are made in-house and breads come from bread lounge. Location/Parking: Located where Home Brew use to be at. Meter parking is available or you can find nearby parking structures to park at. Ambiance/Decor: Love the ambiance and the modern decor. So inviting. There's also a second level that can be used to do some work or catch up with your friends. Entertainment: They have couple of communal chess boards to play with and some books/newspapers to look at. Service: Service was great. The baristas were friendly, attentive, and quite informative about the shop. Drinks didn't really take long to come out. Drink Of Choice: Drip Coffee ($5) is quite solid. Not acidic at all. It's a bity pricier than other coffee shop, but that's alright. Criterion For Thought: Would definitely like to patronize the shop again to try more things on their menu. read more

See all