I had some business in Pasadena and wanted to make a pit stop at a new cafe... To my surprise, I had never stumbled upon Criterion coffee - how?! I walked in and was welcomed by the staff member, who quickly took my latte order and prepared it for me as I admired the relaxing, natural interior decor. The iced latte was tasty, boasting a subtly nutty flavor while retaining boldness and body. Between all the beans that I've tried, this is easily one of the most "well-rounded" espressos that I've tasted. As with many cafes, there is Wi-Fi. Parking can cost a little; it's Old Town Pasadena, after all. However, this is well worth the visit. Need to spend some time here? You may relax on the outdoor patio along a quiet street, sit downstairs in with a calm, rustic, modern feel, or... venture onto the balcony for a cozy, library-like atmosphere. Returning? Yes, whenever I'm making a drive-by Pasadena, you may likely find me coming back here! read more

See all

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

Coffee (N) - A hot, delicious alternative to hating everybody, every morning. lolz. Let's begin! Criterion Coffee (est 2024) is a new coffee shop that serves premium organic drip, cold brew, and espresso coffees freshly roasted in the foothills of Altadena. It's located in Old Town Pasadena. Its cozy environment emits tranquility and joy to customers. In addition, they offer a wide selection of hot/cold coffee, tea, breakfast, brunch and pastries. Interior was designed with elegance and grace from top to bottom. And also they provide the chessboard for those folks who like to play or just stop by for the free Wifi and enjoy the warm vibe of a family-run coffee roaster. As a first time visitor, I was impressed by their two floor shop with aesthetic elegant decor and layout. I was warmly greeted by their female staff and she patiently took my order. I had a Café Au Lait and Avocado toast. Both were delightful and fresh. Service was on point. Food prices were concatenated with economic tariff. Quality was great. Public parking were abundant in the area. Overall, it's a cute little coffee breakfast spot with elegant design. I recommend you visit. read more

See all

Hey, this place is reeeeeally good! Came here while running some last minute Thanksgiving morning errands with my boyfriend & stopped by based on the reviews. It's so aesthetically pleasing, everything inside is neat, cute, and overall welcoming. The employees are welcoming & nice, too. I ordered the dubai iced latte. It was so yummy! Next time I'll get the pistachio latte, I loved the pistachio cream! Note: BF gets 100% credit for finding this place on google :). read more

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

Both baristas were so kind and helpful! My drink was amazing, I ordered the banana and date oatmilk latte and it was phenomenal! Great study spot, super clean and soft music. Will absolutely be returning!! Natalia was the best!! read more

Criterion coffee - Banana Date Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

OMG!!!...every time I try something new here, I'm NEVER disappointed!! The apple pie cake is PERFECT! Not too sweet, you can taste the freshness of the apples...and PERFECT TO BE TOPPED WITH ICE CREAM!!! This combo is the BEST!!! I was hesitant about getting because I didn't want something too sweet, with lots of sugar.... as apple pies usually are! This cake, was DELICIOUS, and I felt no guilt eating this wholesome desert! ;-) read more

Criterion coffee - Criterion has done it again!! Apple Cake with ice cream!!... :-)!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was in Old Town Pasadena for five days. There are literally ten coffee places in this area. On the first day, my husband went to Blue Bottle because it opens the earliest, but once he told me they don't let you add your own cream, I wasn't interested. So I tried another place that was just okay. On Day Two, I decided to try Criterion because it has five stars. I'm glad I did because It's a great place! I went four mornings out of the five I was here. The baristas are friendly, my Americano was fantastic, and there are plenty of tables. It's a really pleasant place to drink coffee. The food looked great too but I didn't sample any of it. I can see why it has five stars! read more

Amazing cozy little spot. The Barista Natalia was great and super helpful! Definitely will come back soon

Great place to stop by and get some work done. They have decaf options as well as a variety of pastries and food items on the menu. Ample seating and quiet enough to focus. Consider stopping by if you're in the area! read more

Very cute place. Good cup of coffee. I had a cortado and a regular drip. Drip was a little weak but not terrible. A friend and I came for brunch after a hike. I ordered the salmon toast with was pretty tasty. I would have loved the bread to be more toasted and thicker. It seemed like regular sandwich bread. It was a $18.50 plate. A little on the high side if you ask me. My friend ordered the English breakfast (eggs, waffles, salad and sausage). She wanted pork but they said they only had beef or chicken. My friend ordered chicken and when her food arrived we were surprised to see cut hot dogs on her plate! It wasn't a cheap breakfast plate either. Please do better with your breakfast meat selection. read more

Criterion coffee - Hot dogs as chicken sausage. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

We popped in for some breakfast and coffee and were pleasantly surprised. We shared the salmon toast and an iced Dubai chocolate latte. The barista was so kind and knowledgeable in her recommendations and made my latte less sweet per my request. Both latte and toast were yummy! What stands out the most about Criterion is the architecture and ambiance. It's a 2-story establishment that's absolutely perfect for anyone looking to get work done. Lighting is perfect on the eyes, and music is nice and mellow. read more

Criterion coffee - ICED DUBAI CHOCOLATE LATTE - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

It was a beautiful day and strolled my way into this coffee shop for the first time and I'm so glad I did. It had a great vibe inside and bigger than I thought with an upstairs sitting area as well. I didn't get a chance to really skim through the menu too much because service was that quick at the counter. I got the salmon toast and the banana date latte. Toast was gorgeous and so tasty, bread crusty in all the right places. The latte was like a date shake with a spike of coffee in it. I will definitely be returning! Another plus, it's next to king taco! read more

See all

My favorite coffee shop for my morning bike ride to Pasadena, sidewalk table to enjoy the Europen ambiance and wait for the attentive service of bringing my latte right on the table. What a way to start my weekend here read more

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

See all

Criterion Coffee - I stumbled upon this place and, seeing the 5-star rating on Google, I was a little skeptical at first, but now I totally get why it's so highly rated. I was in Pasadena for 4 days and came here twice; it's definitely that good! There was only one person working on Friday and Saturday morning, so the wait can be a bit longer depending on how busy it is. The Salmon Toast was loaded with salmon, and the balsamic glaze was a nice touch, providing a good balance of tartness to offset the salty lox and abundant creamy cheese. The Avocado Toast had really good goat cheese, but at almost $15, I'm not sure I'd order it again--especially since for just a couple more dollars, you could get the salmon toast. That said, the servings were generous and kept me full both times. I also tried the cheese danish and chocolate croissant, both of which were yummy--especially when warmed up! read more

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

I absolutely love this coffee shop! It's always clean, welcoming and the vibe is excellent for either a study/work session or a meeting with a friend. The coffee is delicious, the food is fresh and unique. The customer service is always 10/10! Everyone is so friendly and hospitable. Their lattes are amazing and every food I've tried so far is great. Their hazelnut espresso loaf is unique and delicious! read more

Criterion coffee - Hazelnut espresso loaf - must try! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Located in the heart of downtown Pasadena you will find Criterion Coffee. They are a made to order coffee bistro so be prepared to wait. Seating available on the first and second floor available. They do have a few seats outside for their patio seating. Coffee and tea beverages, hot and cold or blended available for the asking. A few selections of baked good available for the snacking. Street parking available. Go there for your next coffee break! read more

Criterion coffee - Until we meet again - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Such a cute coffee shop! Very relaxing vibes with a second floor as well that has a couple tables and some books/newspapers for reading. Their iced vanilla latte was delicious and so was their cranberry orange scone! Their service was great even though it was a bit slow because there was only one person taking the order and also making the drinks and packing the pastries, Will definitely be back! P.S. Came back for the affogato and it was AMAZING!! 10/5 :) read more

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

See all

Great little cafe! Very busy on a Saturday morning with only 2 people at the counter, but they were friendly and efficient. My croissant sandwich took a minute, which they did warn me about. It was worth the wait! Lovely business. Well run. Quality coffee and food. read more

Criterion coffee - Downstairs dining; fresh flowers on every table. Clean and nicely appointed - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cute coffee shop with a variety of sweet & savory treats, pastries, and beverages - smoothies, coffee, tea, etc. Staff here are great, the avocado toast is amazing, the menu has something for everyone, and the ambience is one where you can meet up with friends/family or maybe get some work done. Highly recommend Criterion Coffee and plan to come back again! read more

See all

Decided to stop by this pretty new coffee shop in Pasadena, right next to king taco. They have an upstairs seating area which looked pretty cute, good to chit chat with friends. I got their iced latte, it was pretty good~smooth and creamy. Overall i think it's a good place to get drinks and chill if your in the area. Couldn't find parking, so I parked it across the street (meter parking) read more

Criterion coffee - Across the street where I parked with my latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I came in on a Sunday night before a long drive home. First of all, I loved the soundtrack they were playin Latin music! I ordered a caramel latte and ordered the cinnamon bread. Both were delicious and I would come back again! Instead of eating it on the way home, I went upstairs to the loft and ate it there. There was plenty of seating. Even though it was packed, it didn't feel full! There is plenty of space for everyone and you don't feel crammed. Overall I enjoyed the vibes here. read more

Criterion coffee - View from loft - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

CRITERION COFFEE is conveniently located just north of Colorado Blvd. There is a for-pay parking lot open to the public in the lot next door. There was no line to order. The cashier was infinitely patient. The PEACH TEA was perfectly brewed: all flavor, no bitterness. The ICED LATTE was very good. There were a lot of tables inside and plenty of people seem to be working on a Friday afternoon. And they seem to be welcome! The space is beautiful. read more

If I could give six stars, I would. In fact, let's just call it 10 stars. By a very happy accident, and after learning that a different coffee house was not open, we ended up here. This is an absolutely charming coffee house. The decor is gorgeous; someone put a lot of time and effort into making this place look beautiful. They have seating on the first floor and also an upper loft area. Of course, you can get all of your usual coffee drinks--and they are very good-- but their food menu is excellent. We are talking gourmet, restaurant quality food. They have omelets, baked goods, crepes, avocado toast, wraps, salads, you name it. The presentation of the food is also top notch. Even better, our service was fantastic. We had a fairly large party and the barista/server couldn't have been nicer or more gracious or more on top of things. Give this gal a huge raise, immediately. Believe the hype. They are doing a lot of really good things here. read more

See all

Parking was easy for Pasadena. They have lovely fresh roses on each table and mellow music. It's super clean and relaxing inside with a cute second story library sitting area. I had the Peach Burrata Salad and a latte. I think it may have been the best salad I've ever had. They have both sit down and Togo service. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly. read more

Criterion coffee - Grilled Peach Burrata Salad. Absolutely phenomenal. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

This is such a welcoming place. Wonderful staff. Great coffee. I love the Honey-Rose Latte but a straight-up non-fancy latte is also excellent. And the bagel here is delicious. It's huge and somehow light. Not dense at all. When I sit here with a book, a coffee, and a bagel, somehow the world makes a little more sense. read more

Criterion coffee - Such a nice place to sit and read with a really good coffee. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I've only had Criterion's iced coffee via DoorDash before but based on initial experience I was keen to see what their storefront was like. Parking, like most in old town Pasadena, is limited to a few street parking spots and any that you might find at nearby parking lots. It was very lively on a late Sunday morning and every single table, both the few sidewalk tables, several on the ground floor, and several upstairs was full, minus a few that had reserved signs on them. Thankfully I was taking my iced pistachio vanilla latte to go, and took their busyness as a positive indicator of the quality of my pending drink. I was not disappointed! Their iced vanilla latte on its own is good, but the pistachio component, while trendy, was great. The drink was well balanced, not overly syrupy or sweet, and the creamy nuttiness of the pistachio was a welcomed addition and didn't overtake the coffee taste. Service was occupied with all the customers but still found time to answer the questions I had. The interior was clean and still festively decorated for the holidays which created a warm and inviting atmosphere. Will definitely be back. read more

See all

My girlfriend and I stopped by here on a whim. The inside is very cute and homey, with plenty of seating for studying and work. The barista was extremely kind and helpful, suggesting the Banana Date Late. My girlfriend got the Matcha Banana Bread, both were delicious. They have upstairs setting as well. 5/5, will definitely be coming back! read more

Criterion coffee - Banana Date Latte and Matcha Banana Bread - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I'm on a Pasadena old town coffee tour and have been trying all the little coffee shops around (walking distance) the area. Came here on a Friday morning and ordered a brown sugar double espresso with organic whole milk. Loved that they use organic milk. The barista whipped it up and it was so delish. Service was great, fast, and atmosphere is so relaxing and comfy. read more

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

See all

Their cakes are good, the ambience is nice and they have a section upstairs to sit to read, or do your assignments. Service is good too! read more

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

I loved my food and strawberry mojito. I enjoyed studying there and they even have an upstairs. They had music playing in the background! The service was amazing. read more

Criterion coffee - French Crepe Rolls with Ricotta and Fresh Berries - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

just tried the pistachio vanilla latte it was worth the drive from the valley. even wiry these gas prices! read more

Criterion coffee - Pistachio vanilla latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I stumbled upon this cute coffee shop after yoga. I got the ice oat milk latte. It was creamy and delicious. I met the owner, Shana, and she was very nice. They have a huge menu for sandwiches and food. The pastries looked so tempting as well. I would like to come back with my laptop and have a full meal there. There is an upstairs as well and lots of power outlets. read more

See all

I absolutely loved this place the moment I stepped in. They had beautiful live music, and the coffee was great. If you're around the area, this place is worth checking out! read more

Wowza!!!!! Landed here yesterday after being disappointed by a coffee shop that wasn't opened. As we walked up to this place I immediately knew I had been here a year ago and was a little hesitant to walk in for fear it was the same place. But much to my surprise it was not! The new owners revamped it to modern day:) It is now just spectacular inside and there is a loft space with cozy seats to sit and enjoy your coffee made by Natalia! LOVED it here. Natalia was sweet to make me my drink of choice that was not on the menu. A Brown Sugar Latte made with real brown sugar:) 5/5. She had me at "homemade banana bread," which was a huge slice thank you very much, and delicious 5/5! My SYF, ordered an iced coffee with a bit of matcha sprinkled on top that he said was good:) *FYI - they only have 10 oz cups (as to keep the customer from having to decide) *The inside is super clean, spacious and newly remodeled & decorated. *Plenty of seating available *Parking - meter & local garages read more

See all

"Who gets an affogato at a coffee shop?" honestly I don't even know why I did it, but I dgafogato fr. Came here before heading over to the Huntingon on a hot Sunday. Wanted something to wake me up so a lil shot of espresso would do the trick, thought I'd cool off by having some ice cream at the same time. Was surprised at this lil spot tucked off in Pasadena, they had live music while I was there and I sat upstairs overlooking the entire first floor and it was dope. Got a bit of r&r on a Sunday before starting my day. The vibe was great, minimal design, great atmosphere, and overall good place to chill or get some work done. Affogato was terrific, and it cooled me down while still waking me up. Service was great, my lovely date was unsure on what to get but was reccommended the Cortado and she was happy about it. If you're trying to find a lowkey spot to chill at, definitely try this place out. They also have cold water available upstairs. read more

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

Oooffffffff this may be the best coffee shop I have ever visited in Pasadena. The design and buildout of this shop was truly an aesthetic dream. The upstairs offers privacy and quiet corners. Downstairs vibrant and fun, ready for a nice weekend cup of coffee... and of course outside is hard to beat in Los Angeles Service was impeccable and helpful the moment we walked in. First timers might be a little confused and thrown off by the larger than expected menu from a coffee shop. Ended up selecting a pastry (cinnamon bread, felt like a coffee cake) but the savory food looked amazing. It was a resounding yes about us returning. Here's what truly stood out. I was ordering for my wife and wasn't sure if she wanted a hot or cold matcha so I called her. She said hot and I couldn't recall if I had said hot to the cashier but I thought I did. When the drink came out it was iced and I was so mad (at myself). She immediately asked me if something was wrong and I explained to her I thought I said hot but can't recall. She jumped back to the espresso station and remade the drink hot. That for me is a very customer service focused employee that won my future business. Come visit this place to see if I am writing a review that is deemed worthy enough to stand by, I'm sure you'll fall in love as well. read more

Criterion has turned out to become my favorite coffee shop in Old Town Pasadena. They have friendly service, wifi for remote workers, a great menu to select from for breakfast or lunch, and really good coffee + tea. I love the upstairs area that's comfy, not too loud, strong wifi, and has outlets too. read more

Great study spot with reliable Wi-Fi and ample seating/plugs. They have some great coffee!! I haven't tried their pastries (yet) but they look delicious. Not a huge fan of their matcha. read more

Everyone has been raving about Criterion's coffee, but I was all caffeinated out and stopped in for a treat instead. With fresh flowers on each table, the place emits chic European café vibes. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting with seating on two levels, which makes it a nice spot to visit with friends or catch up on some work. In addition to coffee and pastries you can also purchase savory toasts, salads, and other breakfast items. Their pastries and desserts are made fresh daily. I ordered the Pumpkin Nutella bread ($4.50). I could taste quality in the first bite. It was moist and delicious! If you need a break, Criterion is a great place to retreat from the hustle & bustle. I'll be back to try their coffee and enjoy another delicious pastry. read more

See all

The Blueberry lemon loaf and pistachio latte was delicious! The loaf is homemade. Great place to study! read more

Criterion coffee - LEMON BLUEBERRY - LOAF SLICE - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California