Gremlin Garage has quickly become one of my favorite local coffee stops. The team is always genuinely friendly and welcoming, which makes a big difference compared to a lot of coffee spots around. My go-to order is the caramel banana latte, which is consistently delicious and a little different from the typical coffee shop lineup. Bonus points for being dog friendly too--my dog Martini is a big fan of their pup cups. Great coffee, great people, great atmosphere. Easy 10/10 recommendation. read more

Cool coffee shop with sleek aesthetics. Drinks were good with balanced flavors. I like that there was ample seating. It was in a kinda random location but worth it. I definitely want to go back read more

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8/10 yum both taste as described, 6/10 pricing bc these two drinks were $17, but majority ice and minimal matcha read more

Gremlin Garage - mango sticky rice matcha + white chocolate razz matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I visited Gremlin Garage on a Sunday around noon. The interior was nicely decorated with cool auto-inspired decor & plenty of plants. There were quite a few people when we arrived, but we only waited a short time for our orders. The workers were so sweet & friendly! I thought it was fun that they have a hidden secret menu you can find somewhere in the cafe. I also appreciated that they offered free samples of beef jerky from a local business & even a bulletin board with their upcoming events. My friend & I both ordered the Mango Sticky Rice Matcha from their secret menu but substituted the default whole milk with almond milk instead. We decided to ask for 50% sweetness after hearing that 75% was too overpowering, & it ended up being just the right balance--still sweet, but perfect for our sweet tooth. Gremlin will definitely be hearing from us again...probably sooner rather than later. read more

Gremlin Garage - mango sticky rice matcha with almond milk & 50% sweetness level - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

came on a sunday around 12 and there were only a few people in line ahead of us. we were able to find parking near the entrance but i can see it being tricky during busier hours. a bit small inside but lots of seating/very open. service was very friendly and drinks came out fairly quick. caramel banana latte (5/5) - good sweetness, i can see why it's a signature drink. definitely try if you like banana caramel banana matcha latte (4/5) - also very good. the matcha was a bit sweeter and it was a little clumpy but the flavor from the caramel and banana made up for it. overall i'd definitely come back to try their other drinks if i'm in the area/able to find parking. read more

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The Costa Mesa coffee scene strikes again! How this city can have so many incredible coffee shops is beyond me. Gremlin is one of the newest additions to this highly caffeinated city. They're located in a corporate complex next to a number of mechanic shops. There's a few dedicated parking spots out front, but otherwise you might need to walk from the nearby street. I found their speciality drink menu to be pretty memorable. It's filled with unique drinks like the Grinch matcha and a banana caramel late. I ordered the latter and was so wow'd by how much it tasted like banana! I also loved their sassy branding - bitches do indeed love coffee. The shop has great wifi and a large number of seats for those looking to complete some work. A rarity in this area! read more

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Lots of space & seating. Dogs enjoying pup cups Staff was nice. No line. Clearly a spot to become a Regular. read more

Gremlin Garage - Great Vibe... - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

When it comes to unique, independent, small businesses, Costa Mesa never disappoints! I read about this place in a magazine in my dentist office of all places found myself in welcoming open space with great coffee, delicious pastries and a friendly welcoming staff. My iced Americano is perfectly done and my spinach croissant was flaky, delicious, and full of fresh spinach...what could be better? read more

Cool theme. Hard to find - I always drive by it and thought it was a car shop. My mechanic is actually right next door and I never noticed this place. Super friendly staff and clean bathroom. Good place to work too lots of seating read more

Been hearing things about this new spot that opened up a few weeks ago, and have been seeing cute pictures of the place so had to check it out! PARKING: Kind of difficult. Limited spots right in front, so we had to search around for street parking. There are other lots in the area but many are private for the other businesses so read signage before you park. WHAT I ORDERED: Caramel banana latte THE COFFEE: Wow, I was impressed! The banana cream was very flavorful and not very artificial tasting. The espresso tasted pretty good, though the drink was a bit sweet in general. SERVICE: Pretty good. VIBES: This place is gorgeous and super aesthetically pleasing, and I would totally imagine myself coming back to catch up with friends. Love the garage vibe. The decor was pretty cool and was nice that there were comfy couches to sit on. I'm not quite sure if this is the best place for studying or working-from-coffee-shop if you plan to stick around for a long time, but I managed to have a good coworking session with my friends when I visited. Here's my working-from-cafe checklist: * OUTLETS: None that I could see * WIFI/INTERNET: Yes, and it's actually pretty fast * VOLUME: There's (good) music playing, but not too loud * SEATING AVAILABILITY: Lots of seats, and I like the big tables which were nice for me to put my laptop on. * BATHROOMS: Honestly, one of the best coffee shop bathrooms I've ever used, seriously. Free tampons, and there's hand lotion next to the sink. * LAPTOP RESTRICTIONS: None that I know of BOTTOM LINE: I'm definitely coming back here and excited to see them grow as a business. read more

Gremlin Garage - Menu as of Jan 2025 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Parking: there are a few parking spots in the plaza reserved for gremlin garage. There's also plenty of street parking! Service: the baristas were so kind and patient! They were patient while I was searching for the secret menu. They quickly made the drinks and let us know they'd be happy to make adjustments if needed! Ambiance: I loved the ambiance of this coffee shop. It was so spacious and there were so many benches to sit at. They even streamed today's football game! Loved the aesthetic of the place! Drink: mango sticky rice matcha (1000/10)- the mango puree tastes like fresh mango, making it so refreshing! The mango syrup + coconut foam paired incredibly well with the matcha. Make sure to mix the drink well! It is a sweeter treat so definitely for those who prefer a sweeter treat. Also this drink is on the secret menu and in order to order it, you'll have to find where the secret menu is located XD I'll definitely be back for other seasonal secret drinks! read more

I remember seeing this place on TikTok a while back and it caught my attention. We were in the area and had a chance to come here and it was really good! The guy who attended us was nice and friendly so service was definitely good. The place itself has such a cool and different concept in terms of decor as well as a very relaxed environment, whoever designed it knows what's up. The drinks were delicious, we ordered off the summer menu (which I forgot to take a picture of...oopsies) but yeah, overall a very memorable place read more

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I love to see people open up a fun, creative coffee shop. Gremlin Garage is definitely that. Really dig the branding and the overall vibe of the spot. Others are correct, parking can be rough. They only have a few spots out front or (usually taken) street parking. They truly are among mechanic shops which is cool. We found the barista to be really sweet and she even asked us how we liked our drinks when we were leaving. I got the grinch matcha and my husband got some burnt honey latte. We loved both. We will definitely revisit. read more

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ughhhhhh i really wished that i lived closer to gremlin garage love the concept. literally a coffee shop out of a shop/garage located on a block with other industrial businesses is gremlin garage. when you pull into the lot, you will notice its located next to multiple automotive service businesses the staff were all really nice and friendly, the guy even gave my puppy a pup cup and fed it to him lol while i was trying to figure out what to order he kept saying there is a secret menu somewhere, but it had matcha drinks on there, i am not a fan of matcha, so i did not bother looking for it lots of seating options, love how they have a projector playing movies on the wall love their design and merch! i ended up ordering she campy, latte and the caramel banana latte. both were really good, although, i prefer the caramel banana latte! the banana flavor was light but tasty with the coffee. def will be back to try out their other offerings they have pastries on the menu as well! parking: a couple spots in front or street parking read more

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One of my new favorite places to work! I usually wfh, but staying at home can get boring sometimes. Gremlin Garage has plenty of open seating, and the staff are all so friendly. The space is super cute and aesthetic -- overall, it's a great spot to hang out, study, work remotely, or just grab a drink. I ordered the banana caramel latte, and it was so delicious. I'll definitely be back to try another drink! read more

Gremlin Garage - Wifi - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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1. The drinks were well-made with a good balance of flavors! My favorite drink was the caramel banana latte! They also warmed the pastries for us! 2. The spot has fun casual vibes inside a garage! 3. There are only indoor seatings! 4. The staff were friendly and timely with my order! 5. Front parking is limited, but there are street parking available with two-hours time limit! Note: There is a single restroom available for customers! Photo: Choc Pistachio Shakerato, Caramel Banana Latte, Apple Danish, and Raspberry Poptart read more

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This year I have taken the challenge of trying as many local shops as possible and Gremlin Garage is my first this year! I love coffee in that, I need it to keep me awake and I need it to not taste like milk. I got their signature gremlin iced coffee and it did not disappoint! You will find yourself a bit confused as you find this place as it is located within a car service plaza, meaning there's people working on cars within that lot, not a biggie but definitely can miss it if you don't look for it, there is parking that lets you know you are at the correct spot. Vibes were nice and yeah it's an "influencer haven" but why not? There is so much seating that I would love for influencers to mention this spot and make it a thing. Overall good times were had! read more

Gremlin Garage - Awesome spot to have coffee and chill. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came for the mango sticky rice matcha but would definitely return for the caramelized banana latte. The latte was perfectly balanced with just the right amount of banana flavor. I love how they tell you where the coffee is from everyday and what notes are in it! Today's was from Monterey. The mango sticky rice matcha tasted like hawaiian sun sunscreen but in the best possible way. The matcha was overpowered by the flavor of the mango and coconut but I didn't mind it. We also tried the peaches and cream matcha which didn't have a very strong peach or matcha flavor and was a bit disappointing. I would highly recommend getting a latte here over a matcha! read more

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Been a supporter of this buisness since prior to opening. This review is only for the cafe part of the buisness which I've ridden to many times. Pros: - great decor - ample parking - very friendly staff - female owned Cons: - as a coffee nut (and amateur barista) the coffee has been extremely hit or miss. Sometimes the temp is about 4x hotter than it should be and others it's clear that the shots are over or under drawn. A lot of the time the pull are a bit bitter (likely their beans/roasters). All of this is odd because they have a fantastic main machine and technically an even better one on their cart (yay la Marzocco mini, my dream machine) However if you're a coffee nut, like me, you likely won't thoroughly enjoy thier brews. They still need more work to get their coffee consistent and dialed in. - they've become insta-famous which some days/times has led to an influx of customers waiting to order mainly for photos and tags. It creates a bit of a bottleneck of waiting for those of us who go to relax and not wait 30 minutes in a line to order. However they've added more staff to accommodate this. Overall they definitely deserve a try for newcomers and if you ride on two wheels you deserve it yourself to stop by. read more

Gremlin Garage - Street view - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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What an absolutely delightful spot! It's aptly named as it's located near other automotive service places. I got the banana caramel latte and because it looked so good, the strawberry matcha latte. And I was right, both were delicious! The space inside was also very inviting - plenty of seating and table spaces to chill or be productive. Service was great! The two ladies behind the counter were both friendly and helpful. The motorcycle decor was really cool. I will definitely return with my son and husband so they can check out the motorcycle stuff while I get my caffeine fix. read more

Drinks were great and the ambiance was very unique. Of course this is more of a treat than a cup of coffee. I got a double pull of espresso shots over ice with banana syrup and it was great! The bakery items weren't the best though, a bit dry and small. Definitely would come back for the drinks. read more

Hidden gem!! Service is so nice and helpful. Plenty of space to chill/get work done! Interior is a vibe. Tried their strawberry matcha and it was fire even though i'm not a bit strawberry matcha fan ! Super cool spot def check it out read more

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You'll find the best matcha at Gremlin Garage! Tucked away between a bunch of auto shops, this place is a true hidden gem. The vibe is super cool -- kind of industrial, but cozy at the same time. What really impressed me is how much care they take with allergies. They made sure there was no cross-contamination, so my boys could safely enjoy their drinks. It's not easy to find a place that takes that kind of extra step, and I really appreciated it. Bonus: if you answer their riddle, you unlock a secret menu -- how fun is that? Definitely worth seeking out if you're a matcha fan or just want a unique spot for a drink. This has now become our daily spot!! read more

Gremlin garage is such a cool spot. Fitting to their name, it's located in an auto-repair park, with the garage as its entrance and was adorned with an auto/motor theme. The service was super friendly, they mentioned there was a secret menu to find. Once we found the menu, we ordered a mango sticky rice matcha. It was incredible. Definitely will be back! read more

These bastards ruined me! It's not one of my favorite spots now I come here weekly cause it's that good!! The vibe is immaculate. So cute, dark and I'm here for it. Drinks are top tier. Parking, little hard a will say but it's worth it. Find the secret menu read more

Just happened to stumble across this coffee shop this morning because it was close to my yoga class but I'm so happy that I did! Very cool and chill vibes inside with all the retro typewriters on display, cool neon sign, & a projector going on the wall. Went in right around 7am so it was nice and quiet, the person who took my order was super nice and the caramel banana latte was so bomb! Will be back to try more drinks! read more

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Love the atmosphere of this place and the edgy style. The workers are very sweet and always make sure your drinks are made the way you like it. They also have a secret menu it took me a minute to find it but that's what keeps it a... secret read more

Gremlin Garage - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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10/10 every time !! Service is always amazing! Will forever be a go to place. Love the vibe the place carries

Wow what a spot!! I loved their blueberry matcha I forget the name! (Sorry) but it was refreshing and sweet and just a 10/10. My sister got the coffee and said it was great! The spot is mellow and chill and I love that they play music videos and you can see it while studying etc. Staff were friendly and nice! I'll definitely be back when in Costa Mesa! read more

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Such a fun spot I recently tried as it is near my office. The gals working were very sweet and gave us recommendations. The space is so fun and inviting! read more

Gremlin Garage - Facts - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Okay, visiting Gremlin Garage was one of our favorite coffee shop experiences we've had in a long time. After grabbing bagels at Boil & Bake, we came to Gremlin Garage to check out this converted garage and to order some drinks of course. The baristas helping us that day were the sweetest. My one year old daughter loved watching them make drinks behind the bar and they would wave and smile at my shy girl. She had a blast bouncing on the couch and people watching as customers came and went. As for the drinks, I had my heart set on trying their caramel banana latte but one of the sweet baristas recommended the brunch b*tch (I think that was the name of it) matcha drink with blueberries and fairy dust. I was a huge fan of that drink and I would order it again in a heart beat. Overall, we loved the converted garage into a coffee shop and we'd recommend this coffee shop to anyone in the area! read more

Cute shop tucked inside an automotive plaza in Costa Mesa. Super dog friendly and lots of seating to enjoy your coffee Got a banana caramel latte. Coffee and milk is excellent. Very balanced and housemade syrups. I didn't like the banana foam so much. Taste very artificial. If they had a better foam this drink would be one of the best read more

Gremlin Garage - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great hole in the wall coffee shop with delicious drinks and a secret menu!! Parking was a bit tough but we found a spot in the next street over. Only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was that the folks taking our order wasn't too familiar with the menu since they were just helping out and didn't actually work at Gremlin Garage, and they were out of 2 drinks that I wanted to try: Salted Maple Cappuccino and Basic B*tch Gremlin. Overall it's a delicious spot to work or hang out! read more

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A cozy coffee shop that has a motorcycle theme to it. Displayed at the back wall is a custom cafe style bike with the company logo in hot neon green sign. The bike has a very clean design with the blacked out look and looks like it would be fun to ride. I loved the selection of merch they had from helmets, t-shirts, biker jackets and coffee gear. The staff of two had their hands full as small waves of lines kept coming in, but they kept that line moving smoothly, keeping up with the demand. They were friendly and welcoming, loved the chat about the love for riding motorcycles. I ordered the Burnt Honey Latte and it tasted great with the flavors of espresso, guittard chocolate, pistachio and orange. Pretty good place to check out, they've only been open for three weeks and they are off to a good start. If you're ever in the area, come stop by. Great place to study or just sit and have a sip of good coffee. read more

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What a cute little space! I've had this spot on my list for a while now and finally made my way in. This is a converted service garage and the neighboring tenants are actively working on cars which gives it a very industrial feel. The decor inside is absolutely perfect, from the actual car/motorcycle to the posters on the wall it all lends to the whimsy and I loved that. The worker taking my order was very sweet and in a short interaction made me feel nice and welcomed which is always appreciated. I opted for a matcha americano as well as the mango sticky rice matcha off their secret menu. Both of them were great! With a matcha americano you taste everything and there was zero bitterness and a pleasant earthiness to the matcha that I very much enjoyed. The sticky rice was an absolute surprise. It wasn't overly sweet which was my concern but instead was perfectly balanced with a nice coconut flavor, I would order that again and again and highly recommend you try it. The parking situation is horrendous is the only downside. Very limited street parking. I actually ended up making a purchase at the liquor store at the end of the street to use their parking. Overall I recommend this spot, just know you're in for a heck of a challenge to park but it is well worth the effort read more

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After seeing someone post about this place on Nextdoor App I knew I had to check it out! Service was great! They greeted us when we walked in! We got The Gremlin which is an Americano with Cold Foam I enjoyed it! I am always so hesitant with Cold Foam because some places I've gone to it's usually too greasy and sweet but the one here was spot on! We also got the Burnt Honey and that was great as well! Maybe needed a little more flavor but not bad! The inside of this place is so aesthetic! I love the colors inside it's a cool place to go chill and even get some work done! They have a great amount of seating! Overall was a cool place! read more

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Poor customer service and confusing menu. The design of the coffee shop is so cute but I was disappointed in the response I got when asking clarifying questions about the menu. read more

from the service down to the drinks- def exceeded our expectations !! we were greeted by the baristas and helped by luis, we abs loved his energy and how helpful he was after telling him it was our first time. we came to order the mango sticky rice matcha w whole milk 10/10 !! (on their secret menu along w a few other drinks!!) which was sooo yummy. it actually tasted like mango sticky rice and paired really well with the matcha. down side is there is limited parking ! butttt overall sucha cool spot to chill or study w friendly workers and yummy drinks. read more

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loved the coffee here, need to try the matcha next time but my sister really liked hers. cool vibe inside and wait wasn't too long for a sunday. can be a little tough to park but not horrible read more

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What a cool frickin' place! This hidden gem amongst its surrounding auto shops is one of the coolest coffee shops I've been to lately. If you're GPS-ing here, it's easy to miss, but once you find it, there are some parking spots labelled for their business in the front making parking a bit easier. I am in love with the decor here. It's giving retro, badass, and rad. I got the basic grinch with oat milk which is a matcha and it was so so so good! The matcha isn't too earthy so it can definitely be enjoyable to casual matcha drinkers. I came here to cowork with a friend and we sat at one of their communal tables. There's all sorts of seating options here ranging from tables to couches. It doesn't seem like there are any outlets here so I'd recommend coming with your devices fully charged or bring your own portable if you're planning to work long. read more

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