Both orange vanilla and butterscotch latte were good. Matcha shake was delicious though a little too sweet for my taste. Masks required. Flavors for latte was $1 additional but nondairy milk alternatives are free. read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

This place is so cute. I ordered their matcha latte with oat milk (no additional cost), and there was an option to ask for it unsweetened. The barista recommended the banana bread with the medjool dates. It was scrumptious. They have a small parking lot to the side and there's some street parking. There's a good amount of seats inside and a couple of people studying. I would come back with a book or laptop to work. read more

Highlight Coffee - Matcha latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Friendly service Great playlist I'd love some outside seating here Love the clean aesthetic Came to try something new and love it definitely coming back with my iPad to get some work done read more

Highlight Coffee - Best croissants I've had in Altadena - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

The coffee here is delicious! The only con is that the music inside the building is way too loud read more

Highlight Coffee - Orange vanilla latte ! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I had just donated my 84th pint of blood to the American Red Cross and I decided to pull myself ever so slightly out of my usual automaticity and instead of driving to the coffee shop I usually head to right after, I went to secure brekke at HomeState. The cashier there is who put me on to Highlight and I'm sure grateful that he did. I had a little brekke and then went right over to grab an iced oat latte. My eye caught a glimpse of "butterscotch" as I was ordering and I knew immediately I needed a taste of that. I don't typically do sweet drinks, at all - totally not my style. I love sugar but I keep it completely separate from anything I'm drinking (not in my coffee, not in my adult bevvies) but on this Friday morning I needed that butterscotch, blame it on the loss of one pint of blood. I opted for 1/2 the amount and it was still really sweet, but REALLY yummy! Not the type of addition I'd do every day but the type you F around with every now and again. Service was fast and friendly and I was on my way in no time. I love the Pasadena mural, being born in Pasadena this city has a very special place in my heart. Go give Highlight a try if you haven't yet, they pair rather nicely with HomeState if you're into brekke tacos and queso the way I am. read more

Highlight Coffee - Born and raised baby! Iced oat latte w a splash of butterscotch, stellar Friday morning bevvie - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

You guys I am obsessed with the butterscotch latte... I've had it so many times but today I found.... A large piece of plastic at the bottom. I'm hoping I didn't drink any smaller pieces. Anyone know whatt this is from?? read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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What a great find. It's located in an obscure part of Pasadena, more like on the border of Pasadena and Altadena, but not too hard to find. Just look for the light mint green building. I recommend parking on the street. There is a very tiny parking lot right next to this place but half of it's reserved for employees and the other half is for Perry's Joint. I love espresso & tonic drinks, and this place has some of the best. My wife and I ordered both of its tonic drinks - Pineapple-Lime Espresso Tonic and Espresso-Pom Tonic. They were both excellent and refreshing, although I give slight edge to the pineapple-lime combo because of its distinct flavor notes. I was able to taste both pineapple and lime but they did not overpower the flavor of espresso. Pom was sweeter but didn't have a distinct flavor. Menu indicates it has house-made grenadine syrup in it. Not sure if this place makes its own pastries but the croissants we got were pretty good too. Another plus for this place is it doesn't charge extra for milk substitutes, like almond and oat milk. There are some other unique drinks I want to try next time, like its Freddo (cold) cappuccino and espresso, as well as butterscotch and orange vanilla lattes. read more

Nice place for a quick coffee fix! Very much grab and go here though, as there's only a few chairs outdoors and few parking. I tried one of their specials, which was the pineapple lime espresso tonic. I've never had anything like this, but think of it as a bit bitter from the tonic mixed in with the sweetness of the pineapple lime syrup. It's a very interesting flavor profile, but make sure to mix it well before you take a sip! As I continued drinking, it really got me hooked and it's quite refreshing. For those of you who want some Insta-worthy photos, make sure to take a pic of the mural on the side of the restaurant, which features both Altadena and Pasadena! read more

Highlight Coffee - Pineapple lime espresso tonic - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

***UPDATING MY REVIEW*** Highlight Coffee is a quaint coffee shop off the beaten path. I love the shopfront exterior, which is this tranquil mint/ light blue color. It's actually what caught my eye and made me turn around as I was driving by. They also have a Pasadena mural on the side of the building that's pretty cool. The coffeeshop has a limited menu, especially for the lattes (only three options) but I was told their syrups are all made in-house so I was excited to give them a try. I ordered an iced butterscotch latte with oatmilk and it was AMAZING! The latte was rich and smooth, and tasted somewhat roasted while also having that unique sweet butterscotch flavor. The butterscotch latte (iced with oatmilk and extra sea salt) is now my go-to and I order it every single time. I still haven't been able to make myself stray from my usual order and try their orange vanilla latte, which sounds deliciously weird, because I love their butterscotch latte so much. Maybe one day. We'll see. Lol. I also love how they don't charge you extra for almond or oat milk substitutions. Highlight is literally the only coffeeshop I've been to that hasn't charged me extra for oatmilk, so I can't begin to tell you how awesome that is. I love how Highlight also sells the coffee beans they rotate between as well as half gallon jugs of some of their beverages (though sadly not their butterscotch latte). Service has always been superb as well- incredibly friendly and helpful. Now moving onto their pastries - Highlight is currently partnered with Sugarbloom Bakery, and they deliver fresh pastries every morning. I love Sugarbloom's pastries and was considering ordering directly from the bakery for pickup (it's not exactly right next door) when I realized Highlight Coffee now sells their pastries too. Lucky me! Anyways, the strawberry almond croissant and miso butterscotch cookies are my favorite, and I highly recommend giving them a try. Highlight is now my favorite coffeeshop in the area, so much so that I felt compelled to write this updated review as I couldn't understand why I only rated them 4 stars previously. Haha. read more

Highlight Coffee - Butterscotch latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Little gem! Better than a bar: hip clientele coming and going, available street parking, a very exciting coffee menu! When we pulled up there were bicycles parked in front and outdoor seating. I know I'm in the right place when I see men wearing hiking sandals and barefoot style Lems, others with tattoos and boots. Plenty of tables to work at for hours. Comfy leather couch with outlets! Great music. The lemonade coffee is delicious! Highly recommend this place!!! read more

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Cute lil coffee shop, inside was so nice and clean, service was quick and my order was correct. They just forgot to give me my pastry when I ordered it. But coffee tastes delicious ! Will be back read more

the iced orange vanilla latte was great! i stopped by to sit down and enjoy my drink from the heat wave on a friday around 11am and it was quite busy. about 3 small tables and 1 semi long communal table. mostly everyone had their labtop out and it was the first time i had ever been somewhere that someone was on a video call in a coffee shop, which was kind of annoying to hear, but nothing i can do about it! there are also 2 tables outside but i opted for inside as it was too hot that day. lovely spot that i'd visit again if im around read more

I love checking out coffee shops in the area, and this coffee shop is no different. They're located right off of Lincoln Ave, not too far from the newly opened Homestate in Altadena. They serve Sugarbloom pastries here, which I absolutely love. I ordered a black cold brew and it was the perfect coffee. Grab a coffee and take a photo with the cute Altadena/Pasadena sign and don't forget to support your local coffee shops! read more

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I have always passed by Highlight many times but I wasn't too sure about it. Always scared to try new coffee spots cause i don't know if I'll like it .. My boyfriend surprised me one day & brought me home an iced butterscotch latte & my eyes just lit up! I became addicted !!! Now it's my go 2 morning coffee spot. They are also pretty quick as well when it comes to making your coffee. I also have tried the orange vanilla which i liked as well! But the Butterscotch is the way to go! The workers are nice & welcoming when you walk in. The service is great ! read more

Highlight Coffee - Butterscotch Iced Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

Never had this drink anywhere else before this is my second time, Pineapple lime espresso tonic is the best!!! amazing taste for people who loves espresso like me. read more

Highlight Coffee - Pineapple lime espresso tonic. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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The people are not staring at their own marketing videos. A truly diversified group of people who work and frequent the establishment. Every day seems like a different day in here with a few regulars. A place to consider. After coming here for a week. Suggestion ask if the drink is for here or to go to save waste and cost. *Ample 2-hour spots for parking around if you need it. Stars for your purchases. read more

Came in the morning for a matcha latte and pastry (ended up getting cinnamon roll). The matcha was super light and made me hesitant and I was right and ended up not liking it. Only drinking it since I bought it but would not order again. The cinnamon roll was amazing, would def buy again. The people working were very kind and the place was a chill environment. read more

Highlight Coffee - Matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is my go to coffee shop for Pasadena/Altadena. Friendly service, relatively peaceful, plenty of seating, reasonable prices, good cold brew, and a good unique pastry selection. read more

One of the best shops in Pasadena with consistently delicious coffee! Their espresso is high quality and delightfully fruity. My go-to is an iced americano which to me is perfectly balanced - not too strong or too watery. When I want something sweet, their orange vanilla is delicious as a latte or iced cap. read more

Lovely place to be. Appreciated the plenty of seating inside. Thankful for mixture of chill sofas to lounge at and places to work. Delicious matcha strawberry, salted chocolate chip cookie, and chocolate croissant pastries. My warm honey oat milk latte was on point. Staff are friendly and inviting. Music was calm and nostalgic. Definitely a place we will return to again and again. Impressed all around. Many thanks to all for the making of this excellent coffee shop! read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

I tried this place time a few times, and it literally never made an impact. I think it's because they are still learning. Had the orange vanilla thing, and it tasted like orange milk. No bueno. read more

Amazing coffee, cappuccino and more absolutely perfection. Great customer service and nice ambiance. We usually go to the GLENDALE location. Frank you have mastered coffee & we thank you read more

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Whether it's chilly or blazin, you can always count on highlight coffee's orange vanilla latte, hot or iced!! This is their most popular drink for a reason.. The workers are always friendly and welcoming and the times that I've been here, there's always a few seats open if you're tryna put in some mad work. There's nice natural lighting as they're only open during the day and it's nice and cozy to just chill n vibe.. They got a small lot on the side and also a few spots in the front for street parking, I've never had trouble with parking here. Honestly, I haven't tried anything else in their menu, bc the orange vanilla latte is just that good.. btw their iced coffee lids are litty read more

Highlight Coffee - I think this the orange juan.. bussin.. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

On my quest to kill time in Pasadena, I have stumbled upon Highlight Coffee - the second location of this particular coffee shop. I actually tried an espresso tonic at their original location in Glendale about 1 year prior, which I would rate as one of my favorite coffees I experienced in the LA area. My draw towards Highlight coffee is their bean selection. They always seem to have a healthy supply sourced from Manhattan Coffee roasters, who roast some of my favorite beans to date. Please try Diego Bermudez or Letty Bermudez if you ever get a chance! Coffee: Today, their pourover selection was limited to a natural pink bourbon by Manhattan because everything else was sold out. But no complaints there! Coffee was brewed via Kalita wave. This was very nicely done: I tasted a fruit bomb with strong citrus and a clean aftertaste akin to drinking a fruit juice. As it cooled, melon notes became more prominent. Location and Parking: average. There is an extraordinarily small parking lot (6 spots total), but plenty of street parking available. The cafe itself has plenty of seats inside, and pretty standard ambiance. Perhaps a little clinical in nature. The totodile plush was a nice touch tho :) who doesn't love Pokémon? I am getting over caffeinated at this point, so here ends my coffee adventures for today! Overall: this is an excellent coffee shop if you're looking for high quality coffee. The cafe ambience is a tad clinical though and certainly not to my taste, but it gets the job done if you want to chill here for a bit. Please, give their coffee a try! Coffee: A Location: B Parking: B+ read more

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very yummy coffee, both standards and flavors that are both unique and bold. The service is very kind and accommodating! A great spot for study/work with decent seating options. read more

A beautifully repurposed vintage building. The exterior paint color is very inviting. I ordered an espresso and a cheese croissant. The espresso was properly served with a glass of soda water to cleanse the pallet. The croissant was fresh, and just the little snack I needed. Service was good, place was packed with customers, found a place when my espresso was served. Lots of fun merch An excellent coffee shop, I will return. read more

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My first time trying this coffee shop and they gained a new customer! First, the customer service was AMAZING. From the moment I walked into the shop, the baristas greeted me with a warm smile. I don't remember the name of the barista who helped me but she had fair skin,tattoos and glasses. I think her name started with a V? She gave lots of recommendations and even let me sample this coconut pastry. She was very informative about the products which is awesome to see nowadays in coffee shops. Even though there was 4 people behind me, she still answered every question I had with patience and kindness. Starbucks could NEVER!! I did not take a picture but I also ended up ordering a ham and cheese croissant and it came with a mini pickle!! It was the cutest touch and something I had never seen before. The drinks were also made extremely quick! I had mentioned my favorite color was pink to the people I was with, and the girl barista overheard and decided to give my iced matcha latte a pink cover. Those small details really made this experience even better. I was so blown away by the customer service, I tipped the barista's $10. They truly deserve it and I hope this establishment can pay them a fair wage. Even though this location is almost 40 minutes away from me, I will gladly make the drive and recommend this place to my friends and family! Thank you Highlight Coffee for the amazing experience. I can't wait to come back!! read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

My favorite coffee place in Pasadena/Altadena. I drink latte's usually and these guys make possibly my favorite latte in the area. There is some fierce competition out there too. The parking is sparse though, but you can usually find on street parking. read more

Had a great cup of coffee at Highlight I was greeted immediately by staff and owner. Really inviting, and friendly neighborhood spot. Great for reading and working as well. read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Stopped at this cute neighborhood coffee cafe and was delighted with the pumpkin cheesecake muffin! I would be here every day if I lived nearby! There's a few tables and a small couch to munch and sip. The space is resplendent with the wonderful smell of freshly ground coffee! I also had a latte with added flavored syrup and was very satisfied with just a small size. The owner, I believer was dishing the goodies and making the coffees. He was friendly and efficient. I will be back! read more

Stopped in for the first time on a busy Sunday morning and the crew was in full-on productivity mode but that didn't prevent them from being kind and offering helpful suggestions as I navigated the menu. I tried their signature Orange Vanilla Latte and found it to be warm and refreshing, with the little citrus tang a nice finish. The entire shop is cozy, so there is not a lot of room for seating when it's busy but I'm sure other times would be lovely to sit and hang out for a bit. They have a nice selection of pastries to go with your caffeinated beverage of choice read more

I came in on a Sunday morning and it was easy to find parking in their small lot. I ordered a macchiato with almond milk. The barista was very adamant about making my drink just the way I like it even after I said, "it's really fine!" Very sweet of him to keep making it until the foam was just right. Thank you, barista with the Habibi necklace! There are only 2 tables, 1 couch, and 2 small areas with a barstool. The seating was not comfortable for me, but that's just personal preference. They have free WiFi which is great! The coffee they make is strong, so brace yourself! I would recommend highlight coffee for your next artisanal morning cuppa joe. read more

One of my new favorite coffee shops in Pasadena! Obsessed with the butterscotch latte--the flavor is just like authentic butterscotch, giving a burnt/bitter caramel taste. I always get it with oat milk (for NO extra charge!!) and it's such a sweet and ultra-creamy treat. FYI, the butterscotch flavoring has real milk in it, so if you're actually lactose intolerant then maybe avoid this one. There are many other delicious options! Also, I haven't tried them yet, but they also offer a small assortment of pastries from a bakery that makes unique combos, like spam and kimchi croissants. Looking forward to giving them a shot next time. Parking is easy, there's usually street parking. The side lot has spaces too (labeled for Perry's Joint customers only though so at your own risk). Customer service is superb, and there's a good amount of seating inside if you want to hang out. They do require masks (regardless of vaccination or local laws) but they provide some at the door for you, so please respect their rule and cover up :) read more

The iced butterscotch latte was pretty good! It tasted like a piece of See's Candies chocolate! When we arrived the place was strangely empty for a Saturday morning. They still require masks inside as of 4/16/22 fyi! We tried the orange vanilla latte and the butterscotch latte. Both were great tasting. Flavored lattes are an extra $1 but non dairy milk alternatives are free so that's good. Two drinks came out to $12-13. It's quiet enough inside that you could go there to study or get some work done. I recommend giving them a try! read more

Highlight Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I stopped in yesterday because I read the amazing reviews and I'm always looking for a new coffee shop to try. Maybe I'm a bit of an addict, who knows? Who cares? It's coffee! Anyhoo, so I stopped in and I was pretty impressed by how lowkey and minimalist the shop is. No, really it is. Check out my photos. It's like someone turned a boutique into a coffee shop. I was greeted by the owners(?) or employees of the shop. Very nice, very gracious. They treated me as if I've been a long time customer. I saw two amazing and rather big pastries and seeing how they were the only ones left, I quickly snatched them up. I also ordered a butterscotch latte, because let's face it, how many times does one really have a butterscotch latte in their life? OMFG. So the pastry was sweet, but overly sweet. Crispy, soft and delicious. Perfect, really. The butterscotch latte is actually my new fave. For real, tho. It had the right amount of sweetness to it that's to die for. So yeah, I totally recommend this joint. You won't be disappointed. read more

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This review is a long time coming because Highlight has been one of my go-to coffee spots for a while now. My standard order is a cappuccino freddo with almond milk (picture below). The espresso is consistently on-point and there is always some nice micro-foam on top of the drink (which is awesome because I feel like a lot of places' freddo caps are just stronger iced lattes). And there is no upcharge for almond/oat milk! Amazing! If you're in the mood for something refreshing, the pineapple lime espresso tonic is bubbly, balanced, and beautifully garnished. There is a small parking lot and plenty of street parking. Not much in-cafe seating (especially during COVID), more of a to-go place. Baristas are always friendly and efficient, and there's always cool local artwork on display as well! read more

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This is my new go-to in Altadena for coffee. They make a solid cup of java or espresso. Stylish and comfy interior. That couch is right on point. Please support Highlight! read more

A pleasant place to do work or catch up with a friend! They don't up-charge for alternative milks (key to my heart!!) The espresso was good but on the more acidic side. The barista was so kind and answered my questions thoroughly. I look forward to visiting again soon! read more

Highlight Coffee - half-sweet butterscotch oat milk latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Pasadena, California

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First time visiting, lovely cafe and good coffee served by nice friendly baristas!! Good place to pit stop for coffee before or after going up the Crest (hwy 2) read more

Was looking for a coffee shop in Pasadena and stumbled across this place. Isolated from the more populous parts of Pasadena like old town, and offers a few free parking spots, which was nice. Really friendly service and good array of beverage offerings. Matcha here is uniquely from Jejudo, S Korea and thought it was just ok. The iced latte/espresso here was really great through, def recommend going that route. read more