Tried the hojicha latte and it was delicious. Good balance of sweet and earthy roasted flavor with this tea. There is a lot of space and it has a very calming vibe. Plenty of places to sit and study/read/hang out. Lots of fun options on the menu but definitely have the basics. If you are not from around here, there really is one easy way(direction is heading south bound on Atlantic) to get into the plaza so keep your eyes peeled and don't miss the entrance. Otherwise I didn't find issues with parking or lines. Staff were nice. Would definitely come back to try this again when I'm in the area. read more

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Nice vibe coffee shop in Monterey Park. Parking in the lot behind and streetside. They have a good assortment of coffees and teas. I went with their recommended Vietnamese coffee. It actually was quite strong as I desired when ordering Vietnamese coffee. But tasted more like a Viet coffee as a western latte, but did appreciate it with their almond milk as a lighter alternative. Staff were friendly. There's WiFi and a bathroom if you want to study, and water. They also have some pastries and small food items. Service is a bit slow, but expected given the mom and pop style. read more

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I needed a space to work remotely for a few hours and Must Have Coffee just happened to be the perfect place. It's a small space but definitely a hole in the wall. The music is a little loud but I was able to get some work done. I love that there's parking in the plaza. The matcha latte is ok. I wish it was stronger. I did ask for half sweet, but felt that it was still a tad too sweet. read more

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I wanted to try another local Vietnamese coffee shop, and this one didn't disappoint. If you're looking for a strong, flavorful iced coffee, this is the place. Even though we arrived right before closing, the staff was very welcoming. There's plenty of parking in the rear, and you can either order at the self-service kiosks or directly with the barista. The gentleman who helped us was especially friendly and was really helpful with suggestions. The shop itself is cute, trendy, and has a great atmosphere to hang out or catch up with friends. They also have some delicious looking dessert options that I'll definitely have to try next time. read more

Must Have Coffee - Einspanner Coffee, Salted Bac Xiu Coffee, and Matcha Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

My 5 stars for today is for the young man working right now. He greeted me as soon as I walked in, he was very friendly and kind. Thank you so much for making my morning better :) read more

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Such a great coffee and matcha spot, and it's open a little later than your typical cafe too. Got the banana cream mazapan latte, which was absolutely delicious, with crunchy little peanut mazapan bits in every slurp. It's not a bad spot for getting some reading or light laptop work done too, even at the countertop area where I sat. read more

Must Have Coffee - Banana cream mazapan matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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5/18/26 I saw the sign Must Have Coffee-catchy! It was a quick stop before heading to a Yelp Elite Event a few blocks away, this was convenient, a plus. I inquired if they make hot drinks (coz all the featured and pictured drinks are iced/cold), the young lady said they usually do not "can make it hot". I did not want to make waves so I just went with an iced coco Ube latte. It was crafted in a jiffy and Zi was on my merry way. The interior is cute with seating for patrons to hang out or do work/study. My beverage was pretty good, price is a bit more than average $8.29. Yikes read more

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I went here a while ago to catch up with a friend. The vibes here were nice and chill, i enjoyed the music they were playing. Parking wasn't bad at all! There's parking for this plaza which has a lot of space!!! It's right behind/below the stores in front. The workers were nice and handed us our drinks pretty fast. There's a restroom here as well that was very clean. Would def come back if I'm in the area! read more

Must Have Coffee - Ube Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Rude customer service I order all the time around twice a week and the girl made a scene about adding some mazapan To my order, absolutely horrific customer service will not be returning after being a customer for years this lady is going to get rid of all your customers if she keeps treating people like this I even explained to her that I don't mind paying for it and that on the Uber Eats there's no future for me to add it. She made a scene in front of the store when I told her I wasn't happy and I won't be returning. She said OK cool read more

Must Have Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

It's a pleasant, cozy spot to grab a coffee, and worth checking out if you're in Monterey Park. However, I was disappointed by the 3% credit card fee, especially since they only accept credit cards. It's a nice, Asian-inspired coffee shop with a variety of drinks. They offer authentic, ceremonial-grade matcha from Japan and import coffee beans from Vietnam. My wife and I shared the Salted Bac Xiu Coffee ($6.50), which the barista recommended. The salted cream perfectly complemented the sweet coffee, resulting in a delicious, balanced salted caramel flavor. read more

Must Have Coffee - front - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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The iced guava matcha is definitely a must have! I wasn't sure if I would be a fan of the sparkling guava but I'm glad I still gave it a try because it was actually really good. The drink itself has a great balance with the matcha being bold and the guava flavor being sweet. None of the two overpowered the other so I really enjoyed that a lot. You're able to taste both just perfectly! They do have a kiosk machine to order from but there is still someone at the counter to help you out if you have any questions. Customer service was great the night I went. Everyone was welcoming and very friendly. The inside is also very spacious with plenty of seating. If I'm ever in the area I would come back to try the other drinks. read more

Must Have Coffee - Iced Guava Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Date of visit: June 2025 Must Have is next to the fountain facing Atlantic Blvd. Ordering is at the tall kiosk, so you have to pay with credit card/tap. You can make adjustments to your drink. They also have food like waffles or something. The kiosk made the shop feel less inviting because there was no warm smile to greet you. I wanted to like this place because it's new and there just weren't many coffee shops in the area at the time. However the drinks were slightly disappointing. The egg coffee was just ok.. and the one time I got a hot hojicha latte, all the bitter tea particles sunk to the bottom. So they either didn't mix well or had a bad/old batch? It's a nice spot to do work or study. They have outlets and a comfy wall couch! -bathroom available -free wifi -free parking read more

Must Have Coffee - egg coffee on the left - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Super strong flavored coffee! I tried their creme brulee and pandan. Please be aware if you're not a fan of super thick cream on top of your coffee! Their decorations are super cute and service is pretty fast. My sister also got their Nguyen coffee to make at home. Super strong, and flavorful coffee! read more

Must Have Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Read before you come!! I've been going here for a while and recently they changed their cups instead they put your coffee in a tall soda can... even with cold foam it's in a can with a tiny soda can opening you can't even enjoy the cold foam or anything. I can justify spending $8.50 on a matcha or coffee to not be able to even try the cold foam without using a straw through a tiny soda can opening. Worst decision ever was changing the cups, me and my friends agreed to not come here again, so sad. read more

Cute coffee and tea spot with limited seating available. It was fairly quiet on a Sunday afternoon, making it a great place to get some work done or study. Ordering through the kiosk was quick and efficient. The order: Pandan Matcha - Good overall, but a bit too sweet for my taste. I would recommend ordering it half-sweet. Pandan flavoring was strong on this drink as well. Ube Latte - Strong ube flavor and also quite sweet. Same recommendation here as the Panda Matcha. Beignets - I was expecting one large beignet, but instead received three donut-hole-sized beignets filled with filling inside. They were warm and soft. Located in a shopping plaza, so parking was easy. Service was fast and efficient. read more

Must Have Coffee - Ube latte & Pandan matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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Must Have Coffee is aptly named. We stopped by because we happened to be in the area and were so glad that we did. The baristas were helpful and welcoming. For the coffee/espresso beverages, they have a variety of roasts that they offer, and they even have decaf. We opted for the espresso yuzu tonic, which is so refreshing on a hot day. The citrus zing of the yuzu adds a nice note to the dark roast coffee. The island latte lives up to its name as you can taste the coconut and macadamia nut flavors. read more

Must Have Coffee - Island latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

- * ~ Matcha? NO. Coffee? YES! ~ * - I went on a Saturday so there was a wait. I'm kind of picky with my matcha so this place wasn't my cup of tea. It was pretty milky for me. But a lot of my friends like it! Maybe I had a bad batch? Their coffee is good tho! Lots of seating! Theres street parking in front and a parking lot in the back. read more

Must Have Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

I purchased the Black Sesame Creme Latte ($7.50). It's espresso, condensed milk, sesame creme, and black sesame seed. I felt sleepy after drinking it. This is weak coffee. This overpriced beverage tastes like a budget Starbucks. (IMPORTANT: No Cash Accepted. They only accept cashless payment, but their machines say "3% Processing Fee.") I arrived at Must Have Coffee (Monterey Park) on Monday (around 12:18PM). It has a rear parking lot; however, it's "3 Hours Max" per vehicle. There's also limited street parking. Customers are expected to use the self-service kiosk for the majority of transactions, so Staff interaction is minimal. However, Staff is awkward and skittish. Customers are rarely greeted or acknowledged; rather, Staff tries to avoid interaction. Staff (especially the male member) appeared almost offended when asked small questions. "Why is there an extra fee for card if we're not allowed to pay cash?" "Why do you say there's no restroom when there's a sign that says Customer Restroom Only?" Their response is "blame the Clover program" and "broken restroom." This small business also proudly displays a sign that says "No Refunds Will Be Issued." It's like they anticipate unhappy customers. As mentioned, I disliked the Black Sesame Creme Latte ($7.50) for its weak caffeine. If squirrels had a watered-down Frappuccino, they'd order this. The Black Sesame Creme Latte ($7.50) is an inoffensive dessert drink. Its texture resembles a cookies n' cream shake with dense liquid. The drink is not too sweet nor bitter. Although there's a small slap of caffeine, it swiftly scampers away. Regarding ambiance, Must Have Coffee (Monterey Park) is a poor study spot. There's customer internet with password, but I counted just two available electrical outlets for customers. Currently, this location also has no restroom. And Staff fails to maintain the water station; there's just an empty water container. Seating is also very limited. The location has about five small tables and one tall counter with four chairs. Fortunately, this small business is relatively clean (i.e. shiny tables but smudgy shoe prints on floor), well-ventilated, and plays upbeat music. Overall, I did not enjoy my experience at Must Have Coffee (Monterey Park). This location exudes take-your-money-and-get-out energy. If searching for a study/work spot, there's much better options. 2.7 out of 5 read more

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Despite the name of the spot, I came here in search of matcha! This spot popped up nearby my location, and I was excited to try it out since the photos looked good. Parking is street sidewalk parking, but there was plenty of space to park at. It's part of a plaza building, but is near one of the middle courtyards. The inside was decorated beautifully, with a lot of plants and a cute display of their goods inside. The cash register to order from is on the right, while you pickup your drinks from the left side. The man was super friendly and upbeat while ordering, which made our experience more pleasant. I got the ube matcha latte drink with oat milk and it was very delicious! Ceremonial matcha is made here, and the ube flavoring made the matcha have a hint of sweetness which made it perfect. There was a bunch of ice cubes inside the drink, and the texture of the drink was creamy yet smooth. It was hard to mix at first because drinking from the lid, the ube creaminess is thick and that's all you taste. I definitely recommend using a straw for it. I would definitely go back here, the pricing was a bit high but the matcha was wonderful. Seating inside is plenty but can be filled with others! read more

Must Have Coffee - Ube matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

We got the vietnamese egg coffee. Got less sweet but still very sweet. Very weak coffee. You could try extra shot for $3.25 (I didn't) It's ok as a coffee milk. Not creamy, not much coffee flavor. $7 + fee + tax They have other drink options, pastries, waffle with unique flavors. We didn't try this time. Ordered via kiosk, which is right next to the register that doesn't have anyone tending it. 3% charge with any card, no minimum. 10.5% tax in mpk now. Took over the old machiato. They closed the other side. Nice decor inside. read more

Must Have Coffee - Egg coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

I visited Must Have Coffee for the first time on Saturday, July 12th, at around 9:15 AM. Drink: I ordered the Pandan coconut cream matcha latte ($8 - def on the pricier side). I loved this. It leans on the sweet side, but I loved the combination of pandan + coconut cream + matcha. The matcha tasted like it was of good quality, and there was no dry aftertaste at all. Because this drink is pretty sweet, it's more like a treat! Interior: There are a few tables and seats available. The place was nicely air-conditioned and had a nice, deep, earthy green, natural, and woods vibe. The atmosphere is chill with wooden herringbone floors and deep green wall accents. The overall vibe is definitely on the trendy side. Customer Service: It's alright. When you enter, you basically order your drinks through their kiosk, and I don't believe they have an option to order in person. Our drinks took longer to get made, and they weren't apologetic. The contact with customer service is minimal and not the friendliest. Parking: Parking can get packed in this lot, but we typically do not have any issues actually finding a spot. Funny thing is, my husband and I had previously walked into the store when it first opened, but walked out when we saw the higher prices. BUT, I thoroughly enjoyed my drink, so my rating is primarily based on the taste and quality of my drink. I would be back to try their other drinks! read more

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Everything really is so delicious! I got the creme brulee matcha and my husband got the banana choco latte. We also got the strawberry croffle which was FANTASTIC! The matcha was very tasty, maybe a bit sweet for me, but i def want to come back and try more. My husband liked his drink a lot!! Unfortunately the menu is VERY hard to read because it keeps changing to advertise their products. They def need a paper menu because there is a screen to order from but that gets a line. It was a first visit for us too. Also the bathroom door lock was broken (ask me how i know. IM SORRY!!!!) so that was an experience. The decor is beautiful with dark green walls and wooden accents. Very nature friendly with good lighting and a decent amount of seating. I will come back but i hope they are interested in improving. read more

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This place is great, especially the matcha einspanner. However they did recently change the cups to a skinnier version with a soda can opening and it doesn't feel worth the price anymore. Hopefully they switch back. Otherwise service is always good, and there's usually people there studying. Chill spot! read more

I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for your amazing selection of coffee, matcha, ice cream, and waffle treats. I love walking in and having someone greet and welcome you; I especially appreciate it because your team is usually busy getting our orders just right and quickly to us. I also loved that there was plenty of street parking and that we couldn't miss the front of the store as we were looking for it. The work environment is nice, with a few tables and a bar to work at. We appreciate all your thoughtfulness and care. I can't wait to return to try more of the delicious things you have to offer. read more

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I wanted to like this place, but I left pretty disappointed. I ordered the Pandan matcha. Was pretty underwhelming--especially for $9 a drink. The matcha tasted watered down and lacked that rich, earthy flavor you'd expect from real matcha. The Pandan cream top tasted overly artificial. For the price, I was expecting much better quality. Sad to write this read more

Pandan matcha (7/10): Such a good combination & with light sweetness, it makes it not too overwhelming. However, you can really tell that it's artificial, which is okay imo, but would def be better for you if it wasn't LOL. Banana pudding matcha (8.5/10): Loved this drink. The banana pudding was nice and thick. I also did light sugar on this one and it was perfect since the cream adds a lot of sweetness to the matcha already. Service: They were really nice and helpful since there's sm of a variety to choose from. She also offered to alter the drink for us if it wasn't sweet enough! Ambiance: A lot of people doing work inside. I didn't check if there were outlets or wifi, but by the looks of people working inside, I'm sure there was :3 Overall, this is a really good place to get matcha (esp in the 626 area) read more

Must Have Coffee - Pandan matcha and banana pudding matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Another coffee spot in the SGV area! This was an easy add onto my try list. This spot is located in the same plaza as Sunright. There's plenty of parking on the ground, upper, and lower levels. The first time I gave it a try was on a Sunday at around 11:00 AM. It luckily wasn't busy at the time, so I was able to order and get my drink quickly. I got the Hojicha Einspanner at regular sweetness. It was slightly on the sweet side, but it was what I was looking for that day. This was a (4/5) option. The second time I went, this was on a Saturday around 1:00pm. It almost felt like a different store because it was super packed with a line to the door. This time I did order the salted bac xiu coffee. This was a strong and sweet drink. It was definitely a (5/5) for me. Aside from waiting to order, the kiosk makes it an easy process. There are pictures, descriptions, and tap to pay option. However, keep in mind there is a 3% fee for using cards. American Express is accepted here. And make sure to take advantage of their reward system if you plan on coming back. read more

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The service was incredible first off. I love the pandan matcha latte. When I'm in the 626 area I crave this matcha. The pandan matcha is strong and fragrant. I love how the drinks aren't overly sweet as well. The inside of the cafe is super aesthetic as well. I love all the greenery. It is super peaceful and I love having my matcha in there. read more

Must Have Coffee - pandan matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

What distinguishes a good coffee shop review? MINE! ;D Lol. Without further ado let's begin. Must Have Coffee is a new coffee shop that specialize in Matcha. It's located in a plaza on N. Atlantic avenue in Monterey, CA. This place is well-organized and unique. The ambiance is pleasant, and the price is reasonable for everything. It's a great place to get together with friends and have great coffee. It is a perfect place for coffee and pastry. Indoor seats were quite comfortable albeit very limited. Outdoor seats were nonexistent. Its decor was exquisite worthy for social media. Staff was affable and competent. Moreover, they have a Kiosk which has a compendious menu for customers to put their order. We ordered an Iced Black Expresso Latte and a Spinach x Cheese Croissant. Both items were splendid. If you're into Matcha this is the place for you. They have a free rear parking lot with plenty of space. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and drink/pastry. I recommend this cafe. read more

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The drinks here looked so yummy and pretty but the matcha drink I got was honestly quite disappointing. I saw this place all over TikTok when I was researching what good matcha spots were in the Monterey Park area, and decided to check this place out. The reviews seemed really good and the matcha drinks were hyped up a lot. I got the matcha einspanner latte and as a girl that has matcha daily, this was a bit disappointing :,(. In my personal opinion it lacked the 'matcha' taste, wasn't sweet enough, and just overall not what I expected from the reviews & pictures. The pandan coconut coffee on the other hand was pretty good. It had all the notes, and flavors it was supposed to have. The coffee was smooth. If I were to come back I would get that drink instead or focus more on the coffee drinks, granted the shop name is "Must Have Coffee". Although my drink wasn't up to my personal standards the staff were all really kind and the store was nicely decorated. I also love the self checkout kiosk! read more

Must Have Coffee - matcha einspanner x2 and pandas coconut coffee? - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

One of my fave coffee spots in the area. salted bac xiu coffee is the best. There is a kiosk to order or you can order with the friendly staff. There are a few tables too. Pastries and breakfast sammies look good but havent tried it yet... will hope to try in the future! read more

Must Have Coffee - Salted coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

We found this coffee shop on Yelp after searching got a while and was a little disappointed with what we received. I ordered a crème brûlée matcha, crème brûlée macchiato, a pumpkin muffin and a churro muffin. The matcha was really good, I would get it less sweet next time. I did however receive the wrong muffin, instead of pumpkin it was a banana one which was fine but I was looking forward to the pumpkin with cream cheese. My boyfriend got the macchiato and unfortunately he found a hair in his mouth after a few sips. There's not much to say about the service, no one was at the register so we went through the kiosk. We waited about 10 minutes only for me to look over and see our order sitting on the counter while the employees were talking amongst each other. So, I looked at the stickers to make sure it was ours as it wasn't called out. Honestly, I would only come back if I'm in the area. After drinking more of the matcha, I'm 99% sure it's a pandan matcha and not crème brûlée like the sticker on my cup says. read more

First time here. We were looking for dessert after dinner. Staff was helpful when we first arrived, asking us if we had any questions and helping us order. we ended up ordering at the kiosk. we sat at the counter and watch them make our waffles as well as make other people's drinks. The drinks look amazing as well and we're going need to come back for some of those. The waffles were good. I wish they were a little thicker, but they definitely fulfilled my sweet tooth. read more

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Cute little coffee shop with a variety of drinks and waffles. The service was quick and the workers were friendly. I got the banana matcha. It was okay. Would come back to try other drinks or even get some work done. read more

Must Have Coffee - Banana matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

Gave this place a try two weeks ago & I feel so bad for saying this but their drinks are SO MID. I got the Matcha Einspanner, but the matcha flavor wasn't strong at all :/ It also wasn't sweet enough for me as I usually like my matcha to be on the sweeter side. My boyfriend got the Banana Matcha Latte...it just tasted like banana water...the milk and matcha flavoring was just diluted/nonexistent. To my surprise, the Hojicha Einspanner was actually not bad. The Hojicha flavor was strong, but it complimented well with the sweet cream. It's also on the sweeter side. There's seating inside (couple tables) and it's a pretty chill environment to study in. You order at the kiosk on your own, and the drinks comes out within 5-10 minutes. I wouldn't mind coming again to try their other desserts and drinks, but the matches are definitely skippable in my opinion! read more

Must Have Coffee - matcha einspanner and hojicha einspanner - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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We stumbled upon Must Have Coffee and it definitely lived up to the name -- a must have spot for matcha and tea lovers! I ordered the hojicha and absolutely loved the deep, roasted flavor. It was smooth, not too sweet, and had a comforting warmth that made it stand out from other hojicha drinks I've tried. My sisters went with the matcha and were equally impressed -- bright, earthy, and just the right balance of creamy and bold. You can really tell they use quality tea. The vibe inside is cozy and minimal, perfect for catching up or just relaxing with a good drink. read more

Must Have Coffee - Banana matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California

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Love the coffee here! And love the variety of options, from less strong c9ffee for those who prefer that to a whole slew of different flavor options. read more

Must Have Coffee is a must try! This spot is one of the newer coffee shop additions to the 626 area and a welcome one. There is a free parking garage here or street parking around the area as well. Inside, they have a nice setup with a good amount of seating. For their menu, they have a range of coffee, matcha, and dessert items to choose from. Wifey and I pulled up for our weekend matcha run and chose the Blueberry Cheese Matcha and the Pandan Matcha. Both drinks had unique flavor profiles that were decadent without being too overwhelming. Overall, we are glad we got the chance to check this spot out. They have some unique Asian-inspired drinks here which definitely helps them stand out from the crowd. All of the staff here are also very friendly and welcoming. Put this spot up next on your list to try! read more

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It looks like this place is newly opened so it seems like some of the kinks are still being ironed out. We were wandering around the neighborhood on a Sunday morning looking for a place to get drinks and this place was open so we decided to try it out. I ordered the Matcha Latte ($4) with Oat Milk ($1.25), less sweet. Looking at the menu it didn't seem that there were any milk-free options for drinks, at least for the non-coffee drinks. There were some seasonal drinks with the Dubai chocolate, but it turns out that the shipment hasn't arrived yet so that was a bit disappointing. They probably shouldn't have changed the menu with the new item until they've gotten the shipment in so that it'd save them the trouble of explaining that to every person who tried to order it. The matcha latte was pretty good. It was simple but got the job done. There are a lot of interesting drinks on the menu that you don't really see often at other places, so I'll have to try those out next time. Service was very friendly and it didn't take too long for us to get our drinks, but we did only order the simpler, straight forward drinks. There are a few tables and they do offer wifi, so it could be a nice place to study or work if you're able to snag a table. Otherwise it seems like it's more for just a grab and go. read more

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Love this small coffee shop that was decorated so cute. Vibes were so homey and I got the banana matcha latte. It was so good. The banana flavor did not taste artificial. And they added in a banana topping that was creme bruléd. read more

Must Have Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Monterey Park, California