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My daughter took us to her favorite coffee shop in Orange--Play Coffee. Here are some thoughts: -This is the single coolest coffee shop I've ever seen. It's an old bank building--wide open with super high ceilings and cool Roman architecture! -I'm a sweet coffee drinker and I love a good latte. So when I looked at the lattes on the menu--the "volcano" latte caught my eye. -I asked about it and the barista's eyes lit up, "If you like sweet coffee, you'll LOVE the volcano--it's made from brown sugar and sea salt." -I ordered one and the flavor was rich and unusual. The sweet and salty really work together. Surely one of the best lattes I've ever had. Highly recommended!
Parking in the orange circle now costs money ($1.50 per hour). However, the orange circle remains a wonderful location for thrifting, coffee, and hanging out. Play coffee is an iconic coffee shop here that honors the history of the building and offers great coffee flavors. There is a decent amount of indoor seating here, A few different pastry options, ceremonial matcha, and a variety of latte flavors. We ordered an iced chai latte with almond milk and a "sweet latte" (aka a brown sugar latte) - both were well balanced and enjoyable. And the barista that helped us was very friendly, accommodating and patient.
Play Coffee is such an interesting spot - there's a lot to like, but I think it's still a little rough around the edges. Play is located in Old Town Orange off the main circle in this beautiful historic bank. It honestly feels like a pop up within the bank because the rest of the space isn't being used at all, so I really hope that changes and they actually take time to do more with the space because it feels like such a waste and kills the vibe IMO. Staff is all nice, and they move pretty quick considering how busy they tend to be. On the drinks front, I usually get their cardamom latte, which is great, but I've noticed as of late they've been underserving on their drinks which is a bummer (the shrinkflation is real I guess). They also serve some various baked goods which are fine, but not great. Overall, Play has a lot of potential to be great, but they've got a ton of stiff competition in the area. I'd say it's worth a visit, but don't go out of your way for it.
Loved the ambiance of this coffee shop especially for taking over a historic landmark in Old Town Orange. The space is beautiful. The line/wait for the coffee from here is insane. It took us a solid 15 minutes to order and another 10 to get our coffee. I picked up the Volcano Latte. It was fine. It wasn't really a standout to me. I've had better coffee.
Play Coffee knows what they're doing behind the bar ~ and more importantly, they know how to handle alternative milk. Getting oat milk (or any non-dairy) steamed properly is rarer than it should be, but here it comes out perfectly frothy without a hint of that bitter, scorched taste. Huge win. I got the shaken maple latte and honestly? It was a standout drink. Citrusy, smooth, and just the right amount of sweet -- not cloying, not subtle, just balanced. The kind of drink you think about on the drive home. The coffee itself is solid and the craft is clearly there. My only gripe: the prices are a little steep. $8 for a latte adds up fast, especially if you're grabbing drinks for a group. This is firmly a "treat yourself solo" kind of spot rather than a "let me get the whole friend group a round" situation. Go for the experience, enjoy the quality, and maybe leave the group chat at home.
I was in the area and decided to try this spot. I really liked how spacious it is inside; I'm assuming it used to be a bank back in the day. One thing to keep in mind is that parking isn't free, and depending on the time of day, it can be a little challenging to find parking if you're just stopping by for coffee. I tried two different lattes and unfortunately wasn't a fan of either. Yuli, the barista, truly did her best to make it right and was so sweet, which I wholeheartedly appreciated. Her service alone made me want to give this spot a higher rating. That said, the lattes were a 2/5 for me. They tasted too milky, and the coffee had an aftertaste I personally wasn't fond of.
This coffee shop is in a great location and looks promising but I left with much to be desired. I love the access to the Duck's hockey merchandise but the service between the coffee shop to the merch booth is not it. A coffee shop in a sports themed building would be one of the places l'd expect cheerfulness, a warm welcome, or maybe a smile. They're strictly business up in here with very little confidence in their interactions with the customers. The building is spacious but the vibe and set up felt very corporate and uncomfortable to chill or even study in. The coffee wasn't my favorite, after all my complaints I hoped the coffee would be its saving grace but they missed that mark too. I ordered the volcano latte which sounded promising but the end result tasted like salty, creamy, milk with a hint of espresso. Don't think I see myself coming back for the coffee shop.
First time in Orange County Downtown. Pretty cool place. We actually stumbled with this place walking and thought it was super original a Coffee Bar inside an old bank building. Lots of space to sit, love the ambiance feel like you were in an old train station. Service was great, I had questions about some of the coffees and they took their time explaining it to me. For food they only had pastries but for coffee and matcha lots of interesting options. They have beans from various parts of the World, but mainly Norway!!! We got really excited about this. We ordered a Volcano Latte and a regular latte. The Volcano latte had an explosion of flavors topped with a smoked salted foam out of this world. My new favorite. I will keep on coming to try more things while in town.
This coffee shop is located inside an old bank building, giving it a unique and spacious atmosphere. There's plenty of seating and it was quiet, making it a great spot for studying or getting some work done. I also appreciated the availability of outlets throughout the space. I was curious about their Volcano Latte, so I asked the barista about it. He was very knowledgeable and took the time to explain the ingredients in detail. I ended up ordering the Lavender Latte, which I enjoyed, though it was a little sweeter than my personal preference. I liked the Shaken Maple Latte which is what my friend ordered! Their menu features a lot of creative and interesting drinks, and I'm already looking forward to coming back to try more of them!
As many other reviews pointed out, prices are quite steep and many locations can be found with better prices and drinks. Parking here is not free but there's a free parking building 5 minutes down the street. Overall, a really nice study place with cool architecture with free wifi and free outlets. I liked my chai latte, but it did taste a little watered down.
Nice quiet coffee shop in a sea of coffee shops around the circle. Love the space, they've brought in a modern stand within an old bank. Friendly staff, some familiar faces from the old Starbucks that closed end of last year. Good for craft espresso drinks.
What a fun experience, we took pictures on the Ducks cam, purchased some Duck paraphernalia and enjoyed some delicious coffee. The power play creamsicle was surprisingly delicious. The more I sipped the more I enjoyed it. It was a fun family outing.
Finally got to try out Play! There's a location near me in Fullerton, but my friends and I were in the area and they convinced me to go. First off, the interior is gorgeous and I love the history that goes with it. Yes to utilizing spaces! Anyways, I got the maple matcha and it was quite good. It was 7 dollars even with almond milk (but this seems standard now a days tbh) and with tip came out to a little over 8 dollars. Our drinks came out promptly and the vibes seemed chill. I thought my drink was fine--nothing too spectacular or worth me revisiting too much (unless I want to try out their actual coffee, which I think I will at the Fullerton location).
Came here with my kid hayne, I love the long table vibe gives you ton of area to work. Very studyable cafe, lots of outlets- soft music- good but slightly expensive coffee. Cons are dirty bathroom and hard to park. Solid solid study cafe imo. Isaac ham is the goat server, makes this place infinitely better what a stud of a guy super nice and super friendly. read more
3 months ago
Went in for the first time and it was such a great experience, from the initial conversation with the baristas to the drink quality. Definitely a great and open space to relax and do some work! Thank you guys! read more
1 year ago
My go-to coffee spot at the Orange Circle! While the coffee is on the pricier side, the quality is absolutely worth it. I love the unique atmosphere - housed in the old Wells Fargo building, which keeps so much of the original charm. It's the perfect place to bring your laptop and get some work done, catch up with a friend, or grab a drink to go & enjoy while strolling the Circle. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
lowkey buns. the place was soo cute and seems like a great spot to study. The matcha itself was very milky and not strong flavored. Not worth 8 dollars with tip. it seems to be more of a recipe issue across the coffee chain as i've experienced this issue across multiple PLAY locations. read more
8 months ago
8 months ago
Ambience awesome matcha good service prompt enjoy the old bank be repurposed. The in only thing is how cold it is today there's no heat so a little uncomfortable read more
It was a busy Sunday ordered a maple matcha latte, so I thought lol and a vanilla latte. The vanilla latte has a good flavor and nice hints of vanilla. The matcha "maple" latte REALLY lacked the maple. I expected some sort of sweet but the matcha overpowered it or they just gave me a regular matcha. Lol I wish there were more descriptions of what came in the drink options but if you want to be satisfied a vanilla latte will be the winner. read more
1 year ago
Average price for a matcha these days, but the "maple" take on this particular matcha was quite welcome. The service was fast and nice, no comments really. The ambiance is really what you should go for though. It's located in a bank historic to Orange. I chatted with my friends for an hour there and it was a good atmosphere. There were study spots but limited chargers. Overall would recommend the matcha here read more
5 months ago
8 months ago
Always a great spot to get a coffee. Shout out to Annika for always providing kind and attentive service. The whole crew goes out of their way to make customers feel welcomed. I personally love to get an oat milk cortado or one of their many pour over options when I am in the area. read more
8 months ago
I think of all the Matcha available in the circle, this might be my favorite!! I only wish the could make it with anything other than whole milk, but unfortunately they use some sort of strawberry whole milk that is not replaceable in the Matcha Latte. The Chai was delicious as well! This is more of a workspace than a coffee shop, but it's cool nonetheless. WiFi, plugs, and seating are all available in this space. Every seat was full, and everyone is doing some kind of work on their laptops! All the workers are kind, and eager to answer any questions about the menu. I would definitely come back for another Matcha! read more
6 months ago
Cool coffee shop in the heart of Orange Circle! Located inside an old Wells Fargo bank, the setting is definitely a unique one for a coffee shop. I love how spacious it is with the high ceiling and with plenty of seating. We came on a weekend morning and it was bustling with young families, dog owners, people post-workout, and it was nice to see such a diverse crowd! I got a decaf latte which was okay. My husband got an espresso which he enjoyed. It was our first time in the area and it was nice to walk around and pass other coffee and brunch shops, vintage stores, etc. Perfect place for a stroll with family or for date night! We found free street parking easily, and definitely want to come back to check out other stores! read more
2 years ago
Stopped by for an afternoon matcha pick me up and really liked the vibe of this place. First, it's located in the orange circle so depending on the day and time, parking can be difficult but I was lucky to find a spot right in front. When you walk in, it looks like an old bank that they converted into a cute coffee shop. There was a lot of seating areas and a lot of people come to study or meet up with their friends for a coffee. They had a simple but good menu. They had an assortment of different matcha from different regions which was cool. I don't know too much about matcha but I do appreciate the taste of matcha. When I arrived, there was a little line but the service was quick and smooth. You can watch them make your drink which was nice. I ordered a matcha latte with whole milk unsweetened and it was good, I'd come back and try some of their other drinks on their menu. read more
This is a really cool spot that turned an old bank into a coffee shop with a lot of seating. Lot of students or remote workers come here to work. The coffee is amazing and I ended up with their volcano latte which uses raw brown sugar for the flavor profile. The caffeine in the drinks are strong and if you're feeling not too much caffeine then matcha would be a good alternative. The service was friendly and gave me a lot of options with also having pastries that were vegan/gluten free options. read more
What a cool location for a coffee shop! The inside used to be a bank so theres a lot of open space and seating. I tried their matcha strawberry and shaken maple latte. The matcha was a bit sweeter than I like but the latte was good. The drinks here are a bit expensive but the baristas are super friendly. Definitely check this place out!! :) they have cool chairs read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
The baristas are very sweet, but either they're too quiet or the reverb in the building is too great for their voices to carry. I didn't notice that my drink was available until five minutes after it was called. I ordered a volcano latte, it's initially sweet with the acidity of the coffee following right after in taste. read more
I thoroughly enjoyed the coffee here, the service and over all ambiance was so calming! Which was interesting because it was so busy there when we stopped by. The staff was all so polite and even in the midst of a rush maintained a calm demeanor and quality drinks. I was so amused by the fully open space that allowed me to watch the drinks actively being made. I enjoyed that aspect very much. I ordered the lavender latte iced and it was quite delicious not too over powered by the lavender either. My husband got the iced americano and this is where they intrigued me. The espresso they used to brew this had such a distinct flavor and I wish I would have asked where they were sourced from because I have never tasted such a coffee bean. This spot was very good and I loved how this place only does one sizes, it was very reminiscent to coffee dose. I like this steer away from coffee places no longer following the Starbucks sizing options. Makes ordering easier and I'm sure the staff love it too. I will be working my way through their menu that's for certain! read more
1 year ago
10 months ago
1 year ago
Neat space--the building is really beautiful, originally a bank that's now converted into a coffee shop. Service was fine, no issues there. Unfortunately, the coffee itself was a letdown. I ordered a cold brew and it was extremely sour and acidic. I usually go for cold brew because I like a strong, bold flavor, but this was just unpleasant. Cool spot, but I wouldn't come back for the coffee. read more
2 years ago
Play Coffee has some of the best lattes in The Circle--smooth, well-balanced, and paired with delicious pastries. We had the Volcano latte and a Cardamom latte. The service is also super friendly, which makes the experience even better. The cafe is inside an old bank building, which gives it a unique and stylish look, but the layout is a bit odd, and the acoustics make it pretty boomy. Also, the chairs are not great for long talks or hanging out. While it's right by Chapman, it didn't feel overwhelmingly full of students like another nearby spot (which has its own vibe). As someone well past my Chapman days, I appreciate that this place has a more mixed crowd. Overall, a solid choice if you're looking for great coffee in a cool setting--just maybe don't plan to get too cozy. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
when entering this establishment, you will be shocked with how well they turned a old bank into a modern coffee shop. yet the reality of it is that it just doesn't work out, in my experience the shop was very packed causing tons of echos making it hard to communicate with the baristas. The service was fast which was amazing for how busy but it was low quality coffee for the price. read more
The brunette girl working on MLK Day did not even try to hide her racism lmao. The white man who was served before us was notified his drink was ready by name and was handed his drink. Meanwhile, she could not even bother to call the Asian person's name and simply called out what was ordered, set it on the counter, and quickly turned around to chat with her coworker. The espresso tonic was good but I would rather walk one street over to get a channel orange from Contra. read more
The coffee shop is inside the old Wells Fargo bank, so it is very open with ample seating and high ceilings. However was a little too dim inside for my liking (during the day time). There is a bathroom inside, which is important for those coming to study/work. Old Towne Orange can get busy so parking can be tricky, but I always find a spot without having to wait too long! I ordered the volcano latte, which the barista described as sweet and salty. It tasted like salted caramel, and I probably wouldn't order it again. My boyfriend got one of the exclusive pour overs for I think $18(?)! He said it was really good and the barista made it perfectly, but it's not something he would order all the time because it's not worth that much money. But he did appreciate getting to try it. I would love to come back and try their matcha drinks! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Overall, drinks were very milky with minimal matcha/coffee flavor. Also, for the around 2 hours we were there, they had left the milk out the entire time on the counter. In addition, the fridge full of milk would be left open for long periods of time. Would not go again purely due to the unsafe food practices. read more
1 year ago
Play Coffee Orange is on the corner of Chapman Ave, residing in the previous Wells Fargo Bank Building in Old Town Orange. I have always loved their Fullerton location, and I was excited to see their new spot in Orange. Spoiler alert: it lived up to the hype! From the high ceilings with the original hanging light fixtures from 1969 to the vast openness, the design of this coffee shop is truly something else. For parking, there's plenty of free street parking down the many roads off the roundabout, known as the circle for obvious reasons. From the vault, I always strongly recommend playing around with Play's espresso tonics, especially if they have a natural on bar, like they did with Nomad's Natural Nicaraguan when I went. The tonic water complements and highlights the fruity notes of the espresso more than milk - it's the perfect refreshing and uplifting caffeinated iced beverage. I'll definitely get it again in my next visit whenever I'm in the area! read more
1 year ago
Serving sour coffees. Ordered an $8 cold brew plus an $8 espresso shot. If you're into getting swindled by sour brews this is the place for you. read more
Wouldn't expect a cute coffee shop with how the exterior looks. My boyfriend who works in the area told me it used to be a bank which does explain a lot since there's parts that reminisce once a bank was once there. Decided on the matcha latte and got the 2nd highest quality matcha they offer. Opted for no sugar so I could taste more of the matcha and I liked it! Matcha taste was strong and was very earthy. Staff was also very friendly and insightful on the drinks. Enjoyed the vibes it gave off and love the coffee/tea making area. read more
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Hi, I would like to know if there is any additional charge for a milk alternative?
Do they have wifi?
Yes, the password is on a sign at the counter when ordering your drinks!
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