Get your coffee on: SoCal Edition

Is there anything that a caffeinated beverage cannot cure? Exhausted from a late night? An espresso over ice will revitalize you. Need an afternoon pick-me-up? Get that iced matcha. Heading to the beach? This calls for a dirty soda or sweet iced tea.

I’m somewhat of a coffee connoisseur. In case you’re curious about my credentials, I was a barista for two years. I also make it my life’s mission to try any cute coffee shop I come across. Sure, the chain spots are always nice, but we all know the best drinks come from an exclusive location or small business. There is something about kicking off your day with a cute, girly beverage in your hand. And lately, it can be hard to sort through all of the trending spots that pop up on your Instagram feed or Tik Tok For You Page. Luckily, I have curated a list of the trendy spots that are actually worth visiting.

So from one addict to another; let’s break down my favorite coffee spots from pricing, atmosphere and drink options.

Located in Costa Mesa, Calif., this coffee shop was everywhere - Instagram, Tik Tok, you name it. Country-western meets California coastal inside this quaint coffee shop. However, there’s nothing quaint about the prices or the wait time.

My best friend and I were influenced after seeing this shop pop up on our phones enough times and decided to try it for ourselves. When we arrived, there was a line of people waiting circling around the block; a great sign for business, but a moment of doom for us. Nevertheless, we waited almost 30 minutes to place our order, which was not the worst thing because it allowed us to take in the coffee’s unique atmosphere.

The outside patio is just small enough to feel cozy, lined with plants to make you feel like you are in your own personal garden rather than a public coffee hot spot. The space was filled with warmth and connectivity as old friends conversed and couples smiled at each other, enjoying their morning coffee and brunch. I was surprised to see people working remotely and/or studying considering the noise levels, but I also thrive in loud environments so I understood the appeal.

Now for the moment of truth: our orders. My best friend got the Hawaiian Cowboy, which is a double shot of espresso with Hawaiian honey and maple syrup. I got the Classic Cowgirl Matcha, a traditional ceremonial blend with earthy undertones, but I added brown sugar foam to top it off. Those two drinks totaled a whopping $19.45. Both of our drinks came in 12- ounce cups, not the signature house cups with the “Salty Horse” text on it. We were not sure if they had run out or sure about the sizes of the original cups. We heard another guest ask about sizes, to which the barista answered with a polite smile, “We only have one size.”

However, when in Orange County, you can expect to pay a hefty penny for coffee, regardless of size options. As the saying goes, “You’re paying for the atmosphere.” I just wished my atmosphere came with a larger sized coffee.

However, the flavor made the price worthwhile in both of the drinks. The Hawaiian Cowboy was a perfect blend of sweetness and that rich coffee flavor, while the brown sugar foam served as the perfect contrast to the earthy taste of the Classic Cowgirl Matcha. Would I go back? Yes, but only during payday. The atmosphere, food and drinks make it worthwhile, but be prepared for those prices.

A personal favorite of mine because of how local it is for me, this Diamond Bar-based coffee spot serves one of the best blends of matcha. The perfect study or work spot if you can focus in loud environments, Outpost Coffee offers traditionally grounded coffee for those who like to keep it classic and fun, seasonal drinks for those who like to experiment (guilty).

Take the seasonal Jasmine Matcha Latte for example, which was part of the shop’s spring menu. This drink is infused with a floral aftertaste, so it doesn’t overpower the taste of the ceremonial matcha blend. Without fail, every matcha I get from Outpost Coffee is so smooth and is the perfect shade of green. Matcha lovers; we all know the shade can make or break matcha lattes.

Their Caramel Banana Latte has become an unexpected favorite of mine. I’m not a big fan of banana flavoring, but I love the actual fruit. However, this particular drink is missing that artificial flavor that usually turns me off from banana flavors. This signature drink tastes like a summer day - warm sunlight kissing my skin, the sound of the ocean waves in the background, all accompanied by a high UV as I work on my summer tan. With a reasonable price of $6.75, I always recommend the Caramel Banana Latte to family and friends.

Faith meets Barbie-inspired girlhood in Thirsty Girl Coffee. Thirsty Girl has two locations, one in Pomona and one in Montclair. The Pomona location is one of my favorite spots to visit when my friends and I want a coffee to top off our yapping sessions.

The shop is the epitome of a soft-girl era, with dainty, pink interiors accented with flower-covered walls and neon signs of Bible verses. As a young woman who was raised Catholic, I love that the shop is heavily influenced by religion without losing its fun, modern touch.

The menu is my favorite. The shop plays on pop culture trends. When “Barbie” was released in 2023, the shop’s menu was altered to draw inspiration from the movie. Now, it focuses on fun, playful names for popular, sugary drinks. She’s Basic is one of the shop’s staples; a white mocha with caramel drizzle, topped with sweet vanilla cold foam. While this drink is popular anywhere, the playful nickname can only be found at Thirsty Girl.

She’s Salty is one of my favorites, which is a mocha latte with toffee nut, caramel drizzle and salt. Drinks range from $5 to $7, which I would say is rather reasonable compared to other locations on my list. Factor in such a girl-coded atmosphere and you have one of my all-time favorite coffee spots.

Another Pomona-based coffee shop, Wish You Were Here (WYWH) Coffee Roasters is especially unique because it also serves as a pub.

The space transforms into a taproom/cocktail lounge on evenings between Wednesday and Friday, with hours varying. Not only is it a cozy daytime hangout, it also provides the perfect spot for catching up with friends or wanting a taste of local night life. What other spot can you chase a delicious cocktail with a smooth matcha latte?

I especially love this spot during the fall and winter. The menu gets a seasonal makeover. I’ve gone back multiple times to get the maple pumpkin latte in fall. Is it simple? Yes. But does it ever fail? Absolutely not. This spot is a complete 180 from the other Pomona location on this list. With dimly lit lighting and a darker color palette, this space feels like a cozy nook. I could read a book for hours at WWYH.

For those who know me personally, you know why this coffee shop is at the top of my list. For those who are new here: Hi, my name is Taylor and I am the biggest horror movie buff you will ever meet. Located in North Hollywood, Horror Vibes Coffee brings the Halloween vibes all-year-round.

Every single item from the menu draws inspiration from the entire horror genre, beginning with the black-and-white, Universal classic films such as Frankenstein’s Latte, a pistachio latte, or Dr. Pepper & Mr. Hyde, a Pepsi-espresso mix with black cherry and vanilla.

My boyfriend loved the Call of Cthulhu-Ube, aka an ube cream matcha latte. It was his first time trying Ube in a matcha and ever since October 2025, he has been hooked. We went before our Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights date night, so I naturally had to get the Candy Man, a honey white mocha latte with caramel drizzle and cinnamon. The flavors of the honey and white mocha provided just the right balance with the espresso.

Being that we so rarely venture to Los Angeles, unless we are visiting Universal Studios Hollywood, my boyfriend and I agreed that we are starting a new tradition to visit Horror Vibes Coffee to kickoff our annual Horror Nights date night. I genuinely cannot say which I am more excited for - the Sinners maze or trying new drinks from Horror Vibes’ menu. I guess we will have to wait and see.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Vivot has some of the best matchas I have ever had. This cozy shop in Fullerton offers several flavors and ceremonial blends for matcha enthusiasts. For those further in OC, there is a second location in Mission Viejo.

The best item on the menu is their Matcha Flight. The first time I ever went was with my nail technician, who is equally obsessed with matcha. A single drink costs $6.95, while a flight of four matchas costs $18.99. As the saying goes, “It’s more economical to do a bottle of wine than three glasses.”

The Fruit Matcha Flight offers your choice of milk and several house flavors: strawberry, banana, mango, blueberry lavender, blueberry and peach, as well as seasonal options. Since we visited this shop in the spring, the seasonal flavor was lychee, so we opted for the lychee matcha, blueberry lavender, strawberry and peach. The blueberry lavender matcha was hands-down my favorite of the four, while my nail tech preferred the lychee because of how refreshing it was. To this day, I am adamant that no other place matches Vivot’s blueberry lavender flavoring.

The shop is a blend of minimalistic and biophilic design; a breath of fresh air in downtown Fullerton. The best part about this spot? It closes at 11 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and closes at midnight on Thursdays through Saturdays. I have gone before for an evening matcha and there is nothing sweeter. With all the abundant night life overflowing in Fullerton, this spot is the perfect debrief after dancing at the club or having some drinks with friends.

I cannot name the amount of times I have stopped at Coffee Dose in Costa Mesa before work and I have only been at my job for a little over five months. There are four locations, plus a new one coming to Encinitas: The Dose in a Box in Irvine, Microdose Drive Thru off Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa, the Clubhouse Laguna Hills and, finally, the Flagship Costa Mesa. The latter is my hotspot.

The tone is set immediately upon entry, with a sign in the doorway reading, “If you don’t have a sense of humor, maybe try Starbucks.” At the register, another sign greets you with, “You better work, bitch. Somewhere else because we don’t have WiFi.”

The drinks are split into three categories: Anti Bitch Serum, The Basic Bitch and Not Coffee. The menu cheekily classifies the first category as, “The lattes you probably saw on Instagram.” The $8 Bananarama is a brown sugar latte made with your choice of espresso or matcha, whole milk and house made sweet cream. The $7.50 Mary Matcha, my personal favorite, is a ceremonial matcha latte infused with house made lavender syrup and raw almond milk.

The second category is made up of the alternating seasonal menu and the year-round iced vanilla latte with whole milk and house made vanilla bean syrup topped with fresh vanilla sweet cream. The third and final category features iced teas and lemonades.

Coffee Dose also offers you the option to “Level Up” to a cocktail, house wine or mocktail. This location is the perfect spot for a yap session, either over a morning matcha or an evening cocktail.

Daydream is a five-minute walk from my work and feels like its name sake after my hour-a-half commute. This coastal-themed location fuses together a cafe and a cozy coffee shop. Based in Newport, Calif., my go-to is the Rose Cardamom Latte, either with espresso or ceremonial matcha. The floral aftertaste blends perfectly with either.

I had no clue what cardamom was before ordering, so do not feel bad if it sounds unfamiliar. Cardamom is an aromatic spice closely related to ginger, known for its warm, sweet and citrusy flavor profile. In other words, this drink is an explosion of flavor.

While you wait for your drink, enjoy the shop’s photo booth, surfboard display or shop for the latest beachwear and accessories. Daydream is a go-to spot during my lunch or ten-minute break. The best part is that this spot is never as crowded as the other locations on this list, making it feel like a relaxing excursion rather than a chore, as getting a beverage should feel.

There is an unspoken rule that if you are going to a beach in Laguna, then you have to stop at Laguna Coffee Company. Who made that rule? Yours truly and I strictly enforce it.

While the drink menu is more simple than others on this list, do not be fooled. Sometimes simplicity is the key. This shop’s iced white mocha latte is so smooth and perfectly balanced, while the sweet matcha keeps the sweetness muted so as to not overpower the earthy matcha flavor. My best friend raved about the berry smoothie she got. Her and I constantly talk about how cute this spot is, yet we each live an hour away from it.

The prices are amazing for Laguna standards, with drinks ranging from $3 to $8, with the drip coffee on the lower price end and the kombucha on the higher one. I love how the menu offers such a wide variety for beachgoers, locals and tourists. This quaint, cozy location is a critical pit stop on your way to the beach.

Need beach recommendations? Check out my previous article on the top five beaches across Southern California.

Taylor Moore can be reached at bytaylormoore@gmail.com.