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POLL: What coffeehouse is best in Orange County?
July 6th, 2008, 2:00 am · 36 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Starbucks is closing 600 stores over the next several months. While we don’t know of any planned in Orange County, I want you to be prepared in case your neighborhood Starbucks closes.
Remember: Starbucks said the criteria for shuttering stores are underperforming cafes that are in “close proximity” to another Starbucks.
That leaves a ton up for grabs across the U.S. But, I suspect many O.C. cafes are in jeopardy — including former Diedrich Coffee-turned-Green-Giant cafes. (View all O.C. Starbucks via our interactive map.)
So, I ask: do you have a Plan B cafe?
If not, start thinking. To help you out, I’ve listed a few suggestions for you to vote on.
I’ve broken up the POLL into two parts: favorite chain coffee & favorite independent.
For each poll you can write in a favorite. In fact, I insist you do. Make sure write-ins include the location — ex. “Kaffa! in Orange”
The Top winners will be featured later this week on ocregister.com.
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Supposedly, according to a Starbucks employee, the two on 17th St. in Tustin will be ok….my favorite, the one at 17th and Carroll and the drive thru on the other side of the 55 fwy at 17th and Tustin. Whew!
I actually though Starbuck’s had the best coffee until the addition of Pike’s Place. I hate that coffee and the worst part is that you can no longer get a cup of bold coffee in the afternoon.
thought
Starbucks tastes burnt and bitter to me - yuck. I find that Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is sublime, yet quite expensive. Best local is J.C. Beans in Dana Point, off PCH.
I used to make regular trips to Starbucks until I made a fateful trip to Coffee Bean. Their coffee tastes better, and the final product quality is ten times better than any I’ve had at Starbucks. They have 18 million stores because they bullied their way into an attempted monopoly. I’m sorry for the people losing their jobs, but frankly, I’m happy to see 600+ stores closing. Personally I wish it were more.
I’m sick and tired of seeing them open up a new one every two blocks, where there would otherwise be breathing room for different chains that, simply put, just make better coffee. They’re sellouts now who have just lost their touch. Good riddance.
I say “SHOWER WINE-O” To all you coffee freaks that love to bring your stupid laptops and sit in a starbucks like your important cause your wearing a backpack.. I wish the higher ups in starbucks lose their asses…. GOD I FEEL GOOD TODAY…
As an ex starbucks partner I am glad to see them closing stores. As the market grew tighter the income shrunk. Duh! How do they add profit? Cut overhead. Simple buisness 101. First step was to find small things to fire long term mgrs. (7-10 yrs.) for. Sound like Circuit City? Secondly close stores. Too bad some of those people had poured so much time and energy into starbucks that now they are older and will have a hard time finding work in this job market. Sounds more like a story for Frank.
When we moved from OC, the thing we missed 2nd most (after friends) was The Neighborhood Cup. Best Coffee I’ve EVER had. Even better than Cafe Trieste in San Francisco. Every time we make it back down to OC for anything we head over there. Even if we are simply driving through we make the stop off of the freeway well out of our way for it.
The best coffee I ever tasted isn’t in OC. Its in Martinez, GA (near Augusta) at Abbi’s Coffee Mill and Roastery where they roast their own beans and give the new bean creations a special name. If you ever want to try it http://www.abbiscoffeemill.com or go in person. You’ll never want to try another place.
Starbucks over-roasts their beans. Only those used to drinking coffee from burnt beans and kids like that place. Coffee at Shell gas stations and McDonald’s is better the that.
Best coffee I’ve ever had was from Kona. They have the beans still green and roast them however you want.
what about Chevron coffee??
Starbucks blows. The only time, and I mean the only time we enter a Starbucks is when some aloof person gives us a gift certificate. And even when we use it, more times than not we buy a hot chocolate for ourselves because the coffee sux.
If you want great coffee, brew it yourself using a press and beans from Cafe Britt out of Costa Rica. The Tres Rios and Paos beans are the best. This stuff makes Starbucks out to be the amateurs that they are.
I laugh in the general direction of anyone associated with Starbucks. As always, you get what you deserve in the end.
while i like coffee bean, they are turning into the new starbucks, with stores popping up everywhere. there is one in mainplace mall, and a new one directly across the street from the mall, within walking distance.
So what the naming of Ugly Mug to Ugly Muc on purpose?
Also are they a chain as well?
Does anyone know of an alternative to starbucks in the East Fullerton area?
The best coffee is Tierra Mia Coffee in South Gate……Once you have your 1st sip you’re hooked!..The closest thing to it in OC is Kean Coffee in Newport Beach.
The Grove in Villa Park uses foam cups and charges Starbucks prices for gross coffee.
The Coffee Bean is good, but I hate having to repeat my order….Need better training.
incase you guys don’t know about Peets..it’s friggn’ great coffee!!!
Cafe Lu ????????? hahahaha ppl dont go there for coffee … like you go to Hooters for great burgers …. lol
to mommy- there is a coffee bean in fullerton on harbor and orangethorpe
The best coffee near me is the coffee I make at home. Try some of the brands at Trader Joe’s, I like the whole bean French Roast. The best coffee I’ve ever had was in Costa Rica though.
I vote for the Lost Bean in Tustin. Very good drip coffee.
Peet’s is good, but the way they’ve been able to grow their business rubs me the wrong way. They benefited from that taxpayer funded organization that you featured in the Register not too long ago. Basically, taxpayers paid for their brand new gigantic roasting facility in Emeryville, CA. Because of this new taxpayer funded roasting facility they have been able to grow their business rapidly. Look it up, there as an article in this paper about it not too long ago.
As for Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, if you’re against Starbucks’ size, how can you honestly like Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf then? They aren’t much smaller around here and they are just as corporate.
good coffee in orange county? haha.
Javatini’s in Seal Beach by far!
Javatini’s isn’t bad. There is one on Sunflower and Main in Santa Ana. Also in downtown Seal Beach. But if I go to Seal Beach I’ll get coffee at Bogarts.
I’m actually disgusted that people are upset and worried about the Starbucks that are closing. They’re coffee is nasty and overpriced. I like to taste coffee when I drink coffee, not burnt beans, sugar, caramel, chocolate, or any other crap they put in it.
try looking for coffee from the philippines. they are 100 percent better than starbucks. you can find them in most filipino stores like island pacific.
The Lost Bean is great! They serve organic coffee and teas, and the owners are really environmentally conscious. I interviewed them once for a magazine story and they seemed genuinely concerned about their environmental footprint and wanted to set an example for other businesses - that you can be a profitable, successful company and remain environmentally conscious at the same time. Plus, they gave me free tea, which was delicious.
they gave you free product and knew you were doing an interview? i imagine this happens all the time in ‘journalism’ but i don’t see how that benefits the readers.
i agree that they seem environmentally conscious. and their coffee is great for sure, but what’s with all the halogen lighting? the place isn’t that big and there’s a grip of halogen lighting in that tiny space. that doesn’t seem too environmentally conscious to me.
Why go to the big guys when there’s such great talent locally? Time to get back to the local shops! If you want to see a real coffee house is all about check out Kean in NB! Martin Diedrich actually owns the shop and can usually be found shovelling beans into the roaster! Yes he’s the coffee icon that started OC’s original coffeehouse chain before the guys from out of town invaded. Another maverick is Polly’s in Belmont shores. Run by someone who also roasts his own coffee, a Sheldrake brother of the famous Polly’s Pies family. He supplies their coffee too.
nick,
They gave me a sample of their product, which is…really common for journalists. I don’t see how that’s even relevant (??). I didn’t give them a positive review because they gave me free stuff - like you said, their coffee is great.
I didn’t notice an overuse of halogen lighting when I went, but the only times I’ve been were in the day, so I would have to check it out when it’s not so bright naturally.
you don’t see how getting free product as a journalist getting paid to review their product is relevant? uh, ok. so now we know what part of the problem with journalism is today. wow.
It was for a lifestyle magazine. Lighten up, it’s a coffee shop, dude!
Sorry, folks, I love Starbucks - probably am addicted at 2 visits a day!!!! However, due to the cost, I am cutting back to 1 visit every 1-2 days. I do have a coffee delivery at home every 4 weeks and that is by far THE BEST! Anyone ever try Gevalia? They have tons of flavors, including seasonal and specialty, teas, hot chocolates - the works. And you can set up automatic delivery every 4, 6 or 8 weeks. It’s great and the coffee fantastic. What better way to enjoy your coffee than at home, in your PJ’s!
The BEST indie coffee house hands down was Symphony Cafe in Chino, CA. They created some of the best “frappucinos” way before Star*ucks stores even had a blender. I am glad to see the potential collapse of the Star*ucks chain. It’s should be about the indies and their warmth and genuine customer service. The people at Symphony Cafe were a first class act in a world of mediocrity. Support your dear local coffee house and stop living your lives like cattles.
The Best Coffee house is up in LA…LAMILL Coffee Boutique on Silver Lake Blvd. The tiramasu coffee is to die for….I’m still dreaming of that coffee. All their coffee is made FRESH when you order it. The BEST!!! Try their siphoned coffee too. But if you need a GREAT coffee closer to home…OC…PEET’s is the BEST!!!