Brewing Sobriety
A Coffee Explorer’s Sober Journey through Orange County’s cafes
By Jess Shaw (she/they)
an aero-press-fellow-gooseneck-fresh-ground coffee cafe explorer.
I go to a new, non-chain/non-“big name” (Orange County & surrounding) coffee shop every weekend. This started in 2021 after getting sober on November 1, 2020 (3 years ago!). Staying in, in 2020, with my driving anxiety and growing agoraphobia was easy. Covid hit and for almost a year I went to (2) two places: the grocery store and my mailbox. Drinking got bad, out of boredom or trauma and I had enough of being numb…I quit!
I told myself with 2021 around the corner and some Covid restrictions settling, I would mask up, drive, get out of the house, and go to one (1) new cafe every weekend while I worked from home and recovered. I'm always on the hunt for a good lattee, a seasonal beverage, taste, quality, and/or an experience/themed coffee shop. If you know of one not listed here, please let me know.
Bistro K: Best Cafe in South County OC | Good for large and small (or solo) groups | great restaurant.
Bistro K is off of Crown Valley, in Laguna Niguel - South County OC
After a co-worker recommended Bistro K, I finally found the best coffee in Orange County. Bistro K has been in business for 24+/- years. And, they're not in a spot with cheap rent or a great location for a wide population - yet, this one is worth the trip down Crown Valley Parkway - I promise you!
Tip: I get my latte 50% vanilla and 50% hazelnut. I recommend this combination and their lattes greatly. Don’t skip a breakfast, meal, or a cookie. You gotta try one food item.
They have a cozy atmosphere with sophistication and charm, but not a lot of seats inside - it can look small, but it’s also a local favorite spot. I like to enjoy my coffee out on their patio in the early mornings before I go to work. My favorite meal is the Healthy Fair breakfast; I feel like a local, every time I am there waiting at 9 am for opening - waiting with the regulars.
They have excellent service and moderate pricing. You get fresh food with a high quality of service. Their cookies are - to die for - and my co-workers and I cannot get enough.
Coffee Dose: A Vibe | Cute, Modern Aesthetic | good coffee | Amazing Employees!
The Coffee Dose I love most is in Rodeo 13 Market in Stanton - All over OC
This place looks like what Instagram itself (or an AI run by IG) would make if it were told to make a coffee spot that is trendy and cute. Pink and green checkered, smiley faces, they are proud. “Not your grandma’s coffee shop”. Touting a blend titled, “Anti-Bitch” and selling stickers and merch that is for “hot girls” and “Anti-bitch serum” or “Anti-bitch club” this place in in-your-face-takes-no-shit, gam gam can wait in the car or be baddie herself if she comes in and visits your local coffee dealer. It is - as those kids are no longer saying - a vibe.
This isn’t just your basic “boss bitch” aesthetic with some caffeine added. Aesthetically decorated coffee addicts and dealers, Coffee Dose offers coffee and comedy. I have (2) two stickers on the inside driver window of my car to remind me daily to take my “anti-bitch” pills (SSRIs) and a mirror shape stating that I need to, “Stop selling yourself short bitch”. Of course, this reminds me, often that I “need to know [my] worth and then add tax” (to whom I am unsure how to correctly credit, but am ever thankful). The aesthetic of most locations is so bright and pastel pink at the same time that I am only upset that Barbie didn’t get a coffee here in the movie. Honestly, a missed opportunity.
Tip: The U-bae Bae Mochi waffles are a dream come true and almost prettier than Coffee Dose itself. Bonus, at Rodeo 39 if you get the Lavender sweet cream for only a buck more.
Their RX Lattes are always a great flavor and mix of healthy ingredients, like matcha,
charcoal, turmeric, lavender, and more! I always get my waffles and an RX. They offer
herbal, hot, and iced teas, perfect for the heat in Southern California summers. Their syrups are also housemade and bring delight to any iced something with oat milk that one heart can ever desire. As a fellow “slut for coffee,” Coffee Dose has me hooked.
Phin Smith: Underrated | WOW! | Good prices | Great Coffee
Garden Grove ~ DownTown +When I visited, it was a farmer’s market day - North County
Phin Smith is the unsung hero of OC coffee. Bold. Vietnamese. Local to those in North County OC. This location earns bonus points for taking the traditional - slow down - and enjoy coffee - pace that exists within many Vietnamese cultures and groups. Phin Smith says, “Stay a while and take the time to enjoy your coffee”. They want to find you a perfect cup; they also invite you to enjoy the moment along with your drink. If you have not been here, you are sleeping on a great spot for a damn good Vietnamese coffee.
I asked my network and friends to recommend coffee shops for me and - Kat O. you outdid them all! This was the best coffee shop out of all the recommendations that I received. The downtown Garden Grove area has much to offer, so if you want to enjoy more than just a cup and the caffeine of that Vietnamese coffee kicks in, you have a lot to do in the area. Support local and smaller brewers!
Tip: Do not miss this one on your next trip to the farmer’s market!
Kean Coffee Artisan Roasters: Best Coffee | Busy, but cute atmosphere | Not too expensive
The kean’s I go to is in Tustin off of Newport - Second location in Newport Beach.
Some other coffee spots on this list use Kean’s beans for their drinks and this just speaks to their quality. No shade in other cafes but I get it, you get it, we all get it.
Formerly of Diedrich Coffee, the owner returned to his micro-roaster roots and opened a
smaller, independent coffee shop. I love that Kean’s takes pride in a good roast, and their quality beans, and sells pour-over methods and Aeropress methods in the shop. This makes my Fellow-stagg-brew-at-home-Aeropress heart very happy.
Tip: The Caffe Napoli (a latte with hazelnut and white chocolate) is to die for. It is also the inspiration for why I ask for half (50%) hazelnut and half (50%) vanilla at most other coffee shops when I can.
Kean offers some of the best methods of brewing and serving, notable are the Turkish coffee, Affogato or Espresso Con Panna, Mayan Spiced Mocha or Hot Chocolate, and their Tumeric Lattee.
The only con that I can come up with here, is that the seating in Tustin is lacking and their popularity makes it difficult to find a good place to sit with a friend. You are either waiting or having to go somewhere else - I prefer a walk back to the library or park nearby. You can drive to Old Town Tustin easily when you pick up your Kean’s coffee. I have never waited to long in line or for my pick up.
Requiem Coffee Tea & Fantasy: THEMED | fun & friends | LGBTQIA2s + | Nerdy
Requiem: Coffee, Tea, and Fantasy in DT Anaheim - by Disneyland
Now, have I been to Requiem - before 2020? YES! Does it fit the category here? No? But, I wouldn’t have a list of must-visit coffee spots without this one. So, hear me out…
I have played there, gamed there, bought TCGs (Trading Card Games), brought my out-of-state aunt there, won a Jackbox tournament, had countless first dates, wrote my MA thesis there, and tapped into the spark of what it was like to be a kid - when stuff was just so exciting and fun - all over again, so… it stays on my list. [This is a hill I will die on.]
Aside: I hear LoFi Zelda or Ghibli every time I picture the cafe.
This place is the Legend of Coffee, turned Final Fan-tea-see(?), fairy/cottage garden of cosplaying-nerdy, sci-fi, fantasy, TCG, plushie, and Dungeons & Dragons cave of wonders. I have been to Beetlejuice brunch and themed celebrations: waiting for episodes of new shows, and seen many people cosplay there. When conventions are expensive and far - and not 24/7, just go check out the pastel and ever-queer nerdy realm of coffee, tea, and treats.
I want to be fair in my review: their coffee is sometimes really great (Pumpkin King: seasonal) and sometimes just okay. Their tea and lemonade are good too. I have tried a few different dishes there and I love the idea of how much passion, nerdery, and love go into all of their designs. There is no one item I would insist you try there; they do have something for everyone. I am there time and time again for a decent coffee and an incredible experience. I love the space they have created and the community that follows. Besides, you can get a zine or a pair of socks from a vending machine there and you are both close to Disney and the Anaheim Public Library (of Zinefest and Anacon fame).
Tip: Order something seasonal or different and go to eco now across the street and Rare Thrift just beyond the skating rink for a full experience of DT Anaheim and you will not be disappointed.
Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders: Best Quality Roast | Roasts their own beans | Sells Wholesale
I frequent (3) three locations: Lake Forest, Orange, and Placentia- All over OC
Ah, we have arrived: Bodhi, I love you! Like Kean, I have been to other, local cafes brewing Bodhi Leaf beans I mean, I would too! They offer unroasted beans, from the warehouse to those who are roasting their many available beans for other cafes in the area - these may also be at-home roasters too. Bonus: Bodhi offers home roasting equipment, brewing guides, and in-store classes.
Bodhi Leaf Coffee Roasters imports, roasts, and brews the perfect beans. With weekly specials and rotating roasts, Bodhi makes for a perfect match. I suggest the Ethiopian or Kenyan bean or roast if you like a fruity blend or their Guatemalan if you are a chocoholic.
Tip: I prefer a pour-over with room or a simple vanilla latte at Bodhi as the true flavor is in the bean - not what you add to their brew.
The Orange (Katella) and Placentia locations (close to CSUF) are both large enough to never run out of seating. The Orange location is a great place to meet friends for a chat and chill. The Placentia location offers many outlets and is the perfect spot to do your homework, study group, or whatever you do that needs charging and a good coffee.
