Coffee is one of the many pastimes of people living in Santa Cruz. There are tens of coffee shops and cafes in every neighborhood in the city. You cannot look for a coffee shop in Santa Cruz and not find one. However, every true coffee enthusiast values the quality of their coffee more than any other thing. If you value your coffee’s quality, you’d not just look for coffee shops in Santa Cruz but the best. In this article, I will show you some of the best coffee shops in Santa Cruz, CA.
10 Best Coffee Shops in Santa Cruz, CA
- 11th Coffee Company
- Shrine Coffee
- Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery
- Coffeetopia
- Cat & Cloud Coffee
- Flower Bar
- The Abbey Coffee Lounge
- Seabreeze Café
- Cafe Brasil
- Verve Coffee Roasters
11th Coffee Company
There are two 11th Coffee Company locations in Santa Cruz. The one I prefer most is the one on Center St. Not that the 11th Coffee Company Westside is bad. In fact, it is also one of the best coffee shops in Santa Cruz.
I just felt since both coffee shops offered basically the same thing, there was no point adding both to the review. There is a considerable amount of space at this coffee shop. Although the queues are often long, you can’t blame the locals for wanting good coffee, 11th Coffee Company does well in handling those long queues.
The outdoor patio is one of the many exciting facts about 11th Coffee Company. This makes 11th Coffee Company one of the cute coffee shops in Santa Cruz. The aesthetics are beautiful and relaxing. Together with the music played in the background, 11th Coffee Company is an ideal spot for relaxation.
Location: 1001 Center St #1, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Monday to Sunday from 7am to 6:30pm
Website: 11th Hour Coffee
Phone: (831) 322-4599
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
Shrine Coffee
Shrine Coffee may fit the description of a modern coffee shop – it does to a fair extent. It is one of the dog friendly coffee shops in Santa Cruz and they’ve got a unique mission selling coffee. Their coffee is top-notch by the way.
Shrine Coffee was founded as a non-profit community coffeehouse, supporting missions in Santa Cruz and other parts of the States. I enjoyed the fountain in the garden. It made the coffee shop exude a unique kind of ambiance, making it a place to relax and unwind.
Location: 544 W Cliff Dr, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Monday to Sunday from 7am to 4pm
Website: shrinecoffee
Phone: (831) 226-1910
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery
Mission Hill Coffee & Creamery is a lively and vibrant coffee shop. This is a coffee shop where you can take the whole family for a treat. They make some of the most amazing ice creams in Santa Cruz and their cookies are also very delicious.
Their inconsistent working hours makes it difficult to keep tabs on when they’d be open or close. You’d have to check their instagram or website to be sure they’re open.
Location: 1101 B Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Monday from 12pm to 7pm; Tuesday from 2pm to 8pm; Wednesday from 12pm to 8pm; Friday from 12pm to 10pm; Saturday from 11am to 10pm; Sunday from 11am to 8pm
Website: Mission Hill Creamery
Phone: (831) 508-0774
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Coffeetopia
Coffeetopia is one of the cool coffee shops in Santa Cruz and I’d give that to them because of a couple of reasons.
First, they’ve got free WiFi. As a digital nomad, nothing for me beats a coffee shop that allows me to work while I enjoy my coffee break. Secondly, Coffeetopia has coffee brews originating from the African continent like the Ethiopian Pour and Mexico. Thirdly, they’ve got a fine selection of bagels and other breakfast options which go well with coffee for the start of the day.
Location: 1723 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Everyday from 7am to 2pm
Website: Coffeetopia
Phone: (831) 425-6583
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
Cat & Cloud Coffee
Cat & Cloud Coffee has two locations in Santa Cruz but the one at Westside is my favorite. They’ve got a full kitchen and offer meal options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The vegan burrito is one of the best burritos in Santa Cruz and there are other amazing pastries at the coffee shop. It has got quite a decent amount of space and many of the locals go there to work as well.
Location: 719 Swift St Suite 56, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: everyday from 6:30am to 3pm
Website: Cat & Cloud
Social Media: Instagram
Flower Bar
Flower Bar is one of the dog friendly coffee shops in Santa Cruz. They’ve got a decent amount of coffee brews and blends but what makes them unique is their flower arrangements.
While they welcome locals to come enjoy coffee and some light bites, Flower Bar offers amazing flower arrangements and delivers them on customers’ requests. The indoor is decorated with flowers which makes for a relaxing atmosphere.
Location: 912 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Everyday from 9am to 5pm
Website: http://flowerbarsantacruz.com/
Phone: (831) 225-0520
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
The Abbey Coffee Lounge
You must have visited lounges before and you know the experience. Instead of a lounge where wine and beer is served, The Abbey coffee shop is home to a variety of coffee blends and brews.
They make specialty coffee such as The Brickhouse latte, The Honey Badger, Dancing Goat, and a handful of other unique coffee brews. It’s an experience unlike any you’ll have in a coffee shop in Santa Cruz. The Abbey Coffee shop makes coffee desirable for all its worth.
Location: 350 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Sunday to Friday from 8am to 2pm
Website: theabbeysc
Phone: (831) 423-4204
Social Media: facebook and Instagram
Seabreeze Café
If you are looking to get breakfast around 9am or 10am, then the Seabreeze Café is an ideal spot for you. Otherwise, I’d recommend coming to get brunch.
Everything offered at the Seabreeze Café is aimed at ensuring people get a hearty meal consisting of light bites and baked goods with delicious coffee.
The coffee shop is not spacious so it can get a little bit busy and crowded but the owners try to make it as comfortable as they can.
Location: 542 Seabright Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Working Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 8am to 2pm; Sunday from 8am to 1pm
Website: Seabreeze Cafe – Santa Cruz, CA
Phone: (831) 427-9713
Cafe Brasil
I always love to visit coffee shops that serve uniqueness. Cafe Brasil is one of the cool coffee shops in Santa Cruz and their Brazilian-themed style is awesome.
The appetizers, salads, coffee, and other food items have Brazilian recipes and if you want to give your taste buds a unique adventure, you should try Cafe Brasil whenever you are in Santa Cruz.
Location: 1410 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Working Hours: Everyday from 8am to 3pm
Website: Cafe Brasil
Phone: (831) 429-1855
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
Verve Coffee Roasters
There are three Verve Coffee Roasters in Santa Cruz but the one on Bronson street is my favorite. The Verve Coffee shop on Bronson street has a beautiful interior decor. It is wooden but looks very modern.
You can easily relax and unwind in this Verve coffee shop while you enjoy the lovely lineup of coffee blends served here.
They’ve got signature coffee products such as the By The Cup Coffee, Quick Cup Coffee, One & One, Missile, and Whalebird Kombucha among others. It is a pretty cool selection.
Location: 104 Bronson St #19, Santa Cruz, CA 95062
Working Hours: Everyday from 7am to 5pm
Website: Verve Coffee Roasters
Phone: (831) 216-4448
Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
FAQs
What are the best coffee shops in Downtown Santa Cruz?
In Downtown Santa Cruz, some of the best coffee shops include 11th Hour Coffee, The Abbey Coffee Lounge, Tabby Cat Cafe, Cafe Delmarette, Verve Coffee Roasters, Cat & Cloud, Shrine Coffee, to mention a few.
Are there good coffee shops to study in Santa Cruz?
If you’re looking for good coffee shops with an ideal environment to study in Santa Cruz, the following are some of the best recommendations: 11th Hour Coffee, The Abbey Coffee Lounge, Santa Cruz Coffee Roasting, Firefly Coffee House and Lulu Carpenter’s.
Are there 24-hour coffee shops in Santa Cruz?
The following are some of the 24-hour coffee shops in Santa Cruz: Ferrell’s Donuts, Riverview Coffee Roasters, 7-Eleven, Dream Inn and Guttermonk Park.
Conclusion
It was quite tasking to compile this list as there are very good coffee shops in Santa Cruz. Nonetheless, the coffee shops reviewed today go beyond the “good” status. Some of them are exceptional and they come highly recommended. What’s your favorite among the coffee shops reviewed?
