Portola Coffee Roasters

The coffee is undoubtedly delicious. I ordered the 12 hour cold coffee drip with geisha coffee. It was $ 12 (apparently a rare type and seasonal) it was a perfectly balanced cup of iced coffee — you can really taste the flavor of the geisha beans! but I doubt I’d pay for it again. I also got to try the mocha — you can really taste the quality in the chocolate and it Marries well with their espresso. The only downside to this particular location is that they are really slow. I can understand that anything of good quality takes time but we must have waited at least 20 minutes for two cups and that doesn’t even include the time we waited in line to order our coffee.

I would give 3 ½ stars
I’ve been coming here for years but honestly now it is just all hype. I guess the roasters of the year got to them or something because it is not what it use to be.
The coffee here is good no complaints about that but I use to come here for their chai lattes which had that pungent gingery taste and their hot chocolate which was good but last time I went they were extremely milky. the ratios were way off so I said something about it to the barista. It looked like I insulted him with my complaint although I would believe that «the customer is always right» but I guess I am just crazy. After a couple words and somewhat new drinks the guy told us «next time just make sure to ask for extra chai and chocolate» He made my day with his unnecessary remark.
I don’t want to say they are all pretentious but I don’t know, let’s just hope it gets better

First time there.
Great experience. Prefect latte. Nice attitudes. Looks like they love the work and it show to the outside.

Nice cup of flat white latte with fancy foam design. Love it! They don’t put milk or sweetener out, so you’d better ask for it when ordering.

Well brewed coffee in a well-​designed and decorated industrial space — what’s there not to love?
I am a fan of their Mocha. I’ve tried it once, and have never looked back since. It is the perfect blend of deep, bold chocolate with a slight sweetness and velvety texture. The espresso is well-​balanced throughout the drink. I would give this review a 5 star if it was solely for the Mocha!
There are two things that Portola can improve on. Firstly, their customer service. Their baristas seem to always be fooling around. I think it’s great to create a fun, environment to work in. However, when the dozens of dudes behind the counter start treating this business like a place to be aloof and act like college jocks, the quality of the place starts to suffer.
Secondly…their internet! I understand that there are many people on their bandwidth at one moment in time — the slow internet does not bug me as much since I utilize my hotspot when I’m here. However, when your music (that I assume is being streamed) keeps cutting in and out… I think that’s sign to upgrade your internet!
Overall, will always be back for a Mocha. If I want to get work done, I’ll head over to the location in Tustin — that place is much more conducive to coffee shop hanging.

This morning I happen to be around the area and I was in need of good premium cold lattes to get through the warm weather. So I found Portola Coffee Lab here in this part of Costa Mesa.
Its not my the first time trying out Portola, I’ve gone to their other branch in Tustin and I really like the Vanilla lattes, that has been my go to choice. So giving this location a shot shouldn’t hurt much, and of course I expect it to be the same. Well, sort of?
The good part is it does still holds up to it being rich, milky, flavorful and good quality, that’s what I’m accustomed too. I was puzzled that my iced coffee was not filled to the top? I can understand if I was told there’s leeway for me to add milk, If that’s the case I don’t need to add milk or sugar, it’s good as it is. Maybe the barista was afraid to fill to the top that it may cause an overspill? but who does that? It was half an inch of space between the coffee and lid. I paid $ 4.50 for this and Portola is known to serve iced coffees in one size.
The service here was okay, there were three guys working and there was a line but I felt they could’ve worked a little faster.
The location is good, modern and hip. I find that there is more seating here around the coffee stand and it’s inside the OC Mix with other boutique shops. Around 9 a.m. parking is easy here because the neighboring stores are not open that early.

Loved the location. Best for those who are in the process of redesigning their home because it’s located in the home décor plaza of middle to high end designs. You can shop here for hours and when you’re tired, come here to Portola and get yourself a cup of flat white or flat brown.
I was skeptic of the place at first from the line because it’s easily seen as a mere hype, but you’d be pleasantly surprised after you order because their coffee is pretty strong and smooth.
They have big quality machines, with superb service, about 4 – 5 people working inside to ensure that the lines go fast and yet you get the quality of coffee you deserve.
Flat white and flat brown is a European lingo which basically translate to Americana with milk (heavy with flat white) or (mild with flat brown). It’s not strong like the regular cappuccino but tasty enough for you to smoothly sip it through the day. The only difference I noticed from the flat brown is that they include mocha, which I’m not a fan of, but great for those who enjoy their coffee with a hint of chocolate.

So here’s the deal with this place. It’s Portola Coffee Lab. This comes with some baggage. It’s always busy – there’s never not been a substantial line when I’ve come here. Additionally, though the coffee does come out quickly, finding a good seat nearby can be trouble. It also is a little pricey. The sizes are fairly small, so you’re paying for quality much more than quantity.
That being said, it’s Portola Coffee Lab. The coffee is great. The pastries are good. The baristas are attractive and friendly and knowledgable and skilled. It’s at the OC Mix, so there are cool places all around it. There’s even free valet parking sometimes.
The coffee is sweet, well-​roasted, and complex. No burned beans here. I tried the flat brown today and It was really great – tons of flavor packed in a short paper cup.
It’s a little hard to find stores at the OC Mix, so here’s a tip. The easiest way to get to it is to go «between» the two main buildings; then look for the little wooden sign on the wall. It’s not super clearly marked other than the sign, so keep your eyes out.
Come here for good coffee. You’ll enjoy it.

OMG I could not find this coffee shop for the life of me! I was in a rush on a weekday right before work, and saw that this place was nearby, so I decided to drive over and grab a cup of coffee. Well I couldn’t find it at first! So I called them to ask where exactly they were, in which the guy who picked up was not helpful at all!
Directions: once in the shopping center, the coffee stand is inside the OC Mixer, on the left hand side of the shopping center, if you are facing where the 405 is.
Coffee, chocolate croissant, and almond croissant were all delicious though! Just don’t call them for directions cuz the guy gave terrible directions.

My favorite coffee shop in Orange County by far! I haven’t found a shop I like more, even in San Francisco. It is conveniently located in the OC Mix and there is plenty of seating. Even though the coffee comes out pretty fast, you know that it’s made right and with lots of care.
I enjoy all of their drinks, but I recommend sticking with their coffees. I particularly enjoy the flat brown, which is great if you enjoy a subtle sweetness in your coffee. If you don’t care for sweetness, I recommend the flat white. The chai tea is good for those of you that don’t care for coffee, but want something warm to drink. I’ve had the Kyoto cold drip, but that’s too bitter for me. What can I say? I like my coffee strong and relatively sweet, but that’s probably because I grew up drinking so much Vietnamese coffee.
In any case, Portola is super popular for good reason. I’ll be coming back here for years to come.

I feel indifferent about Portola.
I came here alone last Saturday hoping that it wouldn’t be busy after lunchtime, but who was I trying to fool, it was packed. Therefore, the wait to order for coffee was long and the wait to finally get your coffee was even longer. They also shout out your name, but can be hard to hear and maneuver around a tight space with hot coffee in your hand. (I wish the pick-​up area was located closer to the open area vs. the inner corner area of the bar).
I am not a «coffee guru.» I have zero knowledge of the difference between the beans from Starbucks, Petes, Stumptown, Coffee Bean, etc… I am just addicted to caffeine and know which black coffee I don’t like based on a few qualifies.
DRIP COFFEE rating, in terms of: (1 – 10. From least to most)
* BITTER taste — ⁵⁄₁₀
* SWEET taste — ⁶⁄₁₀
* BURNT taste — ⁰⁄₁₀
* FRUITY taste — ²⁄₁₀
* CAFFEINE level — ⁵⁄₁₀
Just some of my personal opinions of the drip or black coffee. If I were to come back to this location, I would try a latte or some other drink.
Also, Portola is definitely not an ideal place to get work done, as it is located in an open market. But the set-​up and the décor of the space is really cool and vintage-​y. It’s a fun place to be and cool watching the baristas make your coffee in front of you.

Came to check this out since a few Unilocalers come here a lot. It’s located inside the OC Mix. It’s a little small area with a few tables near by to sit. Mostly servicing coffee and little bites I actually don’t drink coffee other than a mocha or latte once in a while they had hot chocolate which I got and it was good not sweet at all. Overall a nice place to grab coffee and chill.

Amazing coffee.
The plaza is usually packed when I come on the weekends, but it’s a great place to grab some coffee and to get work done when you need to get outside of the house. I love the environment of this area, it’s refreshing and nice to be away from coffee shops that are right next to campus.
I don’t know a whole lot about coffee, but I drink enough of it to know what quality coffee is. I usually stick to a cold brew, but if I’m craving something sweet I’ll grab a vanilla latte. The cashier is always nice, and the baristas seem to really love what they’re doing.
Pros:
— Quality coffee
— Great work environment
Cons:
— Long lines, long wait
— Only one restroom nearby (always seems to be occupied)
Definitely recommend Portola!

Truly a coffee lab.
I’ve been coming for about four years or so, they are consistent in their services and roasting as well as with their different brewing methods. You can always count in Portola Coffee Lab for great brew!
The location is perfect, in the middle of a fairly new and super hip shopping mall that has amazing gourmet things that your normally wouldn’t find elsewhere.

I absolutely love portola! It’s my go to coffee. And if I’m ever dissatisfied or unhappy about whatever I ordered, they’ll happily make a new one for you. The coffee shop is located inside the OC Mix, and in there, you’ll find a lot of neat little shops and plenty of open space to either work or catch up with friends. There’s plenty of parking outside, and once in a while, there will be valet, which I think is unnecessary. The coffee itself is great. Great customer service, and the staff they have there is amazing!

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE drinking coffee and working on my mac or reading a book, and I’m ALWAYS on the hunt for new coffee places, but Portola is not worth 5 stars. Why? The pretentious company culture, the wait, and the overrated coffee.
I got the flat brown in a 6 oz. mug for about $ 4. I was in line with like 10 other people and it took forever to order. Let’s say that takes 10 minutes, 1 minute per person. After ordering, waiting for your drink adds another 5 – 10 minutes. In total, to order one drink from Portola at 10am (on a WEEKDAY), it takes a whopping 20 minutes. So if you are in a rush (and want more for your money) I suggest you get coffee somewhere else. Portola isn’t the only coffee roaster in the OC. If you’re looking for special flavors like salted caramel mocha or white chocolate mocha, you won’t find it here. Their menu is pretty basic.
Now for the coffee itself, the flat brown consisted of chocolate ganache, espresso, steamed milk and a little foam. If you like mocha lattes you will like it, its the perfect blend of chocolate and coffee. I have no complaints about the flat brown, it had the right amount of coffee to chocolate that made it neither bitter nor sweet. My problem is why it came in a 6 oz mug. 8 oz is a standard cup size and I feel cheated.
The location is pretty rad, there’s a bunch of artisan shops with glass walls, you can walk around and window shop if they aren’t open. There’s little restaurants and a bar. Its by the 405 freeway which is convenient. Overall the place is great, its just hard to find a reason to return when you’ve had better coffee and faster service elsewhere.

A friend recommended this place for us to try so when we were in the area, we decided to give it a try. The place was definitely fancy and looked polished. Everything screamed high quality .
My friend got the Kyoto Cold Drip, my other friend got the pour over, and I settled with a latte. While the technique is superb and can definitely bring out a different view on coffee, I can’t say that I am a fan of the coffee beans that they use. The coffee bean that they used, which was Heza for the Kyoto Cold drip, was too acidic. The coffee, with a tea-​like finish, was tangy.
Even for my latte, even though the tangyness wasn’t as prominent as the Kyoto Cold Drip, it was still undoubtedly acidic. On the plus side of things, their coffee was strong.
Overall, it’s just not my cup of coffee. Too sour. :(

I was in the area and needed a place with coffee to get some work done on my laptop. To my surprise this place felt like home, the ambiance, the people, the woody furnishings gave off familiar good vibes reminding me of Portland’s coffee and tea shops.
PORTOLA is a good place to kick back and have some leisurely conversation as there are plenty of comfy couches and lounge areas which they share with their neighbors. If you bring a laptop make sure the battery is fully charged, I haven’t seen many outlets. There is also a patio with table umbrella combos inviting people looking to grab a meal or a few cups of coffee in the fresh air.
Barista was very nice and even showed off some entertaining brew magic. I had a Kyoto cold drip on ice which was pretty intense (not smooth at all despite their description) and came with a good amount of caffeine that kept me awake for the rest of the day.
I’ll probably come back with a book instead of a laptop.

I came here early Saturday morning to grab breakfast and coffee with a friend and had a really great experience. The barista at the counter was friendly and made great recommendations on breakfast items to accompany our drinks.
I ordered a Flat Black and granola parfait for breakfast and it was just the right amount of food/​drink. The Flat Black tasted amazinggggggg. The balance between bitter and sweet was perfect — my favorite drink to date. The Granola parfait used unsweetened yogurt which was awesome since I’m trying to eat clean and had dried dates which gave it a natural sweetness.
Highly reccomend — especially the Flat Black!

I came here on a Friday afternoon for a cool drink. Portola is located inside the OC Mix. As it is part of a large shopping center, there is plenty of parking outside. The inside sort of reminds me of the Anaheim Packing House with windows and open areas. There is a lot of stores (books, clothes, etc). and few restaurants. Portola is located towards the back of the OC Mix, but it’s pretty easy to find. (Or follow your nose towards the coffee smell). When I got there, there was no one in line, and since I don’t drink coffee, I decided to order a rose lemonade. The barista taking my order was very nice and answered a few questions that I had about the drink.
The drink came out pretty quickly. There is plenty of seating near Portola and also around the OC Mix. There is also outdoor seating if you want to sit outside. It is super cute to catch up with friends or go on a date. My rose lemonade was pretty refreshing. It was carbonated and had tint of rose flavor in it. I wish it was a little sweeter, it tasted a little bitter. (I think I was expecting something like Starbucks tea lemonade). But, it was OK for a cool drink on a very hot day. The last time I came here, one of my friends had the coffee and she told me that it was one of the best coffee that she had. I will have to take her word for it. LOL. They also had a few pastries. I don’t know if it was because I came later in the day, but there was slim pickings, which was a bummer since I wanted to try one.
Overall, great place to come explore the OC Mix and get a cool (or hot) drink.