4 Cozy Coffee Shops to Write or Study at in Orange County
As a writer and a poet, I can usually be caught in a coffee shop whenever I’m in a writing funk and need to be somewhere that isn’t the desk in my room. A coffee, a pen, and a notebook with some nice ambience is what I need to get out of a rut and need to focus sometimes. If you’re in the OC area, here are some of the coffee shops I frequent to write or study at.
Dripp
Nestled alongside the beautifully haunted and uninhabited Fox Theater (which is currently undergoing renovation) is this coffee shop. With stunning views of the building, Dripp has an incredible amount of seating that features a courtyard along with some sofa furniture and great living room vibes inside. Although a little pricey, the coffee selection is expansive, they serve basic espresso, lattes, and “cofftails”. One really popular cofftail is the affogato, which is an ice cream combined with coffee concoction. I am very basic though and usually order a Spanish latte, which is a cinnamon flavored latte served both hot and cold (both are really good in my opinion). This is a really great spot if you’re worried about finding a place to sit, especially when it’s warm enough to enjoy sitting in the courtyard during the spring and summer.
This is another top on my list. Contra is situated in the quaint Old Towne Orange neighborhood and has bright white walls with an art gallery wall on one side and a beautiful high towering bookshelf on the other. It’s super airy, bright, and the best place to go if you’re in a bit of a brain fog and want to feel clear-headed. They serve cold brew coffee and milk teas “on tap” like craft beer at a brewery. You can even order a “flight” to share with someone or keep for yourself. This spot can get a little crowded because of the nearby Chapman University. Another fun fact about this place is the space they share with the 1888 Center, an arts and culture non-profit that hosts various events in this space. Definitely one of my favorite places for coffee in the summer.
This coffee shop is within OC’s famous “anti-mall”: The Lab in Costa Mesa. The coffee shop itself doesn’t have a lot of seating but since it’s located within The Lab there are plenty of cozy spots to sit at. I usually like to come here when I’m in the mood to be surrounded by a lot of art, beautiful scenery, and really good background music. As for the coffee itself, they serve some really good medium roast coffee. I really enjoy the honey oat latte because I’m a sucker for lattes sweetened by honey done right. I also think it’s really cool how this coffee shop has plants on display that are available for purchase if you want to take one home with you, which has honestly been so very tempting for me personally because they’re so cute.
This spot is another personal favorite that is very close to my neighborhood. Tru Bru is located in a more residential area in the Orange Hills at a small business plaza. The cool thing about this place is not only do they serve latte art coffee but also have a beer and wine bar. Tru Bru is a classic neighborhood coffee shop that serves mostly folks from the local area. They serves some really great medium roast lattes, they also have a breakfast and lunch menu so this is a good spot if you plan on staying for a long while to get work done. I really enjoying being here on a rainy day because of the fireplace, it’s generally not super crowded but there is a nearby community college so you’ll occasionally see people studying here
