The 9 Best Coffee Shops in San Clemente – Written by a Local
Looking for the Best Coffee Shops in San Clemente?
San Clemente is a magical place that I have been able to call home for the last 8 years. One of my absolute favorite things to do is enjoy a cup of coffee out somewhere, and the coffee shops in San Clemente never disappoint.
If you’re looking for the best spots for coffee in San Clemente, I’ve got you covered. Here is my list of the best spots to get a coffee (in no particular order).
1. High Tide Coffee
High Tide Coffee is a local coffee shop with amazing coffee and tea. They have one of the best matcha lattes in town (both hot and iced are great).
One of my favorite things to get is a cappuccino with coconut milk and maple syrup. I appreciate that they have natural sweeteners for their drinks. It’s a great spot and they have a menu filled with toasts, paninis and acai bowls.
They also have a cold case with grab and go items. The tiramisu protein chia pudding is so good and tastes like a healthy dessert.
2. Sur Coffee
Sur Coffee is one of my favorite local coffee shops in San Clemente. If you’re looking for a fun coffee shop to work at or go to with a friend in San Clemente, this is one I highly recommend.
The people who work there are so sweet and the cookies they make are really good too. I always order something different here whether it be a cortado breve style (with half and half instead of milk), a warm matcha latte with coconut milk or just a basic cappuccino.
They source their coffee beans directly from farmers and roast them themselves, which I love. Highly recommend stopping by Sur Coffee for a great baked good, a coffee and you could also do a nice walk downtown on Del Mar.
3. Rapport Coffee Roasters
Rapport Coffee Roasters is a prime spot for specialty coffee in San Clemente. It’s located across from the Trader Joes near the TJ’s Woodfired Pizza.
They offer specialty and organic coffee beans that they source directly from farmers. The baristas are SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) certified and you can notice the difference.
They also have the absolute best mugs which makes the experience for coffee if you ask me. Their San Clemente location is quite small, so if you’re looking for a spot to sit and read or just go somewhere quiet, this is a great coffee spot.
They just recently opened a Laguna Beach location which is an awesome spot too.
4. Bear Coast Coffee
A local San Clemente favorite is Bear Coast Coffee.
Located right near the pier, this is the perfect spot to stop and grab a drink if you’re doing a beach walk.
I personally love the location and accessibility of this spot and their chai lattes are really good. As far as location goes, this is a good spot if you’re down by the beach and want to grab a coffee or tea on the go. They also have an assortment of breakfast items and pastries.
5. Better Buzz Coffee
Another one of the best coffee shops in San Clemente is Better Buzz Coffee. I first when to Better Buzz in San Diego and fell in love with it.
Better Buzz has an extremely fun and inviting atmosphere and they are mindful about the ingredients they use. This is one of the best coffee shops if you’re looking for a place to work while also having access to good coffee and a variety of things to eat.
They offer a range of toasts, bowls, sandwiches and wraps. The yogurt bowl with greek yogurt is one of my faves.
6. Bluestone Lane Coffee
Located right on Avenida Del Mar in downtown San Clemente, Bluestone Lane is an Australian inspired coffee shop.
They have an extensive menu with smoothies, toasts, sandwiches and baked goods. I got a piccolo which is like a mix between a latte and a cortado. It’s the size of a cortado but the ratios of milk to coffee are more like a latte – it’s not something that most American coffee shops offer as it’s more popular in Australia, so I recommend it if you want to try something new.
7. The Cellar
A local favorite, the Cellar. The Cellar is a wine bar in downtown San Clemente on Del Mar.
The Cellar is one of the best local coffee shops downtown. They have some of the best espresso and their cold brew is really good too. They have a small little patio that I recommend sitting at if you want to enjoy a cup of coffee and I highly recommend getting one of their cookies, they have one of the best chocolate chip cookies in San Clemente.
8. Moulin
A taste of Paris in San Clemente? Yes please. Moulin is a French style bakery. If you’re looking for a fun spot to get coffee and a delicious croissant or pastry, this is the spot.
It’s one of my favorite places to go and grab a cafe au lait and a chocolate croissant. I recommend sitting outside for a beautiful ocean view to enjoy your coffee or grabbing one to go and doing a nice beach walk. It’s one of my favorite coffee shops with an ocean view in San Clemente.
9. Hidden House Coffee
Located on Avenida Pico near Talega, Hidden House Coffee (previously Cafe Hermosa) is a great spot to grab a coffee and a delicious piece of banana bread.
If you know of Hidden House Coffee in San Juan Capistrano, they recently opened up this location in San Clemente and it’s a great addition in Talega. They offer a wide range of espresso drinks, baked goods and I love the atmosphere for a place to work or just go and read for a bit.
My Final Notes
Although there are a lot of coffee shops in San Clemente, these 9 make the list for best coffee shops, in my opinion. Not just for the taste of the coffee or tea, but for the vibes, location and pastry/food options available. San Clemente is full of incredible spots to grab a coffee so I hope you can find the perfect place for you!
