With schoolwork piling up and tests creeping around the corner, the best way to feel motivated is to treat yourself to a tasty reward. To give you a tidbit of what Irvine’s cafe culture has to offer and fuel your inner scholar, we reviewed four fan favorites to inspire your next study adventure.
The Mugs
Greeting you with lively jazz music, a cozy atmosphere and a sweet aroma, The Mugs is the perfect place to hold a group study session. Their menu consists of specialty lattes and coffees, along with homemade scones, croissants and sandwiches. Customer favorites include the tiramisu latte, which pairs rich mascarpone cream with a deep chocolate taste, and the strawberry matcha latte, a smooth matcha drink with fresh strawberries. Our cashier recommended the homemade Earl Grey scone, which has a floral taste and is warm to order. However, its popularity among students — coming from kind staff, reliable WiFi and relaxing atmosphere — also makes the search for an empty table quite challenging.
Roosevelt Coffee
Hidden in the business complex adjacent to Cypress Village Center, Roosevelt Coffee is a modern cafe with a vibrant interior. While studying here, you may find yourself eye-to-eye with a Smiski or Jellycat figurine, which are scattered throughout the cafe and complement the upbeat pop music playing in the background. Their specialty drink, the orange creamsicle latte, features a fluffy vanilla cream top with a zesty orange punch on a rich coffee base. The cinnamon croissant makes for a delicious sweet treat to freshen up your mouth after a drink. The only downside of Roosevelt Coffee is the short supply of seats, which is unfortunate for those who come during busy hours.
Junbi
Junbi’s dynamic interior is masked by their plain exterior with bright orange seating and lively R&B music. Their menu is straight out of a matcha lover’s dreams and is filled with specialty tropical matcha cold brews, matcha soft serves and dirty matcha lattes. Along with their extensive matcha selection, they serve various coffee drinks and rice balls to satisfy a wide range of cravings. In particular, their guava matcha latte was refreshingly cool as the fruit puree perfectly coupled the rich matcha without overpowering it with sweetness. A creamy swirl sitting atop a layer of fresh lychee, the matcha soft serve is the perfect treat to stimulate you as you do work. Similar to the other cafes, Junbi has limited indoor seating, but there is an abundance of outdoor seating shared with the other shops in its shopping complex.
Tomo Coffee
Three shops over from Junbi is Tomo Coffee: a maximalist vintage cafe. As a classic study cafe, Tomo will remind you of a retro basement with arcade games and retired holiday decorations. With plenty of seating, an ambient atmosphere and natural lighting, Tomo makes for the perfect study space. Their extensive menu features unique and classic drinks, including butterfly pea tea, iced Americanos and Dalgona coffee, and an assortment of stuffed pretzels. All pretzels are made to order, which is why their sweet potato cheese pretzel was served piping hot with a cheese and yam filling—a surprisingly delicious flavor combination. The Dalgona coffee was delectably smooth and bitter, making it the perfect pick-me-up to fuel late-night study session cravings.
