Welcome to MBKU, COP and SCCO Classes of 2025 and SPAS Class of 2023!
If you’re anything like me, coffee is a crucial necessity. I literally cannot function if I don’t have my morning coffee, which is why I wanted to share some of my go-to coffee spots around the area with you all! Even if you don’t like to drink coffee, most of these places offer specialty drinks that are incredibly delicious. In addition, they serve as ideal study spots if you like having some ~cafe vibes~ while studying, as well as meeting spots if you want to casually catch up with some friends. With that said, let’s jump into it!
1. Stereoscope Coffee (Buena Park | 13 minutes | 7 miles from campus)
Personally, this is my FAVORITE cafe in the area! They roast their own beans, and their pour-overs are amazing if you are an avid coffee lover. As for their specialty drinks, I highly recommend either their Matcha Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea, or Royal Milk Tea. If you want something refreshing, their Lychee Peachee tea is amazing! Free Wi-Fi, in addition to seating both indoor and outdoor are available. This is the perfect place to go to if you’re planning to catch up with a friend and/or get some studying done.
2. Reborn Coffee (Brea | 8 minutes | 4 miles from campus)
Nestled in the Whole Foods plaza in Brea, this coffee shop has all your classic espresso, cold brew, and pour-over drinks. They also offer a wide selection of teas and seasonal drinks, which are all so yummy! Seating is available both indoor and outdoor, along with free Wi-Fi. If you get hungry while studying here, Mendocino Farms, Urban Plates, and Poke are located in the same plaza. At night, a fireplace turns on with overhanging string lights above, making it the perfect place to catch up with some friends as well.
3. Frame Coffee (Fullerton | 7 minutes | 3 miles from campus)
In terms of aesthetics, this cafe offers a more “clean-cut” type of atmosphere. A lot of greenery is used, making the place feel super vibrant and refreshing if you choose to study here. Both outdoor and indoor seating are available, along with free Wi-Fi. While parking may be more difficult here (approximately 6 spots in their private lot; otherwise you have to street park), their coffee is super solid!
4. Coffee Code (Fullerton | 10 minutes | 5 miles from campus)
My favorite thing about this coffee shop is that they make their ice cubes out of coffee! If you get an iced drink, your coffee does not end up getting watered down, which I think is a very unique and innovative way to serve coffee! Spots for studying are more limited, so I definitely see this place as more of a “grab-and-go” kind of place.
5. In-Sit Coffee (Buena Park | 12 minutes | 10 miles from campus)
Located in The Source OC, this coffee shop offers an abundant amount of indoor and outdoor seating, along with free Wi-Fi and solid coffee drinks. My favorite thing about this place is that it resides in a plaza filled with a variety of Korean food options. Whether you want Korean street corn dogs, hotpot, KBBQ, Korean Pub food, or Korean fried chicken (to name a few), you will not be at a loss of food options to eat at after you finish a productive studying session!
6. Play Coffee (Fullerton | 8 minutes | 4 miles from campus)
Located in Downtown Fullerton, this coffee shop is a piece of art in it of itself! The building itself conveys a playful attitude through the vibrant colors that encase it. Moreover, their coffee is really yummy! Seating is available indoor and outdoor, but it is definitely more intended for meeting up with people, rather than studying. Personally, I also see this place as a “grab-and-go” kind of place, but I do always get a cute, foodstagram-esque picture out of each visit!
This is just the start of my list of go-to cafes in the area. If I could include everything, this list would definitely be at least 15 spots long. Needless to say, there are always new cafes to try out in the area, especially if you want to treat yourself with something more elevated than your everyday coffee. Best of luck with your first year here at MBKU! YOU GOT THIS! :)