Mantra Coffee Company

This was my second time coming to this place and I am absolutely in love. The baristas are very knowledgeable on their coffee and are super friendly. Nicky and Max are mad cool and work really well together. Support and drink local!

The place has so many students sitting in and talking. The A/​C is not working. The sofa is dirty.

Mantra coffee is the best coffee shop I’ve ever been to. The fountain, the people, the coffee. I want to be here all the time with all my friends. Thank God for this place and their heart to give and love people.

I love this place. Excellent service, good drinks and such a cute place to sit down and enjoy coffee and study.

This is the kind of place you hope to find. It’s great for locals and tourists alike because the location is so easy. I parked right in front for the 20 minutes I was there but they have a lot off the alley in back.
They’re in an old bungalow which gives it an automatic good feel. You order your coffee in what was the kitchen/​dining room of a 100 yo house…
Also, the place is very clean.

Great coffee, comfortable atmosphere, and great service. What more can one ask for? Location is in a house and the décor is beyond cute! I ordered something new that I had never tried before. I asked the barista what it was and if she would recommend it. She did, but also stated that if I didn’t like it I could return it and they’d make me something that I might enjoy better! I thought that was ridiculously sweet! But unnecessary because I ended up enjoying the recommended beverage :) Kind service goes a long way.
Parking is on a busy street, but I had no problems. It’s a great place to study if you can find a place to settle into. Hours are ideal for the marathon studiers and standing tables are available as well! A definite plus in my book! So if you’re in the area and are looking for choice coffee, check out this great place. I’ll be coming back soon!

Been here a few times now, before or after a «transportation day» trip on the Gold Line.
Great ambiance/​vibe. Lot’s of seating inside; and lots outside; all inviting and hip. Baristas know their stuff, and the coffees are excellent (they don’t roast, but they source from 3 different local/​excellent roasters; one was Copa Vida. Favorite place to sit is out front near the fountain and potted citrus. Young, hipster, collegiate (near Azusa Pacific University and Citrus College).

Iced Vanilla Latte was alright. Average. Miniature Coffee Macarons were delish. The lemon flavor one was «whatever». Super cute place. Love the ambiance. The feel/​vibe of the place is very chill & laidback. Perfect spot to read, study or do work. Nice spot to catch up with a friend as well. Wish I tried stuff like Crème Brûlée Latte or Zebra Mocha. Need to check Unilocal pics first next time.
Also, there’s parking in the back (come in around the back from the alley) if there’s no street parking in front.

Still loving this place and I love that it’s so close by! It was my go to after a long trip away.
We just got back from Europe a little over a week ago and had a latte there that was. not what we were expecting. I think Europeans generally like to have their espressos with little to no milk so when I ordered my latte in Paris, it just wasn’t the way I liked it. In Paris, the milk was not steamed enough. It was incredibly «thin» and not creamy enough. Who knows… maybe in the latte world, I have it all wrong. But, I think it just me appreciate what we have here at home, even more.
When we came in to get our latte, Johnny greeted us. My husband asked a random question about their pastries and they ended up chatting it up about their beignets being imported from France then, talked about how we have so many options for coffee/​lattes here in LA alone, so it’s hard having so much to compare with. He’s absolutely right.
Where am I going with all this? 1. The lattes are are good here (I think I mentioned before, especially when Johnny steams the milk) 2. The customer service and attention given to everyone 3. Keep supporting Mantra because we’ve got quite the gem in Azusa!

tl;dr: Has all the things I look for in a great coffee place: good coffee, comfortable seating with wifi, something to look forward to to eat (Donut Snob and Donut Friend), and open late…
****
In the gentrified section of Azusa, there is a converted Bungalow turned hipster coffee called Mantra that makes «f_​_​king good coffee.» Alright, that was embellished but you get the idea. In addition to good wifi and donuts, the coffee offering is not just good, it’s great. The menu is just diverse enough so that they’ll have something that would interest you…
The coffee is Chromatic brand. I found the Cold Brew to be a touch on the acidic side when I had my first sip but it mellows out as the ice melts and starts to dilute. I’ve also tried the Chai w/​soy which was on the other end of the spectrum — hot and cinnimon-​y sweet. I found that the baristas were calm and less frantic than that other coffee place across the street can typically be, kinda fits right into the mold of this place…
Just the feel good kind of coffee shop that is needed in this area, they have initiatives such as paying forward and giving away more than they make. I only discovered this place recently after seeing it across the street from where we were parked for dinner, it’s nice to know that they’re open reasonably late til 100am daily when looking for something that’s still open…

Just love this place!
Quaint and welcming. The sound of the water splashing in the fountain is so soothing. Love the décor! A wide variety of coffees, teas and temptations are available for selection. Don’t hesitate to check it out!

Who would’ve thunk that such an adorable, trendy type of coffee place would open up in Azusa! I’m super happy that they give part of their profits to support the community.
Great little local spot for coffee, tea, pastries, etc. I got an iced vanilla chai tea latte and an herb scone (lavender herb scone?). Both were delicious. The latte was sweet, but not overpowering. The herb scone was savory.
Service: great and friendly.
Environment: trendy. Nice furniture. We sat outside and it was really pretty. At night, they turn on the heaters. There’s also a relaxing fountain in the middle.
I can’t wait to come back and try their coffee. I didn’t want to stay up all night and did not get their coffee since I had to work early the next morning.
A big pro to this place is that they close late!

Its hard to find good coffeeshops out in Azusa. Im so glad I found this spot! I usually go to Starbucks when I’m in the area.
On the outside, Mantra looks like a home. You’ll be able to tell that its a coffee shop since it says Mantra outdoors. lol. I’ve been to other coffeeshops out in Orange County or Los Angeles area where they have similar ideas like this coffee shop (& its always fun to find cute spots like these!) Theres out door seating in the patio or indoors as well. Looks like its a good spot to study or do some work while you enjoy some good coffee.
Coffee is good as well. I tried the cold brew and the coffee was good :)
Service is great here! The person taking the order was friendly and made sure to accommodate it to how you like your coffee. will be back!

Came here on a weekday, and fell in love!
It looks like a house. It has so much fun décor, inside and out. Even the entrance gate is so cute.
Drinks:
Um, yum. I forgot to ask them what milk they use, but whatever it is, it’s perfect for lattes. I got a regular latte and it was GOOD! Good coffee, good milk. Yes.
Food:
This place has DEELICIOUS pastries. At least the ones I tried. Idk if it’s bc it’s near that time of month (you know how it is, ladies) or bc I went straight there after a long hike, but this stuff tasted so so good. My cousin got a blueberry scone and I got a crème brûlée cheesecake. Ok. How have I never had a crème brûlée cheesecake before? It’s a great combo. It is really rich, so it many not be for everyone.
This place has live music (sometimes), free wifi, and plenty of seats. Perfect spot to study or have a catch up sesh. Also, there’s no parking lot, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find street parking; I say it’s worth it!

I really want to come back to update this review and give it another shot, but my first visit here was whatever
The layout was like a house. It’s right next to apu so there are alot of college students studying, the place is really cute though with ample seating and heat lamps but the coffee was mid grade. The espresso tasted bitter, it seemed to run longer on the spectrum when making espresso coffee. I ordered the flat white with almond milk… it tasted bitter and the milk separated. which is not common for almond milk, from my experience only soy milk does that. I didn’t finish it which was a waste. But I do like this place cause it opens late and they serve espresso.
Will come back for a second chance

Shut your mouth… A house turned into a coffee shop? Goodness… haven’t seen this concept before! It’s brilliant!
Personal Mantra: «Our personal mantra is that we are passionate about people and we happen to make damn good coffee too. We do this by giving away more money than we make. Through our 51% policy, we hope to be a catalyst for community and global development over a damn good cup of coffee.: We first and foremost love people and we happen to make damn good coffee.» –Mantra Coffee
Existence: December 4, 2015.
Hours of operation: 6am to 1am! Great hours that cater to students and business people
Location/​Parking: Located in between 6^th and Foothill Blvd on N San Gabriel Ave. Park along San Gabriel Ave or park in the residential area on 6^th St. There’s also limited parking in the back accessible through a alley before San Gabriel Ave.
Coffee beans: They roast Chromatic Coffee Co. beans. Local roaster from San Jose.
Ambiance/​Décor: Before coming here, I thought Home Brew and Jameson coffee shop only gave me this warm and fuzzy feeling. They have finally met their match. Love the ambiance and the décor (porch, patio, living room and dining/​family room) just makes you feel that you are at home. If you want to sit outside, there are heat lamps available. Also, it’s a great place to study or do work. Most of the patrons that go here are presumably students from Azusa Pacific University.
Service: Loved the service! The baristas were very friendly, attentive, and informative about their drinks and limited amount of food. Met the co-​founder, Johnny! He was very passionate and full of life about this place.
Drink of choice: Cold brew ($ 3.25)! They use Guji Sidama for their cold brew and takes about 24 hours to brew. Tip: If you plan to study or work for a long time, plan on getting the bottomless coffee ($ 2.25)! Go nuts and get your caffeine high!
Pastries: I got a ham and cheese croissant. It was a great snack! :)
You’re such a good egg Mantra! Love to contribute to your mantra when I’m in the area!

Absolutely lovely — a much needed coffee place in Azusa. 6 am to 1 am work hours is something to make ecstatic predominant local APU community. Solid service by friendly and charming baristas. They were patient and gracious with the most picky and quirky customers (ahem…)
The coffee shop used to be a 120 year old house that they renovated and expanded, and they owners surely did a beautiful job. It is sorta in downtown Azusa, but there is only street parking along the road. It was pretty empty when we came on Saturday morning, but got full fairly quickly, in spite of the inside and outside seating.
They do coffee well. We tried latte and cortado and enjoyed both. The food they offer is not good, skip it all together. The selection is sad and most of it is prepacked or frozen anyways. Since they only opened a month ago, I have no doubt they will straighten this out in no time, but for now I’ll just stick with coffee & tea. This will be a popular place and one of local favorites.
P. S. Some interesting art. Free Wi-​Fi.

Ok guys, I know I’ve been on a pizza binge but I swear I’m NOT fat… I placed my order inside this cute and very quiet coffee shop (current time is 4pm) and I stepped out to the deck to read my kindle and hang out with Porky when all of a sudden my arse was on the floor! Freaken metal chair I guess was not hinged properly but cmon! That could have been way worst if I had my hot drink in hand and/​or my dog hanging out underneath my chair like he usually does (he could have been a pancake) I did inform one of the staff members. He said someone might have unhinged it and popped it back up but even after that, I think I’ll stick to sitting indoors in their couches or the bench outside. BEWARE of the falling, unsteady metal chairs!
Now for some kudos: I do like how this place is cozy and very homelike. They also have heat lamps outside and plenty of seating. I ordered a latte which was pretty smooth but just ok. Props on the late hours and cleanliness. Free wifi too.
I hate to give a new place with such wonderful reviews low stars but those chairs are a bit unsafe. Someone could have really been hurt. FYI I’m an adult and was not horsing around the chair for it to fall, all I did was sit there for like a good minute and bam! I hit the floor. Let’s hope no one else falls again.

I have to admit, one doesn’t usually find many high-​quality coffee shops outside of the bustling hub that is LA– particularly the hipster spots– but this hidden little gem is holding its own amongst the best of them. According to my friend, who happens to live nearby, it isn’t only cranking out some of the best-​quality coffee, pastries, & local merchandise, but its philanthropic as well, giving a portion of its proceeds to improving the city. Hearing that, one would think the drinks are overpriced, & the service pretentious; but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Not only are the drinks super affordable, (my superb cold brew only cost $ 3), the service is akin to what one would find at a mom-​and-​pop shop. And really, coming here literally feels like you’re walking into someone’s house with a very nice living room & cozy seating areas both inside & outside.
The walls are lined with artwork, the coffee is robust, the lattes are creamy, the hot cocoa is sweet, & the cold brews are strong; the pastries taste homemade & the seating is comfortable & plentiful. If you aren’t a local or acquainted with one, chances are you’ve never heard of this place. But I’m telling you right now, it is not to be missed. I don’t care what time it is. They’re open until 1AM, so really, there’s no excuse for hesitation. And yes, Wi-​Fi is included in the deal, you laptop junkies!

My husband and I bought our first house in Azusa and lived there for 5 years before buying another house and moving to Rancho Cucamonga in 2013 so I missed the opportunity to see Mantra in construction. I used to pass this «run down» little house which is right next to on auto shop all the time and never would imagine what it would be today.
Note that the house was originally built in 1890! It has now been fully renovated and expanded.
Note that San Gabriel Avenue is a one way street that travels south so Mantra will be on your right-​hand side next to Max Repair Shop. I love the décor inside with different tile and rustic wood finishes. There was more seating inside than I was expecting. You can also sit right in front or outside on the side patio.
Since I didn’t know what to order, I asked Jonny what their most popular lattes were and he replied that the Caramel or Hazelnut lattes were popular with the customers. I ended up ordering a Hazelnut Latte and a piece of Marbel Coffeecake (Total $ 6.27).
Jonny said that he’s lived in Azusa for 10 years and knew exactly where our old house was.
I love how they give back to the community. They give 51% of their profit to charities that benefit the local community!
«So when you buy a cup of coffee here you’re not only getting a great cup of coffee, but your also helping those in need around you.»
If you are a local or just passing through… skip the Starbucks on Foothill Blvd (by the AT&T) and try Mantra Coffee instead. Just continue west on Foothill Blvd then a left on San Gabriel for some #damngoodcoffee
Mantra is actually on my way to work so you know where I’ll be at in the mornings before heading to the office! LOL They open at 6:00AM! (and close at 1AM)
¹⁵⁸⁄₁₀₀ Reviews for 2015