Bear Coast Coffee

I had a delicious vanilla latte on a nice sunny summer morning after a run on the beach. It was so open and airy in the shop and the staff were all very friendly.

No pretentious coffee snobs here! Friendly staff and a great variety of different roasters. I think they use Heart, 49^th parallel, and Ritual all on rotation.
They just moved to their new location right across the street from the pier in San Clemente, so you can have your coffee and take a walk on the beach! So ambiance gets an A+, the staff as well. Overall a great experience, and did I mention they make their own almond milk? And yes, it’s good.

Bear Coast is amazing. It moved to a great location by the San Clemente Pier. Parking is hard to find but its worth it.
The Caramel latte (Lavender-​infused) is perfect.
Great Coffee, Great Employees, Perfect spot.
Cons: Mugs and Coffee Beans are too expensive. Mug is $ 25, Super overly priced.
I love walking to the pier and grabbing some Bear Coast. :)

The people here were cool. If you’re looking for a replacement for the snotty coffee chain that loves green, don’t go expecting a huge selection of blended this and skinny thats.
They do however have a selection of quality coffee, hot and cold, and flavored lattes. The coffee was good, strong but not too bitter.
They had a really cool program where you can buy a wood token for $ 3.50 and the next day turn it in for any drink. I also like the idea of being able to gift them to friends, family or even strangers.
Cool little joint.

The lavender caramel latte was delicious and so was the chocolate chip cookie. Service was great and the location across from the pier can’t be beat!

Never again… Had a medium drip coffee this cool overcast morning… Was looking forward to warm coffee goodness… And was surprised that my medium drip didn’t taste like coffee… Not sure what it tasted like but it sure didn’t taste like coffee, not even weak coffee… I’ll cut them a break this once, maybe they forgot to put the grounds in the machine … My son had a latte… It was good but the drip … Omg… Folgers is better and I’m a coffee snob…
Sad that my dreams of having a cup while walking my dog on the beach will have to wait awhile longer…

Coffee tasted like it had been sitting too long — perhaps because it was 30 minutes to closing. I’ll try again, but maybe the lavendar caramel that everyone is raving about.

Place is cool,
Good vibe but silly that you have to pay $ 1.25 extra for non dairy milk. Unfortunately won’t be able to make it a regular place because of that.

First visit had the Caramel — lavender infused iced latte, it was pretty tasty. But today I tried the Dirty Chai latte and it was fantastic! ! Friendly people, great latte, excellent view!

Fantastic coffee shop that has a simple menu with consistently executed drinks. It’s primely located right across the pier so you can grab your brew and head to the beach.
The shop is small and cozy. And by cozy, I mean people are practically stacked on top of each other during their rush hours. They have a couple tables inside and outside, and some merchandise on the wall. The shop is simple and lovely, has a very hip and laid-​back vibe. The staff are upbeat and personable. Such a great coffee shop to visit… or make your regular watering hole.
Another reason why San Clemente kicks so much ass.

I have been enjoying this outstanding place ever since they opened. Their coffee is amazing every single time. Tried all different kinds and even their Gibraltar. In addition, every employee is super friendly, Jeff the owner remembers his clients and engages easily. If you are looking for great coffee, look no more this is the place !!! Better yet, their new location is opened every day, I can even get my coffee on Mondays while I am walking with my dog.
I bought their coffee tokens and gave to my friends and family, everyone concurs this place is the place to get your coffee !!!

They’ve moved to their new location (618 ½ Avenida Victoria), and it’s beautiful! It’s crazy to see how much they’ve grown in the past two years, but their quality and service are consistently good.
They ran out of their lavender-​infused caramel this morning so my mom couldn’t get a caramel latte. (Jeff was whipping up a new batch.) Jeff was so kind and generous as to give us tokens for our next visit. That right there is excellent service and why I continue to visit Bear Coast.

This is definitely the best coffee you will find in San Clemente. The baristas know what they’re doing!
What I come here for is their lavender caramel latte. It’s refreshing on a hot day and cozy on a cold day. Yes, it comes at $ 5 price tag, but you’re not going to find a well-​made specialty drink like this just anywhere.
Their menu covers most basic espresso drinks– lattes, cappuccinos, etc. They also have pastry items.
TO NOTE: Bear Coast is inside of a cheese/​wine place, so it’s not primarily a coffeeshop. This means that this is not the place to come to do homework. It’s more of a social café. The outside seating is my favorite by far– the inside is a bit dark. If the ambience was a bit more like a coffee shop, I’d love it even more!

Did the cappuccino I order taste good? Yes.
Did it have a cute little leaf made in the foam? Yes.
Were we ignored and did the cashier let someone cut in front of us? YES
Did I go to the bathroom, take a slefie, run into a friend, and come back to the front and my drink still wasn’t done? YES
Was I standing around completely in the way like an idiot because there is hardly any seating available inside? YES
+2 stars for the good drink and hipster vibe
–3 stars for the lack of customer service, seating, and high price

If I could give this place extra stars I would. Places can get away with simple menus if they can do what they offer really well, and Bear Coast has perfected their craft like coffee making champions.
My husband and I tend to order the same drink at different shops which is a fun measure of comparison. He usually gets an iced chai (which he kindly lets me sample) and I am totally on his side when he said that their iced chai here is perfection. Granted it was a dirty chai, but I don’t think that would have swayed our opinion – it’s truly the best one we’ve ever had. It’s not too sweet like places that make theirs from a powder mix, and not too watered down which can happen when places use concentrate. I don’t know their secret but it’s magic and they should never ever stop.
I had the caramel *lavender* latte. They make their caramel in house and infuse it with lavender. I’ve never had it hot but I can tell you that it’s perfect iced. Not too sweet, more like a suggestion of caramel and lavender without tasting soapy. Kind of a signature drink and definitely worth a try!
Overall the service was really friendly and always has been. It’s kind of a weird set up for a study spot but would definitely be fun to hang out at with friends or have breakfast.

I bought a hot coffee for $ 3 (black). And it was delicious. Definitely one of the better tasting coffee that I’ve ever had plain. I wouldn’t say it’s better than Philz or Copa Vida though. I also appreciate the atmosphere of this coffee shop. They had a piano set up and the lights were pretty dim when I went. This coffee shop definitely fits in with the San Clemente vibe of the downtown feels. I would probably come here again, but try out something new that they had.

What a cool, quaint coffee place: it’s small (1 table inside — not including those in The Cellar — and 3 small, 2-​person tables and a bench outside), with a comfortable and eclectic style. I was excited to see a variety of coffees (including 49^th Parallel from Vancouver, BC), Brown Butter Cookies (which we know from Paso Robles), as well as a selection of wines and an impressive variety of cheeses!
I’m not particularly fond of the taste of lavender, but I chose to try their highly-​reviewed Lavender Caramel Latte (which the person in front of us ordered 2, as well) — with an attractive latte art heart; the beverage was smooth-​and-​silky, appreciatively not too sweet, nor heavily herb flavored; what an interesting combination of flavors. I just wish I knew what other coffee beverages they offered, other than the basic menu on the back wall. Charismatic, engaging, and friendly staff with great service!

Oh this place is so cute! We almost missed it because it operates in the same room as The Cellar, which is a wine/​cheese/​meats restaurant and storefront. I loved their simple menu of tea and coffee. I opted for the jasmine green tea and it was absolutely refreshing. Cold as ice with a strong green tea flavor, the combination was a blessing on a hot, sunny day.
The atmosphere feels a little more upscale than a cozy coffee house, so I didn’t feel like I could simply get my drink and chit chat. I felt like I should’ve ordered a platter of meats and cheeses, probably since it shares space with the Cellar. So instead of sitting around for too long, my friend and I left fairly quickly after enjoying a quick break and resumed our walk along the shops.
Service was great and the baristas were right on time with our drinks, even with a crowd. Very friendly and open!

I don’t visit Downtown San Clemente that often then I heard about this place in the AAA Magazine. I had a ice mocha coffee when it was a warm day that I like cold drinks to cool down. The other person I was with had their popular caramel lavender latte. We both really enjoyed the coffee. It wasn’t like really strong to the point that it would taste bitter when I like my coffee more sweet not as like espresso like those coffee shops with drip coffee.
I am very caffeine sensitive so those strong coffees might keep me awake and full of energy even till pass midnight. The coffee here is made just right. There is limited seating as this place is shared by The Cellar. It’s a nice place to enjoy some afternoon coffee or refreshing good tasting water to re-​hydrate from walking from the San Clemente Pier.

COFFEE at it’s Finest, seriously the coffee is so amazing here with great bold, smooth flavors. Hands down the best Americano I have ever had and I have frequented many coffee houses and no one comes close to Bear Coast Coffee. Jeff is very knowledgable and super friendly and will explain anything coffee to you.
Americano is bold, smooth, earthy, and so full of flavor that a refill is a must. Goes great with their house made almond milk, yes they make their own almond milk and gives your coffee or lattes that extra special taste.
The vanilla latte is also amazing and not super sweet just perfectly made and again is great with their almond milk.
The setting is super intimate and small and if you come here early in the morning you will find a great conversation with the baristas which are exceptionally friendly. If you wish to enjoy your coffee Al Fresco, they have a nice little patio outside and if you have a four legged friend they are graciously welcomed.
Seriously enjoy coming here and getting my caffeine rush before my morning runs. Love the location, the intimate setting, and who can forget the amazing coffee they serve here, can’t get anything better.