Bad Ass Coffee

CLOSED
and everything up for sale at auction

Love this coffee! I buy the 10% Kona for home.
We just returned from the Palm Desert and visited the Bad Ass Coffee shop. They had more merchandise than the Santa Cruz location, however they did not have the Vegan specialties.

I came here last night after doing a comedy show and in want of some coffee. Badass Coffee really is what it says, badass! They have so many different signature lattes that they can make with a variety of flavors, just looking at the list of choices was amazing. (Same goes for tea) I ordered what was called «Snickerlichous» which included Dark Chocolate, Caramel, and Hazelnut. It was very good.
The place also has computers to use with internet access in the back, which is cool as well, especially if you happen to be a tourist.
Service was friendly as well. Definitely would go back here again!

Was interesting decoration, but it does say right on the wall Hawaiin coffee, so the tiki theme kinda works dontcha’ think?
I wanted to go to SC roasting but had 2 girls in tow and wasn’t to excited about going too deep in the mall to find it. So this was next to PCC, so I stopped.
The iced coffee was great, a little high priced for the size, but they had COFFEE «ice» cubes! I left my drink in the car while I was on the wharf for over an hour, still tasted the same when I got back! Though I think it may have been sweetened, because I put in some pink «sugar» and was astounded at that sweetness. If they DID, sweeten before, THAT is not cool, I can’t have tons of sugar (the PCC cookies were not for me) and people need to know if drinks are sweetened!
Either way, it was pretty good, but then I don’t drink the froo froo ones, and those seemed way overpriced for me.

Bad Ass is a very poorly designed tiki lounge with overly sweet drinks; and a playroom in front with cribs upon cribs of babies that want to knock you down! The place looks so awful that it takes me from Santa Cruz to a second rate gift shop in the tourist trap of Waikiki. To hang out here is definitely not recommended. If you’re a fan of overly sweet chai, their coffee shop is possibly the only small business in downtown Santa Cruz that offers this. Be warned!

Good coffee! Big variety too!
And free Internet! Cool Macs to use with Internet!
Really enjoyed just chillaxing here for a couple of hours!

This place was a-​okay… I was looking for a coffee fix and DID NOT WANT TO GO TO STARBUCKS!!! We were visiting a friend who goes to UCSC and she recommend this place. I will admit it was a tad expensive especially for a college town. However, it wasn’t bad. I recommend ordering your beverage with half the sweetener they put in cause it is WAYYYYY too sweet. And their espresso had grounds in it. The overall taste was good but i am sure there is better.
The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a place for a quick mediocre cup of coffee or caffe latte then go here.

Best.
Coffee.
Ever.
Free internet, big screen TV. Too bad theres a playscape for rugrats in the front. at least its close enough for someone to steal them off pacific.

this place is pretty cool. they were really helpful. since we didn’t know what to order. i got some fruit smoothie. it was pretty okay. they got it wrong, since i didn’t order it. but i didn’t say anything.
eh, maybe next time i’ll order some coffee since i totally didn’t the coffee menu when i went last time. boo!

Interesting drink flavors, and friendly service.
They have normal sizes (S, M, L) which is good for not confusing people. The prices a bit more than what I’m used to at starbucks.
It was ok, and I’d go back to try a different drink, but I probably would still just keep going to starbucks.

The name alone draws you in right?
I mean how many people could say, psh, I had Bad ass coffee this morning and mean it literally.
They have a large array of Lattes that are unique to the establishment,
most consist of sugary syrups mixed with a form of chocolate.
Hawaiian Sunrise– Dark chocolate and Orange with soy milk, $ 3, it was pretty good.
I opted for a Sugar free Latte
Haole’s Menehune– White chocolate (BLEH) and Raspberry with NF milk and it was less than extraordinary. Plus is was expensive, for serious? $ 5.00 for a 20 oz?
The joint itself was cozy and there are about 5 MACs with internet in the back for the patrons. I’ll probably return to try the regular coffee before i call it quits.

Bad Ass is a touristy+hippie-ish chain coffee shop that’s not afraid of being tacky.
Their coffee is overpriced but I enjoy the taste. Their Hawaiian Kona coffee is not bad and I loved their «special of the day» hazelnut coffee. It’s an interesting experience to look at all the donkeys on the wall when you are sipping coffee. I also appreciate the couch in front of the wide screen TV. You can sit back, relax, take your time with your coffee while watching USA channel rerunning movies.
I admit the place is kind of corny, but I am a sucker for corniness. The staff is friendly and pretty efficient. I just wish their donkey could look happier.

Yuck… so many hippies and homeless hanging around, and that’s why they charge you 25 cent for the restroom.
OK coffee and snacks.
I like the Bad Ass sticker that comes with the coffee.
Oh I can’t get rid of the smell of homeless people…

Coffee is not stellar and über-​beyatch owner (?) is just obnoxious.
Went there a few months ago. Place is trying hard to be cool but the coffee (supposed to be Kona???) was nothing to get excited about.
Yesterday, had an engagement nearby and was running a little short on time, so didn’t have time to hoof it over to Lulu’s. So the hubbie and I decided to try it again.
People have parked their bikes on the metal fence outside. Hubbie starts to lock his bike to the metal fence when someone I guess is the owner takes her skanky cigarette out of her mouth long enough to blurt out in a French accent «Go away. Don’t do that here. This is private property.» She even made a shoo-​ing motion. HA!
I’m thinking… 1. uh, there’s a bunch of other bikes here. What’s one more? 2. This is Santa Cruz and you’re anti-​bike? 3. Are you supposed to be smoking within 20 feet of the public entrance to a business (city ordinance here)?
I’m saying, loudly, «So hun, how about Starbucks?»
I know, an evil chain, but served up without a skanky-​ass-​ho-​beyatch attitude, and served it up fast!

Should be renamed.
Slower Than The Second Coming Of Christ Coffee
or
What… Is Juan Valdez Himself Out Back Picking The Beans For My Coffee
or
Jesus … Who Do I Have To Blow Around Here To Get Some Coffee
LORD.

I stopped in here mainly due to the name. I freely admit it… I’m all about supporting businesses with kitschy, goofy, and/​or ribald names. If they opened up a coffee shop called «Tits In Yer Cups» then I’d be first in line. I’d probably end up disappointed, but that’s another story.
Anyway, it was early in the morning and I needed my daily jolt, so when I saw the name «Bad Ass» I thought to myself, how can I lose? Well, the coffee itself was fine, some kind of 10% Kona blend that was thinly brewed but somehow managed to retain a lot of flavor. So that’s a plus. Also, as many people here have already mentioned, the bathroom is clean. That’s something my folks would be sure to mention.
I took home a bag of the same beans ($ 8 for a half pound) and promptly fired up a shot in my eXpresso machine, and I was not unimpressed. It’s not as good as the Blue Bottle you can get up in SF (not by a long shot) but it’s definitely serviceable, although I’m not a fan of the lack of dating on the bag (I like «born-​on» dates on my coffee beans, personally).
Three stars because I didn’t get a chance to check out any other amenities on offer, and the experience was solidly above-​average.

Not bad espresso. But not good either. And they only serve it in paper cups. Which is the lamest thing you can do to espresso.
There’s complementary computers with web browsers, that you can use if you buy anything, but had a queue of people waiting for them.
The place itself is pretty cool, with couches and various other comfortable seating options. There is a playing area out front, which means you have to dodge kids to get in, but I guess it’s pretty cool if you’re a parent.
The most redeeming thing about Bad Ass Coffee is the freshly made tiny little doughnuts, which were very tasty until they cooled down. Eat them hot!
By the way, they claim that «Bad Ass» stands for the donkeys that used to bring coffee down from the mountains in Hawaii. These donkeys used to complain loudly, hence them being «bad». I don’t know if this is a bullshit story or not, but it sounded kinda cute at the time.

Aside from all of the children/​obstacles in the entrance and aside from the fact that the ATM once took 20 dollars out of my bank without dispensing any cash, Bad Ass Coffee is a god place to get caffeinated on Pacific.
If you have ever spent any time in this area you know bathrooms are a bit of a commodity and Bad Ass has the cleanest, no hassle restrooms in the entire area. As for the coffee it is good and strong. My favorite thing about this place is that the ice in the iced coffee is frozen coffee not water. Simple genius I tell you.

All I can say is WOW! After seeing the Donkey guy outside and me having an off day– shooooooooooot might as well give this place a try.
The décor should be tacky… but it all works out. A place for the kids to play, tons of Bad Ass gear (shirts, shot glasses, mugs, stickers, key chains etc.), and some kick arse coffee.
Wide screen TV (which was blaring NCAA bball tournament) and a comfortable couch in front of it. Tons of internet space, neat set up over all.
Coffee was reasonably priced and there were tons of options. I bought a half pound of Menehune Kreme (which smells delicious) and it came with a bag clip (which is a plus).
Then I bought a Kona something Kreme (Mocha, Caramel and some other flavoring) with soy. the guy definitely knows what he is doing. Perfect foam, perfect blend of flavorings… and he stirred it before serving it to me… yep found a new place to grab some espresso.
Place was extremely clean, nice breeze flowing through and the customer service was excellent.

My kind of place. There are plenty of people who will dislike it in Santa Cruz simply because it is a chain. I really like it. The coffee is good and the people are friendly. They have a bathroom that you can use with a token when you are a customer. There is a couch and two comfy chairs. One thing they have here which will be contraversial I’m sure is a big screen T.V. I went in the morning, so I watched the Today show and Ellen (I love Ellen, so sue me) The young lady who works there told me that they usually have on sports. Ick.
There was a woman in the chair next to me, a guy with a laptop in the other chair and a kind of cute guy next to me on the other side of the couch. It was like being at home, only with strangers for company. If my dog had been on the couch next to me it would be perfect.
So give these nice people some business. But do me a favor. If you hate T.V. don’t go in there and complain about theirs. There are plenty of other coffee places to go to that don’t have it.