Tired of Starbucks? Â Here is an actual coffee shop that rocks, with an amaze balls patio for a pleasant business meeting or catching up with the friends or family.
The spiced Chai Tea rocks. Â Love this place. Â Nice gateway for a stroll through the neighborhood, one of the secret places in Orange County that ooze charm.
the most charming little coffee house! reminiscent of my Davis days, this adorable little place also serves up some pretty bomb coffee. Â i had an ethiopian pour over, and it was really good, one of the better pour over cups I have had. Â will definitely come back next time i am close by, it would be a fantastic place to hang out and catch up with a friend, or just sit and get some work done.
Review Source:Hidden House Coffee was voted Best Coffee Shop in San Juan Capistrano (Hot List winner).
This is the most CHARMING coffee house that I've seen in FOREVER.
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This coffee shop is actually a historic home located in the Los Rios Historic District, and it's a short walking distance from the train tracks. Quaint, small town feel is in the air.
This place feels like you are entering someone's lovely home "off the beaten path." The cashier (blonde lady) was warm and welcoming. You will feel "right at home."
It is not exactly "hidden". I saw it as soon as I got off the Metrolink, and made a bee line for a cup of Joe.
Their latte is pretty strong, yet it was not bitter despite how strong it was.
For those of you who are hard-core coffee drinkers, this strong cup should get you wired up for one hell of a day =P
Even if you are not a fan of coffee, you can still order a nice hot chocolate (my son liked his). They also have teas and smoothies.
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There's a nice patio where you can sit and pretend that you are back in time (no time machine needed), and the front yard surrounding the house makes for a relaxing setting, while watching the trains go by (Amtrak & Metrolink).
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Just make sure you don't become train-meat on the way back to the station.
Here's a youtube video of us taking the train back home to Riverside, after having coffee and hot chocolate at this coffee house... <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2Fg35divXqSrQ&s=5367499a6b7a81861a98da6c4164182ce79565c6041edf8afa5479b26081c899" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://youtu.be/g35divXq…</a>
For those of you not traveling on the train, there's a free parking structure across from the tracks (and next to a movie theater), which is a short walking distance from here.
Coffee ~ 4
Atmosphere ~5
What else is walking distance from this coffee shop??
~Los Rios historic district - old buildings/museums
~petting zoo - behind this coffee shop
~gift shops / souvenirs
~nice, sit-down restaurants and other eateries
~movie theater
~San Juan Capistrano Old Mission (Roman Catholic Church) and museum
BTW, I'm a little late w/ this review, but it's better late than never babayyy!!!
If you find yourself in this touristy part of town, this is a MUST for your itinerary!
Quite possibly the best mocha in OC. Â The setting is really nice and quiet (except when a train arrives in the station, but that just adds to the setting). Â If you are expecting the type of mocha Starbucks serves- overly sweet yet watered down (rather milked down) and filled with whipped cream- you will probably be disappointed. Â That said, the mocha here is created with precision. Â The coffee beans are roasted on site, the barista pays close attention to the tamp in the portafilter, they don't have an auto-steam for the milk. Â You can taste the espresso and the mocha. Â It's just better.
It also helps that this place is family owned. Â The mom and pop that run the place come from a long line of Marine families. Â And if you ever have the pleasure of being there when their son Ben is helping out, the guy is the most polite and friendly guy you'll meet, as well as the other staff there. Â You can tell Ben is a Marine right away, because everything is "sir" and "ma'am" and he just has that honorable Marine thing going on- thank you for your service Ben. Â They all know what they are doing- no amateurs or "baristas in training" here.
It is best to park on the opposite side of the railroad tracks from Hidden House, in the  free parking structure next to the movie theater, and walk over (short walk), because there is not parking on Los Rios.  There is a parking lot in the Los Rios area, but it's a dirt parking lot, and not covered and the structure is actually closer.
I really love the way this place looks and feels. My iced vanilla latte was great so, why the 3 stars? The service wasn't great so I feel this place needs to be taken down a notch. There were only 2 guys working from what I can tell but both weren't very friendly. One guy took the order and made the coffee while the other just sat and talked to his fellow coworker. I understand that some people just have this "too cool for school attitude" but c'mon. How about giving me a friendly greeting and a f'cking smile. If I ever go to Ramos house I'll probably drop by here again because I enjoyed the coffee. Â I wouldn't come here just for the coffee.
Review Source:Okay. My friend absolutely loves this place and wanted to take me there. First try--got there at 7:30 am. The place doesn't open until 9 (or some time well later than when we were there). Went to Starbucks across the street.
Second try--it was late enough. I had a pour-over of the house-roasted El Salvador, and it was pretty awful. IMO, the portion of beans used was too small for the volume of water, resulting in a weak brew. Worse, the beans just seemed to be way off. There was a huge amount of acid and very little bouquet. I don't know if it was poor bean quality or improper roasting. It was undrinkable.
Best coffee around? Hah. For that there's Kean (and no place comes close). I think HH has a great location with excellent service and atmosphere. I'll give it another go sometime. Probably very reluctantly--I'm sure I'll get dragged there again by my friend. Â But I'll just get an espresso drink and enjoy the patio.
This place is a rustic beauty, in one of the oldest cities in California. It is pretty hidden from normal street view, matter of fact had to park in a park parking lot and kind of find my way to the coffee shop since you can't even see it from your parking spot. But yelp directions got me there.
This place would be more of a gem in summer, because its completely shaded except a few patches of sun peeking through spots between the overhanging trees, go there in winter and you'll be dying for the suns warmth, but it's still a gem either way.
I'm all about the patio and outdoor seating, you're really in the midst of a tourist mecca and are right across the Amtrak train stop, be prepared to hear the train often, I enjoy it. You'll see people with their business luggage or travel bags, so fun to see the melting pot of people that are around. A nice break from the monotonous Orange County life, I feel like I'M on vacation.
Within steps there are other eateries with the same historic quaint feel up along the street.
Inside there's a wooden bar surrounding their roaster and a few wooded tables. It seems as if Hidden House caters to more outdoor seating which is why it would beige beneficial to go during a nice day.
There's also a deck with a table on each side, definitely a cottage feel going on.
Had their cappuccino, tasty sweet espresso not a hint of bitterness. Dessert in a cup although it was more of a latte with extra foam, oh well still tasty.
I've also tried their organic loose leaf teas. It was a pleasure to have a coffee shop dedicated to quality coffee equally pay attention to what they serve as tea. Rare to find. But as a tea aficionado I was very happy. I had a little ceramic tea pot and a ceramic metal filter to put in my glass cup. So fancy.
Restroom was super clean and well maintained. Honest to goodness the best coffee shop in Orange County, but unfortunately not close enough to me. They say the best things don't come easy. ;)
This is a great little coffee house down in the Los Rios district of San Juan. Â If you're looking for great coffee, unbeatable ambiance, and friendly customer service, then you've come to the right place! Â Sit and stay a while, enjoy your coffee and the beautiful scenery of the historic Los Rios district.
Review Source:The coffee quality is excellent; however, the main reason for giving 4 stars is the quaint small town ambiance. Â Perfect for lazy weekend afternoon coffee for close friend or by myself. Â Wish I had more choice for brunch munu; then, it will be 5 starts place.
Existing sandwich munu is pretty good, but not to die for. Â I will still go back there for coffee though....
Probably the cutest little coffee shop in all of Orange County! My boyfriend and I live just up the street so we come here frequently. Their scones are always delicious and the coffee is way better than Starbucks. It's all about the same price as Starbucks too. Definitely will keep coming back again and again :)
Review Source:These stars come with a caveat: Hidden House is an abomination with its decor. To make this one-hundred-year-old cottage beautiful again:
1. Strip off the dorm room orange paint and get some bright white Benji Moore matte in there (or robin's egg blue).
2. Sand the beams and rivets until you get back down to the old wood and metal in the ceiling and supports.
3. Ditto for the porch.
4. Coordinate the wall art and ditch the bought-at-Target kitsch.
Also: stop playing top 40's hits, it makes the place sound like an all-night eurotrash cafe.
Drinks are, on the other hand, very good. Go on the weekend for the best barista.
Way overrated. Â The hidden location and outdoor tables with shade are relaxing. Â My son loved that he could hear the train from the front patio and run to look at it each time. Â However, it is after all, a coffee house. Â The coffee was mediocre at best. Â The panini sandwiches were decent. Â I'm very disappointed considering all the great reviews about the coffee. Â Even the chain stores have better coffee. Â Having said that, the area does have a lot to offer with a "secret garden" feel to it. Â It's fun and relaxing to sit out front and enjoy some time walking around. Â Just don't expect much out of the coffee.
Review Source:Hidden House Coffee is my second home! I LOVE everything about this professionally ran vintage vibe cafe. I was first drawn in a few years ago by the unique historical downtown of Los Rios Street. At the time I was OBSESSED with Chai Lattes and frankly bored of Starbucks weak excuse of a chai... And then something magical happened, I FOUND my Chai Latte miracle. Whether you get it hot, iced or dirty (add a shot of espresso) It is DIVINE.
The lattes aren't the only thing that brought me back weekly at first and then practically daily. The music they play is awesome and the service is even better. My three year old daughter LOVES going (ice cream) Also, there is a really cool park & zoo right around the corner.
OHHHHH!!! AND!!!! About a year ago they added Panini's to the menu... BEST Caprese Panini EVER!! I miss it when I am away and have tried several times to no avail to re-create at home...
This family owned Coffee shop is constantly trying to learn more, do better and figure out what is going to make their customers happy. YOU MUST CHECK IT OUT!!!!
Super cute cafe in Los Rios Historic District of San Juan Capistrano. Parking can be rough on the street, but luckily there is a parking lot behind the street for visitors. I ordered the Vanilla Chai which was made perfectly by the barista! Just what I needed on my quick break from work.
Review Source:In my opinion, what saves this place is the scenery. It was lovely sitting in a tree house- like coffee shop. Very relaxing and quaint. Let's not forget also the beautiful surrounding area of San Juan Capistrano!
Now what sucked about this business was mainly the service. The 2-3 young men who worked there were not the most welcoming and in fact, the person who took my order and rang it up threw the pen at me for me to sign the receipt. To top it off, the other one who handed me my order was completely focused on his pals & chatting them up that I got my hands on my iced latte 10 min too long! It was decent but 10 min for a latte when at the time I was the only customer? Pretty lame.
A cute house just on "the other side of the tracks", it has appeal. Â And pleasant seating inside and out. Â Just the kind of place that we could relax with our Lilly pup. We were looking for a good cuppa Joe and had high hopes.
Inside was quite loud.  Probably an unfortunate mix of rowdies who were competing to be heard, all at the same time.  My dad used to describe people like that as having been "innoculated with a Victrola needle".  That may go over some of your young heads in this day of CD's, but  I have a problem with everyone talking at the same time but not listening.  Definitely a turn off.  I was glad to sit outside where it was peaceful.
That said, how was their house coffee? Â Meh. Â Thin, lacking body. Â Not bad, not great. Â Some people like it that way, but I like it bold. Â I guess I could have asked for a squirt of espresso to add some muscle, but why should I?
I want to give this place 5 stars on the coffee alone. It is by far some of the best coffee I have ever had (The Iced Version) If you are going to have coffee this good you should be able to have your food match. The english muffin I had (with egg etc...) was super heavy on garlic salt or powder or something. It was by no means bad just not balanced. Perhaps this is a one time thing?
Anyway, the iced coffee I had was brewed in a toddy, and for those of you who don't know what that is: a toddy is a method of cold brewing coffee that takes away roughly 60% of coffee's acidity so you can really get a taste of the beans. They cold brew their coffee in a toddy for 24 hours with a mix of sumatra, ethiopian and a secret coffee (or so I'm told) leaving you with something like cold brewed espresso, where you add hot or cold water (in this case ice and cold water) to make a drink. This was such good tasting coffee, that the Hallelujah chorus literally started playing after my first sip. It was sweet, delicious, and all without sugar. I would date it if I could. We would get along famously.
It was hard to find, hence the name, but well worth the look! My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Wish I didn't live so far!
I got a caramel latte here and I can easily say it was the best coffee I've ever had. Not too sweet and not too coffee-ey. I didn't get to try any of the food, though.
The atmosphere was so cute! It's like a little house tucked away in a garden or a forest, and the inside was rustic and sweet.
Great coffee, great ambiance, great food and great service! Definitely a five-star for me. If you're ever in the area, make it a point to go here, you won't regret it.
Take a stroll through historic SJC and find your way to this cute wooden house, nested away near the train station.
This place deserves 4 stars for their espresso. They even make a true macchiato!
This time I enjoyed a soy caramel latte and had to stop myself from making audible sounds of joy (good thing there weren't that many people sitting inside). Â
They have a great outside patio seating area, where you can enjoy having tea or coffee with large groups. The inside seating is a bit more cozy. Although I planned on doing a little studying here, I wouldn't recommend it because the music (although awesome) can be very loud.
They do have food items, but my previous visit I remember getting a scone and it being mediocre at best.
Tip: Find easy parking  at the Los Rios park.
This place is Yelp Crazy!
Their business cards have Yelp tagged all over em! ANYWAYS... this place is a bit remote but isn't too hard to find from the big streets. I'm thinking this place was actually a house that got turned into a coffee shop. After coming into this place, I think it's safe to say that's just the case.
The coffee, service and atmosphere is great! They brew some fresh roasted coffee that has that bitter coffee taste I like. I can see myself on my computer studying w/ my cup of Joe if this place were closer to home. If this place is closeby, I highly recommend checking it out at the very least.
Wife and I were visiting family in Orange County and happened upon this gem in the woods while visiting the Mission. We ended up head back two more times during our visit.
Coffee, service, ambiance: All perfect.
Ordered a dirty chai, mocha, latte and pour over and each was crafted with care by the baristas on duty. I even had great conversation about their beans and roasting and how to get some custom roasted for me all the way back here in Chicago.
Note on Hidden House's espresso blend: They use a medium roast blend of espresso for theirs. Explains why some people feel their espresso drinks are weak. I still love it despite being a dark-as-you-can-get-it kinda guy.
Had a little hiccup with a missing shot of espresso in a dirty chai and asked if they could just throw it in. Â They out cup, made a whole new chai with espresso, and handed it back saying, "We had to make it the right way." Great commitment to quality.
I will be ordering their beans online and visiting there next time we visit California.
Perhaps I'm too spoiled from all the great coffee places I've tried in LA county? Â
After reading such great reviews and seeing the 4 1/2 stars on Yelp, I've decided to give this place a try. Â I love coming over to Los Rios and spending the day in this area with my dogs. Â Everywhere is so dog friendly! Â We sat on their patio area where it felt like sitting at someone's yard. Â Very quaint and homely.
I noticed the Yelp stickers and signs all over this coffee shop. Â I was super excited and had high expectations considering being the winner for BEST coffee. Â I ordered a regular drip coffee and a nonfat latte. Â Prices were reasonable and not too outrageous. Â Since this was a house that was converted into a business, it was like walking into a living room. Â That explains the huge patio seating out in the front. Â
The service was extra friendly and I have to give that 5 stars. Â Since it's family owned, you really are treated like a family member. Â Complete opposite of Starbucks vibe. Â
Now back to the coffee. Â The regular coffee tasted very burnt and acidic. Â Perhaps someone didn't brew the coffee correctly that day? Â Forcibly adding sugar and cream to adjust that bitter taste didn't help either. Â The latte didn't have a strong espresso taste to it. Â Sadly to say, I think I'd had a better tasting latte at Starbucks. Â I hate comparing other coffee places to Starbucks but that's the one place most people can relate in comparison to taste. Â
I've been to many coffee shops that make outrageously amazing designs using the foam on top of the lattes. Â The design on my latte was nothing special...see picture. Â I don't care about the design as long as my latte tastes great. Â HOWEVER, both were mediocre. Â
Perhaps the majority of the reviews are written by customers who haven't been to LA's 10 top cafes. Â If I had to rate this place according to JUST the ambience and location, I'd say 4 stars. Â As for the coffee/latte, it still stands 2-3 stars. Â Did I go on the wrong day? Â I might have to give them another try on my next visit.
So this is what high quality coffee is supposed to taste like...
I can shamefully admit that I've been brain-washed into actually enjoying Starbucks. Â But in my defense, it was purely due to self preservation as they are oftentimes the only readily available source of liquid caffeine in my immediate vicinity. In contrast to Starbucks lattes that are overly sweetened in a poor attempt to conceal their overly-processed, overly-rotten core, Hidden House Coffee, despite their name, shows they have nothing to hide. Â Their lattes are strong but well-balanced like a rugged man who is not ashamed of his feminine side. Â Not too sweet with just a hint of vanilla. Â On top of that, they offer beautiful latte art designs.
I am converted.
Beeeeeeeeeautiful coffee!!!! Â I love hearts and they put cute heart shapes in the coffee!! Â (I know, I know, but it made me very happy!!!) Anyway, I live 2 minutes away and absolutely love coming to this coffee house! Â This is not your neighborhood Starbucks, if you are looking for 'original' and a place with lots of character (ahem, hearts in your coffee ... :D) this is the place to be!!
I bought some coffee to take home and brew for later and the Guatamalan roast smelled so insanely good that my friend bought some after I did!! Â It was amazing and her purse smelled like dreamy coffee all morning!!
I LOVE This place.
It's rare you find a place that actually makes really really really good coffee. It's been a long time since I tasted coffee that was so expertly and excellently made. There really is a difference between (ok/passable coffee like from Starbucks) and really good coffee made by an expert barista here.
I was so happy to find this place.
Excellent service and just fantastically made coffee drinks. So So good!!!
LOVE this place! So quaint and chic at the same time. Service was A+++. Really attentive and accommodating. Felt right at home. Food was generous servings, yummy and tasted home cooked. You have to try the tri tip... amazing!
Also big on clean restrooms and theirs was spic & span. Being that it serves both men & women, this is HUGE! :)
Yes, definitely coming back!
I was pretty excited when we spotted Hidden House Coffee right across from the Amtrak tracks.
"Look! We must stop there!" ...and I dragged my friends into a small looking house that oozed happy thoughts. I scanned the small menu ...
mainly a few coffees, teas, cocoa and snacks. Oh and dreyer's ice cream.
I opted for their reg iced latte (~$3.50) ... I knew I would be paying more simply because of the location. Sad to say, I didn't even finish the latte because it was so watered down.
Hidden House is a wonderful little place to hang out, but I'd probably want to get my drink on at Starbucks across the way (at least, for now).
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