Contra Coffee & Tea: Your Trendy Café Destination in Orange, CA

Cried in the parking lot - twice! First time I cried because I couldn’t find parking. But I kept trying and finally found a spot. Second time I cried was when I left this coffee shop because I was so happy at finding such a good coffee!!! Serious wow! Coconut pandan Vietnamese-style iced coffee topped with puffed rice and toasted coconut. This is a dreamy coffee! I can’t wait to come back to try every coffee here!! Next time I won’t cry.

Hidden Gem! We got the Goldrush which is a Vietnamese coffee very flavorful different than other drinks we have tasted. The other is the contra blanc a very delightful treat and not over powering in flavor.

Contra is a delightful neighborhood staple. It's not your average coffee shop, though. All of the drinks are iced and on tap, so if you want something hot or more traditional, you'll have to look elsewhere. But if you want a sweet treat, and a cozy, stylish place to sit and avail yourself of the Wi-Fi, this is the place to do it. The staff is phenomenal, too. I've been coming here so regularly now that one of the baristas sees me walk in and automatically makes my usual drink for me. It's a sweet touch that I really appreciate. My one gripe is that seating availability can be tricky, depending on the time of day or just the ebb and flow of the Chapman exam schedule. I've definitely gotten a seat right before a rush, though, so it all comes out in the wash. Just be prepared to sit on a bench or wander a bit if you're with another person (check out Resident Vinyl or M. Lovewell in the back while you wait!). I appreciate that nobody is in a hurry to kick you out (it's very European, in that regard), although I try to buy something every couple of hours if I'm really lingering. They also take cash, which I appreciate, although you might need exact change in the afternoon. Overall, Contra is fantastic. If you want something sweet and iced, and maybe a place to rest a bit and sit on your laptop, don't pass it by! P.S. Get the dirty horchata!

This place is cool! It has a record shop inside, good seating options that I imagine fill up quickly given its popularity. A hub for the community, some great artwork inside as well, and of course some great drinks on offer. They even offer flights to help you work through the wide selection they offer. Not the biggest range of food on offer, but that's not why you go here, it's the social and the drinks.

Spring is here, and so are the specialty drinks, and boy did contra not disappoint. My first time here, the outside to the cafe is very simple and kind of hard to miss. But once inside , it is very well furnished. There’s so much room to just sit down and enjoy your coffee and relax. There’s a vinyl records store and a pen shop located inside as well! There is kind of a perfumed scent , but I think it was the air fresheners they sell by the line/register I ordered the cocoa butter kisses (earl grey dark chocolate mocha) and I was blown away. The flavor was this chocolatey amazing explosion. This is one of those times the flavor takes over the coffee, but it’s definitely a good thing! It definitely had me wanting me another, can’t wait to visit this place again!

1. The Gold Rush is their style of the Vietnamese iced coffee, so it was strong and delicious! 2. The spot has fun casual vibes with a spacious interior! 3. The staff was friendly and timely with my order! It was ready in less than 5 mins! Note: There is a restroom available for customers! Photo: Gold Rush

Contra Coffee in Orange is amazing! I got the coffee flight along with a matcha, and everything was so delicious—perfectly crafted and full of flavor. The vibes were great, and Chris was incredibly helpful and friendly, making the experience even better. You can tell they really care about quality and customer service. Definitely a must-visit spot if you’re in the area. I’ll for sure be coming back!

Contra Coffee is a fantastic spot located at the Orange Traffic Circle. Their coffee on tap is quick and delicious, and the spacious interior regularly hosts events, including small market pop-ups. I’m looking forward to returning for their themed coffee events, like the Lunar New Year and Valentine's specials. The friendly staff—Julia, Blue(i think i got her name right?), and Marvin—were especially quick to help with my drink orders. Don't expect hot coffee drinks as this is not that kind of place which is fine for me as i enjoy cold brews and tea.