Bear Coast Coffee

We stayed at the hotel above the restaurants and I tried this the last morning of our trip. So glad I did! The service was so good and the shop has cute merch. I got the vanilla nutmeg latte and it was amazing! Took it across the street to the beach and drank it while walking in the water. They open at 6 so that was convenient for this early riser.

Cute coffee shop located in front of the San Clemente Pier. The storefront seating offers breathtaking ocean views. Great coffee, great prices, and very friendly staff.

Had an iced vanilla nutmeg cold brew—lightly sweet, perfectly balanced. Paired it with a chia pudding made with almond milk, almond butter, honey, and fresh berries. Everything was fresh and just sweet enough without being overdone. Sat outside facing the ocean, right by the pier. Perfect weather, peaceful view, and honestly the best way to start the morning. Great plant-based options!!

So I found another Bear Coast Coffee in San Clemente. A name I still don’t understand as I doubt anyone has ever seen a bear on any of these beaches. Well maybe Pizarro did. It's right next to Caterina’s but I give them five stars. That's all of them. And like the military I don't give them out easily. Last time I gave five stars was to an airport bathroom that had both soap AND paper towels. I've become obsessed with their dark chocolate mocha. Like, legitimately concerned about myself. I'm drinking it and thinking, "This is California so there must be something else in here that’s not legal in other states." I've started planning my entire week next week around getting another one. My girlfriend asked what I wanted to do for our anniversary, and I just showed her a picture of this mocha on my phone. Just kidding I don’t have a girlfriend which is why I write reviews. The girls that work there are all rock 'n' roll. I don't really know what that means, but they have cool tattoos and piercings and colored hair and seem like they're in bands and hang out in places I wouldn’t be allowed in. Meanwhile, I'm standing there in my New Balance shoes trying to look casually cool while holding my mocha with sweaty hands trying not to spill it because if they had added one more drop of coffee the entire place would have flooded. The location... I mean, it couldn't get any better unless they built it on the actual beach, which would be a terrible idea because of tides and stuff. But it's close enough that you can smell the ocean while you're drinking your cup’a joe. At one point I was sitting outside, and a seagull flew by and looked like it wanted to cream my coffee. So I went back inside and awkwardly tried to talk to the girls about MMA. I tried to find something wrong with this place to seem more balanced in my review. The best I could come up with was that the cups aren't bigger. I would swim in this dark chocolate mocha if they offered it. I'd need a snorkel, but I'd do it. So yeah, five stars. If they had six stars as an option, I'd give it six stars. But they don't. So... five.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Cute little coffee shop right in front of the San Clemente Pier. I absolutely loved that they had a house made almond milk. We tried a flat white and iced matcha latte as well as an almond milk latte and chocolate chip cookies. Drinks were perfect and cookies were delicious also. Staff was super nice as well so we had such a good experience and highly recommend this cafe. They have a breakfast menu as well so will try to stop in earlier in the day next time we’re in town.

My first time here for coffee. It was really hot and stuffy in this coffee shop. Stopped by on a Saturday morning. Really crowded. This shop is really small. Limited space outside with a few tables. I ordered a regular latte. Delicious!

Cozy coffee shop with minimal indoor seating, more seating outdoors. I seek out cappuccinos in every new town I visit and I was so delighted with my perfectly prepared drink. It was top notch. I left my wallet there and they kindly kept it for me until the next day!

My order is very specific and not even on the menu, Jack was able to create the perfect drink for me during a busy hour with a line out the door. I was served professionalism and a welcoming smile. Truly brightened my day, always a pleasure going to Bearcoast.

the best house made almond milk around! staff are friendly. my favorite coffee shop in south OC

Bear Coast Coffee in San Clemente is a must-visit! I had a delicious vanilla latte that was absolutely divine, and an equally delicious tasting pistachio croissant which was flaky and packed with flavor. This spot is clearly a local favorite, bustling with energy on a Saturday morning. It's just steps from the beach, making it ideal for a post-surf coffee and pastry! The inside is quite small, leading to a long line that wraps outside, but the atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming! The service definitely could be friendlier, especially given the busy rush, but the quality of the drinks and pastries made up for it. Whether you're a local or just visiting, Bear Coast Coffee is a great place to enjoy a tasty treat in a charming beach town. Highly recommend!!

Great location - can see the beach and people watch - and friendly staff but the coffee was entirely forgettable. There's some seating outside (a big plus!) and they do have a bathroom on site for customers so you can avoid the beach public restrooms. However, I'd recommend getting a coffee on the Main Street and walking down with it instead.

Stopped in after a fun filled day spent in San Clemente to grab an iced tea for my drive home. I ordered the herbal ginger plum iced tea and it was outstanding. I wish we had more Bear Coast Coffees in other parts of OC closer to where I live and work because I would be a regular to get this iced tea! I believe the Chaupain bakery locations that I am also a huge fan of carry Bear Coast Coffee so I'll have to check if they also have this tea too! This location is right in the heart of San Clemente across from the pier. If you're in the area pop in for a beverage.

I have been a huge fan of Bear Coast ever since they were in the Cellar up the street. Their quality is unmatched and one of the highlights of San Clemente. I love their house made almond milk and the lavender syrup. Everything is spectacular and you really can't go wrong with any menu item. It is a bustling location so you may choose to grab and walk with your drink.

The location is nice if you want to have a drink in front of the beach but the coffee isn't anything special. It is very overpriced. My horchata latte just tasted like a regular coffee. I would save your money.

I loved my horchata latte. I felt the price for alternative milk was expensive. $1.25 for almond milk. Not sure if this is a CA thing but back in AZ this is steep. Location is great, right across the peer and next to other shops. Food menu is small. I would have given them a 5 star cuz I did like my coffee but I think they shouldn't up charge that much for alternative milks.

Cool spot, prime location adjacent to the beach, we decided to get coffee here on a Sunday AM. I ordered an Americano which I enjoyed. Latte flavours seemed overly complex. Outdoor seating overlooked the pier. I'd recommend.

Bear Coast coffee is my go-to coffee spot when I'm in San Clemente or on my way down to SD. I always make sure to stop here to get coffee! The coffee is so good and so flavorful and they make it just right! Even just a hot americano tastes so delicious when they make it! Service is incredible and it's fast and I love the beach vibe they have! Their pastries are also very good but they sell out pretty quickly! Highly recommend!

This is a really busy cafe close to the pier with friendly staff but the coffees we got were just average (vanilla nutmeg latte, cappuccino). There are a few tables and seats outside that face the ocean - would recommend spending time out there!

I mean....coffee with a view forsure! They have some outdoor seating and you can see the ocean while enjoy your latte, what can be better. I love how they make their own almond milk, it tasted really fresh. I wish their espresso was a bit stronger, my latte was a little milky. I'll need to get a quad shot next time.

Love Bear Coast coffee! Great staff. Plus they make really good drinks. Way better than Starbucks.

Great location. It's right along the beach so you get awesome views of the San Clemente Pier. The staff were nice. The inside is small but there are more tables outside. I was a little disappointed in the coffee. We ordered an iced vanilla nutmeg latte. It had a sour taste to it and not much flavor. This spot is convenient but I don't think I'd go out of my way for the coffee.

There is not a single thing that isn't delicious or amazing about this coffee shop. We visit every year and walk down to Bear Coast almost every single day for the coffee, food, kindness, and views.

Always love the early morning vibe. Steady buzz. Smoothe coffee. Soft tunes. Friendly staff.

I rooted for Bear Coast Coffee! But after this visit, I don't see myself visiting the flagship for a drink anymore. Pros, the bags of coffee sold are dated and packed within the past week, a huge perk of those of us who enjoy trying out local roasts at home. The team of baristas were nice enough, but the latte I received was subpar. I ordered a pumpkin latte that tasted like a glass of milk flavored with pumpkin and a perfume spray of coffee. The pumpkin flavoring was delightful, but the espresso pull and ratio to milk killed my enthusiasm. Unfortunately for me, I was trying to catch the train and didn't have the time to ask the barista about the quality of my latte, which was the same off white color as my apartment walls.

Really great coffee. The line can be long, but be patient! As with all things, you will get through this. THE DRINKS DRUNK. - Vanilla Nutmeg Latte | Sweet vanilla with nutmeg notes and a frothy heart to make you feel loved. This is pretty damn good. - Cortado | It's espresso with milk in a smaller cup. Quite strong, so be ready for that hit of caffeine (coming from a person who can fall asleep after drinking coffee). THE VIBE EVOCATION. Clean and modern vibes. There are a few tables inside, but there are more tables and a bar countertop sitting outside. Most importantly, the beach has plenty of seating... go sit there and enjoy the waves crashing onto the shore. THE PARKING AFFAIR. Parking is on the street and metered. There's an open parking lot a short walk away and you also have to pay there too. In either scenario, finding an open spot can be difficult, even in the morning hours. We luckily found a car leaving on the street right next to the restaurant and snatched it quickly. Parking lot and street parking is $1.50/hour from 9AM - 5PM. They also have a trolley service which is free, but you'll need to check the San Clemente website to figure out the run times. THE RETURN QUANDARY. I'd like to return one day and try some of their other drinks. We did buy a bag of coffee (Signature) to brew at home and it was quite tasty!

I try stopping here when I'm going between SD and LA if I have time to chill and relax. The space itself is a bit small, but they move the line quite efficiently and food usually comes out quickly. All the team members have been nothing but nice every time I've been here. They also have a solid hoodie that I wear from time to time.

Came here for the first time and got the vanilla nutmeg latte and pistachio croissant - both were delicious! Love that it's also located right across from the beach with seats indoors and outdoors for those who want to relax with their coffee. Giving 4 stars instead of 5 because when I went in again the next day, my latte was less flavorful and more milky. Figured it was just a one-off, so I'm still coming back nonetheless!

Good lattes! Would love to see more food options without eggs or meat. It's right by the San Clemente Pier so it gets busy often.

Had the ginger plum tea today and it was just what I needed, really refreshing. I like that they have real honey vs the syrup a lot of other coffee houses have. They make their own almond milk, and their coffees look pretty awesome! Easy five stars.

We will definitely be back! We got the dark chocolate mocha, guava cheese turnover, pistachio croissant, vanilla nutmeg latte, and an espresso shot. First and foremost, the service was awesome. Everyone was so friendly and the staff really seemed to get along which made it all the more pleasant. The drinks were perfect, smooth, flavors weren't overwhelming and the coffee was still at the forefront of each drink. The highlight, though, was the pastries. Seriously incredible. They were flaky and soft and moist and everything you want in a pastry. Hands down the best pastries i've ever had at a coffee shop. Thanks for the great experience!

During the warmer months, we often frequent San Clemente because we love the coffee shop on the beach - though we've been less frequent this year due to a new puppy. Today, however, Marie AMAZED me. This was our first visit since last September when we stayed there for our anniversary, yet she remembered my name and who we were after past conversations! I always look for her beautiful moth tattoo and hope she's there, but it was such a pleasant surprise when she recognized us and greeted me by name without any prompting other than a mutual "recognizing eachother" moment. Marie not only ensures the team consistently delivers an excellent cup of coffee but also makes genuine connections with customers even when they're purely seasonal. We had a delightful conversation about her passion for coffee and Bear Coast customers. The fact that she recognized us after almost a year was incredible proof of that and very touching. Marie is exactly the reason why we always make it a point to come to Bear Coast the second we're in San Clemente. I love seeing her so much! Bear Coast is incredibly fortunate to have Marie, and I felt compelled to leave this review to share our consistently wonderful experience!

The view and apple tart were nice.. I've got nothing on the customer service , it was brief they were pretty slammed Sat morning. We ordered the Pumpkin latte with recommended almond milk,The milk flavor overpowered the entire latte. The other was a lavender caramel latte w oat milk, no flavors of either came through nothing but 2 shots and oat milk. 3 stars is for location only.

This. Is. The. Spot. We had coffee here every morning during our stay in SC and this place doesn't miss! The lavender caramel latte is next level good and the stuff is incredible. Must go!!

Not very many drinks to choose from, but I guess it's good if you want something basic. I got an iced lemongrass green tea, very refreshing. Staff seem nice, very small shop.

I tried the unsweetened Organic Matcha Latte. It was fine but I think I prefer my iced matcha a little sweeter. Customer service was prompt.

Took the free San Clemente trolley to the pier, and saw this coffee shop. It's across the street from the San Clemente pier and has an amazing ocean/beach view. The location and view is 5 stars for sure. There's a food menu with avocado toast, oatmeal, parfaits, etc. But we just had crepes nearby, next time we'll give the food a try, the prices seemed very fair. The service was normal, and the drinks were prepared pretty quick. Had the lavender latte, and it was pretty mellow. Pretty standard for a lavender drink. Curious about their stronger stuff, will come back and try! Nice surfer bear on the cup, and high quality cup sleeves, lol.

Friendly and fast service. I had a delicious latte that was made to perfection. The atmosphere is very quaint.

There is a line to get in, so thats how you know Bear Coast is the place to be to get coffee. The place is small with limited seating but mostly everyone gets their coffee to go. But they do have wi-fi, merchandise, a bathroom, and they make their own coffee beans, which I will get next time. The line moved pretty quickly while i decided what to order from the menu. I decided to try the Horchata Latte and the oatmeal and berries. Oatmeal and berries - it was steel cut oats with raspberries and blue berries with honey (?) and this was surprisingly fresh. I thought it would be prepackaged but no, it was really good and worth the $5. It makes a good side dish. Horchata latte - i will give this one a 4.5. I dont know if they use syrup, but at one point i tasted a clump of syrup. I think next time i'll just get a regular latte. It was still good. Hence 4.5. Overall, I would highly reccomend this place if you are visiting San Clemente.

Just not my cup of tea. The lavender vanilla latte was beyond sour. Pricey and didn't deliver unfortunately. BUT it was very busy in there, so it could be a me problem!

Let's keep yelp real!!! Good coffee in an ideal location along the OC Coast. This is our must stop coffee shop when passing by San Clemente. Cute coffee shop across the street from the ocean, difficult to beat that. I've had quite a bit of their coffee options over the years and have never had a bad experience. The service is great, especially considering they are always busy. For me the coffee is not quite the selling point, its always good not great, but darn a warm coffee on the bar stools overlooking the water is great.

While I love supporting local, independent businesses and I know that inflation is a a thing - there's a "c'mon, REALLY" extreme to some things. The tea I have been ordering twice a week, usually, for the past three years went from $3.50 to $6.00. (I used to leave $1 tip, so it would be $4.50). Yeah, no. While I love the Kilogram tea they use, I suppose I'll be taking the extra time to make my tea at home before I do my beach walks in the morning moving forward. Looks like I'll also be giving away my three Bear thermoses and two cups. Any takers? PS- Even though I despise Starbucks, even their Venti breakfast tea with two teabags and steamed milk is less than $6.

Macchiato needed a bit more foam, but the cup still gave me a good jolt anyways. The coffee is nice and strong.

It's giving too cool for school vibes. But their coffee is great. I mainly go here for the expresso shots, because that's all I like to drink. straight to the point. The beans are roasted nicely and it is a very robust blend they carry. The service is okay. They aren't very bubbly or in your face nice. They just take your order and onto the next. They allow doggos to come inside. I noticed people getting breakfast, but not sure exactly what they offer. If you're looking for a quick pick me up , this is your spot.

Nice little spot to stop at for some good coffee and a quick bite to accompany your time at the beach. A solid latte and a nice view after a morning run on the beach is all I need. Service was great too, the cashier was so sweet, made the start to my day even better!

Cute little coffee shop in a well-populated area. Came here with the a friend recently. The flat white was good although I wish it was a bit hotter. The drink didn't stay warm for very long. Good flavor, not too strong and they froth the milk perfectly. Friendly staff too! I'll have to stop in again next time I'm up there!

Absolutely awful coffee! Perhaps one of the worst coffees I've ever had. I tried the lavender caramel latte and the orange dream latte, and both had ZERO flavor!!! They tasted more like milk than anything. Incredibly disappointing. I would NOT recommend it to a friend. 0 out of 10 rating.

great coffee!! stunning views!! small place minimal food. decided on the seasonal pumpkin spice latte iced with pumpkin foam. unfortunetly i dont live close

I love this place. It's pet and kid friendly with a perfect view of the San Clemente Pier. Coffee is good and friendly Staff.

Close to the beach. Basic coffee essentials & coffee is strong. Love the Bear theme, overall cute place & nice staff. Doors were not wheelchair accessible, had to ask to have the other half of the doorway opened to get in. slight hill to get into coffee shop.

I got the lavender latte, it was super delicious and creamy. A must have if you go here. Staff were pretty friendly and provided us great service. Ambiance is super cool and the location is in a great spot.

Friendly staff, delicious coffee and great prices! I found Bear Coast Coffee after randomly pulling off the highway in search of my early morning coffee fix. I grabbed a large drip coffee and headed out for a walk on the beach. I stopped back in after my walk for a discounted refill and a big coffee cup to use at home. I'll be back next time I'm in the area!

Nice Cappuccino , love the location , we could walk around the ocean while having the coffee. This our second time here

Coffee was off the hook, very nice service, definitely recommended. Had a nice pastry too.

Favorite coffee shop in OC Got the cold chocolate Tips: -power outlet by the bin Cant beat that view

Love Bear coast!! The staff were so kind, hospitable and easy to talk to. This bear coast is right across from the beach and the pier. The outdoor seating overlooks the view of the beach. It's a perfect place to go on a day where the weather is nice and you'd like to take a walk around. The iced lavender caramel latte was refreshing. We ordered the avocado toast. The bread was amazing and fresh! Kinda crispy but perfect balance for what I wanted. And of course the avocado spread was nice too. I ordered the lavender Great place that I haven't been to in a while. I hope to be back sooner than later this time!

Don't bother the coffee is watered down. There isn't much flavor. Look for another coffee place it more convenience that it's right here.

The staff is not friendly a gentleman took my order and was not very helpful at all and was not helpful. The coffee was pretty bad it taste like milk and cinnamon I couldn't even drink it I was chocking on all the cinnamon. The location is super convenient by the beach but would not recommend.. go next door to the gelato shop they have coffee and are super sweet