Chapresso

We loved the drinks and service. Not very busy. Very few indoor seating. Some tables outside. Good place to grab boba drinks and socialize with friends. Barley Black Tea: 4.5/5 Iced Hojicha Latte: 4.5/5

The store is a bit small but there is ample seating outside. There is also a lot of great options. Both of my drinks were great and both the guy behind the cash register and the two people working the floor making the drinks were helpful and kind at all times. 10/10

Matcha was good. I got the matcha with mango pure (right). I asked for light ice but wasn’t given any ice and my drink wasn’t all that cold but the flavor was there. There was only one person working so it took about 15 minutes for us to get our 2 drinks. The matcha was not bad but it definitely was not the best considering my drink wasn’t cold and for almost $10 a drink, there are plenty of other matcha places in LA that is significantly better.

The drinks were not as good I ordered a milk tea but it was bitter. Maybe because I ordered less sugar but I still don’t think it should be bitter. It was also warm, so was my friends drink. But the vibes in there was cute and nice and the workers were nice too

The store was bright and clean. I ordered a hot Matcha Latte. It was good and had an earthy flavor, but it wasn't very hot. A bit expensive but I guess it's to be expected for ceremonial grade matcha. They weren't busy so I only waited a few minutes.

We were excited to a new milk tea place that sued those specialized espresso machines for fresh tea. I ordered the Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea at 75% sweetness and less ice. The drink came out slightly watered down and disappointed me on the tea flavor. My friends ordered other Milk Teas and noted the same. Hopefully it was a bad day and we will have to try it again.

11/30/2024 - This is indeed a premium beverages store you will enjoy either sitting down at a patio or To Go. The teas are tasteful with optional choices of a sugar amount. Staffers are friendly.

I love to support a small business and this place had potential, but a few things missed the mark for me. The only positive was the bright minimalist interior that gave it a more sophisticated vibe. They was no blaring music or sticky seats. However, it is extremely tight inside leaving no room for me than 3 people to order and wait. The menu is also very limited. I ordered a fruit tea with lychee, sweetened at 100%. There were only 3 flavor choices. It tasted quite heavy. The tea seemed to be steeped too long, leaving it muddy reducing the sweetness level to about 25%. Perhaps it's due to the "pulled tea" method...not sure, but with so many shops serving a variety of quality drinks and choices, I'll likely pass on coming back to this place.

Hidden gem. Amazing tea!! I absolutely love the iron goddess and phoenix oolong milk tea here. Their tea is so strong and perfect even when it is a milk tea. Highly recommend 50% sweet for perfect sweetness and strong tea taste. I love this place (:

Came here again within the same week to get the Matcha Latte without the strawberry this time and it was so much better. Again, this is not the creamiest matcha latte but the matcha taste itself is very earthy and yummy. How matcha should taste. Hopefully they can expand their matcha menu to include a cream top drink or something now that their matcha has been all over tiktok. We also got the Barley Black Milk Tea which was good as well. The service was still very lackluster, every time I come inside theres never a greeting or acknowledgment and everyone working looks so tired and barely speaks to you.

9.8/10 If you are fans of Chicha San Chian(吃茶三千) or fan of Matcha(Japanese style green tea), or Island Aroma(Alhambra),please stop by this place you will thank me later. Once you step into the shop, you smell the authentic tea aroma(oolong tea) they use the similar tea brewing machine as 吃茶三千。Instead of brew a whole jar of tea, they brew a small patch tea right after your order. So the tea is sooooo fresh that you can taste the after taste of the sweetness on your taste bud and your nasol. I ordered icedMatcha latte and fresh brewed Phoenix oolong tea. I love the Matcha much more than oolong tea. There match powder is premium ceremonial level(they marked on their menu). You can taste the grain - nut smell and mixed with the fresh grass and the sweetness from milk. The grain-nut flavor( like hazel nut) is like a bridge to connected harmoniously the Matcha and milk flavor togather. The store interior design is clean and bright fresh. They have space for party of two. Girl talks or quiet talk. You can find the place in their patio or in store. Their interior tone looks like 吃茶三千。 their service is quick. overall, I will come back to explore more tea and try the Matcha latte again. Again, I really wish they can stay for long long time. If you live in San Mariono, Pasadena, Arcadia or San Gabriel, you must visit this place.

A boba shop open at 10AM?!?! Who would have thought? Chapresso will be my go-to for a quick pick me up before work! As a boba-connoisseur, I had to try this place for their strong teas and excellent service. I got their Gyokuro with 25% sweet and it was bold and sharp. My friend got their Phoenix and Iron Goddess Milk Teas, pure delicious! I especially love how they allow us to smell their various tea leaves, which helped me decide. Also their boba is cooked to perfect and not too sweet! There's plenty of back street parking, swing by for your early boba fix!

Rating: 9.4/10 My current favorite boba/drink place in the 626! Cute interior, amazing solid drinks, and not overly crowded! I've been coming to Chapresso regularly since a friend recommended it to me a few months ago. My go-to drink: 1) Matcha Latte 75% sweetness: Rich and strong matcha flavor that is just perfectly sweet. I've tried it with boba twice and feel like the honey in the boba overpowers the matcha. I love it as is with 75% sweetness! So so good, hand-whisked, and one of my favorite matcha places (and I just came back from Japan, this drink is on par with matcha in Japan)! I've had the hojicha latte, which is also delicious, and I want to try more of their drinks! I just can't stop myself from choosing matcha every time. Such a hidden gem, and I highly recommend everyone come and try Chapresso!

The iced matcha latte hit the spot. Definitely appreciated the service because I must have looked confused. He was explain to explain their least to most caffeinated tea, but still went with matcha. Thankful for outside seating, but beware of school getting out. It got a bit loud, but nothing headphones couldn't fix.

One of the best high-quality boba shops around in the 626! I love my teas extra strong, and Chapresso did not disappoint! You can smell the tea right when you enter the shop, and they have the tea leaves at the register where you can smell the different aromas. Both the Iron Goddess Oolong Milk Tea and Mango Green Tea were delicious and the flavors of the tea really come through. I opted for 100% sweet and it was the perfect level for me. The boba was soft and chewy, although could have been a tad bit sweeter. The shop is pretty small without any tables to sit at, but there are a few available outside. There are plenty of parking spots on the street. Service was quick for freshly brewed, made-to-order teas. It was nice to be able to order at the kiosk and take a look at all the pictures of their menu. Will definitely be back again for my boba fix!

This was my second time coming here and it has always been great! I came during their one year anniversary where they had a bogo deal. It was saturday around 1pm and the wait wasn't super long, about 15 minutes. I was able to smell the different samples of tea before I ordered, and I decided on the iron goddess oolong milk tea. The tea tasted super fresh and I liked how milky the drink was. I regret not going for large since the regular size was pretty small. Nonetheless, this place has really good teas!

This place has one of the best teas I've had in a while! There's definitely a lot of competition in 626, but this is the first boba shop I have noticed in San Marino, everything is freshly brewed and their matcha is ceremonial. You can tell everything is good quality. If you have ever tried Orobae in Irvine that closed down, I would personally say this is the closest to that with their Phoenix Milk Tea. I only tried the Iron Goddess and Matcha Latte here at Chapresso and both were amazing. I will be back to try their other teas!

Use to be one of my favorite tea shops but they no longer use sugarcane to sweeten their drinks. After swapping to normal cane sugar, it no longer has the same taste and doesn't "hit" the same.

Upon entering, the tea aroma hits you instantly. They have these espresso-like machines which you can watch them pull the tea from. This was pretty cool to watch. I got the Phoenix oolong tea and it was pretty good. I like that the "less ice" option really is actually less ice. They have some indoor and outdoor seating. There's some street parking that is easier than the traditional parallel parking.

came to try the gyokuro milk tea and it was so good! this is the only place in 626 that i know of with gyokuro tea which i really like for its floral flavor. it is very tea forward but not bitter, less milky and a thinner mouthfeel compared to other milk teas but it allows the tea flavor to really come through. staff said the regular sweetness is like a typical place's 75% so we went 100% & it was perfect for me. 5pm on sat- no wait time, drink ready in less than 5 min. plenty of parking at the front along huntington dr for $6 it's on the pricier side but their tea quality and flavors are very good so i would come back to try other speciality teas on another occasion.

Love this place. This is our staple drink place in the 626. They use lactose-free milk so those with sensitive stomachs and dietary needs can enjoy! Personal favorite is the Iron Goddess Oolong Tea, with Jasmine Green Tea and Phoenix Oolong as close seconds. Worth noting, most places I need to get 50% sugar, but here I get the full 100 and it tastes fantastic. Service is fanastic and quick. The store is small and has a bit of seating, but there's plenty outside in the general area. Parking is a breeze and there's a very safe and comfortable walk along the entire sidewalk area.

This place brews their tea fresh, with each drink made to order. As soon as you walk in, you can smell the tea. I tried their most popular Iron Goddess Oolong tea, but was a bit disappointed--it tasted watered down and lacked the rich tea flavor I was expecting. It could have been an off day but it wasn't busy. I'm not sure if I'd return.

Been here a couple of times and their teas are quality. Can confirm jasmine green tea and the oolong tea are both solid. This time I tried the matcha latte because someone recommended and I'd say 3.5/5. Matcha had clumps and was not whisked well. I would stick to the other teas here. Service is great and fast all the times I've come in. Their ordering kiosk is great and easy to use. Shop itself is very small so if there's more than 4-5 people inside, it starts to feel claustrophobic. Free parking along Huntington Dr but a major pain to reverse out if there's traffic.

this might be my new favorite tea place. Similar to Chi Cha San, they also uses a machine and make their tea as you ordered. BUT there's no line!!! the line for Chi Cha San is just ridiculous. I live in NorCal so Chapresso is not easily accessible for me. This is my first time trying it and because this is a one time visit for me till perhaps in the summer, i ordered three drinks: Jasmine milk tea (75% sweetness, less ice) w/ boba; Iron Goddess Milk Tea (75% sweetness, less ice) and Phoenix Milk Tea (50% sweetness). They all had very good strong tea flavor, but out of the three my favorite one is the Iron Goddess. If you like potent floral-ness of jasmine milk tea, this is the one for you! the boba however isn't the best. The phoenix tea, perhaps it's because 50% sweetness, i found it the most bland. With 50% of sugar, I would think more of the oolong flavor would come out, however i find that the tea isn't as strong as the other two. One thing i wish they do use is fresh milk. I'd come back for their Iron Goddess Milk Tea.

A MUST !!! Coming from a matcha lover, this is honestly the best matcha. I don't go to the 626 often, but when I do, I always have to stop here. The intensity and quality of matcha is amazing, sweetness is adjustable (I'd recommend 75%), and color is bright and beautiful. There's never a ton of ppl when I go, so I'd only wait a few minutes. Highly recommend for the matcha lovers!!

Freshly brewed teas, ceremonial matcha, and more! You really can't go wrong with this local hidden gem. While they've been around for just a year I've definitely made my rounds here as much as possible. Love their milk tea selections and matcha lattes for sure but their menu is pretty sweet and simple that they've honed in on all of them for a great taste. Definitely in my routine to pick up a drink here when I'm in the area!

(+) Hojicha Latte (+) Iron Goddess Chapresso is a bubble tea shop that specializes in hand brewed, and made to order teas. They do not serve coffee; trust me, I was asking myself that question too. Instead, every drink is hand crafted and there are toppings to choose from such as honey boba, mango jelly, lychee jelly etc. They use 100% sugar cane as their sweetener. Drinks can be ordered hot but only in the 16 oz size. Drinks: In my two visits, I ordered the hojicha latte and iron goddess, which is an oolong milk tea. What I enjoyed about the hojicha latte was the quality of the tea and it was the perfect sweetness at 50%. I ordered it with honey boba. I liked the boba because it was soft and chewy. I also thought the iron goddess drink was also a great choice if you are looking for something strong and toasty. Ambiance: Very clean inside and the staff is kind and welcoming. There are tables outside to enjoy your drinks and catch up with friends for example. Overall, I recommend Chapresso for your tea needs and desires. The quality of tea and taste separate them from most the competition. Do yourself a favor and try them out if you have not already.

Iced Genmaicha Latte(5/5): I thought the drink was nutty and delicious! I didn't make any adjustments but I didn't need to because it was perfect! Service(5/5): They welcomed us right as we walked in and we didn't wait long for our drinks! Overall, definitely a place I would come to again!

Waited an hour for the anniversary BOGO. There was only one register but many staff working to prepare the drinks. Since there was no soy milk option for milk, I went with the fruit tea with lychee jelly. The jelly had the right amount chewiness. There's very limited seating inside. There's plenty amount of street parking in front of the place.

I like their Phoenix oolong milk teas and their matcha! Free street parking out front. Order on the tablet or at the front.

[ Drink ] Their milk teas are still good. I've tried their Strawberry Tea (no caffeine) and it was alright. The Grapefruit Green Tea's good though. Usually elsewhere I'd have to get a lower sugar level, but for Chapresso I noticed that 100% is "not too sweet" fyi. [ Service ] Their customer service has kind of declined, maybe only when the owner's not there?

FINALLY had a chance to try Chapresso after hearing my friend highly recommend this place and seeing it on IG as well. They were openly decently late on a Friday evening and since we were going through the area, we had to swoop in! The parking in front is kinda dicey though, I gotta admit since it's a super busy road you have to back out of later, but that's more of the location than anything. You can order from their kiosk or from the worker and they brew all of their teas when you order, so you know everything is fresh, similar to how Chicha San Chen does it. There's also a point system for future discounts here too once you've accumulated enough. I got the Phoenix Oolong milk tea and it's exactly as the drink description describes. It's a slightly floral and honey taste with an orchid aroma. With less ice and 75% sweet this was the perfect level for me. The milk tea was nice and smooth and the tea taste is there too without being overpowering. Really enjoyed my drink and would love to come back and try more of their menu, maybe even grab some of the baked pastries that they have there too.

This is one of my favorite spots for quality tea in the SGV along with Chicha sanchen because of their freshly brewed teas. I love when my teas are strong and Chapresso definitely hit the spot for me. They close at 9pm and I felt bad coming in 10 mins before they closed, but the workers were really nice to take our orders. They have outdoor seating and nice outdoor lighting at night. My favorite tea was their Iron Goddess Oolong milk tea because I enjoyed the strong oolong flavor. They use non-dairy creamer as their milk so it had a good consistency that was slightly frothy and creamy and didn't have an overpowering milk flavor. I got it 50% sweet and thought it was the perfect amount of sweetness. I also tried their Barley Black tea and the Gyokuro green tea and both were good, although not as strong in the tea flavor as the iron goddess oolong. Overall I enjoyed the teas here and would definitely come back again also to try their matcha americano since they seem to use ceremonial grade matcha and I love a strong matcha.

Solid place in San Marino for some tea. Street parking is available on Huntington. Staff is always super friendly. I've come a few times before but came this time to try the iced hojicha latte. I would come back again for this latte!! There's no bitter aftertaste and the ratio of milk to whisked hojicha was great! Their teas are sometime hit or miss (not as consistent with tea flavor vs. creamy flavor) but overall - it's still good tea if you want more tea flavor than a regular boba place. There are two seats and a bench inside, and some outdoor patio seating. Interior is nice and clean but small. Really love the white/green marble accent wall.

I'm addicted to the milk teas from Chapresso! They use such high quality ingredients and freshly brew each tea to your order! I love that they have a sample of all their tea leaves available at the counter to help decide which drink to order. They have so many different options: Phoenix oolong, iron goddess oolong, jasmine, gyokuro, ceylon black tea, barley tea. My go to order is their Iron Goddess Oolong Milk Tea at 75% sweetness with boba I also tried their newest matcha additions, made with Ceremonial Grade Saemidori matcha from a tea farm in Japan. Matcha americano - you can taste the pure richness of the matcha (I recommend getting it less sweet so you can taste more of the matcha) Matcha latte - also comes with oat milk for those who like a dairy free alternative You definitely do not want to pass up Chapresso, it's definitely one of my favorites in the 626 area!

Tiny little place that was pretty unassuming. There is a kiosk to order as well as a traditional way to order. Only one staff doing the ordering and making the drinks. There is a bench to sit and wait for your drink as well as a few bar stools. A few outdoor tables available as well. My drink was perfect. The jasmine tea was very fragrant and the sweetness was just right at 70%. I will be coming back.

Awesome spot to get tea. I got a milk tea, and it was so good even with less sugar. I didn't get any boba this time. Not an ideal spot for working because there are no indoor tables. They have some outdoor seats with some umbrellas though. No bathrooms either. The guy who brought out our drinks told us to let them know if we didn't like our drinks. They can make it better. Wonderful service! I didn't have to send my drink back though! Parking is free on the street. You might have to circle around a bit or park farther.

Stopped by here to try a tea shop in the City of San Marino, CA., because it's right next to the City of Arcadia, CA., my favorite work town. I looked at the menu a tad and decided to try their 'Barley Black Milk Tea,' with Lychee Jelly. This was a spot on order: it tasted 100% delish with full tea flavors right on point. Service: 5/5/~Barista walked out to deliver me personally the drink because I was taking pics outside the shop patio. Food/Drinks~5/5I ordered just a tea, but I don't see they offer any food items so just the Barley Black Milk Tea with less sugar and lychee jelly. Yummm.. Ambiance: 5/5simple, a smaller shop with no public restrooms at least not one I can see. They spread extra tables and chairs outside the patio, but inside was smaller. Will be back for another diff drink next!!!! Thanks for getting my drink to the point.

- ~ * BEST MATCHA IN 626 !!! * ~ - I have trust issues with buying matcha outside (bc it's usually disappointing) LOLOLS so I was watching him while he was making it. He bloomed the whisk, whisked the matcha in an M motion, and didn't use boiling water They also have oat milk!! :D (I didn't take pics bc I was too busy CHUGGING it)

I noticed that they use teaspresso machines here to brew teas to order. That combined with their opening earlier was also a plus. I tried their Phoenix Oolong Milk tea at 50% sweetness and enjoyed it! The tea flavor just edged out the milk without being overly tannic, the tea also has floralness to it. Service was fast & efficient, you can order from a touchpad or with the cashier. No tables inside, it's grab and go.

Amazing! I've heard so many of my friends talk about this place and I'm so glad to be able to try it. Recommended drink: Iron goddess oolong tea, 50% sweet, less ice The service here is amazing. I ordered a milk tea when I actually wanted a regular tea. I ordered at the kiosk and was rushing to go somewhere after so I didn't read the menu closely. I admitted to my mistake and accepted the milk tea as my drink but the kind ladies behind the counter offered to remake the drink for me and let me keep the original drink that I wrongly ordered even so it was totally my fault. Thank you *tears* I ended up liking the milk tea better than the regular tea! I'll be back to try the other teas too.

Pretty solid boba place if you're looking for boba with a strong tea flavor! The Phoenix oolong milk tea reminds me of orobae, where it had hints of floral flavor in it! I got initially got the Phoenix oolong as 75% sweet with boba but it honestly was not that sweet so so I had to ask to add more sugar to make it 100%! Keep in mind this boba place does list that the drinks are not as sweet as other boba places! Also if you are looking for a more roasted oolong I've heard the iron goddess one is good! The jasmine milk tea at 100% also was not that sweet so I asked them to make it 125% to match what I normally prefer. Overall great boba shop, and quick service! Definitely a great place if you're craving something similar to orobae!

I have been in search for the best matcha latte in LA and have finally found it here at Chapresso. The ceremonial matcha is straight from Japan, and the matcha latte is the perfect balance of creamy and earthy. It's so rich but not too bitter or sweet. There is street parking usually available and the service is efficient.

The service was nice and the inside of the business is very clean but it has a very small sitting/waiting area and I didn't see a restroom for customers. We ordered a few drinks but my boyfriend and I both disliked our teas. We smelled the gyokuro green tea in the vial on the counter and it smelled amazing. I ordered a large gyokuro with 75% sweetness and mango jelly. He ordered a regular with 0% sweetness and lychee jelly. Both of our drinks were unfortunately insanely bitter and tasted awful. My boyfriend actually asked them to add syrup to counter the bitterness but he said it didn't help. It seems like this place is very popular, so hopefully this was just a one-off very bad steep?

A cute little hole in the wall! I tried the Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea (100% sweet) and the Iron Goddess Oolong Tea (50% sweet), both with boba. The Phoenix Oolong had a pleasant floral flavor, but the milk tea wasn't as creamy as I've had at other bubble tea spots. For those with a sweet tooth, like myself, their 100% sweetness felt closer to 50% compared to other shops. The Iron Goddess Oolong had a slightly bitter note. Both drinks offered robust tea flavors and packed a high caffeine kick. I'll definitely return to try their matcha!

Easily the BEST and most high quality matcha in the Alhambra/San Marino Area. Better than anywhere I've found in Pasadena as well! Truly a hidden gem!!

I've been meaning to try this boba place since I've heard it's known for their tea. They have plenty of street parking right in front and there's a cute little seating area outside. The strings of lights and the little porch gives off a cute vibe. I came right when they opened so it wasn't busy at all but I still had to wait a bit for my drink. Understandable though since I can tell they put a lot of effort into making each drink and teas are brewed to order. I ordered the Phoenix Oolong Milk Tea with 50% sugar and less ice. The tea has a floral scent and was very smooth and creamy. However, I thought it was a little too milky for my liking. I really like the floral taste though. Overall a very decent boba shop. I will definitely come back again if I'm ever in the area.

More tea and boba places opening? Say no more! I originally saw their post for grand opening in SGV Eats. Drinks Out of the four times I've been here, I'm glad that my drinks have been consistent! I've gotten the Phoneix Oolong Milk Tea and the Jasmine Pekoe Green Milk Tea. They are usually my go to drink most places but what I like about Chapresso is that the tea flavor is . I'm really big on the tea taste in my drink and love when the flavor comes through. I hope to come back again soon and try more of their drinks. Service The workers were nice and asked if we needed help with anything. For the night I went, the workers seemed passionate about the drinks and very knowledgeable. I'm glad I asked about the sweetness levels since many places have different gauges. Ever after receiving and enjoying out drinks, the worker check up on us outside and asked for our feedback. It was nice to see that they appreciate the feedback there as well. Ambiance Seating area inside is super small. Probably few tall stool seating facing the window. There is a small seating area outside. With the few night times I've been here, the string of lights with the combination of outdoor/cute porch seating was a vibe. There isn't much seating outside either, but it's nice if you do get to enjoy the ambiance.

Second time here!! The staff is very welcoming as always, explain the menu throughly and gave me her recommendations. Very sweet!! Both indoor and outdoor area are so neat and clean. I feel very comfortable and cozy. Trying out their brew tea and I'm totally amazed. The tea is strong but not overpowering. Definitely refreshing and keeps me going for the rest of the day.

Giving a quick shout out to Chapresso's matcha! Chapresso has the best matcha latte in the SGV - not too astringent or sweet and not watered down by too much milk. You actually taste the matcha which is very high quality. It's perfectly balanced and offers a consistent sip all the way through. I just wish they offered a large size! Overall Chapresso really cares about the quality of their teas and everything they produce which is so refreshing, will definitely be making them my go-to tea spot!

I think most of the milk tea places in the 626 are more "dessert-y", so it was nice to discover a place where the drinks are a little more tea-forward. I usually have to get 25%-50% sugar at other places in order to even taste any tea, but when I took my first sip, I was pleasantly surprised at how strong the tea flavor was. So far, I've tried the Iron Goddess, Phoenix Oolong, and barley black milk teas. All were pretty good.

My first time trying this place out and when i went there wasnt many people because it was close to closing time. I got greeted as soon as i walked thru the door. Its pretty much all kiosk ordering which was easy to use. Its not that big of a place but theres a few seats indoors to sit and wait for your order. I got the strawberry fruit tea and 75% sugar was a little too sweet still but the ice level was perfect. My drink was quite refreshing for an after dinner tea drink but i could go less sugar than 75%.

Cute small shop with ample outdoor seating; quality teas, friendly service, easy parking on Huntington. I wish the flavor of the tea was a bit more forward, but I could taste that it was real, not powdered tea, and liked that I was able to adjust ice and sugar level. It was brewed to order. I enjoyed the iron Buddha oolong; a regular size was $6.

Chapresso just might be my latest 626 obsession! It is a little out of the way from my parents' place, but well worth the detour when I come back! All their teas are freshly brewed to order, so it may take a little longer to get your drink compared to other places that brew their drinks in large batches. I ordered the iron goddess (half sweet) and a jasmine pekoe milk tea (half sweet) for someone else. I was told the milk tea was very strong and delicious, so much so they finished their drink within an hour! My iron goddess was absolutely delicious; smooth and earthy! Parking not too bad on Huntington.. just be careful when you back out because some people really don't pay attention. Definitely worth a visit if you need a major caffeine boost.

A delight! My friend was hyping this place up so I had to try it. Their teas are absolutely decadent from what she tells me. I knew she was right because it smelled so strongly of freshly brewed tea as soon as a walked in. I got the rising phoenix oolong milk tea and it is very similar to a place in Irvine that I used frequent (and constantly crave). The sweetness is average so don't be scared and get your normal perfected sweetness. I didn't get any tapioca this time but my friends who got it said it was soft and fresh. I would love to come back and try more of their drinks and toppings.

I am always trying to find a good boba spot in SGV and found this new place just opened. The guy working there at night was really nice and suggested trying to iron goddest oolong milk tea. We did get that drink and Phoenix Oolong milk tea with boba and both 75% sweet. The Iron Goddest oolong milk tea is really good, from the two drinks we had. The tea itself is pretty light not that strong in my opinion. The Phoenix is even lighter than the Iron goddest. As for the sweetness, 75% is the way to go and any lighter I can barely taste it. And their boba has a very nice chewy texture. It tastes fresh for coming there around 7 pm. They have multiple seating outside and a couple small stool seats inside. Would come back just to try other drinks!

Hearing that a new tea place opened up in San Marino on Huntington, I decided to give it a try. I stopped by with my friend on a weekend - there wasn't anybody in the store and we were able to take our time to make our tea selection. I feel like the menu resembles a very popular place in Irvine - they have a variety of oolong teas as well as other popular tea flavors. We were able to smell the tea leaves (which smelled super fragrant) before placing our orders. So Chapresso uses a teaspresso machine to make their drinks (hence the store name). I've tried a few other stores that use this same machine, and I have usually found that the flavor is very much lacking versus other tea spots. I went with the Gyokuro milk tea and added honey boba ($5.25 plus $0.65) - adjusted sugar and ice level; they did mention that if you order less/no ice, the quantity of the drink is lessened because of the measurements they use in the teaspresso machine. When the drink came out, I felt like the flavor was a bit diluted and tasted more like tea and milk that had been strained than fresh milk tea. Wasn't too sweet but I couldn't really make out the milk vs tea flavor. The boba was cooked fairly well, but didn't have enough of the honey flavor. Unfortunately this was a miss for me. I did order the phoenix oolong milk tea to compare it to my favorite boba place. I think the phoenix oolong definitely had more flavor and wasn't as "diluted" in flavor as the Gyokuro one was. I liked that I could taste the subtle oolong in the tea. My friends and I came back to give it another try and we ordered the Gyokuro and Ceylon teas again, but unfortunately we still got the same diluted, lacking in flavor taste. The owner/workers are nice and really try to answer all questions. Parking isn't bad either as there's several spots outside or you can do street parking. Storefront is not too big, but there's some spots as well as outdoor seating.