Coffee Conspiracy

Our family practices the “art of coffee”. We pay attention to where the raw product comes from, the coffee makers artistry, their ability to create balance. We are not “snobs” we are “admirers” to Nth degree. COFFEE CONSPIRACY is hands down, the best coffee, the best concept. NO EXCEPTIONS! What started as a middle finger to COVID lock-downs, now writes its own history. My suggestion is to question everything, be pragmatic and sip for yourself.

Coffee Conspiracy is that place where’s the outcasts feel like they found their place where they belong. Most unique ingredients that I’ve ever seen. If you find someone more dedicated to the coffee scene that Eddie, let me know.

Top tier espresso, lattes, and hand pour overs. Bags of coffee beans are also available. If you’re looking for the highest quality coffee beans and drinks, this is the place to go. Fun, welcoming atmosphere to hang out. Eddie and Shawn are super friendly and love to chat about coffee, and conspiracies, if that’s your thing.

The best coffee shop/roaster in the Santa Cruz area, and it’s not even close. And this is coming from a place of coffee-privilege in a town where we have Verve (2024 Macro Roaster of the Year) and plenty other good spots

I’m a BIG coffee drinker and I stumbled across the shop when visiting for a wedding. I can honestly say that these guys serve some of the best coffee I’ve ever had, particularly the nitro brew! They’re clearly very passionate about what they do and that shows in every cup they serve. If you love coffee, check out Coffee Conspiracy, and you won’t be disappointed!

The finest coffee in California, no contest, and we’re lucky enough to have him in Santa Cruz! Coffee Conspiracy is still in the soft opening phase with irregular hours. They’re located in the old Starbucks (haha) in the Capitola Mall. The espresso-based drinks like the Simulation Theory or Shapeshifter never miss the mark, and the small batch syrups just enhance the taste of the coffee. My regular order is always a pour over, meticulously made by Eddie or Shawn. It’s perfection in cup. Can’t wait to order coffee here for years to come.

The coffee, vibes, and customer service are all immaculate. This place is super unique in their approach to sharing specialty coffee with the world & I highly recommend a visit whether you’re a local or just passing through! You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but make sure to try the red pill or a pourover to get a taste of the coffee on its own 😋

Great Atmosphere, and Energy. Best Coffee in Santa Cruz. Have not had any better in California. You can feel they care about the coffee. Shoutout Eddie and Agent 47.

Killer cortado, killer vibes. Awesome attention to detail.The photo speaks for itself. GREAT COFFEE!

Yay! I'm back again. this place is seriously addicting. Their coffee never disappoints, and the mocha is hands-down my favorite. It's rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced exactly what I need to start my day (or get through the afternoon slump). I couldn't resist picking up one of their hoodies too!!! it's super comfy and such a cool way to rep a local gem. The vibe here is always warm and welcoming, and the staff is genuinely friendly, which makes the experience even better. If you haven't checked them out yet, you're missing out. Amazing drinks, great atmosphere, and awesome merch. Support your local coffee spots. they're the heart of the community!

Super interesting concept! Coffee was really good and this was my second fav cold brew I had in Santa Cruz! A lot of locals told us this was the best coffee around.

This coffee shop is an absolute five star review. Best energy in Santa Cruz by far barista are down to earth and kindhearted people that listen to your conversation. If you have espresso machines at home definitely recommend their coffee beans. Eddie was very knowledgeable about the drinks and educational the coffee is 10/10.. I got the simulation theory. Espresso is smooth!!!! Drink was the best brown sugar I've had!!! the ambience is exceptional and unique. They definitely took their time with this place once again thank you for such a good experience and we just found our new coffee shop every time we're in Santa Cruz. -Jae & Devin

As a coffee addict, I will have to say this is probably one of the best lattes I have had! Extremely creamy and rich in flavor! You can tell how much pride they take in each shot and how great of quality the coffee they use is. The overall vibe in the shop is so cool. I was intrigued by the awesome decor. The customer service was helpful and friendly. I found my new favorite coffee shop when I'm in the area.

** 4.5 stars ** In a nutshell, everything about Coffee Conspiracy was top notch, including the uniqueness of the theme and service, but my favorite is the actual flavor of the coffee is phenomenal! And I'm a coffee snob! This is great coffee!! (I almost turned around when I saw that it was located at a mall, so don't be afraid! Haha.) The only reason for the half star knocked off is because there weren't a lot of seating inside. The $8 coffee price point is a little high, as well, but it's mostly that I'd like to sit and work at a coffee shop (that's my jam!), so having a place with ample seating would be preferable. Other than that, Coffee Conspiracy is just about perfect! (Tip: this is best for people high school aged and older.)

I was immediately welcomed by Eddie and we got to chatting. Eddie is a fun guy to talk to. I feel like he's the friend you go to when you want the honest answer. No fluff. Respect on that. I asked him for recommendations on lattes (I aspire to be a pour over gal but I'm just not there yet). He recommended the Shapeshifter (rosemary) to which I said that the rosemary probably isn't my jam and he said that Simulation Theory reigns supreme by at least 4-1 over all. I gotta say that I love me some cardamom! The coffee is smooth. No bitterness and just the right amount of sweet. The balance of sweet and flavor was perfect for the cardamom latte. Also appreciate the organic whole milk. ALL OF THEIR SYRUPS ARE HOUSE MADE. Read that again. I'm not a Torani or Monin fan so when I see that extra effort to make syrups, I appreciate that. || Fun fact: syrups are easy to make at home if you have the ingredients. Constantly making lavender syrup. So good. || The ambiance inside is dark - Night Action, top secret, spy ops vibes. There's seating inside if you want chill. I love that they have merch BUT MOSTLY I LOVE... this use to be an old Starbucks. Talk about the irony. Check out their stickers if you don't get it. Would like to try the Classified next time.

The basil syrup latte was delish! Busy but not too busy, fun word game at the bar stool wall.

Nice ambience and such a big store! I remmeber when this store used to be a Starbucks so it was nice to see a new coffee shop in town. Service was nice, I was greeted right when I walked in the door and everyone was friendly! I ordered a cappuccino and it was pretty good! I liked how it tasted quite different from other coffee shops and had a unique espresso flavor to it.

People often go out of their way to try what is supposed to be a good spot which is exactly what I did. Unfortunately this place is closed during posted open business hours. Feeling like a trend is brewing.

This is the best espresso pull you can find in Santa Cruz. The team is cool, I love the theme, and the coffee is top notch. Get the red pill and you will not be able to go back to the other generic espressos in town!!

LOVE this place. Perfect stop. I had a double espresso. Came with some fizzy water and a "red pill" - a red tictac tribute to The Matrix. So fun. My girl had a cap. Both were absolutely delicious!!! Fun place to stop. Lots to look at inside. Super friendly baristas. Loved it. Will be back for sure.

I've been buying coffee from Eddie since the bike days in 2020 - love the vibe of the new location and the guy makes a mean oat milk latte! Can't beat it. Support local and come check this place out!

The owner was really friendly and went to lengths to be hospitable. Extensive knowledge of coffee and great Guatemalan drip. I enjoyed my espresso it was really bright and the acidity was punchy. Looking to come back for sure! They also carry Onyx Teas and brew of their coffees excited to try their pour overs in the future the whole place is well branded and the theme is minimal and dope

As soon as I walked in to this shop, a warm friendly vibe encompassed my spirit. Enjoyed a delicious coffee and bought a fun sticker (I can't help it... I'm still a true tourist in local cities I've been to several times!). Can't wait to return!

Local spot just off Pacific. Specialty coffee along with traditional offerings. Super friendly staff. Ambiance is casual with one chair and a small wall bar.2 Each drink was filled to the top and offered great taste and an effective caffeine fix. Give this local spot a try.

Amazing vibes, great staff (and pup!) and delicious coffee! Highly recommend the simulation theory coffee with cardamom, one of my favorite coffees in the whole county.

This establishment exists for coffee, snobs, and that's a good thing! Why? Because there are plenty of corporate-owned and vastly mediocre coffee establishments around. The upside, the staff know every aspect of the limited menu selections. We were advised against putting milk in our special pour over coffee drink. And it was the right thing to do, not adulterate it with milk! Stunning cup of coffee. The downside: good coffee comes at a price. This is not the McDonald's "senior coffee" bargain price. You're going to pay for it, but you're gonna love every drop. In fact, we drank half of our pour overs, and saved the rest for the next day. It's that good.

On the pricier end in terms of coffee, but the presentation was great! My husband got the double expresso shot which came with a sparkling water palette cleanser, chocolate, and a red pill (cola tic tac). He enjoyed it and would definitely come back for it. I wanted to try the lavender latte (5G is killing the bees) but couldn't justify the price. Maybe our next visit.

Such a vibe! The owner Eddy (Eddie?) is such a cool and welcoming guy. He interacts with the customers and you can tell he loves what he's doing. The coffee is great the "attitude" of the brand is awesome. I got the cold brew and a drip coffee. Both were great. They serve with raw milk. Great place all around.

We were welcomed by Eddie who was very hospitable and service level was excellent! We ordered the simulation theory which had the right amount of cardamom in it to complement the coffee. He explained that he makes everything from scratch and that was apparent from the first sip. There are many coffee shops and I've tried most of them, however I was surprised pleasantly by this place and recommend anyone who wants a great cup of coffee that's worth the price to try it. You will not be disappointed!!!

Very off-beat and non-commercial feeling. Cool vibes and great coffee. People were very friendly and the host dog was very cute sitting behind the cashier's counter.

I came across Coffee Conspiracy a few heads ago when Eddie has the cart by East Cliff - he was at the end of his day and gave me the last of his cold brew for free because he was sold out of everything else. He's got a full shop at the mall now and it's great! Coffee is as delicious as ever; sure it's a bit more expensive but you're getting your money's worth and supporting a local business. Here's what's even better! You don't have to deal with supporting Starbucks who gave its CEO a $96 million stock bonus before he fired another 1,100 employees Visit and you won't regret it!

Passing by this shop in a rush but got attracted by a super chill husky. This picture is just showing that this shop does coffee and how dog-friendly it is. Yes I will come back for a cup of coffee one day and provide honest reviews.

GO. HERE. Best chai I've ever had, not too sweet and some spice. I got a "classified" next, smooth and again, not too sweet but definitely sweeter than the chai. I wish I was in town longer to try their pour overs, I have a sneaky suspicion that it would be the best cup of coffee I've ever had. Eddie and his co-conspirators (one human and one canine) are friendly and engaging, in a sincere way that I don't find so often. And there is a rhyming dictionary to peruse!

Tastes very much like corporate coffee... which is a trip. Also very heavy on marketing and in a mall.... Which is also interesting. This place is very faux edgy coffee place which was disappointing but the staff were really nice.

Review is for the Felton pop-up location. Great Guys, so sweet. Coffee is always consistent and amazing. Highly recommend the Simulation, the cardamom on it is so good!

A great iced americano. Lots of places can't pull an espresso shot to save their life. They get it to you fast too. Great place to grab and go.

Really cool place with a fun aesthetic. My coffee (a cappuccino) was tasty, creamy and beautifully poured. The staff was welcoming and kind. Would certainly come back again

Cool place and decent coffee. I had a plain-old latte -- I'm not into all the fancy flavors. It was good, but not great.

As a self identifying coffee "snob," Eddie serves the best coffee in town. Not only does he source and roast the beans he serves, but he also makes the syrups he offers. The cacao for his mocha is clean and so tasty. He aims to serve things that wont make you feel crappy... offering raw milk or local pressed almond milk. He remembers so many folks and is fun to talk with. why buy corporate coffee when this local gem exists? (corporate coffee includes verve and c&c, and especially sbux!!) thx eddie.

nice to see a dedicated location. great shop. great coffee. i hope they are successful and can extend their hours. don't sleep on the pastries.

Santa Cruz vibes. very good coffee and tea. the Awakening (tea) awesome. good tunes, knowledgable and friendly.

Came in this morning on our last day in town before heading back to reality. Hands down the best cup of coffee I have had in a long time. The service was amazing, music choice was on point and the caffeine level was perfect!

Such a cool coffee shop, great ambiance and of course yummy coffee drinks that are unique and full of flavor. Definitely will be coming back here anytime I am needing a pick'me up. The service is awesome, Eddy is friendly and I enjoy conversations with him. Such a good human!

F*ck Corporate Coffee!! Loved the proprietor for his personable approach to each new face entering the shop. I had the Blue Pill (house capp) and let me tell you... something special. Go get you a cup of proprietor roasted/pulled love today

Came here yesterday while we're in town for vacation and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the coffee here. This humble little place feels special even among the handful of quality third wave coffee shops here in Santa Cruz. I asked for an iced americano and Eddie served up his latest single origin Peru beans that he roasted himself. The level of pride he has in his craft is well deserved. Very enjoyable acidity and the aftertaste is heavenly. I was taking my first sip as I was walking out the shop, and the moment the coffee hit my palettes my body turned 180 and walked right back in to buy a bag of the roast I had just tasted so I can bring home to experiment with. I came back the next day and ordered a quad shot to enjoy at the beach. I hope to see what kind of roast Eddie will be serving when I return to Santa Cruz next time!

Garbage. Server was not friendly. I guess we didn't fit to his kind. You know covered in tattoos and blah blah blah. Espresso drink was flavorless. Also, I asked if I could exchange some bills for change for the parking meter. He said no. Even though he had a full tipjar of change.

Super tasty cappucino just off Pacific right across from parking lot for easy access.

The coffee at this place is amazing! Eddie makes all his syrups from scratch and puts love into every cup of coffee he pours. He uses raw local milk too! He's always fun to talk to and kind. As for the 1 Star review with the parking- there are apps you can use to pay for parking. This guy has obviously never worked anywhere that has parking meters out front. You have no idea how much change you'll go through if you give it to everyone. You might as well open shop at a bank.

Yum! Coffee is expertly made, they enjoy talking about the taste notes, and they are very friendly!

The best coffee for any co-conspirator. Eddie has the most delicious and unique syrups and coffee, and is always fun to chat with. Amazing service, he really makes an effort to connect with each customer. Also a great place to hang out, even just the shop itself is a rad experience!

I live in south county and make it a point to come out here at least once a week. I've never met an owner so dedicated to their craft. The coffee is always on point. I have never had a drink here that wasn't 10/10. The syrups are house made, they offer raw milk and oat milk, and drinks can be hot or iced. Besides having the best coffee in town, the service is great. Eddie and Shawn are super friendly and will have the whole room of strangers talking. I think it would be rare to find any other coffee shop like this one (coming from a coffee professional.)

So the theme is a little haphazard, but my god the coffee is good. Had a cappuccino and it was legitimately delicious! I actually had to slow myself down to really enjoy it, so damn good

Delicious handcrafted custom coffee filled to the brim. The aroma wafting into the street led us to this coffee shop. Eddie carefully brewed a creamy, vanilla unforgettable treat. Nice people and very friendly atmosphere.

I'm am by no means a coffee snob but MY GOD is this coffee good! I popped in this weekend and chatted it up with Eddie, the owner. I used to buy his nitro brew when he served it from his bike on east cliff. I'm heading back in the morning to get more and some beans.

Wife and I had some holiday shopping to do and decided to grab some coffee in downtown. Found this shop on Google Maps and we were sure pleased we did! Great folks making great coffee drinks - truly an awesome experience. We don't go to downtown often, but when we do, we sure know where to get java at!