Dark Horse Coffee Roasters

Dark Horse's belief that everything about coffee, from the farmers who grow the beans to the customers who enjoy it every morning, revolves around relationships, is commendable. They take pride in sourcing direct trade coffee and fostering close relationships with small-scale farmers worldwide. It is widely considered the tastiest coffee in the neighborhood.

Amazing coffee, great vibe, unique place, you could get different food around here and spend great time with your friends. They have roof top terrace:)))

A nice little coffee shop with plenty of shaded outdoor seating. I enjoyed their cold brew and they have some unique latte flavors as well. Since its a smaller set up they dont have all of their beans on site, so if youre looking to buy a particular bag you might need to order online.

Read these reviews, a few of them, not just this one. Particularly read the 4 and 5 star reviews and pay close attention to what each reviewer is saying. One specifically mentions a record that was playing.... so you mean to tell me, this BS coffee place deserves 4 or 5 stars because you liked the music? These sad emotionally lost people are beginning to ruin reviews and the purpose of them. They talk about the atmosphere, how "cool" the place is, everything is based on their emotions... very little to do with the quality of the espresso, coffee, flavors, brewing techniques etc. Look, if you want to take photos to make your empty soul get an endorphin release, then yes by all means come to this trendy place and get served by some trendy people listening to some trendy music.... but if you want good coffee, there are MANY, and I mean MANY other options near by. Avoid this nonsense at all costs, or continue to light your money on fire and live in complete wonder why you dont have anything of actual value (like properties) in this country.

One of two places that are opened in this area for morning outings. I got the cortado while waiting for Duck Donuts. Which is basically espresso with equal part steamed milk. This style is popular in Spain but when I lived in FL, I’m used to having the Cuban style which is a cortadito and I ask for condense milk which is on the sweeter side. The cashier was about to dismissed me and I was about to get something else on the menu that was sweet until the other barista heard me and said if I’m used to the traditional cortado, it could be made with brown sugar which makes it a Cuban style coffee and I’m glad I went with this option. I loved it!

Yes, yes, and heck yes! The best coffee in Garden Grove bar none! Inventive and awesome drinks with a super cool vibe. The staff was always friendly and the drinks were always on point.

I have traveled around the globe and Dark 🐎 🐴 Horse has great ☕ coffee. For a food park this place is legit! Try the Pumkin Latte that is homemade. Or my favorite play on words is the cold brew ice 🧊 coffee. Just in case you didn't know it was iced or coffee haha.

Good coffee with great service. High quality beans. The Mexican Mocha was delicious. The barista was very nice with excellent customer service. Cool chill spot.

THEY'RE CLOSING THEIR ONLY ORANGE COUNTY LOCATION 9/29. Please visit Dark Horse!! My favorite shop to get fresh coffee beans and a complimentary drip coffee! It's their only location in Orange County too. Most importantly, they provide direct trade coffee beans. I know the baristas here really care about their craft, it's evident in their lattes and drinks. They currently have fall seasonal drinks.

Came on a Sunday morning to meet with an old friend who suggested we go to a unique and different coffee place.... WOW! When I pulled up this was my first time to Steelcraft and what a cool concept! The design is very much a bunch of freight containers or shipping containers with various restaurants and shops in each one, thus creating a mess hall or food hall type location. Dark horse is visible from the parking lot and while I got here before their opening hours, once the gates were ajar people were already in line for them. This has good vibes written all over it!

We are frequent visitors of SteelCraft, and love the ambiance that the food hall provides, with live music at night and international food choices. Unfortunately, we are often not too impressed by the food spots we've tried, everything is not bad but just decent. But this coffee spot is on another level, so good that we have friends from out of town who always stop by when in Garden Grove. Big fan of the lattes, strawberry matcha is my favorite (a little sweet so if thats not your thing, I would go for something else) out of all the times I've been, but the vanilla and maple brown sugar are also good choices. Workers are always super sweet, everytime we bring our dog with us, they always give him a treat, and are just overall friendly. Hugeee parking lot so you will never have trouble finding parking. 5 stars in my book :)

When the coffee is given luke warm...well that an automatic 1 star in my book. Cool area though. Whoever had the design in mind gets 5 stars. Thanks for reaching out. No worries on the refund. I always like trying new places...good luck

Love it here at the Garden Grove. Needed a pick me up so I could strolled on over to Dark Horse and grabbed a cup of americano and added brown sugar to sweeten it up a bit Andrea gave great service

Had a nice relaxed cup of coffee with a couple of friends while having lunch at Steelcraft. It is a small kiosk, but the guy who was there for our day was very nice a knowledgeable. I like macchiatos, real ones, not the blended milkshakes that a major chain uses the same name, and he made sure I knew what I was ordering, which is always amusing when one of more traditional coffee spots does this.

Dark Horse is originally from San Diego so I was surprised to see it in OC. I love their matcha here and crave it from time to time. I never get oat milk with my matcha so I can't speak for the flavor combo of their matcha + oat milk. Buuut whole milk + their iced matcha is a winner in my book at Steelcraft. bonus points goes to the friendly staff members!!

Ordered the "thiccsicle" - tasted like random stuff mixed into a cup. Kind of got the idea of what they were going for, but it was literally mostly orange juice mixed with espresso - not a great combo. Took two sips and threw it out - I wish I had asked them to remake or refund. My friend ordered the salted maple latte, and it did not taste like there was any maple syrup in there. There was barely any ice in our drinks, leaving them lukewarm. I have given this place at least 4 tries over the years, and sadly, it has never hit the spot. I give them creativity, however, the combinations do not work. I will not be returning.

Love these new food establishments using freight containers! Dark Horse is located inside Steel Craft. Service is wonderful. Two cool dudes who give service with a smile. Coffee options are typical of real coffee bars: cappuccinos, lattes, cortido... My cappuccino was made correctly, meaning it was light and foamy in a small cup. Good flavor. Just not hot enough. Need to ask for the milk to be hot next time.

this coffee shop is so underrated! i loved the day day drink, it had vanilla, honey and brown sugar in it. it was the perfect amount of sweetness. highly recommend!

This place was lovely!! The gal working was so friendly and we easily chatted it up while our coffee was being made. The coffee was excellent - the honey cinnamon latte my husband had was a bit too sweet for our liking (very honey-forward) but still good. I enjoyed my iced americano! The space has a great vibe. Shipping container amongst a set of others with small businesses and picnic tables in the middle under cover, next to a tv/small stage. There is even a mini arcade on-site.

#87 in my Coffeeshop Chronicles. I was in the area and in desperate need of a caffeine fix so after a quick Yelp search I landed on Dark Horse. After perusing their specialty drink menu, I ordered a Maple Sea Salt latte and a Day Day latte, which they make with honey, vanilla, and brown sugar. Both lattes were decent but neither were so special as to prompt a return visit. While I preferred the Maple Sea Salt latte to the Day Day latte, if I'm being honest I could hardly detect any maple flavor. I only liked it better than the other latte because I enjoy sea salt drinks in general. The Day Day latte was also okay, and similar in profile to the James Brown lattes offered at coffeeshops in Pasadena and SGV, only it didn't taste as amazing. So like I said, both of my lattes were decent but sadly they didn't wow me.

Needed a midday caffeine boost and noticed them when I was picking up lunch at SteelCraft. I opted for my usual iced matcha latte with oat milk and found theirs to be very much average. Quite solid, but not anything too special that would prompt a return visit. It already comes sweetened and I'm not sure if it was due to my milk choice or the syrup that they use, but it tasted just slightly off? Will note that their sizes are rather small for the price point. I got the smaller/regular size (12 oz) and was rather surprised when it came out. The largest they offer for a cold drink is 16 oz. Overall verdict: It's a very okay-ish spot.

The Champ - honey cinnamon latte- is so good. Warm and comforting on a rainy day. Picked up their instant coffee. Not many brands have the instant packets and they are great options in a pinch so had to try. Their seasonal is an egg nog latte which I ordered on ice for my Dad because of the holidays. Creamy drink if that's your preference!

Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte (4/5) - I wish the drink was stronger in its flavor Space: it's located at the Steel Craft in Garden Grove so there's a lot of outdoor seating. Parking: Parking lot Wifi: Free wifi provided by Steel Craft. Overall: 4/5. The staff was really friendly and double checked to make sure the sweetness level matched my preference (thank you!)

Came to buy donuts next to this place, and tried DAY DAY, I got hot my sister got cold. For a good pick me upper it was great. I will come back definitely. Coffee barrister was amazing at explaining how sweet it was which. I peffered. Good drinks for a good price.

Dark Horse is located in a Steel Craft outdoor food court so if you are looking for someplace to get a great coffee, something to eat & a relaxing place to enjoy it all this is the place! We visited on a sunny Sunday morning around 11 it was not crowded and made for a really nice start to the day. I've heard of Dark Horse Coffee and was excited to try it. We ordered off the "Specials Menu" today; An Iced "Maple Brown Sugar" & Hot "Day Day" (honey, vanilla & brown sugar, not as sweet as it sounds :) Both were very good full of smooth rich flavors that didn't overpower the wonderful coffee that Dark Horse is known for. Can't wait to come back and next time I'll pick up a bag of beans ;) The staff was very friendly and made our drinks quickly considering they were fairly busy. There is also plenty of Dark Horse merch and beans available. This Steel Craft location has plenty of parking, lots of seating in different areas, is very clean and even has some yard games you can play. They are also dog friendly so bring your pupper :)

Coffee was good, staff was pleasant and helpful, and we were able to snag the comfy couch. Location at Steelcraft is great, and plenty of parking. Small outdoor coffee shop worth going to. I think they even have dog treats for furry friends.

The iced coffee was amazing and really packed a punch. The staff was very friendly. We will be back.

Fun little coffee spot within Steelcraft! The fast, friendly service was the highlight of this place. The drink I got (the Champ) was just okay -- honestly not that memorable. Would still come back to try their other options whenever I'm in the area/Steelcraft.

Nice little coffee shop! Love their espresso! And they are open early . The service was also very fast.

Good place for a quick caffeine intake. Doesn't compare to Vietnamese coffees that are all Around but it'll suffice if you didn't have time To get Vietnamese coffee before work and need some. Specifically for those who work in the building next to it. Service always super kind and they'll make recommendations for you if your stuck on what you get.

They're CLOSED :( My favorite cold brew is gone. Farewell! Can't have nice things in garden grove

Stopped at Dark Horse for a quick cup, the Cortado was full of flavor, and the temperature was perfect. Their Iced "CHAMP" latte was delicious, it was sweet but didnt take away from the natural flavor of the espresso. Kevin did an awesome job. great spot in Garden Grove

I came in on a Friday afternoon and ordered a Salted Maple Latte w almond milk! I thought it tasted good, but the salted maple flavor wasn't anything too mind blowing. However, you can definitely taste the quality of the espresso. It's located in Steelcraft which is sort of an open/outdoors dining complex with many other restaurants for takeout. It's super cute and perfect for a lunch with friends or family or coworkers. The 12oz came out to $6.25 with the charge of the substitute milk. I'd come back to try their other drink flavors for sure! The service was also very nice.

In recent years I have become a big fan of lattes. A few times a week I tend to grab one after work and on weekends and vanilla or honey cinnamon are my go to choices and I am happy to say that Dark Horse has amazing versions of both. Their homemade vanilla syrup is fantastic and really amps up the flavor of the drink and their "Champ" (Honey Cinnamon) is one of the best around. My wife has become a big fan of the champ and also enjoys their matcha latte. They also have a variety of specialty versions such as maple/brown sugar and lavender as well to offer (I am not sure how frequently these rotate but I have been told the lavender may be removed once gone). What sets them apart for me has always been the amazing service (minus one visit). Every time I arrive I am promptly greeted, they are always available to make drink recommendations and small talk to make your experience all the better while you wait. Pricing is right in line with what I expect and am willing to pay for iced drinks for myself and my wife and the flavors are all on point. This location is located within Steel Craft in Garden Grove so they can get busy at times (namely Saturdays) but is really needed in this area. I am a huge fan and will continue to support this business for many years to come. Check them out for all of your coffee needs.

First time at Steel Craft and needed something to wash down all the food we tried! The most popular drinks here are their Nitro Cold Brew and The Champ, which is a honey cinnamon latte. Duper refreshing and light, and you can sub normal milk for oat or almond options. Service was fast and friendly, answered all our questions about the different drinks! Def better than the St*rbucks across the street.

Tastes good but it's more like a novelty than a specialty coffee house. Great atmosphere though and staff! Food: 2 Service:5 Atmosphere: 5

I was dining at SteelCraft and wanted an after-meal coffee. I have a current obsession with cold brew coffee and was excited to give Dark Horse Coffee Roasters a try. Best decision ever. From the second I stepped up to look at the menu, I was warmly greeted by the guy at the register who made some recommendations from their menu and who carried on a friendly conversation to tell me more about SteelCraft and Dark Horse Coffee Roasters since I was a first time visitor. As soon as I knew it, my drink was ready to enjoy! I ended up ordering a 12oz Cold Brew on Nitro. Chill, bold, and smooth, my drink was one of the tastiest cold brews I've had. The price was fair and justified the product. I would highly recommend their Nitro Cold Brew. Next time I'm in the area, I will definitely come by for another one!

Rhyme Review (First Impressions) Garden Grove roads may need a little help Though, not why I'm posting here on Yelp Focus, Dark Horse Coffee Lot parking, easy and free Sip, sit, socialize- plenty of open space Fun to actually visit, face to face 12oz Champ with oatmilk ICED or HOT Cinnamon honey, not too sweet, real straw, liked a lot! Cold brew, stood out Guess that's what repeat visits are all about Giant chairs in the little park across the street Nearby places to grab something to eat Drink, eat, play All day! Service fine No long line Worth the trip If you desire, leave a tip Hope you enjoy, whatever you choose Remember Champ and you likely won't lose Lol xoxo -Op

A quaint coffee stall with a nice selection of great-tasting brews. The barista here was so energetic, warm, and welcoming. I think that gave the overall experience just that extra bit of value. I'd come back here just to buy coffee from this barista. With that being said, the coffee is pricey - think in the $5-7 range, but within reason given the typical price of coffee from specialty brewers around LA. If you're paying that price anyway, Dark Horse is worth a try. I went with a friend who is a self-described "coffee snob" and she found the cold brew to be worth coming back for. Mine kept me awake for 3 hours past my intended bedtime... so take that for what it's worth :p

Sadly, I wasn't a fan of this place. I ordered one of their current specials Maple Sea Salt Latte and it was mediocre. It's $4.50 for a very small 8 oz cup that mostly ended up on my lap because the lid did not form a good seal. In my photos, I took off the lid so you can't see... but it was a mess. I didn't feel that the coffee was anything special and I couldn't taste any maple flavor. I much prefer the maple coffee from Huskins in Tustin. My hubby tried their Cortado and for $3.50, it was a fair price for an 8oz, but it also didn't wow us compared to other coffee shops. Overall, this place was not worth it for the price and sadly, I will not be back.

Was eating at steelcraft and wanted to try this place out. Got the matcha latte and the vanilla latte. For the vanilla latte they use their house made vanilla bean syrup! Luckily they had alternate milk solutions (I'm lactose intolerant). They had oat milk and almond milk. Got the almond milk for both drinks. The vanilla latte had a nice strong flavor that wasn't too a over powering sweet. I really enjoy the vanilla bean syrupy. The matcha latte had a smooth and rich flavor. Was a nice balance between the matcha and the milk! Both were refreshing drinks and the service was great!

This fantastic coffee stand is located inside the Steelcraft Garden Grove complex. They make a damn fine cup of coffee that Agent Dale Cooper and Lorelai Gilmore would approve of. I visited late morning on a weekday. After a warm welcome by the woman working here, I ordered a hot vanilla latte and one of the heart-shaped pastries beneath the glass pastry dome. Behind the counter they sell various items with the Dark Horse logo as well as a selection of take-home bags of coffee beans. My latte was perfect. Smooth coffee with a flavor leaning toward the bold side with a vanilla taste that was clearly there but not overpowering the delicious coffee roast. The pastry had a strawberry filling. It was sort of a pop-tart but it would be insulting to call it such. The fresh shell had a frosting that was sweet but not overly so. I secretly wished I'd purchased several more to scarf down. Coffee places don't get much better than this!

I first saw this place when I came to Steelcraft for dinner, and knew I had to come back earlier in the day since coffee after 4pm for me is a terrible idea. I finally made it! Decided to fit this in on a Saturday morning in January. Arrived around 830am with my pup and was able to pull right up in front of their storefront- no parking issues at all. I decided to get a 12oz "The Champ", a honey and cinnamon latte. It was delicious. I could taste the honey and cinnamon but neither was overwhelming. It was so good. Dark horse also supports local bakeries for their hand pies and donuts also. I had a pumpkin hand pie and it was delicious. There was only one barista when I was there, but she was speedy and super nice! She even offered my pup a treat, which he gladly accepted once we were in the car on the way home. Overall, this is definitely a place to add to your coffee collection and to visit when you're in the area!

Dropped by for a quick coffee- small menu but hits all the essentials and also has a seasonal menu! Got the Mexican mocha and that cinnamon is on point! Delicious coffee, wish it was a bit bigger. Super friendly service and plenty of parking as it's located in the Steelcraft. Def recommend for a quick hit up of coffee!

One of two places that are opened in this area for morning outings. I got the cortado while waiting for Duck Donuts. Which is basically espresso with equal part steamed milk. This style is popular in Spain but when I lived in FL, I'm used to having the Cuban style which is a cortadito and I ask for condense milk which is on the sweeter side. The cashier was about to dismissed me and I was about to get something else on the menu that was sweet until the other barista heard me and said if I'm used to the traditional cortado, it could be made with brown sugar which makes it a Cuban style coffee and I'm glad I went with this option. I loved it!

HAPPINESS IN A CUP // The dark horse is a no-frills coffee place located within the SteelCraft Plaza in Garden Grove, CA. Originally from Kona, Big Island, Hawaii, you can now get their coffees on the mainland. Every time I've gone to Darkhorse, the staff are incredibly nice and accommodating. Something else I like about them is that they have various dairy free alternatives. What's interesting about the plaza is that only one establishment is licensed to sell a single product. So for example because Darkhorse his license to sell coffee's no other place in the plaza can. WHAT TO GET... If you want coffee but a slight variation from the norm, they are iced Mexican mocha is a fabulous choice. It is both milky yet strong without being overly sweet. Their matcha latte is a classic choice too, though it is a little on the milkier side. PRO TIPS... I've been told that their coffee tends to be a bit on the stronger side, so if you like a coffee lighter definitely ask for more milk or ice. This spot is a great middle ground option since they are open early, I have plenty of open air seating, and other food and beverage spots for people in your party that don't want coffee or tea.

This nice little nifty place! Very chill vibe. Love that there is alot of space here! We know dark horse from San Diego and now it's in Garden Grove! Coffee selection is great. If you prefer the sweet side of things, The Day Day is a nice touch of honey latte. Will recommend and definitely come back here again! Parking is FREEE....

Love that they're located at SteelCraft which is a nice spot to just hang out, walk around and food binge. I got the signature maple brown sugar latte which did not disappoint and my bf got the iced Jasmine green tea. Would really be cool if they had croissants and pastries too.

If i can have an oat milk latte available for me everyday like this place does, im certain i would go broke. Their coffee roast has a beautiful blend of flavors that complimented the steamed oat milk so well. I was unsure at first but ive been bloating badly from all the crap ive been eating that i felt the need for something better for my gut. Im so glad i took a chance! Its so wonderful. Highly recommend to anyone! And they made it irrestistable to have a 2nd breakfast with their cute donuts. What sold me was their Ube glazed donut. It had thus pretty lavendar color. I was even more delighted to find out they were baked so i felt that much better about my gut health...so that i can pig out later on other things lol. They also had a fruitty pebbles and chocolate topped one and a sugar one. Definitely gonna make this my go to place for good, strong coffee and light donuts!

Love it! Love the coffee, amazing barista and location. Cool vibe! Also got whole beans home and keep enjoying. Wish they had a location closer to home!

I was not a big fan of Dark Horse originally, who turned into a big fan. I don't remember what I ordered a long time ago, but I believe it may have been an iced mocha. For whatever reason, I was not a big fan and did not have a desire to return quick. Steven did start going back though, and often. He usually gets an iced vanilla latte, and Dark Horse became one of his favorites. He brought me an iced matcha latte a few times. They do sweeten theirs, and I just get it as is. Some businesses ask if you want it sweetened or not. I am sure they would make it without. I do like the taste of it as is though. They are known for their "Champ" drink which is a honey cinnamon latte. I ordered that once and became a huge fan. I told one of the baristas that I just got myself into trouble trying that drink, and now I am going to be hooked. I order my drinks iced 95% of the time. I am a big fan now of the two drinks I go there for, and the baristas are extremely friendly, and your business is appreciated. I am now a big fan of Dark Horse!

I really needed a caffeine boost since I was nearby for an Elite Perk. SteelCraft is another outdoor food stall which don't seem to be attracting many customers. We were here on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't that busy. Upon walking up to the counter, I was greeted by a friendly staff member. I browsed through the limited menu and decided to order a drink from the specials board. I got the Matchamacallit - matcha tea with a blend of oat and coconut milk with honey and lavender notes. My drink was substituted with vanilla syrup because they were out of lavender. The drink tasted too artificial and the vanilla just made it worst. I'm not a coffee drinker but I do love my teas. This matcha drink was just average. I've definitely had better versions.

A friend invited me here and we had coffee and a very delicious puff pastry would totally recommend it. Nice ambience, great vibe, and the coffee n pastry were delicious!! Totally recommend!! A plus was that the servers behind the counter were super nice, the male sever helped me pick out a drink when I let them know that it was my first time there!! Great choice !!

When I first heard about dark horse I expected a Katy perry themed shop. Sadly it was just a black horse. Anyways, me and my clique ordered 3 coffees, an iced mocha, honey cinnamon latte and maple sea salt. Oh also this place is in a edgy food court with a winery, macaroons, and some food places. Also this place is pretty much asian dominated so if that's your thing, you'll like this place. The iced mocha mocha was around $5 and pretty smooth. It satisfies my coffee my coffee dose for the day but it didn't blow my mind. The honey cinnamon was a cinnamon explosion aka the cinnamon challenge with honey and coffee. It tasted interesting to me but I guess the girl liked it. The sea salt drink tasted like a sprinkle of ocean water in coffee, but weirdly the maple and salt complimented each other. Overall, I would return if I was in the area but I wouldn't go out of my way for it.

Really nice baristas and great prices! I always get the iced green tea! Really great tasting tea!!

Their cold brew is solid. Always fresh and delicious! I've had the iced vanilla latte a couple times here and it's good. There was one time I had it & it tasted watered down. Not too great that day. Other than that I enjoy the coffee here a lot! Great addition to steel craft GG :)

Small cups for their price but the contents was good! I really like how fast they got it out! would def come here again when it's not raining Bad connection and a outdoors super cold during this time but the coffee dude warmed us up