One thing I love more than a great cup of coffee is a great café, and Sur Coffee in San Clemente meets the mark. I love to find a place where I can study, relax, and sip on some flavor notes, so I have to say I was so happy when I stumbled upon Sur.
Tucked in between a row of stores and locations on El Camino Royal, just beyond the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway I take to get there from Laguna Beach, is a surf-style shop serving some of the best drinks I’ve ever had. Their cappuccino was vivid in its tasting notes, with the drink giving off a great medium roast vibe.
Decked out with surfboards and wall art boasting colorful designs, the location’s layout keeps you intrigued while you wait for your name to be called. They have a cool bench-style seating area right when you walk in, adding some variety apart from the typical tables and chairs.
While I’ve yet to buy their beans, I was impressed by their wide selection of origins and blends. They boast a trio of mixtures named after the Trestles beaches of San Onofre State Beach, with Uppers being full-caffeinated, Middles being half-caf, and Lowers decaf. It’s cool when brands can incorporate their community into their style, especially with creative ideas such as using local beaches for different caffeine levels. I am unsure which beans they use for espresso, but if I were to take an educated guess, it’d be their medium roast Gaviota blend, which is pulled from El Salvador and Guatemala.
Their behind-the-counter setup looks excellent, with a beautiful white espresso machine in front of you. Their black letterboard displays all your options: your typical espresso drinks and teas like chai and matcha. When you are walking up to order, they have a seasonal drink written out for you, which I know as a barista is a great way to help those in line who may not know what they want. With pastries being the first thing you see when you walk up, you’re bound to grab something to go along with that coffee.
Overall, the place is very well decorated, and in my numerous visits, I have not had a drink disappointing, whether my typical cappuccino, a cortado, or their chai. It can be hard to find a café you like when so many populate corners and streets, giving you too many options to pick one. However, I should probably hit Sur whenever I head to South County.
