Gremlin Garage: Drink - Going Dutch Latte (winter special)
drink
Single restroom
drink
Hot burnt honey latte
interior
interior
WiFi
Inside view.
Awesome spot to have coffee and chill.
Front
Salted Banana Caramel Latte
interior
Huge open space with large tables
outside
Chris C.
Mar 3, 2025
Wow! New coffee spot - recommended by our children. So pleased we came. Ordered a cappuccino (my husbands "test" drink at any new place) and I got a mocha (best one ever!). Both perfect.Spacious space - varied seating with a fun and authentic motorcycle (and typewriter) decor. Guava Danish hit the spot.Owner and CEO Crystal is especially warm and enthusiastic - so welcoming. Easy to make this a regular place for us!
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Heather B.
Feb 28, 2025
We have seen this place mentioned on Instagram quite a few times and were intrigued by the cool, retro motorcycle shop vibe. First off - this is tucked away in a block of mechanics shops. The walk up can be noisy during the day. But once you get inside, it's just background noise with a chill soundtrack. They have a movie projected on the wall, a collection of vintage and antique items to explore, merchandise, and lots of comfy places to sit. This shop is truly offering a community space, as they advertise events taking place, such as speed dating nights and free coffee days. Oh- don't forget- we came for coffee! The menu is short, but as a natural Libra , this is better for me to make a quick decision (haha). Though it's short, it's delicious. We ordered the Caramel Banana Latte and Chocolate Pistachio Shakerato. They are known for the Caramel Banana Latte and one sip will show you why! Though I have to say I feel the Chocolate Pistachio Shakerato should share the same spot. For sweet coffee lovers, these will definitely float your boat!Ask about the secret menu. You'll get a hint to locate it and try something different. The service is excellent and personal and you'll get lots of recommendations.
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Cambria U.
Feb 27, 2025
Had a great experience here last December with family.They have a spacious lounge area and they even had Elf playing on a projector.The staff was super friendly and helpful.Only con is parking is tricky.
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Wendy B.
Mar 3, 2025
Tucked between car repair and auto body repair shops, Gremlin Garage is a gem in the competitive Costa Mesa coffee scene. The menu offers many creative delicious options. So far I have had enjoyed the Matcha latte, regular vanilla latte and my repeat order and favorite at the moment the burnt honey latte. The baristas are always friendly making recommendations on both the delicious pastries and coffee options. As someone who usually grabs coffee on the go I've found myself staying and enjoying the atmosphere which welcomes you to relax and enjoy a little coffee and conversation.
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Patrick C.
Feb 23, 2025
Gremlin Garage is a hidden gem for anyone looking for a whimsical and unique coffee experience!!The atmosphere is playful and full of personality, with fun decorations like bike memorabilia, gremlins, and even Shrek playing in the background... it's clear the owner put a lot of thought into the details. Their Grinch matcha is a solid choice if you're in the area and craving a good pick me up, and the pastries pair perfectly with their creative drinks. If you're looking for a spot with character, good vibes, and tasty treats, this place is definitely worth a visit!
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Steph H.
Feb 9, 2025
I love to see people open up a fun, creative coffee shop. Gremlin Garage is definitely that. Really dig the branding and the overall vibe of the spot. Others are correct, parking can be rough. They only have a few spots out front or (usually taken) street parking. They truly are among mechanic shops which is cool. We found the barista to be really sweet and she even asked us how we liked our drinks when we were leaving. I got the grinch matcha and my husband got some burnt honey latte. We loved both. We will definitely revisit.
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Andy V.
Feb 9, 2025
1. The drinks were well-made with a good balance of flavors! My favorite drink was the caramel banana latte! They also warmed the pastries for us!2. The spot has fun casual vibes inside a garage!3. There are only indoor seatings!4. The staff were friendly and timely with my order!5. Front parking is limited, but there are street parking available with two-hours time limit!Note: There is a single restroom available for customers!Photo: Choc Pistachio Shakerato, Caramel Banana Latte, Apple Danish, and Raspberry Poptart
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Vi P.
Feb 8, 2025
Parking: 5/10. It's located in a very busy area surrounded by multiple car repair shops, which I think it's a brilliant location (despite the limited parking) to people who are waiting for their car repairs. Drinks: Basic grinch matcha: 10/10. Smooth matcha, flavorful strawberry syrup without being overly sweet. Total cost with oat milk alt was $8.50.Oscar's trash cup: 8/10. It's from the secret menu and while the drink is still good, the cup size is smaller than their regular drink sizes. In addition, this drink costed $9.50 (including extra $.50 charge for oat milk), which is quite steep considering the size and drink flavor overall. Ambiance: 10/10. The theme of the coffee shop is coffee and chaos and they truly live up to it. They have a physical secret menu that's hidden in the shop if you want to know what's the secret drinks. I won't spill the secret. Spacious tables and seats inside. Super nice baristas. Overall, despite the pricey drinks, we would happily throw ourselves into chaotic parking, vibes, and drinks again.
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Hayley H.
Jan 31, 2025
The Costa Mesa coffee scene strikes again! How this city can have so many incredible coffee shops is beyond me. Gremlin is one of the newest additions to this highly caffeinated city. They're located in a corporate complex next to a number of mechanic shops. There's a few dedicated parking spots out front, but otherwise you might need to walk from the nearby street.I found their speciality drink menu to be pretty memorable. It's filled with unique drinks like the Grinch matcha and a banana caramel late. I ordered the latter and was so wow'd by how much it tasted like banana! I also loved their sassy branding - bitches do indeed love coffee. The shop has great wifi and a large number of seats for those looking to complete some work. A rarity in this area!
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Charlie N.
Jan 27, 2025
Been hearing things about this new spot that opened up a few weeks ago, and have been seeing cute pictures of the place so had to check it out!PARKING:Kind of difficult. Limited spots right in front, so we had to search around for street parking. There are other lots in the area but many are private for the other businesses so read signage before you park.WHAT I ORDERED:Caramel banana latteTHE COFFEE:Wow, I was impressed! The banana cream was very flavorful and not very artificial tasting. The espresso tasted pretty good, though the drink was a bit sweet in general.SERVICE:Pretty good.VIBES:This place is gorgeous and super aesthetically pleasing, and I would totally imagine myself coming back to catch up with friends. Love the garage vibe. The decor was pretty cool and was nice that there were comfy couches to sit on. I'm not quite sure if this is the best place for studying or working-from-coffee-shop if you plan to stick around for a long time, but I managed to have a good coworking session with my friends when I visited. Here's my working-from-cafe checklist:* OUTLETS: None that I could see* WIFI/INTERNET: Yes, and it's actually pretty fast* VOLUME: There's (good) music playing, but not too loud* SEATING AVAILABILITY: Lots of seats, and I like the big tables which were nice for me to put my laptop on.* BATHROOMS: Honestly, one of the best coffee shop bathrooms I've ever used, seriously. Free tampons, and there's hand lotion next to the sink.* LAPTOP RESTRICTIONS: None that I know ofBOTTOM LINE:I'm definitely coming back here and excited to see them grow as a business.
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