ARMANI CAFFÈ Costa Mesa — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

What's shopping without a quick coffee break? What used to be Antonello Espresso Cafe is now Armani Cafe.

Parking: This little spot is located in the South Coast Plaza. There's parking lots and parking garages.

Ambiance/Environment: This spot is more so a quick grab-n-go. There are very limited tables in front of the cafe. The experience can definitely be enhanced with a designated seating area and decor. Especially with the prices. I visited on a Saturday afternoon, and it was busyyy. They had a consistent line.

Service: There were only 3 workers. One cashier and two baristas. Service was simply quick and efficient.

Drinks: I got an iced latte with dulce de leche. The layers were aesthetically pleasing. I really enjoyed this drink; the dulce de leche had caramel notes which balanced well with the bitterness of the espresso. The pastries are displayed in the front, but it does need a restock as it seemed empty. I didn’t try any pastries because none of them looked appealing to me.

Pricing: I’m not sure exactly what my total was, but I did remember hearing the cashier saying my total was $9 with some change. I gave her a $20 bill and received back $10 and some change. It wasn’t until after I realize my change didn’t add up. I’m aware this is my fault bc I should’ve paid more attention and brought it up. A latte is $6.50 + $1.25 added syrup. Either way, I can’t really justify the pricing. It’s quite obvious you’re paying for the brand name. I enjoyed my drink, but I’d only visit once in...

I recently visited Armani Caffè at South Coast Plaza around 10 AM, as most of the other stores were still closed. With limited options, I decided to give this place a try. I ordered a latte, but unfortunately, my experience was less than satisfactory.

When I received the drink and took my first sip, it was excessively hot—so much so that it burned my tongue. I mentioned this to the staff, and one of them jokingly offered to add ice cubes to cool it down. While I initially brushed it off as humor, upon reflection, the suggestion felt rather odd. Ice in a hot latte doesn’t seem like a thoughtful solution.

Later, unable to drink the original latte, I returned and asked for a replacement. This time, the new latte was underwhelming, with a taste that was below average and not warm enough. It’s worth mentioning that the coffee here is made using pod machines rather than real espresso machines, which might not appeal to those who appreciate a more authentic coffee experience.

For anyone seeking a quality cup of coffee, I’d recommend exploring other options. While the location is convenient, the coffee quality and overall experience did not meet...

Antonello was one of my favorite places to stop and relax while shopping at South Coast Plaza. The coffee was great, the baristas were professional, and the service was prompt. That's all gone after Armani Caffè took over this year. The coffee is mediocre (my cappuccino tasted like it was espresso+water instead of espresso+milk), the barista gave me newbie vibes and even messed my order (he had to do it again). Total disaster. I know it's hard for me to say it (because I detest Starbucks and its bitter coffee), but the two Starbucks locations in the mall serve better coffee...