The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf — Restaurant in Irvine

I stopped by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf in Terminal 3 at SNA before my flight and decided to try the Vietnamese Cold Brew. It was surprisingly strong and flavorful, bold cold brew mixed with sweetened condensed milk, giving it that classic rich and creamy taste you'd expect. It was a great pick-me-up after a long day of travel. The flavor was on point, but fair warning: it’s not for the faint of heart. This drink packs a serious caffeine punch, so it’s best to sip slowly. The service was quick and efficient, which is what you want in an airport setting, though nothing overly friendly or standout. It's just a grab your drink and go place. Overall, I’d definitely grab one again if I’m passing through. It was a much better option than Starbucks since there...

Flew into California. Ordered a flat white coffee near carousel 3. They didn't ask me about milk and I forgot to say. They made it with non-fat milk. I politely said I wouldn't be able to drink it. The guy who made it immediately said - do you want a refund? I asked if they had whole milk. He said yes but he already made it with the nonfat. So, in other words, he was not willing to make me another! It was so strange! He told me nonfat milk was default in all coffee places incl Starbucks and I should have said something. So... I took my refund including the tip. Welcome to...

Obviously, when you're in the airport, there's not a lot to choose from. I had a short wait for my flight and I wandered down to try The Coffee Bean. I don't imagine working in the airport is the most exciting job, but the staff did not smile or say really anything outside of "what can I get you"? I ordered an oat milk latte and it was not good. The coffee used is very acidic and dark. I know some people like that, but I tend to lean more toward medium roasts and less acidity. Wouldn't go there again, but maybe it would be good for someone with different coffee...