Counterpoint Coffee — Restaurant in Seaside

With some advice from friends I decided to try this place. I've had 1000's of coffee drinks. Some good, some bad. When they've been bad it usually comes with a bitter or burnt taste. Ive never had a sour espresso/coffee/Americano before. I was so confused when I drank it I actually googled why my drink was sour. Google explained it perfectly and basically stated it was a lack of experience from the barista/coffee roaster. I thought about telling the barista that my drink was undrinkable but then I looked beside me and was disgusted by the lack of cleanliness and figured it was a lost cause telling her my complaint. Dirt, rocks, old fruit, hair, and literally feathers was all over the display next to me. Maybe months of buildup. I would post a picture here but I don't want anyone to lose their lunch. The place looks like someone with zero construction or restaurant experience built the place and/or they ran out of money and just said F it. As I sat there in their very comfortable chair(reason it's above 1 star) a couple flies kept buzzing me. I then realized that their front and back door were permanently open, not the type of door every other restaurant/coffee shop has that shuts behind customers.

I really wanted to like this place. Beer, wine, and coffee are my things. But it seems like the people that run this place are more concerned about being hipsters and making the place into their garage than having a good product. I immediately left and went to another coffee shop to get the taste out...

An exceptional, excellent place to get coffee, with a passion for the brew unparalleled locally. Art, music, a whole cultural package that cements what one should expect from an essential coffee bar worthy of becoming anyone's go-to.

The owner cycles through good roast selections regularly. The baked goods are good, but of particular delight is the fiselle, a mainstay in European cafés I am pleased to be able to enjoy locally. The special drinks are a delight. Of particular note is the ube latte, as well as the purple rain, one being a delicious smooth espresso based drink, whereas the other is a tea-based concoction with sparkling edible glitter inside. Absolute treats.

There is an entire wall lined up with records, and there is always something playing on the record player, always depending on who's on staff that particular day.

Some of the art on display at the establishment is for sale, all of it made by locals. Occasionally there's clothes and prints and other things for sale too.

It's probably my preferred "third place" in the greater Seaside/Monterey area as the two cities blend...

Counterpoint Coffee is a solid spot with plenty of seating, making it a great place to hang out or get some work done. The free WiFi (password: Beherenow) is a nice touch, especially for anyone looking to get productive while enjoying a coffee. Speaking of coffee, the banana bread latte really surprised me—it was so delicious! I also had the apple croissant, which was warm, flaky, and totally hit the spot.

That said, there are a couple of downsides. The staff wasn’t super welcoming when I visited, but I’ll probably try again to see if it was just a one-off. The service was also a bit slow, so don’t come in expecting a quick grab-and-go experience. Plus, it’s on the pricier side—$8 for a latte and $5.50 for a croissant, which is a bit much for a regular coffee stop.

One thing to note is the noise level—it’s not the quietest place, so if you’re looking for somewhere calm to relax or study, this might not be your best bet. Overall, it’s a great spot for a tasty drink and snack, though just be prepared for a bit of a wait and a higher bill. I’ll definitely be back to give it...