Kaldi Coffee & Tea — Restaurant in South Pasadena

I write for a music and coffee blog called Crooners In Coffeeshops, in which I interview local musicians at local coffeeshops. My writeup reflects the positive experience that I encountered at Kaldi Coffee on our interview date.

Ever wondered where they shot the coffee scenes for films like Lady Bird, Prom Night, The Ugly Truth (AKA my favorite rom-com ever in the entire world) and tv shows like Brothers & Sisters, Parenthood, and most recently Splitting Up Together? Who knew that it was right underneath our noses tucked away in beautiful Pasadena, CA! Kaldi Coffee & Tea certainly has the appeal of the go-to coffeeshop with its weathered brick walls, worn wooden seating arrangements, maintained hardwood flooring, and classic oldies tracks playing in the background. Even with its somewhat infamous reputation in the film and television realm, the food and drink options are reasonably priced. An array of classic coffee and tea options with a seasonal signatures, like the deliciously refreshing honey vanilla latte that I couldn’t help but choose, showcase that they try to cater to every type of customer that rolls in.

From the minute you step through the shop’s forest green framed doors, you can just tell that generations of coffee lover have come through here. Plus there is a strong sense of community with local artwork on display, and a bulletin board with notes of local events, offers, listings, etc. tacked to them. If you’re looking for a relaxing spot to spend the day reading, playing music (on their front seating area of course), or are a movie and tv buff looking to visit a place with some history, Kaldi Coffee & Tea is the hidden gem you’ve been...

Break my Marbles! Get ready this is gonna be slasher.

Kaldi Coffee & Tea is a corner coffee shop in South Pasadena. They serve basic coffee, tea, specialty drinks and pastries. Interior design and layout were cool sleek and spacious, respectively. Atmosphere was nice with plenty of natural light. Young staff were nice. They have front outdoor seats for those who prefer some view.

I had a Mint Iced Coffee and it's complete whoppers! If Sauron exists this drink is perfect for him and his minions. It's blithering pathetic drink; there was not a good balance of elements in this mint IC. Drink was not brewed smoothly, not refreshing, banal plastic cup, and on top of it über milky. All I had was a tiny sip and I quivered. And I knew that it was a subpar-mediocre iced coffee. The price does not reflect the quality, I threw it away. No wonder the rating was utterly garbage. I suggest they overhaul their drinks.

Overall, I will never come back again. And waste my resources. Not sure why folks enjoy this kind...

I’ve been coming here for awhile to support local and never understood why they got such bad reviews. I mean, the coffee isn’t mind-blowing, but it’s also not terrible. And the service, while not tip-deserving, is also not a deal breaker.

Today I finally understand why it’s rated so low....No public restrooms. They send you to the public library which wouldn’t be too bad (just across the street) except if it’s closed, you’re outta luck. They told us to try La Monarca (a bakery/cafe) on Mission (8 min walk) but you’ll have to buy something from them in order to use the restroom....so you’re better off just going to La Monarca in the first place. This is the first cafe I’ve been to that doesn’t offer a restroom. They obviously must have a restroom for their employees and it’s disappointing that they didn’t think to make an exception for when the...