Beacon Coffee Company, Inc. — Restaurant in Ventura

I first came to Beacon Coffee Co back in November of 2011 and now I'm proud to say that I'm a regular. They not only serve the best coffee/espresso in town, they roast it themselves...right here in Ventura. On top of that, the owners - John and Jennifer - are great people whom I frequently hear eagerly sharing their wealth of coffee knowledge with customers - from home espresso making advice to the nuances of coffee origins to new cafe design to espresso blends...the depth of their knowledge and willingness to share with those who are eager to learn never ceases to blow my mind.

Espresso - Over the last 16 months, I have enjoyed many of the iterations of their espresso (currently at version 20 - Beacon XX) and it is the best I have had. Rarely does espresso come with such thick, rich crema, such complex and complimentary flavor profiles and such a nice finish. Additionally, it stands up for itself amongst the espresso based drinks they serve - most notably, the flat white :D

French Press - When I first came to Beacon, I thought French Presses were for coffee snobs and sure they were a different way to make coffee...but at the end of the day, it's still the same caffeinated brown stuff in my mug, right? Nope. I have come to appreciate that Beacon forces the issue of high quality coffee by using french presses in their coffee preparation. The complexity and unique flavor profiles of each of their single origin coffees come to life in the cup - usually with a different origin being served each day so each new day presents a new flavor profile to tease your palate.

The downside of coming to Beacon is that it will ruin you. You realize that Starbucks coffee isn't actually strong, it's burned. You realize that what people had been serving you as espresso was actually terrible. So...if you don't want coffee that's locally roasted in small batches with the sound of beans churning in the background as you sip your espresso, don't come here. If you want to continue to enjoy drinking faceless coffee lacking any sort of unique personality to call it's own, don't come here. If you enjoy the anonymity that large chain coffee shops offer and just want to consume coffee, don't come here. You've been warned.

(reposted my review from...

What a cute little coffee shop! I visited here during COVID, so there was a little booth outside where we got our coffee, it was clear the staff was careful and considerate and the whole experience felt very safe. We talked to one of the baristas, a fantastic young pregnant lady who was incredibly welcoming and friendly. She spoke and laughed with us and it felt like home, even while traveling.

The coffee was good, and it was clear that it was made with passion like small-batch, locally owned coffee shops often are. The baked goods looked delicious, the display was melting chocolate chips in the sun, gooey goodness!

I drank a small chai and my friend had an iced coffee and both were delicious!

Unfortunately, the front is lackluster and it's actually a little difficult to find. There is a distinct lack of signage and the location make it seem like a rare find. I'd love to see this shop with a bit more of an...

Anyone going here, know this isn't starbucks don't come in expecting this, I didnt, but read reviews and see people did, so be warned! It is a typical coffee shop. Meaning there is maybe 7 things on the menu and none of it has sugar syrups. Just coffee and milk and some teas. They have a seasonal flavor, homemade vanilla and honey option. I got the flat white with honey. It was good coffee. Nothing really special. I got the cheese Danish. It was good but not a Danish more like a bagel/apple thing. light flavor. The space was tight: about 5 booth chairs close to one another along a wall, and two small outdoor tables. I wouldn't sit and read here or work, which is something I look for with these coffee places. Paid about $15 with tip. Customer service was nice. I'd come again, it wasn't bad, not amazing...