Really cute coffee shop in the shopping center. the staff there was really nice and they had an assortment of bakery items and coffee drinks. price was what you would expect from a specialty coffee place.brewed coffee (4 stars): The taste was fruity but I felt was under extracted.cold brew (5 stars): was really good, had a great balance of dark chocolate and fruity.americano (5 stars): good ratio of coffee to water to compliment the espresso.latte (5 stars): milk mixed well with the flavor of the espresso.overall i think you should definitely try this place, try the cold brew or espresso drinks.

Very nice artisanal coffee joint right in the District. Good quality coffee. One of the better ones here. Selection including house blend and single origin.Nice for doing light work while sipping on your choice of drink. I like the atmosphere.

I recently visited with family for lunch. We ordered a variety of meals, both meat-eaters, and vegetarians. I have to say we all enjoyed our food. I finished with some coffee and a nice piece of cake and beautiful food, professional staff providing great service. The room upstairs was lovely to be able to enjoy a chat over a cuppa. Thank you!

Portola coffee is so good. We came to this area for lunch (see review for Pueblo) and I was so happy to see Portola here so I could have a cup after our meal. The line was long but went fast. They didnt have any gluten free pastries in the case unfortunately, but they did have macarons which I didnt try. I ordered a vanilla latte with oatmilk (my go to drink usually) and it was so good. Smooth with just enough foam, sweet but not overly so.Baristas were great. I would come back here for sure next time Im in the area.

Ordered a Cold Brew coffee which was noted 16oz, I assume 16oz of cold brew then add the ice.. Nope I got almost have of that in coffee(see photo) I had to measure it. Taste was ok but soooooo disappointed on cost for half of what was expected.

Love their coffee. And the baristas really know how to make a proper Flat White (dub ristretto)! Just wish they had a location somewhere along the coast! We drive 15 minutes just to get a coffee from them!

This is my second time at Portola Coffee lab and it seems that this place is not my taste. Their coffee is just edgy and has a weird taste to it.It’s either you like it or you don’t. I ordered the cold mocha and I didn’t like it much - it tastes a bit dry and feels like a tongue twist. It’s just an unusual taste.Place is comfy. There’s outdoor seating and indoor work station. Staff are friendly and it got a nice vibe.

There are some very fun-loving folks working here. We went in for my wifes birthday reward from 5-stars. We have been here before, but this experience was just fun because of the people working. And, to top it off, their coffee drinks are amazing. We tried the Rose-Cardamom latte and, let me tell you, this is now my new favorite drink. The rose is very subtle, but apparent. Perfect for me because I do not like it when all I taste is rose. Blows out my palate. This one was perfect. The cardamom, same. Nice and light with a touch of sweetness. I really havent experienced a latte this good since I was in New Zealand. Bravo, Portola. Bravo.

Go see Steven and Luke, theyll take care of you. Its got to be one of the best chai latte w/ almond milk I have ever had. Support small business.

What a wonderful find at the District in Tustin that my girlfriend and I came across while visiting some friends. The helpers and staff were courteous & helpful, and their coffee selection was diverse with a special menu of drinks based on colors. We enjoyed our matcha inspired and red velvet inspired drinks and i think I may have come here before and found their coffee to be solid too. 4 stars because the space was cool but a little bit limited with seating. Seems like a good crowd was there studying and working. Definitely recommend but parking depending on time may be harder to find without a short walk (still easily accessible & hey we could all use the exercise).

This place is truly a unique experience nearby has a indoor market connected to it. The lattes are great here. Just dont park in the front especially during rush hour. Park in the back for better experience.

They make a very good mocha, and also a flat brown, which is a less sweet version. The croissants they sell are nice and flaky.

The quality is always top notch, it’s just the parking that can be troublesome. But it is always worth it because their service and drinks are incredible quality. This location especially.

Went here for breakfast and was pleasantly surprised. The coffee was delicious, although very expensive. The staff was super friendly, and their pastries (no other served food here) was good.

The best brewed coffee I have had! Period! Had a cup of their Alchemist blend. Silky smooth with no sugar needed.

Love this place its the only reason I go to The Tustin District now!

An absolutely average vanilla latte. Good, but nothing special.

I like this coffee shop and their flat brown is creative with chocolate flavor.

It’s inside the cute market place. Nice famous coffee, and they got some seats to chill too

I’ve never been to a coffee shop which had better service in the least pretentious way, the MOD Mike catered to my many allergies and was able to create the most exquisite drink for me. This place keeps my body from remembering how bad my Cocaine addiction is and I frequent this establishment on a day to day basis! Thank you Portola staff for the service both inside and out back behind the dumpster..

Love their iced tea!!

Expertly selected beans brewed into beautiful coffee ... you need this in your life. Can only pair their coffee with their wide selection of delightful baked goods. I tried all of their croissants and all killer!

This is a serious coffee place. Their macchiato is a traditional version one in a very small cup. I love their mocha. Its a perfect balance of the espresso content to chocolate. The vanilla latte is strong. Ambiance is like in a union square**Checkout Insta:@mrakusuma for more recommended places to eat**

Housed inside the Union Market, giving you a chance to browse around the other shops. Some seating, but pretty limited. Really good quality coffee, and you will pay a higher price for it.

Nice break of a busy dau

Like their Mocha and vanilla latte~

My cappuccino was great! Parking for the location is a bit difficult BUT is completely worth the small trouble! I also had a matcha croissant which was delicious!

Rose & Cardamom Latte is delicious but lil on expensive side. It was 6 bucks but apart from that it was really good.

Great service. Awesome chai. Amazing coffee. Not your corporate coffee shop. Well worth the trip!

There is nothing bad to say about Portola Coffee Lab except that the lines can get ling and nithing is free. Try EVERYTHING!!! Get their brewed coffee pour over style! Pour Over is KING for brewed coffee. It brings out all the flavors beautifully.

Wow! Tried Finca La Milagrosa Geisha...Smoothest best cup of coffee I ever tasted...Paired with Vegan Banana Bread. $7 a cup and worth every penny.

Excellent coffee and beans. Baristas were fantastic. Professional and kind. Thank you Portola! We’ll get through this pandemic!

Best coffee! The pastry is awesome too. Very good and special coffee. Can recommended the filter coffee here, they have regular special coffees.

Very overpriced and coffees are one size only and it’s small. Croissant and a latte was $9.00. Latte was not hot only luke warm. Croissant was delicious but at $4.50 it should be. Very disappointed. Left for Dunkin’ Donuts.

Hot coffee is excellent. No bitter aftertaste and some fruity notes. I refrigerated some of it and tried sipping it cold. Surprisingly delicious cold as well!

Best balanced coffee

Very good coffee

Cool vibe. Seats not great. Little confusing set up

Portola roasts and brews some of the beat coffee you can get. Plus they have friendly staff.

I love Portola coffee but sadly this location has a horrible customer service and there is no quality control at all. Worst coffee and service. Very rude employees. They are always closed at least 15 mins before their posted store hours.

This location was freezing cold, no effort to create a comfortable environment. Some type of alarm was going off on the main door every 10/15 seconds. Super annoying, and no effort to correct the problem. Portola Coffee: While you May be able to find a better cup of coffee, you will never pay more, or wait in line as long!

Great coffee but order process is soooooooo slow. Person takes the order and then makes some drinks before she takes the next order. Instead of paying her you go to someone else who is also making drinks. After you finally pay you still have to wait for your order. The actual transaction seems like an afterthought. They pretty much get to you when they have a minute between making drinks. It took 15 minutes for me to actually get my cup of brewed coffee.

This place is great. With Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco and a couple others, its one of only a couple coffee shops Ive been to where the coffee is truly memorable and worth making a special trip for.

They add love to every cup of coffee and tea. They brew each cup of coffee individually so taste is consistent and of high quality. Even the tea is magically brewed at the exact temperature and time before serving. The amount of attention put into each cup is significantly higher than the average coffee shop without charger more. Choose here if you want the highest quality at standard pricing.

This place is AMAZING! My husband and I drive 2 plus hrs for their DELICIOUS MOCHA, and desserts for some time now. We enjoy the SUPER FRIENDLY and quick service, and did I mention the delicious MOCHA? 😁😁....Special shout out to René & Louie they are awesome, and will definitely take good care of you 👍👍....Hope you enjoy delicious coffee and cheers ☕☕.

Love love love!!! Best coffee ever.Whatever you get you will like it. My favorite is their mocha. Lattes are my 2nd choice.For the beans I get Alchemist.

Im sure the price is fair once you factor in Labor and their responsibly sourced coffee and whatnot, but ours tasted burnt. Like someone definitely left the espresso in the roaster too long. I know we should have just gone back and exchanged it but I was already in my car and chances are the rest of the batch is the same and theyre not gonna roast a special one for me. Plus $7 for a latte is kinda pushing it. If youre gonna be expensive at least be delicious.

I was so excited for Portola to open a location closer to my home. Justifying driving to Costa Mesa for coffee could be difficult at times. The staff as always is super friendly and helpful. I really like the new layout of ordering first then paying after. I think the layout of the counter works really well. The wall adds great ambience to the space. It stands out but in the best way possible. Theres a large window that opens by the counter. In the morning, it adds a great view into the empty parking lot of the District. They have tables all over to sit at both inside and outside. Its easily accessible from both sides of the district and very accessible if youre on your way to the Metrolink. Ive stopped here a couple times to grab an iced latte to take on the train. If you love good coffee definitely consider checking it out.

Great coffee and friendly service

The food is always freshly prepared and made with good quality ingredients. The service is always polite and efficient and the prices are very reasonable. Ideal for a nice lunch or just for a drink and a snack.

You gotta appreciate a place that takes the time to spend like 5 minutes to individually brew a single cup of coffee. I generally order something basic, but my friend is a coffee nerd and likes to get crazy and order their different cold brews or whatever he orders. These guys know their coffee. You order coffee from different regions like you would order wine. Prices arent really crazy expensive either. Maybe 50 cents more than star bucks and the coffee is leaps and bounds better.The service is excellent, friendly, prompt.... And theyre surprisingly quick for the amount of artistry that goes into the product.. Dont get me wrong though. If you have any 5 minutes to get to a meeting, this is not the place to go get your caffeine fix. Meet a friend, savor the experience, or hit them up for an evening coffee.

One of my special places to visit for great espresso. I almost always have to custom pull my shots but they seem to always nail it.

This coffee shop is an open door environment in a mall. Their coffee is great and the layout is idea, but positioned in a mall it is hard to create the small quiet coffee shop vibe which they seem to be going for. This is less of a sit, read, sip, and get work done coffee shop and more of a meet with a friend to catch up coffee shop, though its hard to do either in the mall.The pastries I bought was almost inedible due to the wrapping around it. My latte was fantastic and I highly recommend their coffee to anyone.Not sure where Portola stopped and the other little shops began.Food: 6/10Drink: 10/10Environment: 5/10Staff: 8/10

Rose Cardamom Latte - So good! I was hesitant to try it but it was worth it! It was definitely different & all the flavors stood out well. I absolutely loved it!Cappuccino - Was standard good. A little disappointed that their foam doesnt hold up well. It flatten by the time I walked to the car.Got the chocolate croissant & jalapeño cheddar danish - Took a bite into it and found a nat in the pastries just moving ... really gross! Had to throw both out. Total waste of money and didnt even get to enjoy it. Instead had to spit it all out!

Place makes you feel special as you have a high quality coffee and pastry.

Decent craft coffee. Be ready to wait a little while for your drink as everything is made fresh as far as the drinks go. Pastries were okay, better to stop by one of the other locations inside the market for a quick bite.

Delicious coffee for coffee lovers.

One of my fav places to get a top notch pour over in southern ca.... try the Alchemist blend

Love this place. Great coffee. Great roasts. Each shot is ground and weighed to perfection.

Decent coffee. Better desserts. Pricey but not bad for boutique cafe

Excellent coffees and nice pastries. Wi-fi and okay seating. Really love the Flat Whites.

This place really gets hopping mornings and mid afternoons. They have a small selection of breakfast sandwiches as well as a small selection of sandwiches. They have great pastries. Service is efficient. Tables in the front and then in the back. Free Wifi. Can make any of your favorite coffees.

Went there yesterday afternoon 9 June. Coffee was fine but the young guy dressed in black, long hair, moustache, black hat, needs a lesson in customer service.I started conversation about the new opposition cafe directly opposite. He shook his head from side to side and the only thing he said to me was the cost of the coffee. I thanked him very much and his reply was a pffft sound! Strange guy.

Had the vanilla latte and mocha. Much better than Starbucks. Almost comparable to the coffee I make at home fresh ground and French pressed.

The only offer a small cup and the coffee doesnt even taste like coffee, it tastes like chicory.. not sure how they get such good reviews but maybe my cup just wasnt very good

I would not make it through the day without their version of a Starbucks chai tea latte! I always stop here on the way to work in the morning because its the closest coffee shop, but now Im addicted and love it more. I wish they had one on every corner. I definitely recommend it. Very friendly staff too!

I love this market space, it is so eclectic and unique, I love the relaxed vibe you get hereThe espresso was excellent and the staff was super helpful.

Good taste of coffee.

Theyve put in the new Steampunk coffee system that can infuse coffee quickly for a very flavorful yet smooth extraction. The location is pretty cool. Nice indoor and outdoor seating.

Amazing amazing coffee. From their drip coffee to their specialty coffee. And very knowledgable friendly staff

Pretty good coffee. Friendlier staff than at the Costa Mesa location.

Love this place. The drinks, the ambiance, the pastries.

Try their mocha. Its excellent!

Excellent coffee great place for friends and meetings

The ambiance is nice and the people seem like coffee enthusiasts but Im still not a fan. First off, the coffee is super pricey, like more than starbucks. Which I could handle if it was amazing coffee, but its not. All of their lattes are sickeningly sweet- seriously. They are so rich you get a stomach ache after.

PCL. Great Coffee, full flavored, and full of crack-cocaine. Just kidding, the drinks are well made, and very rarely do I find a place where the coffee doesnt need sugar (bitterness is cut with the way they brew) and its delicious!

One of the top coffee shops in Orange County. Never disappoints!

The actual coffee is good because they have done a good job with their research and development. But this location is not staffed by good baristas, Portola in general has very high turnover. This location seems to hire based on looks as opposed to skill and care taken when preparing drinks. Very disappointed with this location compared to Orange and Costa Mesa. Management seems to not care about customer feedback either.

Meticulous tender care to each hand crafted drink. Love it here and the staff just beams great smiles

Their coffee is very consistent and consistently good.

Great coffee plus awesome baristas... I highly recommend enjoying a cup of coffee here.

Excellent quality coffee, for the true coffee purist this is the place to go.

Very good cafe ole. Great vibe and tasty coffee = must stop in Irvine/Tustin area.

Still cant make a decent cappuccino that doesnt come out like a latte, tasteless, or too hot. Twice I ordered a latte and that one came out too hot and too watery. Ive had to send back drinks more than once and opt for their safer drink: the mocha. I get the feeling this second location isnt as good as their primary in OC Mix. Id rather go to Peets than pay more for less here.Def room for improvement.

Coffee and espresso is above average but not phenomenal, and for the price they charge, I would expect phenomenal. Should either lower prices or improve quality.

Real espresso. Fresh quality beans. Great chocolate. Great service.

The gentleman barista who takes orders, pulls shots, and steams around 3pm on Thursday the 10th of January was not very friendly. I feel as if he tried to make me feel dumb and he didnt have a inviting energy. He told me he could not make a wet cappuccino with rose and cardamom for some reason?? I was willing to pay for any up charge, but I was denied my request of how I wanted my drink made. I still ended up paying over seven dollars for my drink! Not worth it. The drink looked beautiful with dried little rose petals, but the shots were weak and my latte wasnt very hot. If I wanted a basic coffee drink and an unpleasant experience, I would have gone to Starbucks. Maybe he didnt know that I am a barista myself at another local OC coffee house. Really disappointed in my experience. Wont return.

Coffee here is great, one of the better ones in the area

Nice cafe that wasnt too busy on a Saturday afternoon. Coffee tastes great and it was easy to find a table. The internet was so slow as to not be very useful.

Love Portola Costa Mesa, however this outlet drags the brand way down. Service is average, and coffee is subpar. I ordered nitro brew, and received a flat cold plastic cup of brown liquid, no nitro and awful taste. When I asked the staff, their response was shocking...the nitro hasn’t been working lately, but we can give you something else for the same price. Wow, not what I would expect from such a well respected brand. Sadly, I’m better off going to Starbucks!

Horrible service, paid $10 for two coffees. Lady served cold coffee, then refused to warm up. The lady was so rude that we left to coffee and money on the counter. This happened on aug 28 at 5:30.

A little busier than some of the other Portola locations that Ive visited, yet I still enjoy it

Coffee is always good.Somewhat offsets the bad.Service slow and not very friendlyAlways feel like customer is doing them a favor.Process takes more time than it should.

Say no to casual coffee.Pros:1) $5 Mocha- hands down the best every time (you can catch me enjoying this cup here every Friday night with either a client or a best friend).2) Mathematical- Consistency is crucial when it comes to selling a perfect product. Watch as your barista measures out your coffee grounds with complete accuracy!Cons:1) Black coffee- As sad as this sounds- I was quite excited to introduce my caffeine induced old man to come try out this place. Sadly- he didnt his straight black- HOWEVER we exchanged the coffee with a different grind and he was quite satisfied the second time around.2) Expensive- like I said earlier- youll run about $5 for a cup of Mocha (which I highly recommend trying) I wish they had a points card or something.

Smooth espresso, and amazing creative lattes.

The best coffee you can get. my only complaint are the cups are so damn small and there is only one size.

Great coffee. Dont be in a hurry!

Their customer service need improvement but their coffee is awesome

Hipster coffee joint serving high quality drinks.

For the short time i lived in Irvine, i started every morning with an amazing iced mocha from these guys