Kean Coffee latte art - click to enlarge
2043 Westcliff Drive, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660
HOURS: 6 AM to 9 PM Sunday through Thursday
6 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Yesterday was my second time visiting Kean Coffee. I ordered a large whole milk latte in a for here cup. The picture to the left was the result. The latte art was a type of leaf. I really liked it so I took a picture. The leaf looks like maybe some kind of fern. It definitely had an Autumn look to it. I love how the brown intermixed with the white foam to give a textured look.
And the latte itself tasted delicious. It was almost as good as the latte from Jack’s Coffee, but not quite. The latte had a good strength to it. I could definitely taste the coffee but it wasn’t too bitter. But it still was a little bitter, which is OK. It’s just that it wasn’t mind ending like Jack’s. But even being able to compare the coffee at Kean to Jack’s is a major compliment.
One great thing about Kean Coffee is that there is a lot of seating available. There is a patio and a living room area that is big enough to fit over 40 people. The seats are comfortable and even though I was there both times at 9AM on weekdays, I was still able to get a seat for me and my friend after hovering around for a little bit. There is a raised area with tall booth-like seats. This area is interesting because it is a mix between a boot and a bar. To better describe it imagine a long curved booth that has tables along it. And on the other side of the tables are high-chairs.
The rest of the interior living room area was tables and chairs. The tables were all high quality and sturdy. They didn’t tip over or tilt. And that is always a plus when trying to write or read. I haven’t tried their outdoor seating yet but the people there seemed to be enjoying themselves.
The employees were nice even though it was busy. And they really appreciated it when I bussed a table for myself. And something that was new at a coffee shop was that one barista came over to our table and asked us how everything was. That was really interesting to me because it made me feel like I was in a nicer sit down restaurant instead of a coffee house.
Kean Coffee and blueberry item
But let’s get back to the coffee. Both times I was there, my latte tasted great. It was a little on the stronger side. The milk temperature and flavor was great. But the first time I was there the Latte art was not quite as good as the second time. As you can see from the picture on the right, the latte had a swirl type design but it wasn’t as impressive as the other one. If you look you will see a blueberry croissant. That was very tasty. Although the blueberry insides was decadent instead of healthy tasting. It had a gel-like blueberry consistency instead of a thick and chunky fruity insides. The outside of the croissant was lightly covered in a sugar topping. And the flaky croissant tasted fresh and was easily divided by the use of a fork.
I definitely am going to go to Kean again. I don’t mind having to drive a while for a latte, especially if I am meeting someone there. The decor of Kean’s Coffee is excellent. There are coffee colored drapes that set the mood. And there is a wood motif that isn’t overwhelming. It is a very comfortable setting to share ideas and get the creative mind cooking.
-Tyler