It’s A Grind Coffee House

Sadly, this grind location closed recently. Apparently another victim of shrinking consumer pockets. I’ll miss everyone that i came to know at the grind. Thank you for the incredibly friendly service day after day!
Timothy

Across the street from Starbucks, and a MUCH better option. The staff is laid back and friendly. The seating is cozy, on the inside it feels like someones sitting room, and there is outside seating available as well. They don’t mind how long you stay and hang out, and there is free wi-​fi. I once sat and chatted with the owner’s wife and baby for a while, and she was so sweet. There is also food, which has always been good. If you are looking for coffee, and a place to chill, this is the place!

**10/​13/​10 UPDATE **
Its been a while now, but this location is closed… up and gone overnight.
:(
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Best Its A Grind in Long Beach!
EXCELLENT LOCATION: Belmont Shore, a block away from the Bay… Surrounded by Barry’s Beach Shack, Venissimo Cheese Shop and the Bay Shore Library! Comfy seating, a fireplace, hip music and wifi.
FRIENDLY STAFF: Nice, and more than accommodating — I always enjoy visiting with the employees here! If I am uncertain of what to order, I can trust that someone will help me make the right decision. Truly excellent customer services at this It’s a Grind!
OUTSTANDING DRINKS: Wide selection of hot and cold coffee and tea beverages. I like the Funky Monkey (peanut butter and banana ice-​blended coffee drink) when in season. I like espresso drinks, and there are plenty to choose from. Also, your regular coffee and teas are great for your caffeine fix as well.
I cant say enough good things about this coffee shop — thank you It’s a Grind — YOU ROCK!

Best coffee shop in Belmont. Very comfortable and there’s a choice of indoor or outdoor seating. Baristas are always friendly and the music is better than than the elevator jazz of Starbucks. I do like the coffe better at Aroma di Amore, but there’s a ton of smokers on the patio.

great staff, great coffee, free internet.

nicks breakfast burrittos… rock my world. esp since i live in burritto heaven.
thanks guys! great staff, fun friendly atmosphere. when i go back to the long beach i will see yah all again.

The kind of coffee I would brew myself, very tasty baked goods, and a relaxed, just-​hip-​enough atmosphere. I go out of my way to come here.

Gary and Laura know good customer service. I wouldn’t mind if 50% of the coffee houses on 2^nd street went away. Good coffee, good service (plus I love to support a true local business). Keep up the good work my fellow coffee brewers!

I love it’s a grind. I started out going to *bucks. Then, migrated over to Peets. I saw Its a Grind open and thought I’d try it out. I’ve been coming here ever since. The staff is always friendly. The place is always clean. And, free wifi. Love that. Right now I’m listening to cool jazz have a cup of joe and enjoying myself. Highly recommend!

It’s A Grind is a nice alternative to the behemoth that is Starbucks. I love their Frozen White Chocolate Mocha. I tend to judge a coffeehouse on their White Chocolate Mocha.
When I go for a walk along 2^nd St, this location is a great pit stop before I head home. It also serves as a nice break after walking through the canals of Naples. The staff is friendly and there’s a lot of seating options. It was a little odd (at first) to not have a pick-​up counter like I’m used to with Starbucks, but it’s definitely something I can get over; especially since they’ll bring it out to you if you’re staying to enjoy it.

Chicks with tatts work here. That’s hot, haha jk. Cashier was kind and apologized for the other register being down since the place was a little crowded. A chill spot to listen to live accoustic music.

OK, I know this is a chain that started locally, but I especially like this branch. So far, I’ve been several times in the evenings with my cousin & her husband, & the same 2 guys have been working there each time. The staff there is friendly, pleasant, & seem to know their stuff. I say this because my cousin’s husband had been talking to us about one of the desserts in the case he saw on a previous visit but didn’t get, so he wanted to get it the first time we all went in together. Of course, it wasn’t there when we arrived. So, he asked the staff behind the counter about it, who seemed to know exactly which dessert he was talking about, explained that they rotate their bakery vendors, but would be able to give him the name of the bakery if he wanted to make a trip out (it was in Beverly Hills) to get the dessert. It sounds like they use local bakeries. Another time, while we were peeking into the pastry case, he informed us that there were a few more other options & proceeded to pull those options out of their storage area behind the counter & put them in the case. They are also great about bringing your drink to you once you find a place to sit. How cool is that?
It’s not a huge place, but there’s 2 separate seating areas, an atrium like area by the front door with a fireplace. The part by the counter has some comfy chairs with lower tables, & a bench built into the wall with some tables & chairs by it. There’s also a small amount of outdoor seating (2? tables).
There’s free wifi, so there’s some people there with their computers, presumably doing work or just surfing the web for fun. Then, there’s people there just hanging out & socializing.
The bathrooms are in a separate part of the building, with a separate entrance, so you need to ask them for a token to use the bathroom. The women’s bathroom is a single room, locked with token access to keep the riffraff out. It’s nice & clean. Just don’t forget to manually lock the door to show that it’s occupied while you’re in there.
They’re only open until 11pm on weekends… we closed them down one night we were there. They were very gracious about kicking us out, & seemed to do it at the last possible minute, after doing some cleaning around us & leaving our area until last.
Décor consists of paintings of musicians, including Tom Waits (he’s the one we sat in front of) & some jazz musicians (I forget exactly who now, I think Ella Fitzgerald was one of them).
They also participate in the last 2 Stroll & Savors that I attended, an event that happens a few times during the summer.
There was also live music playing one day when we were there.
I like this location so much that I’m tempted to even bring my laptop here to use their wifi instead of the branch by me.
There’s also occasionally coupons for $ 1 drinks that you get in the mailers (you know, with the grocery store flyers, etc.).
Located on the southwest corner of 2^nd St. & Claremont Ave., on the east end of Belmont Shores.

It’s A Grind is my favorite beverage chain [Polly’s is still the best on 2^nd Street, but not a chain]
Stepped in here on an early Sat after a workout on Bayshore and loved the interior. A different look than your average coffee house, I liked the high ceiling and open air entryway with the arched windows, etc
Friendly staff when I was there. Great place to hang and good coffee as always [they make the best Red Eye/​Foglifter]

The chain itself is pretty good. This one is new, so the furniture isn’t all ripped up like the older ones. Waiting for a late friend, I appreciate a chair without holes and stuffing falling out like the PCH It’s a Grind. The coffee is good, fresh, the munchies are a good selection of spinach or turkey croissants or deserts. Much better than Peet’s down the block, and the staff is more willing to wait on you here than at Peet’s. I few days ago I actually got a desert that was stale. The clerk immediately got me a different one. No grilling me over the 2 bites I’d taken. She threw the bad one in the trash and got me a new one. I’ll keep going there with customer service like that. And they keep the tables clean.

i discovered this chain, in riverside of all places, and really liked the coffee. it’s a chain (and they all look alike, from the cozy arm chairs, gaudy prints of jazz greats, to the blazing fireplace. scary!), and their coffee menu is no different from sbux, peet’s, or coffee bean, but their coffee (i’m not sure if it’s their espresso or what) is pretty good. i’m over sbux (slutbucks! funny and SCARY new icon!), i don’t like peet’s too much (the older more sophisticated sbuxers), and have been way over coffee bean (powder flavor. NASTY!). and i’m not that much into my neighborhood to hang out at polly’s. so while i usually take my coffee to go, i think i’ll start hittin’ up this place. prices are the same, the staff is friendly, and they have a fireplace. a real life fire, free wi-​fi (still a shocker to me, since my own library doesn’t provide it), and a patio. their décor is a bit on the «smooth jazz 94.7 the wave» tip. they’re tryin’ to go for a classic jazz look (at least with all the prints on the walls), but it’s clearly an early to mid-​90s kenny g «jazz» fill. they play real jazz, it’s just the look is fake jazz. does that make sense?

I’m excited now they have It’s A Grind on Second Street! Another free wi-​fi spot with good coffee. Their «strong» coffee is oh-​so-​strong it made my hands shake the whole day.
—-update — –
So I went there like every day to work on my papers. They could have more plugs, but once you get a seat near one, you’re good. The seats are comfy. The friendly staff will feed you with samples but leave you alone otherwise. And I love the fact they have a kiddie size for their blended drinks (you can get it even if you’re not a kid).
The only thing is the bathroom is outside and you have to get a token every time you want to go. It’s a bit inconvenient, but the bathroom is always clean and it’s actually just around the corner – so yeah I won’t complain.