Verve Coffee Roasters

Of the six or so dedicated coffee shops downtown, I think Verve serves the premier coffee. Both their pour-​overs of brewed coffee and espresso are excellent. Watching them manually draw shots from their espresso machines, it’s clear they really care about extracting perfect espresso and giving customers a taste of the finest coffee available.
My favorite drink is an Americano, which they offer in an 8 or 12 ounce size, as with most drinks. I appreciate that I don’t have to buy a Big Gulp of coffee, as in other stores, because often a smaller amount of better coffee does the trick. Often, I ask for steamed soy milk in my drink, and they usually don’t charge me extra for it. They also do beautiful art with the foam, and I always love looking at what rosetta or heart or other creative design they’ve made on the top of my drink.
The bathrooms here are cleaner than most, and I give props to the staff for that. They’re also kind when you ask for the restroom code, rather than acting put out for having to talk to a customer. That’s a rarity downtown. Even with the number of campers and students, the staff manages to keep the place pretty clean, and it’s rare to see piles of garbage on the floor or trash on the tables.
A few drawbacks are the prices, which often run $ 4.00 for a small drink, and upwards from there. The pastries look good and they offer healthy, vegan, and more decadent options, but they often sell out. The space is quite loud. It’s got high ceilings and concrete floors and hard tables and chairs, and the noise level can be overwhelming, especially in the evenings. It’s a beautiful interior, however, so the noise might be worth the funky atmosphere. I especially love the wall of air plants and the arrangement of lights hanging freely from the ceiling.
I’d recommend Verve over anywhere else downtown. If you’re in need of a handlebar moustache’d barista or some coffee hand-​picked by albino gnomes from the cloud forests of Costa Rica, you’ll probably find it here

Some of the best coffee I’ve ever had and Im from a city full of fancy coffee shops! Honestly, the coffee here at verve is my absolute all time favorite. Their lattes are strong and smooth at the same time. Their coffees are off the charts, and their bowl of soul can warm even the coldest of hearts! Jk (not really) but they do warm me up during the winter time! There’s really nothing better than going to a coffeeshop, especially when it’s cold outside. You just feel so cozy inside!
But forreals, verve really was the one that kept me awake with their yummy coffees and pastries and supported me during my finals (especially with their nitrogen iced coffee) Thanks to you guys, I finally have my degree! But I’m kind of sad I can’t come as often anymore :(
Tip: they have seasonal favorites like whiskey lattes and fig/​cinnamon bowl of soul among other unique flavors. Get these during the winter!

Had street level espresso, sweet caramel flavor with nutty hints at the end. Great vibe inside.

Now that’s what I’m talking about… fantastic latte, great place to hang. LOVE THIS PLACE.

Parking is sort of limited around here. I parked at a garage which had a standard $ 1 starting fee.
This Verve is next to a ton of stores. This location has a large open layout. They had a ton of bakery items mid-​day too.
I ordered: cold brew, added shot, added vanilla-​caramel house syrup (they have a mint flavor and whiskey flavor as well).
I like the big square ice cubes they use… Now that I think about it, the ice cube shapes really make a difference…
Anyway, it’s a cool little spot to chat :)

Way way way too pricey… Smallest large iced latte I’ve ever been served and 2 – 3 dollars higher… Wow you’re paying a premium for the hipster vibe. I decided to try them again, today. …bummed
Come on, there, get REAL. I can buy a full on lunch for 7.50. Shame on you.

Noelle’s Unilocal Notebook 2016
Sunday
February 7, 2016
This was my first time inside a Verve Coffee Shop. The last time I had Verve coffee was last year at the Verve Coffee Shop on 41^st Avenue– my father and husband went inside and bought coffee for my mom and myself. Previous coffee trips to Verve on 41^st Ave my parents would pick up my coffee while I waited in the car with the my baby, now almost 3 year old.
It was a gorgeous Sunday in Santa Cruz. My husband, son and I scored parking in the downtown area where parking can sometimes be difficult. My husband didn’t want to come inside– so I left him and my LoveBug son to make a quick trip for much needed coffee for myself.
The interior of Verve on Pacific Avenue is absolutely gorgeous– hardwood floors, sleek interior, gorgeous espresso machine with steel and black, Tiffany’s Robin Egg Nest blue metal chairs, neat displays of coffee, Manresa pastries and breads (from Los Gatos) neatly stacked behind a large glass area.
— - — - — - -
My order
— - — - — - -
Large Latte — $ 4.50
Additions– Soy and Whipped cream $ 1.75
Tip– $ 2.00
Total for my large soy latte with whipped: $ 8.25
Zoe was super friendly and helpful when I placed my order. The baristas were really friendly and did a nice job on my coffee art. The roast was smooth and delicious, so comforting. My parents have spoiled me as long as I can remember. When ever my parents asked me if I wanted a coffee they never ask me to pay. Holy moly– I had no clue how expensive my Verve Soy Latte cost, $ 6.25 is expensive. I did feel since the customer service was authentically friendly and helpful it warranted a $ 2 tip.
Wish they had a Verve in Los Gatos…
I’ve purchased Verve whole beans at Whole Foods but sometimes it’s nice to get a cup of freshly brewed coffee at a coffee shop. I just love coffee shops :) The ambiance here is super chill and relaxing– totally California vibe near the ocean :) I love, love, love Verve Coffee
Noelle’s Notes
Amazing coffee
Great customer service
Expensive

I like coffee yes I do.
I like coffee with our without shoes
Coffee is best when it is served
Even better when it’s from Verve
You can find poems such at this in my next upcoming book, titled «Drink Coffee or Die Trying.»
Finding a perfect coffee shop when you’re a serious coffee snob is hard. I’ve searched high and low, far and wide, in and out; but yet, I’ve found one I’ve yet to enjoyed as much as Verve. Is it perfect? No, but what, who, where is? So here are the top (insert a number here) things I look for in my ideal coffee shop.
1) Good coffee. *mind blown*
2) Minimalistic, yet cool décor.
3) Nice staff.
4) Keep the smug and hipsterism to the right level.
5) Keep it simple. (I don’t need a sriracha lima beans infused Indonesian style latte).
6) Relax and comfortable seating inside or out.
7) Keep the food offerings to a minimum.
And that’s I exactly got from Verve. I came here after a hike at the gorgeous the Wilder Ranch State Park and got a double shot latte with their Whiskey house-​made syrup. Sat down outside the ever changing Downtown Santa Cruz and enjoyed it to the last drop. Would I ever read a book or take a business call here? No. It’s a bit noisy. But guess where we are? In a college and tourist town. This downtown is one of the most liveliest in California.
There are enough options here that I can carefully plan what I want to have on my next visit. But I’ve never been the type to plan ahead. You don’t pick the coffee, the coffee picks you.

I had been here before and wasn’t blown away. Maybe the prices threw me off, but that’s a typical coffee shop now a days for you. After learning more about their Swiss water process to decaffeinate their decaf makes it worth the higher price tag. After all, you do get what you pay for and at Verve it’s quality.
Recently, I had a friend turn me on to the Bowl of Soul. It consists of tea (of your choice, I chose Earl Grey) frothed soy milk and honey. They only serve it hot. But, it’s a comforting drink on a cold day. It also seems to get you going without having being overly caffeinated.
Also, with my recent visits I have tried several pastries. They are pricey as well and from Manresa Bakery. Although I enjoy, I wish their pastries were locally sourced. These come from Los Gatos, which although not far it seems that we could find a Santa Cruz business to provide some goodies.

Came here for the first time and ordered a mocha. The latte art was pretty cool and there was some whipped cream floating on top of the mocha. I ordered a small cup but it was bigger than I was expecting, which was good. The mocha was tasty — not too strong but not too sweet. Normally I end up having to put in lots of sugar since the coffee is strong but the mocha was the perfect balance of not too strong or too sweet.
The interior is also really nice and the noise level wasn’t too bad, which made it great for doing homework. The hanging light bulbs added to the ambiance of the place and there was a lot of light coming in through the windows.

Looking for your hipster fix? Well look no further because Verve is the place to go. The place is beautifully decorated and everything about it just oozes hipster. Overpriced coffee and pastries (courtesy of Manresa bread which is review for another day)? Check. Hanging outdoor lamp bulbs inside? Check. Too cool for school workers (who don’t like their photo taken — yes I was promptly informed of this by one worker upon taking a photo of the general shop space)? Check!
My coffee-​snob friend loves to get coffee beans from here and well, with the variety of exotic locations that the beans come from, I assume they’re just as good as their price tag states. But hey, what do I know? I guess you’ll only know of you check this place out for yourself!

Awesome spot in downtown sc to rest your legs and your head after a long day. There are plenty of room to roam around and get a seat. It’s comfortable and open to spend hours here doing homework if you hate he library. Also great to chill and catch up on your reading or your tv shows.
As for the drinks; the menu is short and simple with less than 20 options. Each drink can be a little pricey depends on one it is. However, a little extra buck for a high quality drink. My personal favorite is the Bowl of Soul. I was surprised when I saw that they carry this drink since I could hardly find it anywhere. The only other place I know that have the Bowl of Soul is in Sacramento. I would recommend this drink if you are into a nice, light, warm and low in caffeine drink. You won’t regret it.

Really pretty place, captures perfectly that hipstery coffee shop vibe that you see in all the lifestyle instagram profiles.
While their coffee isn’t anything TOO unique, I think that it’s still a pretty solid cup of joe. I ordered a ‘bowl of soul’, which I think is just a fancy name for a tea latte, in cinna-​chai. I think they use soy milk, or coconut milk, by default, since it didn’t taste like regular milk, but I might be wrong. It’s definitely not a cheap drink though, at about $ 5 a cup.
The service, from the cashier to the barista, was great. Everyone was really happy and chill, just enjoying their time making drinks for everyone. No pretentiousness? Awesome.
Conveniently located, as there are plenty of other shops around to stroll past while sipping on your drink. OR you can sit in and take in the hip vibe for as long as you desire.

Enjoyed the «One and One» (ristretto espresso shots served alone and macchiato style – both were pulled and served beautifully). The chunky chocolate pecan cookie was also a nice treat. One area for improvement is the hot chocolate; though pretty, it tastes more like warm Ovaltine (sweet and grainy with very little chocolate flavor).
The ambiance here is always great, and though there was a steady flow of traffic on a cloudy Saturday afternoon in January, there were always a table or two free for a quick sip and bite.

An absolute must when visiting Santa Cruz! I’ve only been here twice, but was already hooked when I had their nitrogen cold brew the first time I came here. The added nitrogen gas made the coffee extra smooth and had a cool effect as well. Perfect for that IG or Snapchat post!
Their latte was good too, and I enjoyed it while walking down West Cliff. Just wish it was a bit hotter because it got cold pretty fast :/

The original Verve – right in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz. This is the perfect place to sit for a while and take in the essence of Santa Cruz, which many people don’t realize, is foremost a college town. Since Verve is the best example of a downtown coffee shop, I’m going to use this review to talk about the greater «milieu» of which Verve is a part:
Downtown is full of every type of person on earth: There are families, tech billionaires, college students, people who look exactly like Gandalf (no seriously), bikers, street performers… everything. It’s just an interesting part of the world and probably the most undersold part of Santa Cruz.
Verve itself has a really awesome setup. It’s in the ‘flatiron’ building near where Pacific Ave (locals call it «The Mall») ends at the clocktower. It has entrances onto both Front St AND Pacific Ave, so there are all kinds of places to sit and people-​watch.
The coffee of course is really solid. It comes out hot and well-​crafted. The baristas there take special care to make every cappuccino beautiful. My favorite thing there, however is the Nitro Cold Brew coffee. I’m certain this will be «A Thing» all over the urban world soon enough, but at the moment, there seem to be only a handful of places to get this. It’s like having a Guinness, but it’s a delicious iced coffee. So frothy and smooth that you don’t need cream. YUM!

Such a cute café, I could imagine myself frequenting Verve to get some work done or to catch up with a friend! (There’s a decent amount of seating)
—Cold brew: pretty good and it went well with the giant Mary’s cookies
—salted caramel pretzel cookie: not bad
—s’mores cookie: this is WHERE ITS AT! Get it, you probably won’t be able to resist once you see it by the register anyways
I love the décor with the hanging light bulbs

I love Verve Coffee Roasters for their gorgeous use of space, strong, yet delicious coffee and amazing sweet and savory pastries sourced from Manresa Bread. We stopped by here for a quick coffee and bite to eat before spending the rest of the morning in the redwoods. Must try the hazelnut brown butter cake ($ 4.00) and seeded ham and cheese brioche ($ 5.50)!
I had drip coffee from Verve this past weekend before heading out for a morning in the redwoods once again. Since the coffee was for a large group, it came in a to-​go box. That same coffee was tasty at 9 AM as well as 2 PM. Good stuff.

Décor
Ambience
Coffee
Chocolate crossaint
People
Space
PERFECT. Period.
Street parking — paid. FYI

I admit I’m a bit of a Third Wave Coffee Fanatic. So much so that I read the book «God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee» and thoroughly enjoyed it in almost one sitting! Look it up if you’re a coffee nerd and want to read about the big names in coffee, particularly Intelligentsia, Counter Culture, and Stumptown. It makes for a gripping read.
Verve is certainly a big name in the Third Wave Coffee scene and its café on Pacific in downtown Santa Cruz betrays its popularity and clout. I’ve had Verve Coffee before at Bica Coffeehouse by Rockridge and have also seen it at other equally discriminating cafes. I knew they were based in Santa Cruz, so we made it a point to visit their café on our way to the beach.
I saw the parklet just outside of the coffee shop and knew instantly that it’s gotta be Verve’s. The tables and benches are just so nicely done and so well shaded by trees. Walk into the café and you’ll see super high ceilings, a large coffee bar with two very retro looking espresso machines branded with its name, white subway tiles on the wall, impressive wooden beams above the tiles, and hanging light pendants above the bar. Lots of seating inside but also lots of open space.
As expected, the coffee was excellent. I had an Americano ($ 2.75) and it was so flavorful and almost syrupy. It had no bitterness (coffee should not be bitter!!!), and it was not watered down. My husband had a small drip and he was very happy with his as well.
Verve sources its pastries from Manresa Bread, so you know it’s going to be good. I had eaten breakfast about an hour ago, so I got something small. I had the Maple Glazed Cake Donut. It was moist, sweet and had a really nice maple flavor. I usually prefer yeasty donuts as opposed to cakey ones, but I happily ate Manresa’s cake donut. I’ll happily try the chocolate one next time!
It’d be nice if they’d open a café in the Bay Area! I’m happy to learn though that they have a café in DTLA. Ill be visiting them there next week when I visit my sister and her family in LA!

Très bon café si vous aimez votre expresso plutôt amer. Un très grand espace et une fierté évidente dans le métier, ce qui tranche avec certaines grandes chaînes nationales.