Contra Coffee & Tea

I finally came by the day before they closed for the year. There weren’t many options — basic coffee on nitro and a dirty horchata — I was hoping for the apple pie on the rocks. Of course, I got the dirty horchata and it was a 2-​serving drink. They use coffee on nitro to make the iced coffee and sprinkled cinnamon and mint/​lime (?) on top. It makes for a beautiful picture.
I hope they are able to come back next year for both the farmer’s markets and on tap in local stores, besides Oregon-​based Stumptown. Support local!

The authentic nitro cofee and tea experience you can’t get anywhere else. I love the apple pie! I can drink gallons of it. Paul and julie are always there and so welcoming!

My friend invited me out to try a new pop up shop in Santa Ana, but other than that, I wasn’t given much detail otherwise. I was walking in blind, but it was probably the best discovery!
The setup is right at entrance inside Scoops OC. Upon entry, you are greeted by the owners/​creators/​masterminds themselves where they introduce the brand and the process.
It was interesting (and very innovative) to put something like coffee and tea on nitro. I understand the concept with beer, but to have a creamier coffee without adding dairy products? Lactose Intolerant people can finally rejoice! And what better way to judge than a taste test, right?
Since they are just starting up, all offerings were available for sample so you can get a feel for what they are about and how the flavors settle. We pretty much made our way down the list and learned a few things about each creation.
There’s a whole lot of unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else like their India Pale Coffee «IPC» (coffee with a shot of hops and contains no alcohol), Cascara Rose (dried coffee berries brewed like a tea with rose petals) and Jasmine Matcha.
After all the sampling, we couldn’t leave empty handed, so I went with the Dirty Horchata (horchata with a shot of Vietnamese coffee) while my friend got a Thai Tea. The most intriguing thing about the Thai Tea is that there’s no dairy products! The nitro dispenses a heavy beverage that replicates the texture without adding the cream, so you end up tasting more of the tea!
It was really nice to chat it up with Paul & Julie. I can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store for you guys! Judging from the taste of things, it’s going to be good.

Everything is delicious! Always come back for the horchata. Especially with the lime and cinnamon.

I normally don’t write reviews after visiting a place once unless it was THAT impressive or horrendous. I’m glad to say that Contra is definitely the former! Two things I loved right off the bat:
1. Thank goodness they’re dairy-​free!
2. They offer equally intriguing coffee options as they do tea options.
Dairy doesn’t do too well with my tummy so I’m super appreciative that their drinks are dairy-​free. (Yes, even their Vietnamese coffee is dairy-​free! Whoo!) For our first visit, it was difficult to choose, but they kindly offer samples. My boyfriend and I got the IPC and Dirty Horchata. My boyfriend thought the Dirty Horchata sample was slightly too sweet, but once it’s poured over ice, the sweetness level was perfect. As for the IPC, you IPA lovers must try it! Coffee with the bite of an IPA – what more could you ask for!
I don’t like it when coffee shops slap on sad tea options as an afterthought so to see Contra offer their twist on teas makes me so happy! I’ll definitely have to come back and try their Mint Matcha!
Contra has such a creative menu, and you can tell that Paul and Julie love what they do. Contra hasn’t been around for too long (seven months), but I wish them much success. With their innovative and delicious concoctions and friendly personalities, they deserve it. I’ll definitely be back!

Paul and Julie are not only the nicest people out there, but also the raddest business owners with the best product I’ve come across! Every drink they have is so innovative and bold. I have yet to try a drink that disappoints! You’ve got to check Contra out! ¹⁰⁄₁₀ recommend!

Started following them on instagram & had been wanting to scope ‘em out for a koo minute but just couldn’t find the time to do so… womp. Last night I was finally able to swoop on through & it was an absolute delight (: I got to meet the owners, Julie & Paul. They were so warm & welcoming. I had a million questions as usual but they were so informative & patient & made sure to answer every single one. They provided samples, it was great. Tried the classic horchata, dirty orchata & vietnamese coffee. Brought the koo kids along & it was a total hit. Dugg the service, their unique flavors. Nice little spot in my hometown (: I definitely suggest that everyone check it & support these wonderful individuals!!! You won’t be disappointed!

Service: Very friendly
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Drink: the Dirty Horchata with just the right amount of sweetness… Highly recommended.

Intelligent, Inspired, Innovative. Irreplaceable.
While the majority of Orange County’s third wave coffee and tea shops are carbon copies of other pretentious artisanal roasters/​brewers/​barista models reproduced throughout the USA, Contra Coffee & Tea sets itself apart from the crowd by maintaining an approachable appearance, despite their utilization of the highest quality ingredients and exacting techniques Nitrogenation & flash brewing? What?
Admittedly I thought their use of nitrogenation was just a gimmick, but the micro-​bubbling effect really does lend a creamy texture to the beverages that changes the taste experience. Their range of beverages is wide and ensures that there’s something for everyone, such as the Vietnamese Iced Coffee, Horchata, Thai Tea, & Hibiscus Tea. I came in the day they released a new drink as well, Cascara Rose — apparently they use the dried skins from coffee cherries to make an aromatic iced tea — reinventing coffee and tea here for sure.
Definitely looking forward to my next cup.

Contra Coffee and Tea is one of my favorite openings of 2015.
All of their nitro drinks are on point, and Paul and Julie are great. My favorite drinks are the Thai tea and the horchata, but everything is solid and they’ll let you sample everything on tap. If you’re skeptical, give them a chance; the drinks are familiar, but the quality is tip top.