Handlebar Coffee Roasters

I definitely recommend! This place is very trendy with the décor and beautiful art on the walls. The drinks were full of flavor and exceeded my expectations. The matcha mocha and the iced mocha are two of the best coffees I have tried.

Oh Yes! This is a Santa Barbara destination not to be missed if you love coffee. ***note hours of operation-​Mon-​Sun 7 a.m.-5 p.m.
I had the PERFECT Espresso and Cortado (equal espresso to milk ratio), beautiful crema, syrupy and velvety smooth, rich, chocolate finish-​and that was the decaf for me! The aroma of that espresso lingered on my lips even after I left, it was truly epic!
Freshly roasted beans, ground on the spot and hand tamped, made in the fire engine red La Marzocco. Lovely shop, REALLY great tasting coffee, roasted in house.
An experience like no other. Best coffee experience I’ve had in America! Beautiful Coffee, Beautiful people, heck you just may feel beautifully inspired after leaving here.

Open concept café; lots of light and open windows makes a very pleasant atmosphere. Nice outdoor seating too, but could use a bit more foliage. Finally, the coffee: too strong and bitter for my taste – and I ordered a decaf café au lait!

Fun coffee shop set back slightly from the bustling downtown area. The space is beautiful and the service was quick. I got an iced americano and my wife got the cold brew but wasn’t a big fan of it as the taste was too strong, even with milk in it. I like seeing all the cyclists pop in and out on their coffee rides and the place has a great vibe.

This place should be on a top ten best coffee shops on the pacific coast if it isn’t already. Everything about this place is just done right. The coffee is excellent the people that work there are super down to earth and the owners are awesome! They have recently expanded there store so there is a ton of places to sit. The pastries are from the best bakery in town and their baguettes are worth giving a try as well. If you have not been here yet, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!!!
You can find there coffee at other locations but nothing compares to how they brew it. If you’re looking for a shitty sugar Starbucks alternative this is not your place but if you want a great cup of coffee and a super tasty almond croissant come in when they are brewing Columbia or Ethiopia. Who am I kidding come any day.

WOW! I have previously avoided handlebar due to overcrowding and inconvenient location in relation to my house, BUT that was all thrown to the wind today when I didn’t have time to make coffee and found myself running errands in the area.
As I was thinking about how badly I needed a pick me up I looked up and there was handlebar, my hero, with no line, my prayers to the coffee gods were answered.
The latte was the perfect texture and temperature. As soon as I got my coffee the line was building up toward the door. I will now go out of my way to get a coffee here as it is THE BEST IN TOWN! Shout out to Taylor for being so sweet, cheerful and helpful.
Hats off to you handlebar, that was a great latte matched by a great experience.

I don’t typically drink coffee or like coffee but I definitely drank more from my hubby’s cup than he expected!
Latte with almond milk. So. Good.

Whenever my husband and I travel we always search the best coffee in the area. This was rated really high and we were not let down! I got drip coffee and it was delicious! My husband enjoyed his Cortado. We sat outside and enjoyed talking about places to visit while in town!

Brief Summary: Handlebar is an excellent coffee shop, with an emphasis on classic drinks with quality ingredients, but also with plenty of options for vegans to enjoy as well
Full Review: Despite the slightly awkward location near old town, Handlebar is a great option for some downtown coffee. With a small menu focusing on classic drinks, they more or less have it down.
What really makes them shine is their quality; organic milks, good roasts, and baked goods all from local bakeries are definitely a plus. Not only that, but they also have sizable vegan food options, so no one is left out.
I’ve been here a few times, and overall my orders have been good. Both their hot drip and their cold brew are solid, and not too bitter tasting. Admittedly my soy cappuccino test proved more challenging though; the foam wasn’t that impressive and my order for a dry still ended up mostly milk. But the taste was good, so I let it slide.
They also have a really nice side patio for seating, but it’s so popular it’s usually full.
Concluding, Handlebar is a really good stop for the classic coffee lovers, and caters well to people of all dietary types.

Aw maaan!
I asked for a red eye with the shot on the side so I could taste them separately prior to pouring the espresso in and they were happy to serve it to me as requested. That alone is reason enough for me to leave a tip and positive review… but wait, there’s more!
That big metal thing you see on your right when you walk in? A legitimate coffee roaster that they roast their actual beans in! That is the roaster for both their in store beans as well as the packages for sale if I recall correctly; not to mention they’re finishing construction on an off-​site roastery! Excited to stop by again when I’m in Santa Barbara so I can hear how their ongoing endeavors are panning out.
Being able to hang with family, taste their coffee, espresso, red eye, cold brew AND ice coffee, then chat with the roaster before we left… what an incredible way to end our fun filled day.
I highly recommend this place to anybody who truly enjoys and appreciates coffee. It is reasonably priced, especially when considering the amount of quality and care that goes into their craft. Sure there are a lot of bike folk and hipsters, as other reviews have commented, but just get over yourself and be eclectic for a few minutes.
–Raymond

SO GOOD! Came up to Santa Barbara for the weekend and took a little walk this morning and found the cute shop. The line was out the door but from what I read on Unilocal,everyone seemed to say the wait was well worth it. I stood in lime for about 10 minutes and the lady who took my order was super nice! The prices are right where they should be. You are guaranteed quality food and coffee. I got a almond milk latte which was amazing. The almond croissant was also fantastic but you could be safe with a plain coffee as well. I only had to wait about 5 minutes for my coffee to be called out and that was that! The customers were very kind chatting in and out of the line, and pets are allowed too! I thought that was awesome. Right across the street is the historic… mission? Either way it was great to walk across the street and check that out too!

This place is amazing! The iced coffee is delicious. I would highly recommend the almond croissant. This delightful pastry has a wonderful flaky crust with a delicious custard inside. I can’t stop thinking about it and will definitely be going back soon!

Coffee is sub-​par.
I went to this place because I’ve heard so many positive reviews from other locals.
Although the vibe is hip here, there are a lot of hip places in Santa Barbara. It’s cool that it’s cycling focused! That’s a definite plus. But really it’s a hipster vibe, so I figured the coffee must be delicious for it to be so highly rated.
The people serving me were uninterested (some were on their phones), the coffee was ok, and the experience was mediocre.
I was excited to go here! But then I was let down.
I will try again and maybe write a more positive review in the future.

Handlebar has THE best almond milk latte in SB, hot or iced. There is something about it that I can’t seem to recreate at home or find anywhere else… Maybe it’s their espresso :) I also enjoy their iced coffee as is, which is saying a lot for a milk and sugar loving girl. It really packs a punch of flavor and energy!
The service is great! Everyone is very friendly and even when the line is long, which it usually is on a Saturday morning, they are able to get thru all orders quickly. They are very organized and always have enough people on hand to deliver exceptional service.
Handlebar is also by far the most dog loving coffee shop I have found in town. They have a dog friendly patio and free treats by the door. You can even bring your dog inside to order.
All around Handlebar is a great coffee shop with delicious coffee drinks and friendly staff. If you haven’t already, you should definitely check this place out, and if you have, go back!

Handlebar coffee is a great place to go with friends for a coffee and a pastry. I love the bicycle theme and the owners are actual cyclists! I’ve met them before and they are really nice. The baristas take pride in their jobs!
Often on the weekends the restaurant next store has a pop up Mexican restaurant and so the outdoor seating is really packed and fun. I definitely recommend stopping in!

Incredible, didn’t expect to find this quality of coffee so far from L.A.
I came here on the suggestion if someone who worked at the Margerum Winery, so glad I followed up. Excellent beans, roasted in house, Strauss barista milk and most importantly good baristas.
Very cute industrial, rustic, hip, minimalist look, bags and bins of coffee beans stacked behind several booths along the wall opposing the coffee counter give it a casual/​hang out kind of vibe, as well as the crowds lounging on the patio.
Their pastries are also really good, highly recommend the almond croissant and fresh baguette!

Cold brew, espresso, bike crash, patio seating. This here is the go-​to swing-​by coffee joint if you’re in the SB area. My friend and I came through during a weekend jaunt out to Santa Ynez. Quick service and a knowledgeable bar staff. I’d stop by again when in the area.
Tidbit: animals are allowed on site with their owners, but that policy doesn’t stop wild animals, i.e., one crazy pigeon, from swooping in and getting startled by the crowds. Little one couldn’t find his way to fly back out into the open skies when I was there.

Friendly staff, great vibe and strong coffee. Ordered the iced mocha which was $ 5 and the cold brew which was $ 3.50. Both were made with the highest quality of coffee. Loved both very much.

If you’re a true coffee lover, this is the place for you! Personally, I like to have a little bit of a variety when I go to coffee places. Sometimes, I’m feeling tea and other days I’m feeling coffee. If you haven’t figured out already, I’m not the hugest coffee fanatic; I mainly enjoy going to hipster coffee places like these to enjoy the ambiance and the serenity of the place.
The menu is pretty limited, but the coffee beans are on point! They get their coffee beans from a number of places in South America and they are available for purchase. They have indoor and outdoor seating and I love how the café is designed! The interior is different in colors from the outside, with the outside being more colorful with their colored chairs.
The location is a little bit aways from State St, which is preferred if you are looking for a quieter location to read a book or to enjoy a first date :)
Prices are standard for a coffee place in Downtown SB. I ordered a cold brew and the quality of the coffee was amazing. They also use some high quality organic milk! Baristas are friendly and there to help you decide if you’re super indecisive like I.

A simple test now — can the cappuccino be drunk with out adding sugar to help smooth out the taste. These guys pass with flying colors. Delicious coffee.
Almond croissant to die for.