In-sīt is a specialty coffee shop with locations in Costa Mesa and Buena Park. The Costa Mesa location, located on Baker St, opened in March of 2022 and has since then gained in popularity.
After finally visiting In-sīt twice now, I have rated them based on 5 categories: taste, price, atmosphere, menu, and service.
Taste
The first drink I tried was the strawberry matcha, and it was the perfect balance of sweet combined with the matcha’s trademark earthiness. My favorite component of this beverage was the strawberry compote at the bottom of the drink, which added both a fun texture and a light tartness that complimented the drink well. I also appreciated the fact that they used real strawberries instead of an artificial strawberry flavoring.
If I had to give the strawberry matcha a critique, it would be that the drink could be viewed as more of a dessert due to its sweetness, however, I personally didn’t find the sweetness overbearing. I will rate the strawberry matcha a 5/5.
Secondly, I ordered a decaf hazelnut latte, which I would describe as smooth, bold, and creamy. The hazelnut flavor was subtle yet distinct, adding a nice touch to the latte. I will rate it a 4/5 because while I did enjoy this drink, my heart still belongs to that strawberry matcha!
Based on thorough enjoyment of those two drinks, I believe In-sīt knows what they are doing when it comes to flavors. Now let’s talk about the price.
Price
In-sīt’s drinks range from $3 for a basic espresso to $8 for some of the “insightful variations,” with the majority of the drinks landing at around $6-$7. This is decent in my opinion because the drinks are high quality and the pricing is similar to other coffee shops in Costa Mesa like Starbucks and Better Buzz.
Of course, it is not ideal to spend $7 on any drink, but if you were going to spend it at Starbucks anyway, then might as well go to In-sīt instead. I will give them a 3/5 for pricing.
Menu
In-sīt’s menu includes both the basic popular drinks everyone knows and loves as well as unique drinks such as “egyptian chamomile” or “espresso tonic.” They also serve breakfast foods like bagels, breakfast burritos, croissants, and their famous croffle which is a croissant-waffle hybrid, popularized in South Korea.
The menu gets a 4.5/5 because of it’s many options for both those who prefer their basic drinks and those who want to be a little adventurous and try something new. That .5 would’ve been added, however, if they had a gluten-free option! (I really wanted to try the croffle!)
Atmosphere
The interior of In-sīt is modern, clean, and bright. Both times that I went, calm lo-fi type music was playing at a good volume, not too loud or too soft-- perfect for doing my homework.
However, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend bringing your work to In-sīt, as there is very limited seating. I was lucky enough to snag a semi-comfortable bar seat that faces out the window the first time I went, but the other seating options looked quite uncomfortable, causing me to take my drink to-go the second time I visited. There is a wooden bench on the far wall that lacks cushions and the tables are small and at an awkward low height that causes one to hunch over.
There is also an island seat in the middle that provides seating for those waiting for their drinks that is in an odd place and also looks less than ideal in terms of comfort.
Despite the seating issues, I will still give the atmosphere a 3/5 because of the cute interior, cleanliness, and overall calm vibe.
Service
I was pleasantly surprised by In-sīt’s amazing service.
My drinks were made very quickly-- taking probably about 2 to 5 minutes at most. And not only were they speedy, but also friendly. I didn’t even have to move from my spot at the bar table, the barista kindly brought it right to me with a smile. A 5/5 for service.
Overview
I would describe In-sīt as a hidden gem in Costa Mesa. I, along with others, didn’t even realize it was there for the longest time--however, now that I have tried it, I’m glad I did. I will be returning again soon, and I recommend you do too!
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