The Hitching Post

On October 11th, a new coffee shop in Costa Mesa called Better Buzz opened for business, replacing the Starbucks located on the corner of Harbor and Adams. 

So, is the new and hip coffee shop worth giving a try? 

I will rate my own experience at Better Buzz based on 5 categories: taste, price, atmosphere, menu, and service, to hopefully help you come to your own conclusion about whether you would like to try it for yourself.

Taste

I ordered a decaf iced vanilla latte, and would rate it a 9/10. I thoroughly enjoyed the flavor— it was sweet but not too sweet, and had no bitter aftertaste like many other iced coffees I have tried. I would say the Better Buzz decaf iced vanilla latte is better than the Starbucks version of the same drink because it was more smooth and creamy, whereas Starbucks tends to be a bit more watery. 

Price

I would rate the pricing of Better Buzz a 3/10. My large drink (comparable to the “Venti” size at Starbucks) was $8.10 compared to Starbucks’s $6.75. For some, this price is completely unreasonable. Then again, everything seems to be super expensive these days. It just depends on what you are willing to pay for a coffee. 

Atmosphere

The interior of Better Buzz carries a yellow and black theme throughout, cleverly incorporating the pun on “buzz.” I would describe the aesthetic of Better Buzz as fun, trendy, modern, and bright. However, it may be a little too “fun,” as the music playing inside is very loud. Unless you came to party, Better Buzz is definitely buzzing a little too loud. You have to yell over the music in order to talk to your friends. If you came there to study, it is also hard to focus due to the music. This could potentially be avoided though by sitting at one of the tables outside, if they haven’t already been occupied. Overall, I give atmosphere a 5/10.

Menu

One key component that differentiates Better Buzz from Starbucks is its menu diversity. Better Buzz doesn’t just carry coffee, pastries, and refrigerated lunch items, but they also have  smoothies, acai bowls, wraps, sandwiches, toasts, cookies, and more. Hence, I rate the menu 9/10. I would give it a 10/10 if they had more gluten-free options for me, but alas, I must keep dreaming. 

Service

At the time I went to Better Buzz, 12:00pm on a Sunday, it was very busy, with the line going out the door. I’m not sure if this was due to the newness of Better Buzz, the time of day, or if people just really love it, but luckily the line went by pretty quickly. The cashier was friendly, and my drink was made very fast. Finding seating was a challenge, but I was lucky enough to snatch a table just as someone was leaving. Hopefully as time goes on, the hype of Better Buzz will calm down, and it’ll become less crowded. I’ll give service an 8/10. 

Other Opinion

“I think that it’s not necessarily ‘better,’ but it is a good place to go if you want to buy a coffee,” says Hannah Lund, a former Mesa student now who now attends Orange Coast College. “As a student at OCC, it's very close, so I think it’s going to be popular among students. But it's a bit expensive, and it's a bit loud in there, so if you are looking for a quiet place to study, then Better Buzz is not it. For my drink, I ordered ‘the Best Drink Ever.’ it's very similar to a vanilla latte but a bit different. I recommend it to anyone looking to try a new drink,” said Lund.

Summary

Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Better Buzz. I wouldn’t go there too often due to the high prices and loudness inside, however it would be a fun place to visit with friends as an outing once in a while. I recommend trying it out for yourself!