Between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara is Ventura, California. I have fond childhood memories of this city and now have the joy of introducing it to my family. It has become our new rest stop when we travel north and I recently tried a coffee shop I instantly fell in love with.
Great Coffee In Ventura, CA
Prospect Coffee Roasters is very tasty coffee. As in, among the best in Southern California. Not only is the coffee lovely, but the staff was too.
Prospect Coffee Roasters
92 South Laurel Street
Ventura, CA 93001
7:00AM – 4:00PM (Monday – Friday)
8:00AM – 5:00PM (Saturday + Sunday)
Due to the pandemic, I could not even go inside to order the coffee, let alone drink it inside. Instead, Prospect has constructed a window in which you can order through.
I had a couple cappuccinos (it was 3:00pm and my first coffee of the day…) and my wife had an iced Americano. Augustine, my four-year-old, wanted an espresso but we denied his request.
The cappuccino was perfect…with the milk perfectly blended into the espresso with a velvety-finish.
Prospect will be my permanent new coffee break on the trip from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara.
But I also checked out another place…in a hospital parking lot.
Simones Coffee & Tea
2848 Cabrillo Drive
Ventura, CA 93003
6:30AM – 5:00PM (Monday – Friday)
8:00AM – 4:00PM (Saturday)
Closed Sunday
Located on the grounds of the Ventura’s Community Memorial Hospital, this coffee shops looks wonderful. The interior is beautiful, the La Marzocco coffee machine is top-notch, and the staff are lovely.
But the staff makes cappuccinos Starbucks-style (plop the foam down on top), which is simply not the way I like my flat whites or cappuccinos. The espresso beans used were also on the lighter side (the darker the better for me). I knew it was a warning flag when I was asked what size I wanted.
So this was a perfectly acceptable cup of coffee, but there’s no way I’ll be going back here with Prospect nearby.
They did have bananas…that was the compromise for Augustine. Instead of a coffee, he received a piece of fruit.
CONCLUSION
Ventura is a charming city and I’ve now found a charming coffee shop there.
What is your favorite coffee shop in Ventura, CA?
I lived in Ventura for 14 years. Really nice town. Would love to go back, but alas I’m stuck living in Virginia for the foreseeable future.
I used to enjoy going downtown to watch a movie at the Century 10 theater and have lunch at one of the many restaurants around.
My wife enjoys browsing through all the antique and thrift shops. Not my cup of tea, but she found it a great little place. My first visit was as a kid in 4th Grade. I chose Mission San Buenaventura as my assigned mission and went there to research/take pictures. Great little town.
I was so surprised to see Ventura mentioned in your article. So many folks blow right through Ventura, on their way north. This part of the California coast is a hidden gem. Although I am not a coffee drinker, I am a bit of a food snob. Near Ventura is a town called Summerland, where you will find the Summerland cafe. It is a charming spot in a converted craftsman home. The atmosphere, food, and service are wonderful. Also, The Waypoint cafe located in Camarillo. It is set next to the taxiway at the Camarillo airport. The food, service, and views are amazing.
Have you been to Le Petit in Ventura Harbor Village? I found it very delicious.
Don’t forget the Big Yellow House in Summerland.
Are you referring to the Summerland Beach Cafe, north of Carpinteria? I loved that place as a kid… fond memories
Enjoy Valentino’s @Seaward& Main, Ventura. 20+ years a favorite w their new Copper Coffee Pot Cafe!
I love Ventura as well. It has a distinctly middle class feel to it unlike the cities farther up the coast (Santa Barbara). Life seems slower there and the fact that it is oft overlooked adds to its charm. Cafe Fiore in downtown has great Italian!
I had no idea we still thought in classes….as in upper middle and ….the ever so dreaded lower class. If you would like to join our middle class family the going rate for home sales is a very middle class 650.000 and up from there.
“Ventura Highway, in the sunshine, where the days are longer, the nights are stronger than moonshine …”( from a sadly lost time when music lyrics had at least a semblance of poetry…)
You earn a hearty +1 for your song choice!
Simone’s coffee place is located in the parking garage next to Community Memorial Hospital and faces it’s main entrance. VCMC is located a few blocks east of CMH on Lima Vista Road. From Ventura native
Thanks Jean. I’ve updated that in my story.
The original Simon’s cafe is located off of Kimball and Telegraph road on the east end of Ventura. Simone herself is an amazing lady it’s no wonder all of the staff are just as amazing. Upon completion of the new CMH Simone made the very wise choice of opening a second location just steps away from the busy hospital.
Thank you for this article. I always go to Palermo on Main st but I will check out Prospect next time.