Café Review: Green Earth Coffee, Lake Forest

I’ve been coming to Green Earth Coffee Roasters in Lake Forest for the last couple of years whenever I’ve been in the area. I love it for the relaxing sense of retreat, the great coffee and the solid wifi. They are getting ready to open a second location in Costa Mesa as I write this post.

Penina’s Ratings
Coffee: Very Good
Food: Very Good
Wifi: Effortless, solid
Ambience/Decor: Airy and comfortable, thoughtfully divided into smaller sections
Ambience/Business: Good for solo work and small meetings
Service: Friendly, quick
Clientele: Locals, parents with small kids, a few businesspeople
Bathroom: Spacious and clean, I put my things on the beautiful changing table

Special Note: Wifi-ing parents, there is a play area for small children! I love kid noises while I work. It’s mostly normal conversation levels, but you may want to bring earbuds.

Service here is friendly and quick. I’ve enjoyed my regular lattes, as well as some really good sandwiches and salads. Clientele are friendly, but mostly keep to themselves. Maybe it’s the abundant light or the airy feel: I always feel extra productive when I spend a few hours here.

Another perk I look forward to at Green Earth is the play area they have set up for small children. I wish more cafés would do this! Kids play happily while their parents chat or do their internet thing.

Green Earth Coffee Roasters
20025 Lake Forest Drive, Unit 101
Lake Forest, CA 92630
(949) 305-2800

Penina’s Wifi Etiquette

1. Buy stuff. Do I really need to say this? After seeing otherwise with my own eyes, it turns out I do. My rule of thumb is to buy something about every two hours.
2. Be gracious. Your two coffees and a scone aren’t doing all that much to pay the rent for the hours you spend in a café. Help make it a friendly, welcoming place so they can attract and keep more customers.
3. Follow the rules. Busy urban areas limit wifi use because higher costs require them to generate quicker turnover. Sometimes plug placement is limited: if your power cord is a tripping hazard, then don’t use it (or negotiate with the wifier closer in to swap locations so you can charge up).
4. Be considerate. Go outside to make phone calls.
5. Be very considerate. Your laptop should not make a sound—not even little beeps: use headphones. Same for the radio you brought to follow the game.
6. Tip generously. And tip again if you’re there through a shift change.