Handlebar Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara - Top Coffee Roasteries in CA

I kept asking myself why the coffee was so bland. The team had a fun and welcoming energy. The line was long and they cranked out the orders with smiles on their faces. As an avid cyclist, I appreciated the interior design and bike-friendly vibes. The ham and cheese croissant was flaky and tasted great. But the mocha I ordered was disappointing. It was like drinking a cup of hot milk. The robust coffee flavor I expected was nowhere to be found as I sipped my drink. For a coffee shop that does virtually everything very well, it left me questioning how could they have missed on the most important part of the experience…

Huge coffee shop with one entrance to the cashier and merchandise shop and another entrance to an indoor seating area. Both areas are connected. I ordered the drip coffee and both types of their vegan cookies. Everything was delicious. There’s indoor and outdoor seating. I saw people working on their laptops and people just socializing and having a good time. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.

This coffee shop is one of the main reasons I come to Santa Barbara! The team is fantastic! It’s always a friendly morning vibe when I come there. Baristas work like a team and they have some fun cycling-style merch. The quality of the coffee beans is superb so any drink you order will taste great.

Service was very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance is very spacious with two large rooms and outdoor seating. The room next door from where you order is more moderate to lower noise level. Great for calmer conversations and getting work done. One of the most pleasant coffee shops we tried in Santa Barbara. I wish they had more specialty drinks though. Vanilla Latte Hot w/ Oatmilk: 4/5 Hard Jun Kombucha: 4/5

Great atmosphere - Monday afternoon there was space to have a table and do work. Chocolate Croissant was flaky and buttery. Espresso was bright and bitter with some good fruity notes- not completely balanced. Baristas are working on a lot of orders so the wait was to be expected the team behind the counter was on it and getting things done for such a constant rush of people. Great merch and logo design. The space is nicely laid out location with lots of tables and spots for chatting or working. Beautiful light and great location across from the historic el Presido park.

We came to visit here for our early afternoon snacks and ordered: 2x Espresso 1x Cinnamon Roll Total: $14.16 with tips Overall, we’re very pleased with the flavor of the coffee and cinnamon roll. The kick of the coffee, the bitterness, and the sourness are just what we've been looking for—the best espresso we've tried so far compared to many others. The cinnamon roll, we thought, was amazing, too—though it can be slightly sweet to our palette, other than that, we love it. However, it took some time to prepare our espresso for both when called; my husband had to wait another 2-3 minutes for the other one to prepare. We thought it was strange to wait that long given that they have many staff within that area, roughly 8 staff. Other than that, it was a great experience with the coffee and pastry, and the ambiance was great, too.

One of two locations in the Santa Barbara area (the other is “uptown” on De La Vina, which includes their coffee roasting operation). Handlebar coffee is a popular destination for locals, including those who prefer to work in the environment of a coffee shop. I find their coffee to be excellent, not too strong but certainly not weak. Their espresso drinks are expertly made. Service is excellent; the staff is always friendly, quick, and willing to make subtle adjustments to items if requested.

A great place to get coffee or get some work done. The place is usually crowded in the mornings. Ample space indoors and outdoors. The place is well lit with lots of natural light. You should be able to find some street parking without much trouble, but if you do, there are some paid parking lots nearby as well.