Lift Coffee Roasters

I love Lift. The baristas are so nice and knowledgeable, the coffee is roasted in house, and the ambience is a perfect blend of rustic and industrial.
Favorites here are the vanilla latte and the cold brew. The cold brew is so strong but SO good.
Definitely my go-​to place for coffee and studying!

My go to coffee house! So much better than the S word. Well roasted coffee prepared with care and expertise. Go in on Saturday mornings for outstanding donuts. Better than anything you’ve had before.

This place is so hipster. I always feel awkward going in there because I feel like I don’t belong! But once I get my latte I just have a great olé relaxing time. Love this place!

Great coffee, good iced tea, Friendly folks, informative instagram account, and awesome branding and house products to sell such as lift shirts and lift cups. And Donuts are amazing. apparently the person who used to work for side car in LA is the person who makes them for lift. but a great size, extra soft, and great taste.
Come early for a seat with plug access because it is semi limited but a great place to hang out with a group, work on a laptop, read a book, and enjoy a environment worth the drive.

Ahhhh-​mazing LATTE! Best I have ever had! And the atmosphere is very comforting. I will be back

Finally went here with a friend… Super crowded but a nice guy let us share the small table he was studying at until the sofa opened up. Yum cappuccino and fabulous cookie butter (wonderfully less sweet then Trader Joe’s version) on sourdough with dried apricots (seasonal for Dec). Will definitely come again.

Who would have thought one of the best roasters around could be found right here in Riverside?
I’m a transplant from the Northwest and put myself through college working for the Mermaid, back when that was the only good coffee to be had. After getting thirsty for good specialty coffee, I found Lift.
I’ve since bought (and enjoyed) several pounds and had many drinks there as well. The baristas are all knowledgable and passionate about coffee. I have been to many great specialty coffee shops all along the west coast. I can say with confidence that, while you can find a few that are as good, you’ll be hard pressed to find one that’s better.

Great spot!!! Had the Gibraltar coffee and avocado toast with goat cheese! Would highly recommend. Very cool atmosphere and free wifi!

Love the masala chai with steamed hemp milk. So delicious and guilt free! A great choice for us lactose intolerant folks.

Very nice atmosphere and interior! The food and drinks are great and I’m glad I came here after work

Lift Coffee Roasters is a charming coffee shop across from the Riverside Plaza.
I decided to finally make my way here after I needed a little mid-​day pick-​me-​up. No, I’m not a regular coffee drinker but I was in the area and thought I should check this place out.
The female employee at the front was genuinely friendly and suggested that I order a Vanilla Latte after letting her know that I want something mild since I don’t drink coffee all the time. I went with her suggestion and out came my drink with beautiful latte art!
The Vanilla Latte was perfect! I enjoyed it as well as the ambience that day. I will definitely be back!
Pros:
— Vanilla Latte
— Customer Service
— Ambience /​Hipster Vibe
— Free Wi-​Fi
— Large tables and sofas
— Plenty of outdoor seating
— Clean
Cons:
— Parking can be a hit or miss depending on time

If you drink coffee and are in the area don’t settle with anything less than the best. Loved the complex tastes in the espresso and pour over. Had to buy some whole bean for the road. Will need to come back for the teas on tap. Plenty of parking but really disappointed in the quality of outside seating. The tables and chairs look rusted and uncomfortable but perhaps this is what hipsters want. Also, the donuts are way too huge contributing to the obesity in this country.

It’s nice having a truly independent café with hip lighting and furniture to give its thematic vibe verve. Lift refers to the effect of caffeine and the aeronautical props that includes an aluminum wing section at the bar and rivited aluminum leather chair in the small lounge section.
The coffee is exceptional here, house roasted and properly brewed. You can select drip pour or slightly more expensive pour over for a variety of coffees. Additionally, they have ready-​made carbonated teas and coffees on tap for a unique experience.
As for working here? The lighting is Edison style LED bulbs, that like their incandescent counterparts, have a less luminous output except instead of an amber glow they are faintly daylight balanced. In other words, you might damage your eyes if you cannot find a coveted seat on the back wall. Another gripe is the lack of electrical outlets on the longer window seating section. You might consider bringing an extension cord. A 5 – 6′ one would do.
Parking: this is the sucky part about coming here, or attempting to come here. Most outside spots are dominated by Bank of America next door, and they WILL tow you away if you wear it out. The remaining spots are also time limited, and with neighboring restaurants and the satellite University of Redlands campus next door, much time can be lost searching. The solution? Park across the street at Riverside Plaza. No time limits.
Only 4 stars? Yeah, the aforementioned issues can dampen the experience. The cost does not bother me, at least they can deliver!

Delicious.
My sister usually comes here to study, so she took my mom, my bf and me here for a quick caffeine stop. My mom got a citrus chamomile, and there’s a nice selection of both caffeinated and non-​caffeinated tea.
My bf got the drip over coffee, a freshly brewed blend from Central America, full of notes both familiar and comforting, but also bold and uplifting. It had the heartiness of beans I normally enjoy, but also a citrusy zip that in excess sometimes ruins other elite coffee brands like four barrel and blue bottle.
My sister and I shared the mint lavender mocha. Oh my god. It was the amazing blend of mint lavender, chocolate and coffee flavors, all in perfect harmony and balance, each flavor working to elevate the experience of the other.
Definitely coming back to try more of the other drinks!

Lift has definitely stepped up its game since I first visited. To be fair, I’m not much of a coffee connoisseur. They added a variety of seasonal toasts to the menu to expand the choices they offer in the food and snack department, and also incorporate seasonal drinks into their relatively simple and straightforward menus.
Their current mint lavender offering is refreshing and warming at the same time, and their hot coffee is just plain good. It’s rather inexpensive in comparison to how much the other coffee houses in Riverside offer their hot drip coffee for. Whenever I go eat in the Riverside Plaza area, I gravitate towards Lift for a energizing post-​meal treat. I can’t wait to try their toasts and their other coffee and tea offerings!

I wished I can say 5 stars but today’s coffee is blah. I have coffee cider. I wanted to try it after my friend ordered. She said it tasted different but she liked it. I watched how they made. I did notice that they brewed the coffee in mine is pretty weaker. I thought it was their way. My friend said that her had good strong coffee with cider. Mine tasted like bitter cider.
However, their chai latte is the best!!!

The workers are very helpful. I got a Latte and it was the nice little pick me up I needed. I’d stop by for a Latte every here and there. :)

Been here a few times and have to say I am really impressed with the place.
The location of the venue is a little off the beaten path of the main street (behind U.S. Bank) but the discovery is worth it. I loved the rustic atmosphere and the old-​style décor (see pictures). I think the most interesting and eye catching part, upon entry, is the order counter being the wing of a plane. And some of the seating is old-​style wood, including those one-​room school house seats that fold up (though these ones do not). What a trip!
So, onto the coffee. How is it? For you espresso drinkers (my favorite style), I would highly recommend the Spruce Goose. The flavor is unlike any I’ve had at other coffee houses and frankly puts them to shame there. The flavor lingers as well for a good while after you’re done (impressive!). The best part? They change up the recipe from time to time. I’ve had at least two variations of it and I’m hooked.
Their food menu is also of interest. It’s on an actual slab of wood, amazingly done. Quite eye-​catching, and even more-​so on the every changing variety of stuff they serve. Those donuts are HUUUUUUUUGE!
Ultimately, this is a great place to go to just relax, unwind with friends, or even do work on your laptop.

The second I walked into this place, I couldn’t help but notice the smell. Worry not, because it wasn’t a tragic one; it was a beautiful one. The whole coffee shop smelled like roasting coffee beans and it just creates some sort of relief and relaxation.
The design of the place itself is quite dim with wooden tables. Water can be filled by yourself near the register and entrance.
I ordered a basic cappuccino, because the lavender vanilla that I so desperately wanted to try was a seasonal drink. The coffee art was pretty and it drink itself was pretty good. As I browsed around the shop, I noticed they sold some baked goods and chocolates and such, but it was rather pricey.
Although some students like to study here, I prefer to come here just to sit and chat. I tend to finish my drinks pretty quickly, but I don’t want to constantly pay five bucks per drink to accompany my studies.
Probably the best hipster coffee place by looks. I wish they had a larger variety of drinks, but at least it was still tasty.

I like this little hipster coffee shop, doesn’t feel like your average coffee chain stores. The seating areas has variety, from booths, small couches, wooden chairs/​tables and bars facing out the window.
I’m not too crazy about their music playlist and its a little loud for studying so I recommend bringing some good ear phones. Their internet there is a little slow, idk of its bc there were many ppl connected to it or it just sucks.
I really enjoyed their chai tea latte, ordered it sweeten. Would like to try their vanilla latte next time I come.
PS, all the baristas are tall guys with beards/​facial hair. Better looking crowd than I normally witness at our usual study spot at starbucks.