Verve Coffee Roasters

Met up w/​Steven T. this past Saturday. If you are looking to chill and converse, just grab your coffee then walk around because they have music playing inside and if you opt to sit outside, you will eventually get the chills from the cold draft and lots of noise (car, motorcycle, etc.).
I did not enjoy the cold brew. Maybe I am a Philz Coffee snob but Verve makes an excellent Irish coffee though which was what I should have ordered but consuming alcohol at 7AM after fasted-​cardio did not seem like a bright idea. He ordered an iced tea (don’t know what it’s called) but he finished it so that’s s good sign!
Cannot believe Steven and I just met but we knew each other from many moons ago from CrossFit. He’s actually friends w/​one of my best friends, actually. What a small ass world. We are very similar in many ways. I think he’s becoming my swole mate :)
Friendly service. Fast service. Just not a place to converse.

Oh Verve, there isn’t a limit to the amount of good things I can say about you! It has become somewhat of a tradition for my Dad and I to visit Verve on 41^st for an afternoon pick-​me-​up on weekends, and even though I have left for college, I still find myself at Verve every weekend that I am home.
Verve makes the BEST almond milk latte that I have ever had, and you won’t find me turning down one of their delicious pastries (all made by local bakeries!). Also worth noting is their small, but homemade, selection of syrups/​sauces such as vanilla, mocha, and Irish Whiskey (during holiday time!). The baristas are always friendly and the latte art is always gorgeous. While I sometimes find myself waiting on a busy weekend it is totally worth it!!!

Best cappuccino I have ever had! Loved the latte art! Thought the staff was a little on the rude side which I why I only gave them 4 stars. All and all I have never had a cappuccino that good in my entire life!

The clever design and lighting made this place look very spacious and clean. Loved this place from the moment I set foot inside. Though the line was long and we were waiting by the bathroom area, it was worth it. They have interesting flavors like the Bowl of Soul. Of course I’d have to try the BOWL OF SOUL, which is a tea of your choice combined with honey and soy milk. Really interesting combination of flavors, and also really delicious. I got the cheese + broccoli pastry which was incredible. It was flaky and buttery, and there was a nice combination of cheeses which made it extremely aromatic.

Very nice coffee shop on 41street. The coffee is smooth and delicious. Not cheep but this is a nice place if you are staying on 41^st street.

I heard this place is one the best coffee place in US. Defo 3^rd wave.
We ordered macchiato, Kenya and croissant. $ 15 in total.
Croissant is crisp and tasty. Coffees aromatic, deep. Kenya’s presentation is crazy unique but taste super sour which is Kenya taste though. Machato is small.
I am a little crazy about coffee as I visited Portland for coffee and got fresh beans in stumpton or blue bottle.
I love the atmosphere here. Not crowded. We came here on Sunday 3 pm after beach chilling. Its a little hard to find a parking spot.
And pricy…

Waited in a long line, only to finally wait behind a customer who was smelling beans and discussing the different aromas using odd terms that related to feeling such as velvety… Not sure how you smell velvety, but these clever sons a bitches have that ability I guess. But wait, now they have to grind those beans and smell them again using words like «chocolatey» and «veiled vanilla» and «good darkness»…
Good darkness? Good lord. I got my 6 dollar cup of coffee and it was decent with a nice little leaf drawn in the foam. The entire event took my just about 25 minutes. Or about twenty minutes more than I am typically willing to wait for a coffee. I left the store with the feeling they had just done me a huge favor by allowing to patronize their establishment.
The hipster vibe was deafening. Yes, if velvety can be smelled, hipster vibes can be deafening.
Today, I got a free drink at Verve postcard in the mail. I threw it in the trash. At least it reminded me to leave a review.

We were up early on Sunday morning and head down to Verve for a cup. When we opened the door, @ 06:58 hours, our greeting was «We are still closed». We remains on the sidewalk for 2 more minutes, poking our head in to see if it was ok to enter.
Upon entering the shop and conversing with the other customers (Two young men and a young women with he child in a side by side stroller) the employee looked through his Grey tortoise shell spectacles barking «The line forms down the hallway!»
The look of WTF from the barista, his fellow employee, was priceless!
Suggestions:
1) Keep the establishment doors locked until the employees are ready to receive customers in a courteous manner.
2) Greet customers in a kind fashion, a Hello, Good morning or the like. People tend to take direction with more verve from a polite individual.
We went up the street to the Chill-​Out Café. We were greeted with a big smile, a «Good morning» & tasty coffee.

Mischa (unsure on spelling) presented a brilliant smile and friendly personality while asking for my order. Got a Mocha with Almond Milk, which was delicious.

Every visit to Santa Cruz includes a visit to Verve on 41^st… and sometimes another visit to Verve on Pacific Ave or Bronson St… on the same day (yes, true story, it’s happened more than once)!
I’m not one of those «Must. Have. Caffeine. All Day. Everyday» kind of girls, but I do love and appreciate a great latte, cappuccino, or flat white frequently, and have proudly become much more discerning (aka coffee snob-​esque) when it comes to having the divine, warm cup of heaven since moving to the Bay Area and also since traveling through Italy and France a few times.
Verve is always consistent, always on point! Their Lattes with almond milk are perfectly rich, bold yet smooth, and incredibly creamy every single time. I’ve also tried their Bowl of Soul, which is tea, steamed milk and honey, and it’s also a solid sipper.
Nibbles are pretty awesome as well, since they sell fresh baked goods from Manresa Bakery! My favorite is the Pumpkin Bread which is made with butternut squash! The Ginger Loaf and Carrot & Walnut Bread were both tasty as well, and paired nicely with the lattes.
The vibe at 41^st is always chill, friendly, and Cruz-​in’ even when it’s bustling with customers on the weekends. Kara was especially nice to us on one of our visits, so shout out to her!
Definitely get your Verve on if you like coffee to any degree and prefer a more local, relaxed, warm atmosphere than your typical chain coffee shops!

Nice coffee spot!
Small and not so quiet! If you are looking to work or study this is not the spot for you. Anyone just visiting or taking a stroll great spot to stop by and sip on some very delish caffeine :). Their Mocha is delicious and Latte with flavor that was suggested by the sweet cashier is great too.
Staff is also really nice!

The Verve on 41^st is my go-​to caffeine dealer. I like the vibe. I love the cutesy décor. They make a decent cappuccino (NEVER reheat milk!). The cold brew is solid. The pastry game is on fleek.
There are just a few details that keep Verve from being excellent.
— I’m not sure they know the difference between a cappuccino and a latte.. . and I like my caps dry. If you care about such things, you know what I mean.
— They only have an organic option for whole milk.
— None of their coffees are organic. Worse yet, if you ask the staff they’ll say the coffee is organic; it just isn’t «certified organic». In other words, it’s not organic. Let’s not pretend otherwise.
I think Verve might be the only 3^rd wave coffee spot in Santa Cruz. It’s clear from the wait time at Verve that there’s a demand and a market for 3^rd wave coffee here. Hopefully more direct source roasters will enter the market, bringing more competition and better options, especially organic options.

Some bitchy girl was cleaning the restroom for almost ten minutes, and I didn’t know this, so I knocked. She swings open the door, yells at me, and then slams the door in my face. K.
Chai latte was good. I’m a fan.

Verve is a coffee staple around Santa Cruz. With one location downtown, another near the harbor, and this one on 41^st street, it’s hard to not drop in every once in a while.
I really like their décor and the feel of their stores — they’re always very modern and the baristas are all super hipster. The only thing I don’t like about this particular store is how small it is for its location. I went on a Sunday and it was PACKED with locals and tourists alike. There are a couple of outlets along the wall. But because of its size and how noisy it can get, I don’t recommend this as a «stay-​all-​day» study spot.
Their coffee: alright. Pretty strong and will keep you charged. Be warned — their coffee has a slightly sour taste which you can taste in an Americano (not so much in the drinks w/​milk).
Food: their pastries and treats are delish! Got a cookie that was basically the size of my head. Had chocolate chips, pretzel bits, and thin melted caramel pieces. You WILL be hyper afterwards.

I had been here before and wasn’t blown away. Maybe the prices threw me off, but that’s a typical coffee shop now a days for you. After learning more about their Swiss water process to decaffeinate their decaf makes it worth the higher price tag. After all, you do get what you pay for and at Verve it’s quality.
Recently, I had a friend turn me on to the Bowl of Soul. It consists of tea (of your choice, I chose Earl Grey) frothed soy milk and honey. They only serve it hot. But, it’s a comforting drink on a cold day. It also seems to get you going without having being overly caffeinated.
Also, with my recent visits I have tried several pastries. They are pricey as well and from Manresa Bakery. Although I enjoy, I wish their pastries were locally sourced. These come from Los Gatos, which although not far it seems that we could find a Santa Cruz business to provide some goodies.

Bowl. Of. Soul. I wish I could start off every morning with a bowl of soul. I never knew that Verve offered it and I had only had it in Sacramento/​Davis coffee shops. Finding out that a place closer to home (okay I’m from SJ… but it’s still closer to me than davis and sac!) made me super happy. A bowl of soul is basically a tea latte. The comforts of tea combined with steamed milk to give it a frothy cap makes it such a dream. From experience, places only have one set «bowl of soul» and it’s usually an herbal mix like chamomile and/​or lavender. So I was very confused when the barista asked me what kind of tea I wanted for my bowl of soul. Apparently they have a list of teas you can choose from instead of having only one tea for that drink! Such a pleasant surprise! My friend ordered hers with white coconut cream while I opted for the mandarin silk. Hers was creamy and sweet while mine had hints of vanilla and citrus. Both really delicious and both would recommend!
Aside from our drinks, they seem to offer a small selection of delicious looking pastries as well. This location is a lot quieter than the downtown santa cruz location, but it’s still just as packed. Fortunately they have a small parking lot behind the store!

Love, love LOVE Verve coffee shop! I always look forward to stopping in a few times [at least!] to get a cup of premium java, and a bag of beans to take home.
Even the house roast is a special treat! This time, my other half tried the WHISKY LATTE — to die for!
Will always return for some of the best coffee I’ve ever had!

I love this store.
Lots of Windows and open space. It’s relaxing! There are seats, but not too many.
They always have super interesting pastries. I’ve had a polenta strawberry cake and that was tasty. I’ve been eyeing their ham and seed muffin too.
Dranks– Usually I get a mocha. (Their Mocha is not very sweet my dear sugar lovers). Yesterday I opted for a Bowl of Soul with a shot of espresso. (Dirty Soul :))
It was sooooooo good… It tasted like maple oatmeal but healthier. It’s made with soy milk too (score). It blew my mind.
Staff is always great. They also sell beans, shirts, mugs, etc.
Great little shop!

Underwhelming service… again.
Beautiful barista was incredibly rude to me for no reason. Asked where water cups were. They had creepy looking, wet steel cups on the counter. Apparently these were for water.
Why can’t Verve staff be about customer service? I probably could have made a better espresso drink on the Strada myself.
The coffee was good, the milk drinks were less good but ok. The geishas were overpriced at $ 12 per cup.
I have ordered their beans online and sort of liked them okay, so I thought stopping in might put me over the top. Nope. They were just meh, okay. And with high prices and bad service, and a not-​so-​nice shop, how can I give them a decent star rating? I can’t, because I won’t be coming back. At least not to this «original» location. I’d rather go hang out with the homeless people in downtown SC or just find another shop altogether.

Drink (Almond Milk Cappuccino): 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Atmosphere: Chic, Edgy, Simple
As I walk around sometimes, I feel like a flame of fire. Fire burning so bright and light, it’s bluish purple. Sometimes my personality is too much, too intense…
When I walk into Verve, I feel like I met my match. Baristas on fire with their skills and swagger. Music energizing and exciting all with a certain edge and appeal that make you want to stay longer.
Mellow yet, loud. Pastries like the end of a dessert you might find at a 5-​star restaurant serving you an eight course meal.
Cappuccinos oh so perfectly foamy. Lattes are made to perfection too…
Obviously I am enamored with this place… I will most definitely return.