2025 Pasadena Coffee Passport: First Round of Reviews

I bought the 2025 Pasadena Coffee Passport back in February so that I had something fun to look forward to this year and support local businesses. It is now September, and I have only been to four of the fourteen shops in the passport! I’m determined to visit them all before the end of the year, so stay tuned for my next round of reviews. For now, read about the drinks, locations, and interior descriptions of the four coffee shops I visited thus far.

(Image: Victoria Davis.)

Rosebud Coffee

Left: Interior of Rosebud Coffee. Right: A Salted Rose Mocha at that establishment. (Photos: Victoria Davis)

Passport description: “As Pasadena’s first social enterprise café, Rosebud provides job training for at-risk youth. They roast their own coffee in-house and handmake their syrups with real ingredients.”

Passport benefit: 15% off one purchase

I ordered the Salted Rose Mocha, and loved it! The drink is described as “dark chocolate mocha with floral notes and a touch of pink salt.” I typically don’t like floral drinks, but I love mochas, so wanted to try this drink. The rose was subtle and the salt topped-foam was a pleasant surprise. Rosebud has very tasty coffee. The location is a bit further from where I usually shop and venture from Caltech, but I still think its worth trying! I was surprised to see a funky layout inside this coffee shop, complete with cartoon posters of Pasadena birds who escape their cages in 1959 and wind up at a bar. That’s because inside Rosebud is also a small brewery called Wild Parrot Brewing Company! The seating area was not my style for sitting and enjoying a cozy cup of coffee or studying, but the coffee was excellent. It looked like most people were there to enjoy breakfast, which I would love to do in the future with friends. I would definitely go again for the coffee alone too.

Interior of Rosebud Coffee (Photo cred: Victoria Davis). Salted Rose Mocha by Rosebud Coffee (Photo cred: Victoria Davis).

Copa Vida

Left: A Shakerato from Copa Vida. Right: A Fruity Pebble Buttercream Macaroon from that establishment. (Photos: Victoria Davis)

Passport description: “Copa Vida is a specialty coffee and tea house in Old Pasadena that offers a curated food menu to complement their drinks. They roast all of their coffee at their roastery right here in Pasadena.”

Passport benefit: 15% off (food & drink)

I ordered the Iced Shakerato, and it was quite tasty! The drink is described as “two double shots of espresso sweetened with agave and shaken with iced milk.” Because the passport benefit was 15% off food and a drink, I also picked up one of the advertised macrons on display. It was called a Fruity Pebble Buttercream macron, and it came in a cute little individual package! It was also delicious and a fun pairing with my coffee. The location is in Old Town, which was convenient because I also got to do some shopping after I grabbed my drink from Copa Vida. The inside of Copa Vida feels like an Apple Store, so it’s not my preferred atmosphere for hanging out or doing work. The exposed brick is a nice aesthetic, but beyond that the place doesn’t have much personality. Decent coffee, but about average as coffee shops go.

Republik Coffee

A Black Mocha Latté (top) and a Sea Salt Hazelnut Cappuccino (bottom) from Republik Coffee. (Photo: Victoria Davis)

Passport description: “This café has it all: specialty coffee and drinks, a wide range of quality food items, and even a selection of cocktails. Grab a seat at one of their cozy tables or take your drink around South Lake.”

Passport benefit: 15% off one purchase

On my Republik Coffee journey, I decided to sit down for breakfast with my best friend Maria. She ordered the Black Mocha Latte and I ordered the Sea Salt Hazelnut Cappuccino. The Black Mocha Lattee is described as “mocha with two shots of espresso and house made vanilla syrup with activated coconut charcoal” and the Sea Salt Hazelnut Cappuccino is described as the name suggests: “espresso, hazelnut, sea salt, steamed milk.” For breakfast, Maria ordered the Eggs Benedict (two cage-free eggs poached medium, hollandaise sauce, black forrest ham, toasted brioche, hairloom tomato, and rosemary potatoes) and I ordered the Dulce De Leche French Toast (egg battered brioche topped with mixed berries, maple syrup, powdered sugar, cinnamon, banana, and whipped cream). The Eggs Benedict, was a classic and a hit. However, the Dulce De Leche French Toast was sad. The only berries that were sweet were two raspberries. The bananas were fine, but the strawberries were extremely sour. Thus, the French toast became a sad hunk of bread with some bananas on it for the majority of the meal. It was disappointing. The coffees were great, but the seating indoors is crowded and cramped. Smooth and shiny floors throughout make the place echoey and loud, making it difficult to have conversations over a meal. Since the coffee wasn’t exceptional and the food mid, it’s definitely a place I’d pass on going to again.

Jones Coffee Roasters

Interior shots of Jones Coffee Roasters. (Photos: Victoria Davis)

Bottom: An Iced Pumpkin Spice Latté from that establishment. (Photo: Colin Morrell)

Passport description: “Jones has been a cornerstone of coffee and community in Pasadena since 1994. They roast sustainably sourced coffee and serve a full range of coffee, tea, and other classic drinks.”

Passport benefit: 2 oz. of coffee beans with $5 purchase

I had to return Amazon items to Whole Foods, and figured I’d check out Jones Coffee Roasters since it was nearby. This place was definitely my favorite so far! The interior is quirky, colorful, and fun. I was so surprised, too, that this is the place where Red Door gets its coffee beans! I’ve always seen the bags of coffee beans on display when you stand in line at Red Door, and was shocked to realize that this was the same company! I was delighted to get my free 2 oz. bag of coffee beans with my purchase of, yes, I did order an Iced Pumpkin Spice Late! Indeed, it is still 95 degrees out, but I am in denial and am ready for Fall! I’ve actually never had a pumpkin spice late before, but now I understand the obsession. I will definitely be making this my fall drink from now on! I also love, love, love the coffee beans that Jones Coffee Roasters sells. I’m so glad I can buy more soon, and conveniently, at Red Door! Highly recommend!