2025 Pasadena Coffee Passport: Third Round of Reviews

Time to review three more coffee shops featured in the 2025 Pasadena Coffee Passport! Last issue, I reviewed Mandarin Coffee Stand, the Boy & the Bear, and Lavender & Honey. This time, I have explored another three coffee shops of the fourteen shops in the passport.

All photos by Victoria Davis.

Highlight Coffee

Passport description: “Nestled just above the 210, Highlight is a cozy spot for coffee or tea. Whether you’re the type to get a specialty latte or a single origin pour over, there’s something you’ll love!”

Passport benefit: Half off one drink

This is the furthest coffee place in the passport from Caltech, hence why I had been putting it off. It is about halfway between Caltech and JPL. When I arrived, I decided to try the special Coffee Lemonade, aka “Nathan Palmer,” which is described as “Yup. A coffee lemonade. House-made lemonade with just the right amount of coffee. Trust us.” I did trust them. It sounded intriguing and fun, so I thought, why not! It was OK.

Sadly, I also bought a pastry that did not pair well with the Coffee Lemonade (but that was my bad). I would have liked to pair this with a savory pastry, but there were only a few pastries in the tiny display case. The same Matcha Donut from Mandarin Coffee Stand was also here at Highlight Coffee! Apparently both coffee shops source their pastries from Sugarbloom Bakery! Since I already tried the Matcha Donut, I decided to try the Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant. (Again, not the best food pairing for my drink, but there were only chocolaty or sugary pastries in the display. Looked like the Everything Croissants and Kimchi SPAM Musubi Croissants were all sold out by 11 AM on a Saturday, though it was fairly empty inside). The Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant was OK. It was very crunch and messy to eat. Halfway through eating it and sipping on my drink, I wished I were instead eating the Tomato, Parmesan, and Cashew Pesto Croissant from the Boy & the Bear.

Exterior and interior of Highlight Coffee.

Coffee Lemonade by Highlight Coffee and Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant by Sugarbloom Bakery.

Coffee & Plants

Passport description: “Get your camera ready for this Instagrammable shop. This flower-covered café offers entirely plant-based food and drinks. They support an animal sanctuary and sustainability efforts.”

Passport benefit: 10% off

I looked up this coffee shop online and LOVED the aesthetic of it! When I arrived, it was even more cute in person! From the pastries to the drink options, the aesthetics were absolutely on point. The prices, however, were too much. Originally, I planned to buy an egg and cheese croissant, but after seeing that it would cost $17.50, I decided to get the strawberry croissant instead—which was $10 cheaper. I also ordered a Rose Bowl Latte. Since the only milk options are almond or oat milk, I went with an Almond Milk Rose Bowl Latte. It was not excellent. It was not good at all. It tasted bland and I couldn’t taste any rose, except for the rose petals that snuck their way into my mouth and did not taste sweet or edible, so I spat them out. It was gross. I was also shocked that the drink didn’t come in a cup with “Coffee & Plants” written on it. The website features every drink prominently in a cute “Coffee & Plants” pink and gold disposable cup, so I was looking forward to my drink looking just as it does on the website. Sadly, it just came in a generic white paper cup. For the overpriced food and drinks, this was not it. The Strawberry Croissant was okay. It was exactly what you would expect of a croissant with some strawberry jam in it. The aesthetics of it were fun: a dab of strawberry fondant topped with edible gold leaf on a cute pink plate. But it was not worth the price, nor do I think I would go again. Overall, the coffee was not good and the prices were too high.

Exterior and interior of Coffee & Plants.

Almond Milk Rose Bowl Latte and Strawberry Croissant by Coffee & Plants.

Jameson Brown Coffee Roasters

Passport description: “Stop by for fresh coffee—roasted daily since 2006—and house-made seasonal and specialty drinks sure to delight your tastebuds. Perfect for enjoying with a friend in their bright and cozy space.”

Passport benefit: 15% off

Right when you enter the door of Jameson Brown, you are hit with the delicious aroma of fresh coffee. The interior and vibe of the place reminded me of the Motley Coffeeshop (a student-run coffeeshop on Scripps College campus where I used to work as an undergrad). I ordered the Mayan Mocha which is a spicy mocha made with chipotle chili, cinnamon, and Valrhona chocoloate. It was delicious. With each sip, the spicy chili hits the back of your throat in a delightful way. I paired this with a soft, fresh Bacon Cheddar Pandesal, which cut the spice well and added to the savory experience. The Bacon Cheddar Pandesal was fantastic—soft dough wrapped around cream cheese lined with black pepper on the bottom, and topped with bacon and cheddar. Alternating between drinking my Mayan Mocha and biting the pandesal was heaven. This coffee definitely competes with Mandarin Coffee Stand. I will be coming back to Jameson Brown again—a lot!

Exterior and interior of Jameson Brown.

Bacon Cheddar Pandesal and Mayan Mocha by Jameson Brown.