For this week's father-and-daughter coffee and bakery visit, my daughter and I went to a local spot in Orange, near the Anaheim pond, called Bodhi Leaf.
I'd been here several times before bringing my daughter. I first learned about it from a show called "The Profit" — loved that it's a roaster, and loved the energy of the owner. So when I found out it was local, right here in Orange County, I had to try it. They have a few locations, but this is the only one I've been to.
The decor has a real outdoor, nature feel. I absolutely love the tables and chairs — they feel well built, good quality wood. Not that I would know a high-quality piece of wood, but it looks and feels that way. The chairs are made of metal pipes, rustic in design. The space is big and open, with large garage-door windows that roll up, and you notice the orange menus right away. There's a zen feel to the place — images and quotes, framed coffee bags on the wall — and you can see into the warehouse, bags and bags of coffee they most likely distribute. Some days a roaster is running, like today. My daughter calls it loud noise; I call it white noise and peaceful. Enjoy that machine.
Now, the coffee — I can only speak to what I had. I take my coffee black most of the week, and if I order anything else at a coffee shop, it's a cappuccino: less milky, more coffee.
Their regular daily drip is great. Comes out nice and hot, that first sip is always delicious, doesn't taste watered down, and it has a fruity, citrus-like taste I always enjoy. A-plus for me. The cappuccino comes in a tall mug if you order it for here — love the mug. The one thing missing was the coffee art. Not important for some, but the art is half the reason I order a cappuccino, so that was a tad disappointing. Not a deal breaker, though, because the taste was delicious — super foamy and well balanced.
Worth knowing before you go: they have food too — avocado toast, sandwiches, baked goods — so it works for more than a coffee stop. And I've always had a good experience with the staff here.
If it's your first time, the daily drip is the one I'd point you to. Now if you want to hear what my daughter thinks, read her review above.