The first sip of coffee in the morning, for many people, is a moment of bliss. 

In Santa Barbara, there is no shortage of local and chain coffee shops to keep the city caffeinated. 

So, where can you get the cheapest cup of joe? What kind of food can you get at those coffee shops? What is the seating like?

Noozhawk was determined to find out.

With dozens of coffee shops just within the city limits, Noozhawk reporters narrowed the search by focusing the list on local coffee places that primarily serve coffee. The survey also excluded national chains such as Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee.

The most affordable cup of drip coffee was found at Cajé Coffee Roasters for $3.40. The most affordable latte was at Santa Barbara Roasting Co. for $4.60, plus 55 cents for flavored syrups and alternative milk.

The most expensive cup of drip coffee was a two-way tie between Zaca Coffee Trailer and Dawn Cafe, which both have drip coffee for $4. The most expensive latte was a tie between Handlebar Coffee Roasters and Dart Coffee Co. for $6.25.

For matcha lovers, the most expensive matcha was at Dart Coffee Co. for $6.50. The cheapest was a tie between Dune Coffee Roasters and Zaca Coffee Trailer for $5.75. 

Beyond providing a caffeine fix, Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, said Santa Barbara’s coffee shops have a meaningful role in the local economy. 

“They create stable, year-round jobs, often with flexible schedules that support students, young professionals and working families,” Miller said. “Beyond direct employment, they source from local vendors like bakeries, roasters, maintenance providers, which multiplies their economic impact.”

Miller added that many of the local coffee chains reinvest into the community through local partnerships, sponsorships and charitable donations. 

The fact that the city has so many locally owned coffee chains shows that the Santa Barbara community prioritizes small businesses and authenticity, Miller said. 

The Coffee Shops’ Atmosphere

No two Santa Barbara coffee shops are alike, with each location offering its own ambiance and character, which might lead someone to prefer one coffee place over another. 

For instance, Cajé Coffee Roasters at 1316 State St. has a boho-style aesthetic that allows the space to also serve as a wedding venue during the weekends. While all of the seating is technically outdoors, it boasts diverse seating options, such as a fireplace surrounded with cushioned benches for larger groups.

Food options at Cajé are pretty limited, primarily serving loaded bagels or avocado toast. 

The outdoor garden at Dart Coffee at 121 E. Yanonali St. provides a unique place to sip on coffee; just cross the street and enter through the gate to find numerous tables surrounded by trees. That makes it a great place to catch up with friends, or the Wi-Fi can allow getting some work done while enjoying the sun.

The Daily Grind locations at 2001 De la Vina St. and 2912 De la Vina St. provide plenty of seating, and with lunch options it’s a great place to camp out for long study sessions or grab a sandwich on the way to the beach.

Vices & Spices at 3558 State St. allows customers to buy their own tea leaves and specialty coffee beans, and do some gift shopping while getting a drink to go. There’s also outdoor seating in the front and back of the shop, although it does face a parking lot.

While there aren’t many food options, there are pastries such as chocolate croissants and muffins available for $4.

Santa Barbara Roasting Co. at 321 Motor Way has a unique, warm and nostalgic environment, offering plenty of comfortable seating and a bar top in the middle of the room where patrons can work on laptops. 

With bagels, breakfast sandwiches and pastries, and convenient parking, it’s a cozy place to hang out on a rainy day before exploring more of lower State Street. 

Those who love Buelleton’s Zaca Coffee can visit the Funk Zone to grab a favorite drink at the Zaca Coffee Trailer. The open-air picnic table provides a great spot to soak in the fun for a few moments before exploring the neighborhood.

Handlebar Coffee Roasters at 128 E. Canon Perdido St. has ample seating space inside and outside with cozy tables for those looking to focus on work. It also offers pastries for a quick grab-and-go. There is a second location on De la Vina Street that offers great inside seating, but its outdoor seating can be noisy because of the proximity of the road.  

Dune Coffee Roasters has two locations in Santa Barbara, at 528 Anacapa St. and 1101 State St. Its Anacapa Street location with the iconic tiger on the side of the white building has good seating options inside and outside. The Anacapa Street location also has its own parking lot, while small, and can fill up quickly because it shares the lot with neighboring businesses. 

Food options at Dune are mostly grab-and-go, with a clear pastry case near the register. 

Lighthouse Coffee, which has multiple locations throughout the city, has plenty of seating across its locations. Aside from the simple pastries, it also offers bigger food items such as breakfast sandwiches, toast and smoothies.

Additionally, all stores had alternative milk options, which have become increasingly popular for coffee lovers. 

Most offered oat and almond milk, while others also had soy and coconut milk options. However, all locations stayed in the 50 cents to $1.25 range per milk alternative. Most locations also charged about 50 cents for flavored syrups. 

Did we miss your favorite coffee shop? Let us know your go-to coffee order at news@noozhawk.com.